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The Bible's Prehistory, Purpose, and Political Future

Approx. 20 hours to complete

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Course Summary

This course takes you on a journey through the history of the Bible, exploring its cultural and historical context, and its impact on society and religion.

Key Learning Points

Learn about the history and evolution of the Bible
Explore the cultural and historical context of the Bible
Examine the impact of the Bible on society and religion

Learning Outcomes

Understand the history and evolution of the Bible
Examine the cultural and historical context of the Bible
Analyze the impact of the Bible on society and religion

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

Interest in Biblical history and religion
Basic understanding of history and culture

Course Difficulty Level

Beginner

Course Format

Online
Self-paced

Similar Courses

Introduction to the Old Testament
The New Testament: A Historical Introduction
World Religions Through Their Scriptures

Notable People in This Field

Bart D. Ehrman
Elaine Pagels

Related Books

Description

With its walls razed to ground by Babylon’s armies, Jerusalem joined a long line of ancient vanquished cities—from Ur and Nineveh and Persepolis to Babylon itself. While some recovered from the destruction, others did not. But none responded to political catastrophe by fashioning the kind of elaborate and enduring monument to their own downfall that we find in the Bible. Most conquered populations viewed their subjugation as a source of shame. They consigned it to oblivion, opting instead to extol the golden ages of the past. The biblical authors in contrast reacted to loss by composing extensive writings that acknowledge collective failure, reflect deeply upon its causes, and discover thereby a ground for collective hope.

Working through colorful biblical and ancient Near Eastern texts, and drawing on an array of comparative examples, the course illustrates the thoroughgoing manner with which biblical authors responded to defeat by advancing a demotic agenda that places the community at the center. The aim of the biblical authors was to create a nation, and they sought to realize this goal via a shared text, which includes stories and songs, wisdom and laws. This corpus of writings belongs, without a doubt, to humanity’s greatest achievements. Whereas the great civilizations of the Near East invested their energies and resources into monuments of stone that could be destroyed by invading armies, the biblical authors left a literary legacy that has been intensively studied until the present day. More important, these authors’ visionary response to defeat brought to light a radical new wisdom: the notion that a people is greater than the state which governs it, and that a community can survive collapse when all of its members can claim a piece of the pie and therefore have a reason to take an active part in its collective life.

Outline

The Riddle That Has Yet to be Solved
Course Introduction
Introduction
Defeat and the Response to Defeat
The Oldest Reference to Israel
The Centers of Civilization
The Levant as a Land Bridge
Egypt's Presence in Canaan During the New Kingdom
The End of Egyptian Imperial Control
Map Module
Dever Interview
Learning Outcomes & Recommended Works
Getting Started
Publication Offer from Professor Wright (Optional)
Websites
Course Maps
Biblical Timeline
Letter from the Instructor: Welcome to Module 1
Module 1 Readings
Quiz 1

The Rise and Fall
Introduction
Israel and Judah
Omride Dynasty
Fall of Israel
The Kingdom of Judah
Fall of Judah
Younger Interview
Darby Interview
Vaughn Interview
Biblical Narrative: Building a History
Israel in Canaan
The Rise of the Kingdoms
Exploring the Material Culture
The Nature of the Kingdoms
Office Hours Modules 1-2
Letter from the Instructor: Welcome to Module 2
About the Supplemental Videos
Module 2 Readings
Quiz 2

The Making of the Bible as a Response to Defeat
Introduction
Part 1: Judah After the Babylonian Conquest
Part 2: Factors Leading to Depopulation
A Judahite Community in Egypt
Judahite Communities in Babylon
The Return to Zion
Introduction to the Biblical Project
From the Bible to the Sumerian King List
Analyzing a Biblical Text: Genesis 26
A Closer Look at Genesis 26
Interweaving Sources
Compositional Theories
Division of the Books: Organizing a History
Doctoral Student Aubrey Buster
Epigrapher and Professor Christopher A. Rollston
Letter from the Instructor: Welcome to Module 3
Module 3 Readings
Genesis 25
Genesis 26
Genesis 27
Genesis 28
Quiz 3

Reinventing the Hero
Introduction
The Biblical Authors Reinvent the Hero
Commemorating the Fallen Soldiers
The Glorified Death of the Fallen Warrior
The Bible’s Treatment of Heroic Death
Death in the Bible
Biblical Law Codes and Procreation
The Preservation of the People
Interview with Tamara Cohn Eskenazi, Part 1
Interview with Tamara Cohn Eskenazi, Part 2
Interview with Tamara Cohn Eskenazi, Part 3
Conclusion
Letter from the Instructor: Welcome to Module 4
Module 4 Readings
Quiz 4

A Wise and Discerning People
Introduction
The Bible as an Educational Curriculum
The Educational Ideals of the Bible
Education Reform in the Face of Defeat
From State Secrets to Open Access and National Literature
Divination and Prophecy in Mesopotamia
Biblical Prophets and the Throne
The Reasons for the Differences
Holding Priests in Check
Breed Interview
Manzer Interview
Eskenazi Interview Pt. 1
Eskenazi Interview Pt. 2
Letter from the Instructor: Welcome to Module 5
Module 5 Readings
Five

Beyond Morality: The Bible as Political Model
What We've Learned in This Course
Three Distinct Qualities
Peoplehood as a "Plan B"
The Emergence of a Pan-Israelite Identity
Why Does the Bible Originate in Israel and Judah?
A Communal Pact Under Persian Rule
Hope in Divine Judgement: From Treaty to Covenant
The Interpersonal Ethics of Covenant
Concluding Reflections: The Bible's Future
Sweeney Interview, Part 1
Sweeney Interview, Part 2
Sweeney Interview, Part 3
O'Connor Interview
Wolpe Interview
Office Hours Modules 3-6
Letter from the Instructor: Welcome to Module 6
Module 6 Readings
Six

Summary of User Reviews

Discover the fascinating history of the Bible with this comprehensive course on Coursera. Students praise the engaging lectures and in-depth analysis of the course material. One key aspect that many users thought was good is the focus on historical context, which helps to deepen understanding of the Bible's origins and evolution.

Pros from User Reviews

Engaging lectures
In-depth analysis of course material
Focus on historical context
Well-structured course
Helpful resources provided

Cons from User Reviews

Some students felt the course was too academic or scholarly
A few users found the course material too dense or difficult to follow
Limited opportunities for interaction with instructors or other students
Not all students found the course content to be relevant or interesting
Some users experienced technical difficulties with the platform

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The Bible's Prehistory, Purpose, and Political Future

With its walls razed to ground by Babylon’s armies, Jerusalem joined a long line of ancient vanquished cities—from Ur and Nineveh and Persepolis to Babylon itself....

Save Course