Free online courseOld testament

Duration of the online course: 19 hours and 10 minutes

4.42

(12)

Dive deep into Old Testament studies with Yale's free online course. Explore biblical narratives, laws, prophecies, and poetry across 24 lectures on Theology.

Course Description

The course titled "Old Testament" offered by Yale Courses takes you on a detailed journey through one of the foundational texts of Western civilization. With a duration of 19 hours and 10 minutes, this course delves deep into the rich narratives and complex religious, historical, and literary dimensions of the Hebrew Bible.

Rated an impressive 4.42 out of 5 stars, this course situates itself within the broad category of "Others," with a specific focus on the subcategory of Theology. It stands as an invaluable resource for anyone interested in exploring the multifaceted layers of the Old Testament, whether for academic, spiritual, or personal enrichment.

The introductory lectures set the stage by explaining the composition and structure of the Hebrew Bible in "The Parts of the Whole" and "The Hebrew Bible in Its Ancient Near Eastern Setting: Biblical Religion in Context." These foundational sessions provide crucial context, situating the texts within their historical and cultural milieu. The analysis of "Genesis 1-4 in Context" further enriches this perspective, inviting you to understand these ancient scriptures in relation to surrounding civilizations and their mythologies.

The course then moves into deeper textual analysis, exploring the layers of narrative and source criticism in "Doublets and Contradictions, Seams and Sources" and "Critical Approaches to the Bible: Introduction to Genesis 12-50." These sessions equip participants with the tools to critically engage with the texts, unraveling the stories of the patriarchs and the origins of Yahwism in "Israel in Egypt: Moses and the Beginning of Yahwism (Genesis 37-Exodus 4)." Subsequent lectures guide you through the pivotal events and laws described in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers, meticulously dissecting the "Priestly Legacy" and "Biblical Law."

As the course progresses, it delves into the historical narratives and religious developments chronicled in Deuteronomy, Joshua, and Judges. The exploration of the "Deuteronomistic History" provides a thorough understanding of the Early Israelites' life, leadership, and sociopolitical challenges. Analyzing the lives of prophets and kings in 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings, the course offers a nuanced perspective on the biblical response to national catastrophes.

The sessions on prophecy, both non-literary and literary, bring to focus the intricate messages and distinct viewpoints of prophetic books such as Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Micah, and others. These lectures emphasize the enduring relevance and intellectual vigor of the prophetic tradition, culminating in an examination of the exilic and post-exilic visions found in Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and 2nd Isaiah.

The subsequent discussions address some of the profound existential queries and poetic expressions captured in "Responses to Suffering and Evil: Lamentations and Wisdom Literature" and "Biblical Poetry: Psalms and Song of Songs." With these lectures, the course illustrates the Old Testament’s breadth in addressing human suffering, divine justice, and the celebration of life and love.

Wrapping up the course, lectures on "The Restoration: 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah," "Visions of the End: Daniel and Apocalyptic Literature," and "Alternative Visions: Esther, Ruth, and Jonah" celebrate the resilience and renewal of religious and community life. These final sessions encapsulate the diversity of thought and theology that characterizes the Old Testament, providing a comprehensive and enriching conclusion to this academic journey.

Conteúdo do Curso

  • Video class: Lecture 1. The Parts of the Whole

    0h45m

  • Exercise: _Which of the following is true about the Israelites?

  • Video class: Lecture 2. The Hebrew Bible in Its Ancient Near Eastern Setting: Biblical Religion in Context

    0h46m

  • Exercise: _What is the revolutionary idea that the Bible presents as opposed to the polytheistic beliefs of the Ancient Near East?

  • Video class: Lecture 3. The Hebrew Bible in Its Ancient Near Eastern Setting: Genesis 1-4 in Context

    0h47m

  • Video class: Lecture 4. Doublets and Contradictions, Seams and Sources

    0h47m

  • Video class: Lecture 5. Critical Approaches to the Bible: Introduction to Genesis 12-50

    0h48m

  • Exercise: _Who was the first to argue that Moses wasn't the author of the entire Torah?

  • Video class: Lecture 6. Biblical Narrative: The Stories of the Patriarchs (Genesis 12-36)

    0h49m

  • Exercise: _According to Nahum Sarna, why is it unlikely that the patriarchal stories were a later fabrication?

  • Video class: Lecture 7. Israel in Egypt: Moses and the Beginning of Yahwism (Genesis 37- Exodus 4)

    0h46m

  • Exercise: _What does the change in Jacob's name signify according to the biblical view?

  • Video class: Lecture 8. Exodus: From Egypt to Sinai (Exodus 5-24, 32; Numbers)

    0h47m

  • Exercise: _How are the ten plagues organized in the book of Exodus?

  • Video class: Lecture 9. The Priestly Legacy: Cult and Sacrifice, Purity and Holiness in Leviticus and Numbers

    0h48m

  • Exercise: _What is the primary concern of the Priestly School in Leviticus?

  • Video class: Lecture 10. Biblical Law: The Three Legal Corpora of JE (Exodus), P (Leviticus and Numbers) and D

    0h50m

  • Video class: Lecture 11. On the Steps of Moab: Deuteronomy

    0h47m

  • Exercise: _What is the reason why Moses was not permitted to enter the Promised Land according to Deuteronomy 32:49-52?

  • Video class: Lecture 12. The Deuteronomistic History: Life in the Land (Joshua and Judges)

    0h50m

  • Exercise: _What does Deuteronomy 7:6-8 say about Israel's election?

  • Video class: Lecture 13. The Deuteronomistic History: Prophets and Kings (1 and 2 Samuel)

    0h49m

  • Video class: Lecture 14. The Deuteronomistic History: Response to Catastrophe (1 and 2 Kings)

    0h51m

  • Video class: Lecture 15. Hebrew Prophecy: The Non-Literary Prophets

    0h49m

  • Exercise: _According to the Deuteronomist, what sin is specifically punished with exile and destruction of the nation in the Old Testament?

  • Video class: Lecture 16. Literary Prophecy: Amos

    0h48m

  • Exercise: _Which prophets are associated with the Babylonian crisis?

  • Video class: Lecture 17. Literary Prophecy: Hosea and Isaiah

    0h48m

  • Exercise: _What is the historical background for the Book of Hosea?

  • Video class: Lecture 18. Literary Prophecy: Micah, Zephaniah, Nahum and Habbakuk

    0h48m

  • Exercise: _Who is the second southern prophet of the Assyrian crisis after Isaiah?

  • Video class: Lecture 19. Literary Prophecy: Perspectives on the Exile (Jeremiah, Ezekiel and 2nd Isaiah)

    0h47m

  • Exercise: _What is the main issue that prophetic literature in the sixth century confronts after the final destruction of Jerusalem?

  • Video class: Lecture 20. Responses to Suffering and Evil: Lamentations and Wisdom Literature

    0h52m

  • Exercise: _What is the structure of the Book of Lamentations?

This free course includes:

19 hours and 10 minutes of online video course

Exercises to train your knowledge

Certificate of course completion

100% free, from content to certificate

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Course comments: Old testament

IJ

Israel Jacob Yambala

This course was awesome

IJ

Israel Jacob Yambala

Yes the Bible could be providing information thatresources have confirmed. That is probably the reason why it stands to be an authentic book.. Or rather set of Books ????

IJ

Israel Jacob Yambala

This lesson is very insightful.. could it be that the Bible represents actual resources that other researchers referenced?

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