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BBBW5200 ENCOUNTERING THE BIBLICAL WORLD
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
Division of Biblical Studies
Fall 2021 Online
Francis X. Kimmitt, Ph.D.
Adjunct Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew
Email: [email protected]
Mission Statement
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Leavell College prepare servants to walk
with Christ, proclaim His truth, and fulfill His mission.
Course Description
A survey is undertaken of a wide range of materials and issues related to the background of
the Old and New Testaments, including: archaeology, historical geography, religion, manners
and customs, economics, social concerns, and the literature of the ancient Near East and the
Greco- Roman world. The course is designed to help students bridge the temporal and
cultural gaps between contemporary society and the historical eras of the Bible.
Student Learning Outcomes
At the conclusion of the semester, the student will:
1.
Be able to apply their knowledge and comprehension of the background of the Bible
including - archaeology, historical geography, religion, manners and customs, historical
and social setting, and the literature of the ancient world to the process of interpreting and
communicating the Bible accurately.
2.
Value the necessity of bridging the temporal and cultural gaps between contemporary
society and the biblical period.
3.
Be able to identify the physical geographical elements of the land of Israel and the
Ancient Near East.
4.
Be able to locate the site of significant Biblical events of the Old and New Testaments
Course Texts
To be read in conjunction with class videos and PowerPoints (see Blackboard)
1.
English Bible (a good translation)
2.
Arnold, Bill T. & Beyer, Bryan E., 2002, Readings from the Ancient Near East, Baker
Book House, (RANE)
3.
Brisco, Thomas, 1998, Holman Bible Atlas by (Broadman & Holman Publishers, (HBA)
4.
Greer, Jonathan S.; John W. Hilber; and John H. Walton, eds. Behind the Scenes of the
Old Testament: Cultural, Social, and Historical Contexts. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2018.
(BSOT)
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Recommended reading
1.
Archaeology and The Old Testament. A. Hoerth (Baker, 1998), (AOT) – This an optional
reading but strongly suggested. In the schedule of course reading, suggestions are given from
this text that correspond to the topics discussed.
2.
Zondervan Handbook to the Bible. ed. by Pat and David Alexander (Zondervan, 1999)
3.
The Sacred Bridge. by A. Rainey and S. Notley (Carta, Jerusalem, 2006). Best atlas available
4.
Life in Biblical Israel. by L. Stager and P. King (Westminster John Knox Press, 2001)
5.
The New Testament in Its World. by N.T. Wright & M. Bird., (Zondervan, 2019)
Course Teaching Methodology
This course consists of grasping the geographical (geological structure), chronological, historical
and cultural settings of the biblical world through -1) the required readings (class textbooks and
supplemental readings); 2) viewing PowerPoint presentations which contain maps and other
graphic media to help visualize and comprehend the historical and geographical settings, and 3)
video lectures.
Materials for the class are located in the Unit Learning Modules on Blackboard and include map
quizzes, exams, and related materials (extra maps, study guides for exams, and extra articles for
you to enhance your understanding and knowledge).
The course consists of 4 Sections and/or Units of Videos and PowerPoints. Each unit is broken
down into a manageable set of Lectures delivered via PowerPoint and video presentations.
Lectures are supplemented with outside reading from class texts as assigned in Course Schedule.
Make sure to read the textbooks before viewing the Lectures. Consult the Table of Content of
each class textbook. The textbook outline follows the subject of the class lectures.
Lectures include (expanded from above):
1)
PowerPoint presentations follow a numerical/chronological order. The PowerPoints, in most
cases, consist of a lecture followed by slides emphasizing the lecture & related geography.
2)
Video presentations are limited and, in most cases, consist of a summary of the
lecture supplying the necessary information needed for the course. You should watch the
video presentations prior to the PowerPoints in order to get an overview of what each
unit is about.
The Four Units and Lectures
Unit 1: Introduction, Geographic overview of Israel, Genesis 1-11, & Pre-History
(August 16 – September 12)
Unit 2: Bronze Age (Middle & Late): Patriarchs and Exodus (September 13 – October
17)
Unit 3: Late Bronze Age into the Iron Age: Conquest and Settlement and United &
Divided Monarchy (October 18 – November 14)
Unit 4: NT Backgrounds: Jesus in the Galilee & Jesus in Jerusalem (November 15 – December 6)
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Course Requirements and Grading
Midterm Exam 20% - after Unit II (on or before 11:59 pm eastern, October 17
Map Quizzes (3) 24% - see class schedule for dates
Final Exam 20% - by December 6, 11:59 pm eastern, no later
Discussion Participation 10% - (6 total, see note for format under Unit 1)
Research Paper 26% - by November 29, 11:59 pm eastern
Note” 5 pts. off per day for all late work!
1.
Map Quizzes (3 total)
Get to know the World and land of the Bible. See handout “Regions, Cities to Know” for the
list of regions, cities, and places to identify for the quizzes (see also the extra detailed maps
found in Course Documents). You will need to consult these maps in conjuncture with the
textbook and other Bible geography books. A number of maps are found in the Study Helps in
Blackboard for use in both study and personal presentations. Special Note: Remember many
illustrations and photos used in this course are copyrighted and cannot be published w/o
written permission.
Quiz 1 = Land of Israel Includes: Regions, Mountains, Valleys, Rivers, and Bodies of Waters
of Palestine (HBA Map 7 for help)
Quiz 2 = Tribes of Israel & OT Cites (Consists of 1 map for Tribes & 1 map for OT cities)
Quiz 3 = NT World (Mediterranean) of Cities & Kingdoms/Countries (Consists of 1 map for
Kingdoms/Countries for Mediterranean world & 1 map for NT cities)
2.
Exams –Study guides are available for both midterm and final. The guides help to organize
your exam preparation and highlight what subjects the exams include. Exams questions come
from class notes, PowerPoint lectures, and readings. Exams include matching key events (i.e.
dates, inscriptions noted from RANE), geographical features, etc., multiple-choice, some fill in
the blank, and short essays usually cover various topics (i.e. Philistines, Shephelah, David, etc.).
Note 5 pts. off per day for all late work!
Text’s Abbreviations
HBA = Holman Bible Atlas, (Brisco)
RANE = Readings from the Ancient Near East, (Arnold & Beyer)
BSOT = Behind the Scenes of the Old Testament (Greer, Hilber, & Walton)
AOT = Archaeology & the Old Testament (Hoerth)
3.
Research Paper – Upload to Blackboard by Monday, November 29, 11:59 pm eastern
Paper Format: Turabian; Length 11-12 pages (title page and bibliography do not count),
double-spaced, standard 12 pt. font (e.g., Times New Roman), 1 inch margins
Sources: 30% of Bibliography should consist of sources from scholarly journals (1 ½
source per typed page is the acceptable norm, 10 pages = 7 sources, etc.). See Handout:
Suggested Paper Topics and Biblical Studies Journals for help!
Grading: (1) Form & style and Spelling & grammar = 5% - make sure the theme is
developed, logical, coherent! (2) Research & bibliography = 10% - use first-hand sources
when possible, textbooks are secondary, by a good bibliography one is showing me that
you did your homework! (3) Content = 85% - the argument, key issues, relevant data, etc.
Submissions: Word or WordPerfect document or a PDF.
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Students have two options:
1)
Historical geography of a major region in Israel (i.e. Hill Country, Negev, Shephelah,
Coastal Plain, etc.) or a Site/City:
Research for a region should include:
Geological make-up of the region
The region's historical significance (its main function within Israel proper)
All major roads (locate both local and international)
Key cities (what is their main importance)
All bodies of water
Map of the region, locating key cites, roads, etc. would be fine (but not a part of the
page requirement)
Research for a Site/City should include:
The identification of the biblical site
Where the site/city is located does not matter. Israel, Mesopotamia, Egypt, etc., What
is significant about its location? What was its function in history?
Its history, develop who controlled it, the role it played in the development of the
country it resided in, etc.
2)
Topical – a topic relevant to this course; see Blackboard for a list of suggested topics.
Make sure to get to the point, argue, and present the significant elements of your research,
have good interaction with sources (note original firsthand sources are the best, i.e.,
ancient texts, documents, eyewitnesses’ accounts, etc.).
RESEARCH PAPER Due Date: Monday, November 29, by 11:59
pm eastern. (5 pts off for each day late)
Class Procedure**Read Carefully**
Materials for the class are located in the Learning Modules on Blackboard; they consist of:
1)
Map Quizzes, Exams, and Related Materials (extra maps, study guides for exams, and
extra articles for you to enhance your understanding and knowledge of the topics discussed);
please make use of them.
2)
Lectures - these are mainly PowerPoint presentations that you need to look at & work
through, all are in numerical/chronological order. They consist of a lecture usually followed
by slides emphasizing the lecture & related geography, and some videos (usually a summary
of the lectures) to give you the necessary information one needs for the course.
3)
There are 4 Sections or Units to work through; one has just about a month to work through
each section (except the last Unit which is shorter), so work at a pace best for you, but assignments
need to be taken on time (5 pts reduction for each day late). Each lecture is supplemented with outside
reading from class texts as noted in Course Schedule; make sure to read them (best before viewing the
Lectures) for they will be included in the two exams. And don’t forget to check out Related Materials
also in Course Documents; there are several good articles related to some lectures.
4)
Note the index of each class textbook as they correspond to the class lectures
(i.e., PowerPoints mainly), as the class follows a chronological order.
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Technical Assistance
For assistance regarding technology, consult ITC (504-816-8180) or the following websites:
1.
[email protected] - Email for technical questions/support requests with the
Selfserve.nobts.edu site (Access to online registration, financial account, online transcript,
etc.)
2.
[email protected] - Email for technical questions/support requests with the
NOBTS Blackboard Learning Management System NOBTS.Blackboard.com.
3.
[email protected] - Email for general technical questions/support requests.
4.
www.NOBTS.edu/itc/ - General NOBTS technical help information is provided on this
website.
Writing Style Guide
A copy of the approved NOBTS Style Guide can be found in the course Blackboard shell, or can
be located online at the Writing Center’s page on the seminary website at:
https://www.nobts.edu/_resources/pdf/writing/StyleGuide.pdf
Help for Writing Papers at “The Write Stuff”
NOBTS maintains a Writing Center designed to improve English writing at the graduate level.
Students can receive writing guides, tips, and valuable information to help in becoming a better
writer.
Plagiarism on Written Assignments
NOBTS has a no tolerance policy for plagiarism. Plagiarism in certain cases may result in
expulsion from the seminary. See the NOBTS Student Handbook for definition, penalties, and
policies associated with plagiarism.
Course Schedule and Outline of Lectures to be Covered (Pace yourself!)
UNIT 1: Setting the Stage — In the Beginning!
August 16 – September 12
1.
Introduction
Reading - AOT Ch 1; HBA: pp 29-32; BSOT: Ch 5
2.
Geographical Overview: The Land of the Bible Reading:
HBA Part I (Ch 1-3, pp. 2-29); BSOT: Chs 1-4
3.
In the Beginning: Gen 1-11
Reading: Gen 1-1; AOT Ch 9; HBA Ch 4, pp. 33-34; Creation: Ancient Near East, (ANE)
Mythology vs. Genesis Creation: RANE #4-6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 45; BSOT: Scripts to the ANE-
Chs 11-16
4.
Rise of Urbanization Early Bronze Age: Egypt and Mesopotamia
Reading: AOT Ch 2; HBA pp. 35-40; BSOT: Iconography, Chs 19-21
Quizzes, Exams, and Discussion Lists:
Discussion Board:
Introduce yourself by August 22.
Contribute a comment to Geography by August 29.
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NOTE: In this and the following Discussion Board topics, each student is to submit a comment
and then follow-up with interactions with two of the other students in the class.
Contribute a comment to Creationism/Beginnings by September 5.
Map Quiz #1 - (Must be taken by September 12, 11:59 pm eastern)
UNIT II: The Bronze Age - World of the Patriarchs & Exodus
September 13 – October 17
1.
Middle Bronze Age: World of the Patriarchs
Reading Assignments: AOT Chs 4, 5, 6; HBA pp.41-51; RANE #14-16, 18, 21-26, 30; Gen
12-50
2.
Late Bronze Age: World of Moses - The Political Setting of the Exodus, the Exodus &
Wilderness Wanderings
Reading Assignments: AOT Chs 7, 8 & 10: pp. 201-205; HBA pp. 52-74; RANE #17, 27-29,
31, 32, 55; Exodus 1-20; BSOT: Chs 24, 32, 42-43, 46, 54
Read: “Sacrifices and Offerings,” by A. Rainey from Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the
Bible
Quizzes, Exams and Discussion Lists:
Discussion Board: Contribute a comment to World of the Patriarchs by September 26.
Remember to interact with at least one other student’s comments.
Map Quiz #2: (Must be taken by October 10, 11:59 pm eastern)
Midterm: Must be taken on or before October 17, 11:59 pm eastern.
UNIT III: Late Bronze Age Continued & Into the Iron Age
October 18 – November 14
1.
Conquest and Settlement - Joshua and Judges
Reading Assignments: AOT Chs, 10 & 11; HBA pp. 89-101; RANE #50; Joshua, Judges;
BSOT: Chs 6, 25, 33, 50-52
2.
Emergence of the Monarchy: From Tribe to Nation: The United Monarchy
Reading Assignments: AOT, Chs 12-14; HBA pp.102-114; RANE #51, 54, 59; II Sam 1-12, I
Kings 1-11; BSOT: Chs 7, 17, 44-45, 49, 56, 59-64
3.
Divided Monarchy/Kingdom: Fall of Samaria
Reading Assignments: AOT, Chs 15, 16; HBA pp. 115-141; RANE #39-43, 48; I Kgs 12-2 Kgs
17; BSOT: Chs 8, 27, 34, 36-37, 65
4.
Southern Kingdom: Judah
Reading Assignments: AOT, Chs 17-19; HBA pp. 142-157; RANE 56-58, 60-62, 155: 2Kgs
18-25; BSOT: Chs 9, 28-30, 35, 38-40
Quizzes, Exams, and Discussion Lists:
Discussion Board: Contribute a comment to the Joshua & the Conquest by October 31
Contribute a comment to the Iron Age by November 7
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UNIT #4: New Testament Backgrounds
November 15 – December 6
1.
Jesus in Galilee
Reading Assignments: AOT, Ch 20; BSOT: Chs 10, 31, 41; HBA pp. 207-215; Matthew 1-20
2.
Jesus in Jerusalem
Reading Assignments: HBA pp. 216-235; BSOT: Ch 18; Matthew 21-28; Luke 19-24
Quizzes, Exams, and Discussion Lists:
Discussion Board: Contribute a comment to the NT Backgrounds by November 21.
Map Quiz #3 must be taken by, Saturday, December 4, 11:59 pm eastern.
RESEARCH PAPER: Due Date: Postmarked on BB by Monday, November 29, 11:59 pm
eastern.
FINAL Exam: Must take by Monday, December 6, 11:59 pm eastern.
Additional Course Information
If you have any questions about Blackboard, SelfServe, or ITC services, please access the ITC
page on our website: www.NOBTS.edu/itc/ - General NOBTS technical help information is
provided on this website.
COURSE SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY: GENERAL REFERENCES
Dictionaries, etc.
Evans, Craig & Stanley Porter., eds. Dictionary of New Testament Backgrounds. Leicester:
InterVarsity Press, 2000.
Freedman, David N., ed. The Anchor Bible Dictionary. 6 vols. New York: Doubleday, 1992.
Green, Joel B. et. al. eds. Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels. Leicester: Intervarsity Press,
1992.
Hawthorne, Gerald F. et. al. eds. Dictionary of Paul and his Letters. Leicester: Inter-Varsity
Press, 1993.
Martin, Ralph P., & Peter H. Davids, ed. Dictionary of the Later New Testament and Its
Developments. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1997.
Master, D., ed. The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Bible and Archaeology. Oxford: Oxford
University Press. 2013.
Meyers, Eric M., ed. The Oxford Encyclopedia of Archaeology in the Near East. 5 vols. New
York: Oxford University Press, 1997.
Negev, Avraham, and S. Gibson. Archaeological Encyclopedia of the Holy Land. New York:
Continuum, 2001.
Pritchard, James, ed. Ancient Near Eastern Texts: Relating to the Old Testament, 2nd ed.,
Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1955.
. Ancient Near East in Pictures: Relating to the Old Testament. 2d ed. Princeton:
Princeton University Press, 1969.
Redford, Donald B. ed. The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt. 3 vols. Oxford: Oxford
University Press. 2001.
Sasson, J.M., ed. Civilizations of the Ancient Near East. 2 vols. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson.
2000.
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Stern, Ephraim, ed. The New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land. 4
vols. Jerusalem: The Israel Exploration Society, 1993.
Atlases
Aharoni, Y., et. al The Macmillan Bible Atlas (3
rd
ed.), New York: Macmillan Publishing Co.,
1993
Bimson, J.J. et.al., New Bible Atlas. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press, 1985.
Cleave, Richard. Pictorial Archive: ANE History; Student Map Manual. Jerusalem, 1975.
Rasmussen, C. Zondervan NIV Atlas of the Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1989.
Historical Geography
Aharoni, Yohanan. The Land of the Bible: A Historical Geography. Philadelphia: Westminster
Press, 1979.
Baly, Dennis. The Geography of the Bible. NY: Harper, 1957.
Bimson, John J. (ed.), Baker Encyclopedia of Bible Places. Leicester: InterVarsity Press, 1995.
DeVries, LaMoine. Cities of the Biblical World. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1997.
Harrison, R.K., ed. Major Cities of the Biblical World. Nashville: Nelson, 1985.
Smith, George Adam. The Historical Geography of the Holy Land. Jerusalem: Ariel Publishing
House, 1931.
Bible Handbooks
Hoerth, A., G. Mattingly, and E. Yamauchi (eds.). Peoples of the Old Testament World. Grand
Rapids: Baker, 1994.
Gower, Ralph. The New Manners and Customs of Bible Times. Chicago: Moody Press, 1987.
Matthews, Victor. Manners and Customs in the Bible. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1991.
Matthews, Victor and Don C. Benjamin. Social World of Ancient Israel 1250-587 BCE.
Peabody: Hendrickson, 1993.
The Illustrated Bible Dictionary. NY, London: Tyndale Publishers, 1980, 1986.
Van Der Woude, A.S., gen. ed. The World of the Bible. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1986.
Walton, John, et. al. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament. Downers Grove:
InterVarsity Press, 2000
Wiseman, Donald J. ed. Peoples of Old Testament Times. Oxford: University Press, 1973.
Biblical Archaeology
Currid, John D. The Case for Biblical Archaeology: Uncovering the Historical Record of God's
Old Testament People. P&R, 2020.
Dever, William. Has Archaeology Buried the Bible? Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2020.
_____. What Did the Biblical Writers Know and When Did They Know It?: What Archaeology
Can Tell Us about the Reality of Ancient Israel. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001.
Archaeology
Albright, William F. The Archaeology of Palestine. Middlesex: Penguin Books, 1949, rev. 1960,
reprinted by Peter Smith Publishers, 1971.
Ben-Tor, Amnon, ed. The Archaeology of Ancient Israel. NY: Yale, 1991.
Cline, E.H. Biblical Archeology: a very short introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
2009.
Finegan, J. The Archaeology of the New Testament. 2nd ed. Princeton: Princeton University
Press, 1992.
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Galor, Katharina, and Hanswulf Bloedhorn. The Archaeology of Jerusalem: From the Origins to
the Ottomans. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2013.
Hoerth, A. Archaeology and the Old Testament. Baker, 1998.
Hoffmeier, James K. The Archaeology of the Bible. Oxford: Lion Hudson, 2008.
Kenyon, Kathleen M. The Bible and Recent Archaeology, London: British Museum Publications,
1978.
Killebrew, A.E. Biblical Peoples and Ethnicity. An Archaeological Study of Egyptians,
Canaanites, Philistines, and Early Israel, 1300-1100 B.C.E. Atlanta: Society of Biblical
Literature, 2005.
Levy, T. (ed.). The Archaeology of Society in the Holy Land. New York, Facts on File. 1995.
McRay, John. Archaeology and the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1991.
Magness, J. 2012. The Archaeology of the Holy Land: From the Destruction of Solomon’s
Temple to the Muslim Conquest. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Mazar, Amihai. Archaeology of the Land of the Bible, 10,000 - 586 B.C.E. Anchor Bible
Reference Library. New York: Doubleday, 1990.
Meyer, E. (ed.). The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Archaeology in the Near East. Oxford: Oxford
University Press, 1997.
Meyers, Eric M. Archaeology, The Rabbis & Early Christianity. Nashville: Abingdon, 1981.
Moorey, Roger. Excavation in Palestine. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1981.
Negev, Avraham, ed. Archaeological Encyclopedia of the Holy Lands. Jerusalem: Weidenfeld &
Nicholson, 1972.
Reed, Jonathan L. Archaeology and the Galilean Jesus: A Re-examination of the Evidence.
Harrisburg: Trinity Press, 2000.
. The HarperCollins Visual Guide to the New Testament: What Archaeology Reveals
About the First Christians. New York: HarperCollins, 2007.
Routledge, Bruce. Moab in the Iron Age: Hegemony, Polity, Archaeology. Philadelphia:
University of Pennsylvania Press, 2004.
Stern, Ephraim (ed.). The New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land.
Jerusalem: Carta, 1992.
. Archaeology of the Land of the Bible, Vol. II: The Assyrian, Babylonian, and Persian
Periods (732 – 332 B.C.E.). New York: Doubleday.
Vaughn, Andrew G., and Ann E. Killebrew, eds. Jerusalem in Bible and Archaeology: The First
Temple Period. Society of Biblical Literature Symposium Series 18. Atlanta: Society of
Biblical Literature, 2003.
History
Ancient Near East
Craigie, Peter. Ugarit and the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1983.
Hallo, W.W. and Simpson, W.K. The Ancient Near East: A History. NY: Harcourt Brace
Jovanovich, 1971.
Lloyd, Seton. The Archaeology of Mesopotamia: From the Stone Age to the Persian Conquest.
London: Thames & Hudson, 1978.
Olmstead, A.T. History of the Assyrian Empire. Chicago: University Press, 1960
. History of the Persian Empire. Chicago: University Press, 1959.
Yamauchi, Edwin. Persia and the Bible. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1990.
Page 10 of 18
Jewish Roots of Christianity
Anderson, Paul and R. Alan Culpepper. John and Judaism:A Contested Relationship in Context.
Atlanta: SBL Press, 2017.
Evans, Craig and David Mishkin, A Handbook on the Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith. Grand
Rapids: Hendrickson, 2019.
Garber, Zev. The Jewish Jesus: Revelation, Reflection, Reclamation. West Lafayette, IN: Purdue
University Press, 2011.
Hunt, Steven A., ed. Perspectives on Our Father Abraham: Essays in Honor of Marvin R. Wilson.
Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2012.
McDermott, Gerald R. Understanding the Jewish Roots of Christianity: Biblical, Theological, &
Historical Essays on the Relationship between Christianity & Judaism. Bellingham, WA:
Lexham Press, 2021.
Schaeffer, Edith. Christianity Is Jewish. Cambridge: Tyndale, 1977.
Wilson, Marvin R. Exploring Our Hebraic Heritage: A Christian Theology of Roots and Renewal.
Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2014.
_____. Our Father Abraham: Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith. 2
nd
ed. Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans, 2021.
Egypt
Kathryn Bard (ed.) The Encyclopedia of the Archaeology of Ancient Egypt. New York:
Routledge Press, 1999.
Redford, Donald. Egypt, Canaan, and Israel in Ancient Times. Princeton: Princeton Univ. Press,
1992.
Redford, Donald B. Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt. London: Oxford, 2000.
Wilson, John A. The Culture of Ancient Egypt. Chicago: University Press, 1951.
Ancient Palestine
Albertz, A History of Israelite Religion in the Old Testament. Volume I: From the beginnings to
the End of the Monarchy (trans. John Bowden; Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 1994)
Albertz, A History of Israelite Religion in the Old Testament Period, Volume 2; From the Exile
to the Maccabees (Louisville: Westminster/John Know, 1994)
Ahlstrom, The History of Ancient Palestine from the Paleolithic Period to Alexander's Conquest
(Sheffield: JSOT, 1992).
Avi-Yonah, Michael. The Holy Land: From the Persian to the Arab Conquest (536 BC-AD 640).
Grand Rapids: Baker, 1966.
Ben-Sasson (ed.), A History of the Jewish People (Cambridge: Harvard, 1976).
Bickerman, From Ezra to the Last of the Maccabees: Foundations of Post-Biblical Judaism
(New York: Schocken, 1962).
Bright, John. A History of Israel. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1981.
Bruce, F.F. Israel and the Nations. Grand Rapids: W.B Eerdmans, 1969. Rev 1998.
Cohen, From the Maccabees to the Mishnah. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1987.
Grabbe, An Introduction to First Century Judaism: Jewish Religion and History in the Second
Temple Period. Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1996.
Hayes and Miller, Israelite and Judean History. London: SCM Press, 1977.
Noth, The History of Israel. London: SCM, 1958.
Schurer, The History of the Jewish People in the Age of Jesus Christ (175 B.C.-A.D. 135)
(Revised and Edited by Geza Vermes and Fergus Millar; Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1973)
Page 11 of 18
Shanks (ed.), Ancient Israel: A Short History from Abraham to the Roman Destruction of the
Temple. Washington DC: BAS, 1988.
Smith, Palestinian Parties and Politics That Shaped the Old Testament (Second ed.;
London:SCM, 1987) Vermes, The Dead Sea Scrolls in English (4th ed.; New York: Penguin,
1995)
Stern, E. Archaeology of the Land of the Bible, Volume II, Double Day, New York, 2001
Wellhausen, Prolegomena to the History of Ancient Israel (Translated from German). Meriden
Paperback edition, 1957; 1883.
Zevit, Z. 2001. The Religions of Ancient Israel. A Synthesis of Parallactic Approaches. New
York: Continuum
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Competency Assessment Rubric for BBBW5200 Encountering the Biblical World Research
Papers
Cognitive/Understanding Assessment
1. The
Student
☐
demonstrated a comprehensive understanding of the resources for Biblical Backgrounds
research
☐
reflected an awareness of the resources for Biblical Backgrounds research but did not utilize
those resources adequately
☐
reflected an awareness of some of the resources for Biblical Backgrounds research but did not
utilize many of the resources
☐
was unable to identify or explain the resources for Biblical Backgrounds research
2. The
Student
☐
demonstrated a comprehensive understanding of the physical world of the Bible
☐
reflected an awareness of the process of the physical world of the Bible but did not adequately
relate it to Biblical interpretation
☐
reflected an awareness of some of the issues related to the Biblical geography but did not
utilize them fully in Biblical interpretation
☐
was unable to identify or explain the geography of the Bible
Application Assessment
1. The
Student
☐
demonstrated a comprehensive understanding of the principles of applying Biblical
Backgrounds to interpreting the Bible
☐
reflected an awareness of the principles of applying Biblical Backgrounds to interpreting the
Bible but did not explain them adequately
☐
reflected an awareness of some of the principles of applying Biblical Backgrounds to
interpreting the Bible but did not address them fully
☐
was unable to identify or explain the principles of applying Biblical Backgrounds to the
process of interpreting the Bible
2. The
Student
☐
demonstrated a valuing of the necessity of bridging the temporal and cultural gaps between
contemporary society and the Biblical world
☐
reflected a general appreciation of the necessity of bridging the temporal and cultural gaps
between contemporary society and the Biblical world
☐
reflected a lack of appreciation for the need of bridging the temporal and cultural gaps between
contemporary society and the Biblical world
☐
rejected the need for bridging the temporal and cultural gaps between contemporary society
and the Biblical world
Communicative Assessment
1. The
Student
☐
fully interpreted and communicated the Bible teaching utilizing Biblical background materials
☐
interpreted and communicated the Bible teaching utilizing some Biblical background materials
but did not relate the meaning fully
☐
inadequately interpreted and communicated the Bible teaching utilizing Biblical background
materials
☐
was unable to interpret and communicate the Bible teaching utilizing Biblical background
materials
Page 13 of 18
A BRIEF HISTORICAL SKETCH OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH
IN THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST
I.
SURVEYS AND PILGRIMAGES
A.
Helena-mother of Constantine identified sites such as in Bethlehem with the Church of
the Nativity and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
B.
Origen (c.230-254) ("We have visited the places to learn by inquiry of the footsteps of
Jesus and of his disciples and of the prophets.") + other C2-C3 AD church fathers note
local traditions.
C.
Eusebius (c.325) - Chronicle of early searching for Holy places in Palestine --also in his
Onomasticon (4th section of research on biblical geography, 1 - 3 are lost) lists
alphabetically sites in Palestine w/ annotations.
D.
Jerome (c.385-420) Finished translation of Latin Vulgate at Bethlehem Church of
Nativity and revised Eusebius' Onomasticon. Letters also mention sites.
E.
Crusaders - identified numerous sites and built churches on scores of them.
*** Some suggest that Thomas Jefferson may have been the first to carry out a form of
scientific excavation, when in 1784 he dug a trench through an Indian mound on his
Virginia property, noting layers (or strata) of bones and burial artifacts.
II.
EMERGENCE OF EGYPTIAN AND MESOPOTAMIAN ARCHAEOLOGY
Beginnings of Methodological Excavation and Language Decipherment
A.
EGYPT
18th Century
1.
Giovanni Belzoni - plundered Egyptian tombs such as Abu Simbel, damaging many
"unprofitable" items such as numerous mummies "to rob the Egyptians of their
papyri" -- yet was considered somewhat scientific for his day.
2.
Napoleon - 1790 took 175 scholars (architects, artists, historians, etc.) to Egypt with
his army. 1799 - Rosetta stone found by artillery officers. Confiscated by the British.
Opened hieroglyphics, with Demotic and Greek.
3.
Jean Francois Champollion (Prof. of History and Oriental Languages at Grenoble at
age 19) succeeded in deciphering the hieroglyphics. Published results.
19th Century
1.
Col. Richard W. H. Vyse - used gunpowder to enter a pyramid in 1837.
2.
A.F.F. Mariette (Fr)-collected manuscripts from Memphis, Gizeh sphinx, Tanis,
Thebes. First to insist Egyptian authorities control excavation. Few still resorting to
the use of gunpowder.3. Karl R. Lepsius (Prussia) discovered Proto-
Dynastic and Early Dynastic tombs and mastabas in Egypt, as well as Ptolemaic
inscriptions.
4.
Gaston C.C. Maspero (Fr) excavated pyramids & tombs of Pepi I, II, et al.
5.
Sir Flinders Petrie - With British novelist Amelia Ann Stanford Edwards founded
British School of Archaeology in Egypt (Egyptian Exploration Society). Appalled at
the "excavation" methodology of his predecessors, Petrie developed more
scientificapproach (see below). Excavated Tel el-Hesi in SW Palestine in 1890.
Moved to Palestine in 1926 BC due to difficulties in Egypt. Buried in Israel at Ecole
Biblique.
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B.
MESOPOTAMIA AND ANATOLIA
17th - 18th Centuries
1.
Cuneiform texts made their way to Europe (Br, Ger, Fr, Den, It) via diplomats, doctors, et
al travelers, beginning in 1621.
2.
Decipherment of cuneiform ("wedge-shaped" from Latin cuneus) was gradual and slow.
George F. Grotefend (a high school classics teacher, who was knowledgeable in
Sanskrit and Pahlevi-desc. from Old Persian) deciphered some Old Persian names
from inscriptions from Persepolis, which had been suggested as the capital of the
ancient Achaemenid Empire. Yet cuneiform was far from translated. Persian modified
cuneiform contained about 41 known symbols. Its cuneiform ancestors were such as
Sumerian with 900+ pictographs which later became cuneiform representations; Old
Babylonian (Semitic) of Hammurabi (c.1750 BC) with 600-700 signs; to Middle
Babylonian with 350+; Elamite with 113 c.2500 BC; to 98 in Neo-Assyrian of 700
BC.
Sir Charles Rawlinson copied the Behistun inscription from the cliffs and worked on
the basic decipherment from 1835 to 1851.
* Note: It is estimated that only about 20% of the more than 500,000 cuneiform tablets have
yet been translated. e.g.- Donald J. Wiseman published some of the important Babylonian
Chronicles (9 tablets) in 1956 and Esarhaddon's treaties (1958), 80 years after they were
brought to the British Museum. Many thousands of others remain untouched after 100+
years.
19th Century
1.
C.J. Rich - early 19th century. Excavated small tells near Baghdad and Kirkuk-Mosul.
2.
P.E. Botta (Fr) - continued excavations at Mosul. Began at Nineveh.
3.
Sir Austen H. Layard (Br) - Nineveh--Sennacherib's palace and Ashurbanipal's Palace
and library (25,000 tablets). Nimrud--palaces of Ashurnasirpal, Shalmaneser II,
Adadnirari, Esarhaddon (1845, 1852-53, 1878-82).
4.
1840-1850 - race between French and British to secure the most material national and
personal museums. Untrained men plundered sites for whole pottery, solid objects, clay
tablets, etc. Many damaged and lost, e.g.- Assyrian gate portal lost in Euphrates River.
5.
Hormuzd Rassam and Sir Henry C. Rawlinson continued work for England.
Rawlinson is known especially for his work in copying the Behistun inscription which
led to the decipherment of cuneiform scripts (1837-).
6.
Victor Place succeeded Botta in 1851, resumed excavation at Khorsabad palace of
Sargon II.
7.
W. K. Loftus excavated at Erech (Uruk, Warka) 1850, 1953-54) & later Larsa.
8.
Heinrich Schliemann (Ger pastor) identified the mound of Hissarlik as Troy using Iliad
as source text. Began digging 1870-72. With Wilhelm Dorpfeld (architect) published the
first archaeological report, citing nine strata in the mound.
9.
E. de Sarzec at Lagash. Rassam resumed work at Nineveh and Babylon.
20th Century
1.
Robert Koldewey excavated at Babylon 1899-1917 (Iraq). Others continued work at
Susa, Elam Lagash.
2.
Hugo Winckler (Ger) began Hittite excavations at Boghazkoy (1906). Central Asia
Minor (Turkey). Germans, Austrians, & Turks have worked at numerous sites in
Page 15 of 18
region.
3.
Baron Max von Oppenheim excavated Tel Halaf, 1911-14, 1929-31. Prehistoric
Halafian culture defined, dated to 5th-4th M BC. Comparable material excavated at
Samaria by Herzfeld 1912-14, also at Arpachiya, Tepe Gawra, and Tel Billa in
Nineveh region.
4.
Sir Leonard Woolley excavated Ur (1922, 1926-) and Al-'Ubaid (1923-25).
1926 discovered the Royal Tombs of the early Sumerians.
5.
Erich Schmidt at Persepolis beginning in 1935.
*** Note: The nation of Iraq was established in 1932, and the IRAQ Dept. of Antiquities
has continued to excavate throughout Iraq with cooperative efforts of the British,
French and American schools of archaeology. Laws limiting the export of
archaeological artifacts were enacted as early as 1933.
6.
1949-1961 - excavation to Calah (Assyria).
7.
1965-present – Ebla >>15,000 tablets found in new "Eblaite" language, plus
Sumerian and Akkadian. Located in N. Syria, near Aleppo.
8.
Note recent excavations at Tel Emar and Tel Leilan.
Numerous excavations have continued in Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Jordan, Egypt.
C.
PALESTINE
19th Century
a.
Surveys by: Irby and Mangles (1817-1818)
** Edward Robinson (Amer.) and Rev. Eli Smith (Protestant missionary in Beirut,
fluent in Arabic) in 1838 journeyed 105 days from Cairo to Beirut via Sinai,
recording biblical and geographical data, from which were produced 3 vols.
Biblical Researches in Palestine, Mount Sinai and Arabia Petraea (1841). Later in
1852 traveled in Galilee and Samaria, compiling additional vols. on those regions
and a Physical Geography of Palestine.
b.
Palestine Exploration Fund founded (1867-1870)
** C.R. Conder and H.H. Kitchner - a comprehensive survey under the Palestine
Exploration Fund – P.E.F. (1872-1887)
The Survey of Western Palestine (1881) and Survey of Eastern Palestine (1889).
c.
Ecole Biblique founded in 1870's (French) just West of Damascus gate.
d.
Capt. Charles Warren began excavating Jerusalem, discovered water shaft to Gihon
Spring
e.
Sir Flinders Petrie - developed more scientific excavation techniques at Tel el-Hesi:
(1890). Noted as first modern scientific excavation in the Holy Land. Stressed: a)
stratigraphy, b) ceramic chronology and typology, c) utilized metallurgists and
botanists to examine remains.
Page 16 of 18
III.
DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENTIFIC EXCAVATION METHODOLOGY (1900-1960)
A.
Notable Excavations
1. 1900-1910
a.
R.A.S. Macalister excavation of Gezer. Bliss & Macalister excavations.
b.
American Schools of Oriental Research in Jerusalem and Baghdad founded.
c.
Samaria excavation by Reisner, Fisher, and Lyon who further refined excavation
techniques.
2. 1920-1930
a.
British Palestine Department of Antiquities founded, headed by John Garstang.
b.
Beth-Shean (University of Pennsylvania)
c.
Megiddo (University of Chicago)
d.
W. F. Albright excavated Tel Beit Mirsim (Johns Hopkins University) who
further refined ceramic chronology.
e.
Tel en-Nasbeh (Mizpah) by W.F. Bade.
f.
Ophel Hill in Jerusalem (1927) by J.W. Crowfoot.
g.
Beth-Shemesh (Rowe, et al.)
3. 1930-1940
a.
Nelson Glueck (Jewish spy) survey of Transjordan (1933-1946)
b.
Beth Shean, Megiddo and Beit Mirsim continued.
c.
Jericho (British) by John Garstang
d.
Lachish (British) by J. Starkey, L. Harding, O. Tufnell
e.
Samaria (K. Kenyon, E.L. Sukenik - Br.)
f.
Bethel (James Kelso and W.F. Albright)
4. 1947-1950
a.
E.L. Sukenik obtains first of Dead Sea Scrolls. John Trever of the ASOR office
in Jerusalem photographs and authenticates antiquity of them w/ W.F. Albright.
b.
Search for caves at Qumran begins. Qumran site excav. 1951-56 by Fr. Roland
De Vaux
c.
Tel Qasile by Benjamin Mazar, first excavation established by the newly created
State of Israel.
5.
1950-1960 -- Israeli Archaeology comes of age
a.
Nelson Glueck survey of Negev
b.
Jericho, Jerusalem (Dame Kathleen Kenyon)
c.
Shechem (ASOR - G. Ernest Wright)
d.
Hazor, Yigael Yadin with Yohanon Aharoni
e.
Gibeon (James Pritchard - University of Pennsylvania)
f.
Dothan (James Free - Wheaton College)
g.
Caesarea (M. Avi-Yonah; more recently under American consortium-CAHEP)
h.
Ashdod (Moshe Dothan)
B.
Stages of Development in Archaeological Excavation Methods
1.
Area or Sectional Excavation - Sir Flinders Petrie, Heinrich Schliemann (1870s-1920)
Development of Principles of Stratigraphy and Typology
Beginning utilization of varied scientific disciplines
2.
Reisner-Fisher Method -- Locus to Architecture 1920-1955)
Page 17 of 18
Excavation of architectural units’ rooms, buildings, palaces, defense walls, etc.
Expansion of utilization of scientific disciplines
3.
Wheeler - Kenyon Method - Balk to Debris Layer (1955-present)
Survey utilizing Israel national grid system, subdivided into sections and squares
Recent used of subsurface radar to map subterranean structures prior to excavation
Future use of satellite technology in determination of areas to excavate
Balk (wall of earth between squares) preserved on perimeter of 5 X 5-meter square
To preserve stratigraphic sequence and check on previous work
Development of scientific disciplines such as paleobotany, paleozoology,
paleography, social sciences related to ancient peoples, digital photography in
deciphering ancient documents, metallurgy, anthropology, chemistry, physics, et al.
IV.
EXPANSION PERIOD: THE SCIENCE OF ARCHAEOLOGY (1960-present)
A.
Key Excavations of the 1960s -- 1980s
1.
Arad (Hebrew University – Aharoni -Iron Age and Ruth Amiram - EB)
2.
Ein Gedi (Hebrew University)
3.
Benjamin Mazar begins South wall of Temple Mount in Jerusalem after 1967 War.
4.
Gezer (G.E. Wright, William Dever - Hebrew Union College)
5.
Deir Allah (Scandinavia)
6.
Taanach (ASOR) - Paul Lapp
7.
Ai (SBTS - Joseph Callaway)
8.
Heshbon (Andrews University under Harold Stigers)
9.
Dan (Avraham Biran - Tel Aviv University) - continues to present
10.
Ashdod (D.N. Freedman, A. Biran, Moshe Dothan)
11.
Joppa (Israeli)
12.
Capernaum (RC-Franciscan fathers, recently w/ Vassilios Tsaferis)
13.
Tel el-Hesi (ASOR)
14.
Caesarea (Drew University and consortium)
15.
Khirbet Shema (ASOR - Eric and Carol Meyers)
16.
Beersheba (Y. Aharoni - Tel Aviv University)
17.
Aphek/Antipatris (Tel Aviv U.- NOBTS under M. Kohavi - G. Kelm)
18.
Lachish (Y. Aharoni, A. Rainey, D. Ussishkin - Tel Aviv University)
19.
Tel Qasile (B. Mazar, Amihai Mazar)
20.
Timnah--Tel Batash (A. Mazar--Hebrew Univ, G. Kelm--NOBTS, SWBTS)
Page 18 of 18
B.
Present - Scores of major and minor sites are excavated yearly.
For 2013 see BAR January 2016 issue, Recent Excavations include such sites as:
Beth Shean (Scythopolis)
Hazor
Tel Haror (=Gerar?)
Tel Halif (En Rimmon)
Jezreel
Bethsaida
Caesarea Philippi (Banias)
Tel Qasile
Sepphoris
Caesarea Maritima
Ashkelon
Mareshah (Marisa)
Tel Hadar (Geshurites?)
Ekron
Qumran caves
Petra (Edomite & Nabatean strata)
Dor
Nahal Beersheba survey
Tel Malhata
Tiberias
Yodefat (Jotapata)
Yarmuth
Dan
Pella
Wadi Mujib Project
Abila
Plains of Moab Project
Apollonia
el-Burj
Nebi Samuel
Megiddo
Chinnereth
Tel Rehov
Tel es-Safi (Gath)
Gezer
Tel Zeitah
Tel Qeiyafa (Sha`araim?)
Beth Shemesh
Hippus/Susita
Abel Beth-Maacah
Cana of Galilee
Azek
