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The World of Biblical Israel

Get a better understanding of the peoples and events described in The Old Testament with this interesting and helpful course taught by a professor of biblical studies.
 
 
Rated 5 out of 5 by from The Real Israel and Judah Raised within Christianity, I understood the story of Israel and Judah as a straight line from Abraham to King David to the Babylonian Exile and beyond with the Israelites enjoying prosperity or suffering disaster according to their faithfulness to the one true God. In Professor Chapman’s view, Israel’s development wasn’t like that. She ably draws upon Biblical passages and the findings of archaeology to reconstruct early Israel as it really was and to understand Israelite/Judean debates over religion, communal identity, and national grief. The Hebrew Bible itself came from the royal priests and scribes deported to Babylonia, where they compiled histories, wrote new texts, and selectively preserved and edited older tales to fit their Jerusalem-centered monotheism. Traditional practices like eating only kosher foods and not marrying foreigners that were a matter of course in the old country took on new importance in defining who was a Jew. When the exiles returned to Judah, they were determined to impose a purified national religion and law on those who had never left. The Israelites emerged as a nation in the highlands between the Jordan River and the coastal cities of Canaan—roughly today’s Palestinian West Bank, ironically enough—a farming and livestock-raising people who lived under the guidance of their patriarchal elders. Before Solomon built the Temple in Jerusalem, people practiced their communal rituals at or near home, without any ban on idols. We see this world in the Book of Judges with the tale of Micah, whose mother created graven and molten images and then set up a household shrine. Micah hired a Levite priest to tend the shrine in exchange for ten silver pieces per year, a suit and a living (room and board, I assume). More famously in Genesis, Rachel stole her father Laban’s teraphim (small household idols) when she escaped with Joseph’s household to Canaan. Religious pluralism persisted during and after the days of the kings. Hezekiah and Josiah upset country folk by destroying their “high places” and overthrowing their sacred pillars and Asherah poles. When Ezekiel fled to Egypt after the fall of Jerusalem, he berated Jews in his new home for pouring out libations to the Queen of Heaven and burning incense to idols. References to God as “Elohim” are in the plural because he presided over a council of lesser gods that appears as late as the book of Job. Israel’s existence is well-attested by archaeological remains, though some claims of the Hebrew Bible are not. The most impressive are outside Israelite territory, such as the Black Obelisk of Assyrian King Shalmaneser III, which depicts King Jehu of the Northern Kingdom kowtowing to him, the stele posted by Egyptian King Merneptah around 1200 BC that names Israel as one of several conquered peoples, the Meshe Stele, which celebrates the Moabite king’s victory over Omri of Israel around 830 BC and credits Moab’s god Kamosh. Excavations of the Israelite highlands have turned up terracing for agriculture, mud-brick houses, and loom weights. On the other hand, most of the towns supposedly conquered by Joshua lack destruction layers. No one has found Solomon’s Temple, possibly because someone dismantled it. On the other hand, there are interesting surprises. At Kuntillet Ajrud in the Negev Desert some potsherds bear inscriptions blessing people in the name of “Yahweh and his Asherah.” More than a thousand pillar figurines of women (or goddesses) holding their breasts have emerged from ancient Judean tombs, garbage dumps, and houses, about half of them in Jerusalem. I always quibble over something in even the best courses. Here, I object as always to the now-fashionable renaming of BC (before Christ) as BCE (before the Common Era) and AD (Anno Domini) as CE (Common Era), a foolish and offensive attempt to de-Christianize the Christian reckoning. Those looking for a truly neutral dating system for the ancient world should use BP—before the present—but of course that make it more difficult for ordinary audience members to understand the timeline. In Lecture 5, Chapman is uncharacteristically awkward, repeatedly stumbling over her words. Otherwise, I recommend this course as excellent.
Date published: 2025-05-12
Rated 2 out of 5 by from A well-presented bad course Professor Chapman’s interpretation of the Bible Old Testament as it relates to the nation of Isreal, is a prime example of modern revisionist history and the presumption of modern scholarship. In chapter three the underlying thesis of the course is set out, “Traditionally, the authorship of the Torah has been attributed to Moses. But modern biblical scholarship ascribes the books to multiple authors and dates them to multiple periods.” So modern scholarship of the last 100 years redefines 4000 years of belief and the foundations of Christianity, Judaism and Islam. The Bible is presented as a compilation late in Old Testament history as useful tool of the elite and not a presentation of truth. The course is clearly presented and understandable. For anyone with a child about to enter higher education this course explains why some of their principles may be attacked.
Date published: 2025-01-20
Rated 5 out of 5 by from the best Professor Chapman does an excellent job of telling the story of the Jews up to the time of Christ. The lecture about the Babylonian Exile was especially informative because it describes how and why the Old Testament came into being. I can see how a viewer might give this course a rating of 4, but anything below that is a mystery to me..
Date published: 2024-11-25
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Balanced Presentation of Biblical Israel My wife and I watched this course in preparation of a trip to Israel that was cancelled at the last minute due the current conflict. Just glad we were not in country when all hell broke loose. The World of Biblical Israel taught by a graduate of Harvard Divinity School, Cynthia R. Chapman, Th.D. Using the Bible as a framework Chapman ties in historical and archeological records to support its narrative. She also points out when they do not support the Biblical story. She also ties together the varied religious influences, including non-Abrahamic religions, that influenced those who wrote the Bible. I learned a great deal about the Babylonian exile of the Jews, a subject of which I had only sketchy knowledge. I enjoyed this course, learned a great deal I did not know, and would recommend it.
Date published: 2023-12-03
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Another Success This was a well crafted set of lectures. I learned a lot - particularly the "story behind the story"
Date published: 2023-09-08
Rated 4 out of 5 by from A very good start for me I really enjoyed this course as it opened my eyes regarding the Old Testament and its pointer to Jewish history and development. Highly recommended to those interested in early Jewish history and the role of the bible in relating it.
Date published: 2023-06-02
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Comments from a learner Amazing series for those wanting to examine the Bible from the historical perspective.
Date published: 2022-09-19
Rated 2 out of 5 by from Just Retells Bible Stories with Not Enough Analysi Well that wasn't what I expected. Based on the title of the course and the lecture descriptions it was reasonable to expect a painting of what life was like in ancient Israel through solid analysis of the books of the Bible and archeological finds. Instead most of the lectures are just retellings of the various stories in the Bible. Warning: this will be maddening for anyone who is already well acquainted with the content of the 39 books of the Hebrew Bible. If we're not going to get a full-bodied view of what daily life in ancient Israel was like and instead the focus will be on the stories of the Bible then surely we're going to get deep analysis on those stories from a historical and theological perspective. Nope. Sure the professor had some interesting theories concerning how the collection of these specific 39 books was driven by the Babylonian exile and perhaps some redacting might be going on here to reshape some of the books or stories in them in light of Judah's defeat and exile and eventual return to their homeland in an effort to define and shape the story of their nation. And yes perhaps these books would have turned out drastically different if written from the perspective of one of the 10 "lost" tribes of Israel---yes, the victors get to write the history and tell the story the way they want. And her assertion at the end of lecture 14 that had King Hezekiah not paid off Assyria and instead Jerusalem had been destroyed utterly and its people exiled to many other lands (vs. the Judeans being exiled together to one location) as Assyria had done to other cities and peoples, then perhaps the Bible and its stories as we know it today would not have come down to us in their forms, was indeed thought-provoking. But these were the exceptions. Sorry there just isn't enough meat on the bones here/new insight. We just get the stories of the Bible retold to us. This is strike two to me relating to TGC's study of the Hebrew Bible. "The Book of Genesis" was also a disappointment since it had little insight into what we actually read about in the book and instead we got a literary lesson on how to select specific impactful words when telling a narrative/story. SIGH. Certainly hoping some of the other courses I have not yet listened to ("The Old Testament" and "Understanding the Old Testament") live up to the standard of what I expect from this company. Lectures 2 (seeing the Babylonian exile as the central event that shares the books we have today in the Bible), 5 (Israelite conquest of Canaan), and 14 (Assyria's siege of Jerusalem) were worthwhile explorations. The remaining I can only recommend if you have little (none?) exposure to the stories of the Hebrew Bible. If you want to know what is in the Hebrew Bible then this might be for you. If you have some knowledge and were looking for deeper insights/criticims/analysis behind these stories then you might want to spend your time elsewhere.
Date published: 2022-09-01
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The World of Biblical Israel

Trailer

Biblical Israel-The Story of a People

01: Biblical Israel-The Story of a People

What can the Bible tell us about life in biblical Israel? What do other archaeological sources tell us? Enter the world of biblical Israel with a historical overview and an examination of how the Bible gives us insights into the daily life of ancient Israelites. Then consider the context for how the Bible came into being.

32 min
By the Rivers of Babylon-Exile

02: By the Rivers of Babylon-Exile

Start your journey through biblical Israel with a look at the Babylonian exile. In this period, the exiled Judeans began asking themselves who they were as a people and why they had been conquered. Because the Bible began to be compiled in this time of exile, it offers us two vantage points for understanding its history.

30 min
Ancestor Narratives in Genesis

03: Ancestor Narratives in Genesis

Survey the stories of ancient Israel's origins as preserved in the book of Genesis, from the covenant of Abraham through the cycle of Jacob and his children. Ancient Israel understood itself to be a family that descended from Jacob, so these origin stories are crucial for understanding the books that follow.

28 min
Moses-The Torah's Central Hero

04: Moses-The Torah's Central Hero

Continue your study of ancient Israel's origins with a look at Moses and the story of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt. After tracing the narrative of Moses's captivating journey, which includes receiving the Ten Commandments from Yahweh, the Israelite god, on Mount Sinai, you'll review the Torah-the "law of Moses"-and explore the origins of the priesthood.

30 min
Becoming the Nation of Israel

05: Becoming the Nation of Israel

Turn now to the emergence of Israel as a nation, which is detailed in the books of Joshua and Judges. What does each book tell us about the Israelites' conquest of Canaan? And what does archaeological evidence tell us about this period? Learn about the origins and methods of biblical archaeology.

31 min
Kinship and Economics in Highland Villages

06: Kinship and Economics in Highland Villages

Enter the central highlands of ancient Israel and see what the houses, family compounds, and villages were like. How did people live? What did they cook with? How did they divide their labor? What were the roles of men and women?

30 min
Three Weddings and a Funeral

07: Three Weddings and a Funeral

To explore some of the practices and beliefs that surrounded marriage, Professor Chapman focuses on several biblical relationships: Isaac and Rebekah show us what was considered an ideal marriage in ancient Israel; Abraham and Hagar reveal the importance of producing an heir in marriage; and Dinah's abduction and rape by Shechem offers insight into the role of proper family negotiations in protect...

31 min
Political Power Bases in Early Israel

08: Political Power Bases in Early Israel

Investigate three models of leadership-the judges, the elders, and the kings-each of which offers insight into ancient Israel's structures of power. You'll meet several men and one woman who rose to power during times of military crisis, and you'll get insight into how they ruled.

30 min
Kingdoms and King Making

09: Kingdoms and King Making

Begin a four-lecture unit on the political, religious, and economic developments that occurred between 1000 and 745 B.C.E. The unit opens with an overview of King David, Solomon, and the divided kingdom of Israel. What were the origins of monarchy? Why did Israel split into northern and southern kingdoms? How does the archaeological record compare with the biblical narrative?

33 min
Politics and Economy of a Centralized Cult

10: Politics and Economy of a Centralized Cult

Delve into the intersection of politics and religion in Mesopotamia, from the Sumerian kings to the Egyptian pharaohs. Then consider the political and economic role of the temple. Use a variety of sources to reconstruct Solomon's temple and its place in ancient Israel's society.

32 min
Worshipping Locally

11: Worshipping Locally

While the ancient states built centralized places of worship, many Israelites continued their local religious practices. Discover the household religions and the variety of gods and goddesses worshipped at the time. Then see what the Bible has to say about these deities and family shrines.

31 min
Lives of the Rich, Lives of the Poor

12: Lives of the Rich, Lives of the Poor

Learn the story of Naboth's vineyard, in which King Ahab and his wife, Jezebel, annexed land from a common man, and see what this story tells us about the monarchy and social classes. Then find out what prophets such as Amos and Isaiah had to say about living in a stratified society.

29 min
Assyrian Incursion into Israel and Judah

13: Assyrian Incursion into Israel and Judah

Travel to the "age of empires" and witness the Assyrian conquest of the northern kingdom of Israel. Thanks to Assyrian writings and recordkeeping, historians have a wealth of sources with which to explore life in this era. See how Assyria's recorded history overlaps with the history preserved in the Bible.

31 min
Life under Siege

14: Life under Siege

Turn now to the southern kingdom of Judah. After providing an overview of King Hezekiah's reign and the Judean perspective on Assyria, Professor Chapman shows you how each side claimed victory following the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem. Regardless of who truly won, the survival of Jerusalem had profound implications for history.

31 min
Religious Debates and Preserved Text

15: Religious Debates and Preserved Text

In the 7th century B.C.E., Judah was a vassal of the Assyrian Empire. Delve into the period's religious debates, including the worship of foreign gods and the division over centralized worship in the Jerusalem temple. King Josiah repaired the temple and enacted a sweeping religious reform that called for the worship of one god, Yahweh, in one temple.

30 min
Ezekiel-Exilic Informant

16: Ezekiel-Exilic Informant

Meet the prophet Ezekiel, an eyewitness to the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem and a first-person informant on the experience of exile. Ezekiel's traumas become symbolic of the larger national trauma, and this lecture introduces you to his visions and examines the theological developments that came about as a response to exile.

29 min
Life in Exile, Life in Judah

17: Life in Exile, Life in Judah

What was it like for the Judeans living in exile? Different segments of the population had varying experiences following the Babylonian conquest of the southern kingdom. In this lecture, you'll investigate what life was like for exiles in Babylon and in Egypt as well as for those who stayed in Judah.

31 min
Literacy and Education

18: Literacy and Education

Explore the origins of writing in the ancient Near East and the growth of literacy in ancient Israel. After looking at the earliest forms of writing, explore the rise of literacy in the monarchic periods. Then learn about the education systems in ancient Israel-the palace training programs, the book of Proverbs, and education within the family.

31 min
Religious Developments of the Exile

19: Religious Developments of the Exile

Chart the development of monotheism in the Bible, from a plurality of gods to the primacy of the Israelite god known as Yahweh. Then turn to Second Isaiah, "the prophet of monotheism," who, in the final years of the Babylonian exile, envisioned Yahweh on a cosmic and universal scale.

31 min
The New Israel-Resettling the Land

20: The New Israel-Resettling the Land

How did the Israelites return to their homeland? And what issues did they confront after the restoration? With the Cyrus Cylinder and the book of Ezra as your sources, find out who returned from exile, what conflicts they faced in rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem, and how they preserved their sense of national identity.

30 min
Food and the Family Meal-Boundaries

21: Food and the Family Meal-Boundaries

Step into the kitchens of the ancient Israelites and take a tour of their diets, from the fruits and grains of common villagers to the meats and fats of the elites. Then consider the bond that forms between people who share a meal and what effect dietary laws have on the formation of group identity.

30 min
National Identity-Intermarriage

22: National Identity-Intermarriage

Take a closer look at intermarriage with foreigners in the years after the restoration. In Genesis, the story of Dinah reflects the post-exilic anxieties about national identity. Likewise, the book of Ruth offers a rare glimpse into women's perspective on marriage and survival in the restored Judah.

29 min
National Identity-Twins and Enemies

23: National Identity-Twins and Enemies

Revisit the story of Jacob and Esau in light of the quest for national identity. On one level, this narrative presents the history of two brothers and shows the rise of Jacob as he supplants Esau, the firstborn. On another level, the story captures the relationship between Israel and its neighbor Edom, and speaks to their continuing relationship in the post-exilic world.

32 min
Loss and Restoration-Two Biblical Stories

24: Loss and Restoration-Two Biblical Stories

Conclude your study of biblical Israel with a look at the stories of Abraham and Isaac and the trials of Job. Each of these tells a narrative of loss and recovery, of displacement and restoration, and each asks questions about the nature of suffering and the mystery of the Israelite god. These questions-and what answers the text could offer-would have held meaning and hope for a community in exile...

35 min

Overview Course No. 6325

From Genesis to Job, the Hebrew scriptures contain some of the most influential stories in Western civilization. But what do these stories tell us about daily life in ancient Israel? And why do they still speak to us today? In 24 captivating lectures, Professor Chapman introduces you to the stories of the Judeans in exile and grounds them in their historical context, giving you a grand vision of history as presented in the scriptures. She compares the history in the Bible to the archaeological record so that you come away with a complete picture of life in biblical Israel. Discover the complete literary power of the scriptures by investigating many of the Bible's key historical moments, from the origins of the Israelites in the Torah to the Babylonian Captivity and the resettlement under the Persian Empire, which is the very heart of the Hebrew scriptures. Learn how the exilic period motivated the community to reexamine its relationship to its God, its land, its religious practices, and its legacy to the children who would become the new Israel. But you'll tackle more than the sweep of history. From the family compounds to the battlefields and from the kitchens to the temples, Professor Chapman puts flesh on the bones of the biblical stories. Spiritually engaging and historically fascinating, this course is unlike any other, and it will give you a new appreciation both for ancient history and for the foundation of the three Abrahamic faiths.

About

Cynthia R. Chapman

There is no question that the Bible is a tremendously valuable library or ancient archive. If historians of the ancient Mayans, for example, uncovered such a source, they would consider it a goldmine.

INSTITUTION

Oberlin College

Dr. Cynthia R. Chapman is Associate Professor of Biblical Studies at Oberlin College, where she teaches courses on the Old and New Testaments, suffering and the book of Job, and biblical women, among other topics. She holds a B.A. from Kalamazoo College, an M.Div. from Vanderbilt Divinity School, and a Th.D. from Harvard Divinity School, Harvard University. Professor Chapman's research has focused on the historiography of the Bible considered within the larger ancient Near Eastern environment, and on gender in ancient Israel. Her first book, The Gendered Language of Warfare in the Israelite-Assyrian Encounter, explores the shared use of gendered literary tropes in the Bible and Assyrian royal texts. She is currently completing her second book, The House of the Mother: The Social Function of Maternal Kin in Biblical Hebrew Narrative, which demonstrates that kinship bonds established through the mother served vital social and political functions for a son who aspired to inherit in his father's household. A chapter has been published in the online Journal of Hebrew Scriptures.

By This Professor

The World of Biblical Israel
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