OT 634 Jerusalem Rebuilds:

Haggai, Zechariah, Ezra 1–6

Trinity School for Ministry Winter Intensive I: January 6–10, 2019

Dr. Byron G. Curtis

Haggai speaks to Zerubbabel and Joshua, son of Josedech Illuminated Manuscript, Netherlands, 1465. http://europeana.eu/ Public domain

OT 634 Syllabus. Jerusalem Rebuilds. TSM, January 6-10, 2019, page 2

OT 634 STM OT 834 and DMIN OT 934

Jerusalem Rebuilds: Haggai, Zechariah, Ezra 1-6

Course Syllabus, Winter Intensive I, January 6–10, 2019

Dr. Byron G. Curtis bgcurtis@geneva.edu

Welcome! Did Israel's history end with the Exile? No, indeed. Though seldom told in our day, the ash-and-rubble story of Old Testament Jerusalem rebuilt holds treasures for Bible students, teachers, preachers, and scholars. The prophets Haggai and Zechariah contributed mightily to the restoration of the Temple of Yahweh and to Jerusalem's reconstruction and survival. Two biblical books bear their names, tucked away as the tenth and eleventh among the twelve so-called “Minor Prophets.” The story of that first generation of reconstruction (539–516 BC) is told in historical accounts and in period documents in Ezra 1–6. These texts, neglected by many Christians, abound in rich themes: disaster and recovery, divine love amid human weakness, guilt and grace, leadership amid distraction, discouragement and hope; and amid all that, the restoration of the institutions of Mosaic, Israelite religion—Temple, Torah, and a Torah-observant community. The Bible‘s theology of history presents that time of restoration as the necessary prelude to the coming of the Davidic Messiah. Moreover, in the narratives of Jesus Christ’s final week in the NT Gospels, from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, no OT book is quoted more frequently than (no, not Psalms or Isaiah) — no OT book is quoted more frequently than Zechariah. These canonical texts merit careful study, study fruitful for the Church in all times, especially in troubled times.

Unit 1: Geography and History: Post-exilic Judah in Time and Place Unit 2: Ezra 1–6 Unit 3: Haggai–Zechariah 1–8 Unit 4: Zechariah 9–14

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Required Textbooks 1) A good historical and textual study Bible such as The NIV Study Bible (Zondervan, 2012) or The ESV Study Bible (Crossway, 2008 or later). A study Bible version with its study notes is the main text for this course. Acts 17:11 reports that the Bereans were “more noble” than the Thessalonians, because “they examined the scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” The ability to engage in the careful study and application of the Bible is the primary outcome sought in this course. 2) Backhouse, Robert. The Kregel Pictorial Guide to the Temple. Grand Rapids: Kregel. 1996. Christianbook.com $10.79 ISBN-10: 0825430399 ISBN-13: 978-0825430398 3) Meyers, Carol L. and Meyers, Eric M. Haggai, Zechariah 1–8. Series: Anchor Yale Bible Commentary 25B. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2004. [Original: Anchor Doubleday, 1987] ISBN-10: 0300139756 ISBN-13: 9780300139754 4) Shepherd, David J. and Wright, Christopher J. H. Ezra and Nehemiah. Series: The Two Horizons Old Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2018. ISBN 978-0-8028-6432-1 5) Webb, Barry. The Message of Zechariah. Series: The Bible Speaks Today. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2004. ISBN-10: 0830824308 ISBN-13: 978-0830824304

In addition to the textbooks, you will need access to other resources: 1) An atlas of the Bible. If you do not already own one, I recommend either of these: Lawrence, Paul. The IVP Concise Atlas of Bible History. IVP Academic. 2013. 192 pages. At christianbook.com, $15.99 ISBN: 0830829288 ISBN-13: 9780830829286 OR Rasmussen, Carl. Zondervan Essential Atlas of the Bible. Grand Rapids; Zondervan, 2013. 160 pages. At christianbook.com, $12.95. Amazon price: $15.50 ISBN-10: 0310318572 ISBN-13: 978-0310318576 2) A history of ancient Israel, such as: Merrill, Eugene H. A Kingdom of Priests: A History of Old Testament Israel. 2nd edition. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2008. ISBN-10: 9780801031991 ISBN-13: 978-0801031991 3) A theology of the OT prophets. This one is highly recommended: Robertson, O. Palmer. The Christ of the Prophets. Abridged edition. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R, 2008. ISBN-10: 1596380667 ISBN-13: 978-1596380660

Contact information: I expect to be on TSM campus the week of January 6–10. I’m easily

reached after class, and sometimes before class. Cell phone?—I have a hearing disability hearing

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called “Hyperacusis,” a painful condition triggered by sudden increase of decibel level. Electronic sounds are my main trigger. Hence, I do not make regular use of a cell phone. When I carry one, the phone is set to silent mode. So, aside from class, the best way to reach me is often by email: bgcurtis@geneva.edu. For contact before or after that week, my Geneva College office phone is set for voice mail: 724-847-6703. Contact by email is usually best.

Why a course on this period?—Destruction and exile served to validate in the minds of

most Judeans the messages of the prophets they had once rejected. It elevated their sense of Yahweh's purpose in their lives from being the mere guarantor of their material wellbeing, to becoming the holy God who keeps covenant with his people. At last, Judeans clearly perceived their God as the only God—righteous, merciful and faithful. It was precisely through the disaster of exile that the majority of Judeans learned this lesson so essential to Christian theology. Also during this time the OT acquired much of its present canonical shape. Thus, the biblical literature produced during this era provides rich spiritual resources, well worthy of our study.

Goals of the course. Successful students in OT 634 [OT 834 / OT 934] shall . . .

1) engage in the close reading of the biblical text of Haggai, Zechariah, and Ezra in English (or other first language);

2) apply correct interpretive procedures to these specific Old Testament (OT) biblical texts; 3) locate these OT texts within the historical context of the ancient Near Eastern regions,

kingdoms, and empires, namely, the demise of the Babylonian Empire, the ascendance Persian Empire, and the reestablishment of Judah and Jerusalem;

4) identify major literary genres of these OT texts and describe their significance for Christian interpretation and application;

5) explain how these exile-restoration texts serve as a major witness to Israel's faith and as a major contributor to New Testament (NT) theology;

6) articulate how these canonical texts contribute to the beliefs, values, and practices of the Church of Jesus Christ;

7) grapple with the moral issues raised by Judah’s experiences of massive failure, divine judgment, astonishing grace, disappointed hopes, and persevering faith.

8) apply appropriately this course’s biblical materials to their lives and callings. In addition to these course goals, students shall also make progress in these general learning outcomes, established by the seminary: M.Div.

1) The student will recognize and identify the biblical theology evident in the course work.

2) The student will be able to articulate an Anglican understanding of biblical, historical,

systematic, and pastoral theology.

3) The student will be able to communicate effectively the Christian message to a diversity of

people in order to advance the mission of God.

4) The student will be prepared to effectively lead in a variety of Christian communities.

MAR

1) The student will recognize and identify the biblical theology evident in the course work.

2) The student will be able to articulate an Anglican understanding of biblical, historical,

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systematic, and pastoral theology.

3) The student will be able to effectively teach the Christian faith.

4) The student will be equipped to apply scholarship to the life of the church in his or her

chosen theological discipline.

STM, OT 834

1) The student will recognize and identify the biblical theology evident in the course work.

2) The student will be able to articulate an Anglican understanding of biblical, historical,

systematic, and pastoral theology.

3) The student will demonstrate the ability to carry out research from original sources.

4) The student will be equipped to successfully pursue further independent research and post-

graduate study in his or her chosen theological discipline.

DMin, OT 934

1) The student will recognize and identify the biblical theology evident in the course work.

2) The student will demonstrate the ability to reflect biblically and theologically about the

identified problem.

3) The student will be able to identify and articulate a distinct ministry problem.

4) The student will demonstrate the ability to apply the learning from the biblical and

theological reflections to the identified problem.

Course Policies & Grading Class attendance is required. We meet daily, January 6–10

Assignment Chart Map quiz, Day 2, AM, based on syllabus pp 7–9 25 points Chronology quiz, Day 2, PM, based on syllabus page 6 25 points Preliminary Annotated Bibliography, Day 3 50 points Exegetical Brief, four pages, Day 4 50 points Class participation 100 points Final Exam, Day 5, PM 100 points __ Research Paper, due February 8, 2019 100 points _________________________________________________________ Total 450 points

A=Excellent. The work is well written, thorough, thoughtful, and timely; it exceeds expectations. B=Good. The work competently covers all of the assigned issues in standard readable prose. C=Fair. The work may miss aspects of the assignment, may misconstrue some issues, or may

suffer from other deficiencies, while still addressing the basics. D=Poor. The work is incomplete, or incompetent, or late, or suffers from major misunderstandings. F=Failing. A failing grade is given to missed assignments, or work that falls far short of the

assigned expectatons.

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Got a Date? Prep for the Chronology Quiz, Day 2 OT Time Line A—Eight Hot Dates for the Chronology Quiz

c = “circa,” approximately

God calls Moses, King First Divided Samaria Nebuchadnezzar Jerusalem Abraham Exodus David Temple Kingdom destroyed rules Near East destroyed ___|___________|_________|_______|_______|__________|____________|____________|___ c2000 BC | c1400–1300 | c1000 | 966 | 930 | 722 | 605 | 587

1. God calls Abraham c 2000 BC 2. Moses leads the Exodus c 1400-1300 BC 3. King David conquers Jerusalem c 1000 BC 4. King Solomon dedicates Jerusalem’s Temple 966 BC 5. Kingdom of Israel splits, North and South 930 BC 6. Samaria, Northern Kingdom’s capital, is destroyed by Assyria 722 BC 7. Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Assyria 605 BC 8. Jerusalem, Southern Kingdom’s capital, is destroyed by Babylonia 587 BC

Note: OT chronology before 1000 BC is at best approximate. After 1000, precision becomes possible because the years of the kings of Israel and Judah are sometimes linked to the years of the kings of Assyria and Babylonia whose dates are precisely known. Why the precision? Because of a solar eclipse known to have occurred on June 15, 763 BC, and recorded in an Assyrian text for the ninth year of the otherwise unremarkable King Ashur-Dan III.

* * * * * * * * * * *

OT Time Line B—Eight More Hot Dates for the Chronology Quiz

Persia takes Second Ezra, Nehemiah, Alexander’s Jerusalem Rome Jesus is Babylon Temple Torah Wall empire liberated conquers born ____|__________|________|________|___________|__________|__________|_________|____

539 | 516 | 458 | 444 | c330 | 164 | 63 | 6–4 BC

1. King Cyrus of Persia conquers Babylon 539 BC 2. Jerusalem’s Second Temple is dedicated 516 BC 3. Ezra the Scribe brings the Torah to Jerusalem 458 BC 4. Nehemiah the Governor rebuilds Jerusalem’s walls 444 BC 5. Alexander the Great conquers the Near East c 330 BC 6. Judas Maccabaeus liberates Jerusalem from the Greeks 164 BC 7. Rome conquers all of Syria and Palestine 63 BC 8. Jesus Christ is born in Bethlehem of Judea c 6–4 BC

Notes on Dates Why are dates marked “BC” and “AD”? BC is an English abbreviation, meaning “Before Christ.” AD is a Latin abbreviation, “In the Year of the Lord.” Years marked “AD” begin with the incarnation of the Lord Jesus. In secular publications, writers often use “BCE,” “Before the Common Era,” and “CE,” “Common Era.”

Where’s it at? Prep for the Map Quiz, Day 2

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Here’s the task: On the next two pages are two unlabeled maps. The first map shows what ancient geographers called Palestine, the territory known to the Bible as Canaan, and later, as Israel. The second map shows the Near East. Working with a Bible atlas or on-line geographic source, locate and label the sites listed on this page. Bibles often have maps tucked into the Back. On the Palestine map, locate and label these:

Four bodies of water: the Mediterranean Sea ( = The Great Sea) the Sea of Galilee ( = Lake Kinneret) the Dead Sea ( = the Salt Sea) the Jordan River

Cities or towns: Beersheba (Beer Sheva)

Bethlehem Hebron Jericho Jerusalem Megiddo Samaria Tyre Sidon

A. On the Near East map, locate and label these: Five bodies of water: the Persian Gulf

the Red Sea the Tigris River the Euphrates River the Nile River

Six regions or kingdoms: Egypt

Israel Mesopotamia Persia Sinai Peninsula Syria (=Aram)

Six cities: Babylon Carchemish Damascus Jerusalem Susa Ur

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reprinted by permission

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Map 2: The Near East

1000 kilometers = about 625 miles

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The Behistun Inscription, Western Iran, showing Darius the Great and defeated rebel kings, c 518 BC