1. Readings. The required texts are: Online Bookstore

1. Anderson, Bernhard. Understanding the Old Testament, 4th ed. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1986, 1975, 1966, 1957. ("Anderson") ISBN: 0139483993
2. Brown, Raymond E., et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1990, 1968. ("Brown") ISBN: 0136149340
3. Newsom, Carol A. And Sharon H. Ringe, eds.The Women’s Bible Commentary. Paperback. Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1998. ("Newsom & Ringe") ISBN: 066425781X
4. Meeks, Wayne A., gen. ed. The Harper Collins Study Bible, New Revised Standard Version. Hard-cover. London: HarperCollins Publishers, 1993. ("Meeks") ISBN: 0060655801

It is acknowledged that the reading list is long. However, these books will be required throughout students’ studies and should occupy a prominent place in the library of their work lives. This course is the foundation for the study of divinity and consequently it occupies a prominent place in the Bachelor of Divinity Degree Program.

2. Conferences.There will be at least two Internet conferences between the student and the professor. These should be scheduled by the student after the first week and before the last week. Of course, students may ask questions of the professor at any time by sending an E-mail to the address at the link above or by posting them to the message board.

3. Exams.There will be one exam which will be a comprehensive final examination. The exam will cover the assigned readings and the conferences and should be taken during the final week of study

4. Papers. There will be a short paper of no more than two single-spaced pages or 1,250 words, due at the end of each week’s readings in which students will answer the discussion questions and give a reaction to their readings; and, a final paper due of between five and seven double-spaced pages on a topic to be chosen in consultation with the professor. A tentative title, thesis statement, and working bibliography are due by the end of the third week. The final paper is due by the end of the sixth week. These papers are to be e-mailed to the professor. Those who do not feel comfortable with e-mailing the papers can contact the professor for a mailing address.

5. Grades. Course work will be weighted as follows:

Papers	20%
Final Paper	50%
Final Exam	30%

6. Grading Scale.

90-100%	A - Excellent
80-89%	B - Above Average
70-79%	C - Average
60-69%	D - Below Average
59% or below	F - Failing Grade

1. How did the Bible come to be?
2. Do we have any of the original documents of the Bible today?
3. What does reading the Bible through the eyes of women add to our understanding of the Bible?
4. What does it mean to "understand" the Bible?

1. What is the "defining moment" in the history of Israel?
2. How many creation stories are there in Genesis? What is the difference between them?
3. When was Genesis written? By whom?
4. Is the story of creation myth, fact, or confession of faith?

1. From what point of view is the story of the liberation of Israel told?
2. Why might there not be any historical evidence in Egypt to support the Exodus story?
3. Is there an ecological or scientific way of explaining the "miracles" of the desert/ wilderness?
4. Does the story of the liberation of Israel tell us more about God or Israel or Egypt? Why?
5. Can we read the Bible as history without considering its theological implications?

1. Look at the 18th Chapter of Leviticus, what is this chapter about? Hint, read the commentary at the bottom of the page.
2. What do we notice about the manner in which women are treated in the law of Israel? Children? Hint, read Newsom & Ringe pages 244-251.
3. Chapter 26 of Leviticus is divided into two sections. What are they?
4. Read Chapter 14 of Numbers. What is going on here? Look particularly at verses 29-30 and verse 37, what is happening here?
5. Read Chapter 15 of Deuteronomy. What is your reaction? Hint, read the commentary at the bottom of the pages.
6. Read Chapter 27 of Deuteronomy. Why must the people say Amen to each of the commandments?

1. Discuss the concept of covenant. What are the various types of covenants?
2. What is the significance of the 40 years which the Israelites spent wandering in the wilderness?
3. What becomes of the prostitute who hides the spies from Israel?
4. How do you react to the confrontation between the Israelites and the Canaanites? Is this history or theology or theology explaining history? Look particularly at Anderson pages 160-162.
5. What is the difference between the historical narration in the ancestral history and that in the primeval history?

1. What is wisdom literature?
2. What are the three divisions of Isaiah and how do they differ from one another? Anderson says that the Israelites had a "tolerance for versions." What does Anderson mean by this statement?
3. Read Chapter 9 of Ezra. What is the issue here? How is it resolved? How does it differ from the solution in Nehemiah Chapter 13:23-31?
4. What is Job’s complaint? How do his friends respond? Who does God say has spoken correctly about God?
5. Why do you think those who assembled the Bible included the Song of Solomon? What kind of writing is this?
6. Look at Chapter 2 of Ezekiel. How is he commissioned by God for a special work? Does this differ from the way God has called others such as Moses and Jeremiah? If so, in what ways?

1. How does Judith slay Holofernes?
2. Who are the Maccabees? How do they come to power?
3. What happens why Daniel is in the lions’ den?
4. How does Tobias kill or get rid of the demon who has persecuted Sarah?
5. What happens to the Israelites who refuse to fight on the Sabbath in the Book of Maccabees?
6. In Bel and the Dragon, how does Daniel prove that the king’s prophets are false? How does Daniel slay the dragon?
7. Tell the story of Susanna in three sentences or less.