Mobile Ed: The World of the Old Testament Bundle (2 courses)

by David W. Baker; Logos Mobile Education

Publisher:

Lexham Press

, 2016

Overview

Explore the fascinating literary and social world of the Israelites of the Old Testament period with David W. Baker. Dig into historical extrabiblical texts to gain insight into the ancient Near Eastern culture in OT203 The Literary World of the Old Testament. Discover parallels between ancient Israel’s family structures and government with our own societal structures and challenges that we face today in OT204 The Social World of the Old Testament.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion you should be able to:

• Identify similarities and differences between the biblical creation account and creation accounts from Mesopotamia and Egypt
• Discover in both traditions inside and outside the Bible how humanity caused problems with the creation that they were given and punishment and destruction was brought upon them
• Examine ancient Near Eastern texts that include prayers and ritual texts that bear striking similarities and differences with ancient Israelite texts
• Understand the social world and social life of the Israelites of the Old Testament period
• Describe the family structures in Israel
• Grasp several different aspects of ancient Israelite economics and how that affected not only individuals, but also the wider society

Product Details

• Title: Mobile Ed: The World of the Old Testament Bundle (2 courses)
• Instructor: David W. Baker
• Publisher: Lexham Press
• Publication Date: 2016
• Product Type: Logos Mobile Education
• Resource Type: Courseware, including transcripts, audio, and video resources
• Courses: 2
• Video Hours: 10

OT203 The Literary World of the Old Testament

• Instructor: David W. Baker
• Video Hours: 6

Join David W. Baker on a whirlwind tour, looking at the Old Testament from many different angles and at how it relates to ancient Near Eastern literature. From creation accounts and stories of destruction to Wisdom literature, discover different biblical literary genres that have parallels in ancient Near Eastern literature. Explore extrabiblical historical texts that mention key events and figures from the Old Testament. Understand how Israel fits into and is impacted by its ancient Near Eastern environment, but also how it is separate and unique, mainly on a theological level, but also by its distinct worldview.

Contents:

Introduction

• Introducing the Speaker and the Course

Unit 1: Context of the Ancient Near East

• Peoples and Places in the Old Testament
• Influences of Multiculturalism
• Ancient Near Eastern Literacy
• Writing and Authorship
• Ancient Writing Materials and Extant Biblical Texts
• Ancient Writing and Copying Practices
• Value of Ancient Near Eastern Texts

Unit 2: Genesis and Ancient Near East Parallels

• Biblical Views of Creation
• The Enuma Elish Creation Epic
• Comparing Creation Accounts in Genesis and Enuma Elish
• Comparing Humanity’s Role in Creation
• Creation in Egypt and Canaan
• Creative Order
• Sibling Rivalry, Eternal Life
• Mesopotamian Flood Stories
• Comparing the Genesis and Mesopotamian Floods
• Considering Parallel Flood Accounts
• An Egyptian Account of the Destruction of Humankind
• Confusion of Languages, Parallel Customs
• Nuzi Legal Documents
• Shepherding Laws
• Egyptian Elements in Joseph’s Story

Unit 3: Ancient Near East Parallels during Moses’ Leadership

• Moses and the Legend of Sargon
• The Exodus and Ancient Migrations
• Ancient Near Eastern Treaties
• The Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern Treaties
• Ancient Law Codes
• Israel’s Laws and Ancient Near Eastern Laws
• Legal Penalties in the Ancient Near East
• Ancient Near Eastern Rituals
• Israel and the Stele of Merneptah
• Balaam and the Fragment at Deir Alla

Unit 4: Reconstructing Ancient Near East History

• Ancient Near East Temple History
• Ancient Near East Cyclical Views of History
• Shaping Historical Events
• Determining Historical Accuracy
• Resources for Reconstructing History

Unit 5: Ancient Near East Parallels during Israel’s Occupation, Monarchy, and Exile

• The El-Amarna Letters
• The Sea Peoples
• Dating Ancient Near East Events
• Inscriptions of Shishak and Shalmaneser III
• Inscriptions of Hazael and Mesha
• Inscriptions of Tiglath-Pileser III and Sargon II
• Sennacherib’s Third Campaign
• Inscription at Hezekiah’s Tunnel
• Nebuchadnezzar, Evil-Merodach, and Cyrus
• Hebrew Seal Inscriptions

Unit 6: Prophecy and Ancient Near East Parallels

• Divine Communication in the Ancient Near East
• Prophecy and Omens in the Ancient Near East
• Comparing Diviners and Prophets

Unit 7: Hebrew Wisdom Literature and Ancient Near East Parallels

• Poetry and Songs in the Ancient Near East
• Personal Hymns and Prayers in the Ancient Near East
• The Book of Job and Ancient Near Eastern Parallels
• Job and the Song of Solomon and Ancient Near Eastern Parallels
• Proverbs and Ancient Near East Parallels

Conclusion

• Course Summary

OT204 The Social World of the Old Testament

• Instructor: David W. Baker
• Video Hours: 4

In an age of international travel and migration, we’re familiar with people who look, sound, eat, and believe differently than we do. In order to become friends, it’s helpful to understand where they come from and how they do things differently, or the same, as we do. In the same way it is necessary to understand someone who comes from a different place than we do, how much more necessary is it to understand someone who is from not only a different geographical place, but also a different time than we are? The Old Testament starts at the beginning of the world. This course will undertake the task of crossing the bridges of geography, climate, time, and a landscape unknown to us: ancient Israel. Throughout the course, David W. Baker will address aspects of life from our own culture and time, as well as family structure and societal systems from ancient Israelite life. As we learn more about the social world of the Old Testament, we will be struck not only by our differences, but also by our common humanity, sharing the same dreams, hopes, and fears as they did.

Contents:

Introduction

• Introducing the Speaker and the Course

Unit 1: The Land of Ancient Israel

• Differences between Ancient Israel and the World Today
• The Geographical Location of Israel
• The Topography of Israel
• Resources for Studying Ancient Israel

Unit 2: Families and Home Life in Ancient Israel

• What Is a Family?
• Biblical Patterns of Marriage
• Aspects of Israelite Families
• Financial Transactions in Marriages
• Stages of a Marriage
• Childbearing and Childbirth in Israel
• Barrenness in the Ancient Near East
• Miscarriages in the Ancient Near East
• Nursing and Naming a Child in the Ancient Near East

Unit 3: Occupations and Economics in the Ancient Near East

• Economic Realities of Family Life
• Childhood in the Ancient Near East
• Occupations Outside of the Home
• Occupations for Women in the Ancient Near East
• Using People as Pledges in Business Transactions
• Legal Rights of Women in the Ancient Near East
• Literacy of Women in the Ancient Near East
• Introduction to Economics
• Genesis and Economics
• The Created Order
• Human Cooperation in Creation
• Ownership of Personal Property in Israel
• The Destructiveness of the Fall
• The Socioeconomics of Land Ownership
• Supporting the Poor in Israel

Unit 4: Government in Ancient Israel

• Leadership Development in Israel
• Moses’ and Joshua’s Leadership
• The Judges and the Monarchy
• The King’s Rule in Israel
• David’s Ascension as King
• Bureaucratic Appointments of David and Solomon

Unit 5: Religious Activities in the Ancient Near East

• Personal and National Altars
• The Sections of the Tabernacle
• Symbolism in the Tabernacle
• Shrines in Israel, Women and Prayer
• Women and Worship in the Ancient Near East
• Religious Practices of Women in the Ancient Near East
• Purposes of the Priests in Israel
• Practical Tasks of the Priests in Israel

Conclusion

• Course Summary

About David W. Baker

David W. Baker is a professor of Old Testament and Semitic languages at Ashland Theological Seminary in Ohio, where he’s taught since 1986, following teaching assignments at the University of Durban-Westville and the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa. He’s also lectured in Argentina, Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

Dr. Baker has a particular interest in pedagogy, constantly exploring new means and media to enhance the learning and teaching experience for both the instructor and the student. He has contributed to, edited, or written over 40 books, including Isaiah in the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary, The NIV Application Commentary: Joel, Obadiah, Malachi, and Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch. Forthcoming books include Genesis 37–50: A Handbook on the Hebrew Text in the Baylor Handbook on the Hebrew Bible Series, 1 & 2 Kings in the Teach the Text Commentary Series, Genesis in the Apollos Old Testament Commentary Series, and 1 & 2 Samuel in the Believers Church Bible Commentary Series.

He’s blessed with a wife, Morven, who immigrated to Canada from Scotland—a start that prepared her to support Dr. Baker in his geographical wanderings. Morven is a counselor specializing in women’s issues, specifically sexual abuse and domestic violence. Together, they have two children and three granddaughters.