Prophetic Voices: Hear the Word of the Lord! (BA9309B)

Postgraduate, 24.0 points

Content

This unit explores the nature of prophecy in Israel and Judah mainly during the eighth-century BCE. The theological themes of selected prophets will be considered, with particular attention to social justice and institutional reform. Drawing upon selected passages mainly from Amos and Hosea supplemented by Isaiah and Micah, we will seek to discern how these voices contribute to our engagement with contemporary concerns.

Unit code: BA9309B

Unit status: Approved (Major revision)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Elective

Unit discipline: Old Testament

Proposing College: Eva Burrows College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Appraise the extent to which historical, political, and social frameworks contribute to the formulation of the message of the eighth-century prophets.
2.

Evaluate the impact of the major theological themes arising within the relevant prophetic materials.
3.

Exegete and interpret selected texts, referencing methodological considerations.
4.

Compare and contrast selected prophets’ responses to the religious and socio-cultural contexts of eighth-century Israel.
5.

Evaluate the contemporary mandate to social action with respect to the message of the eighth century prophets.

Unit sequence

24 points Old Testament (BA)

Pedagogy

Guided readings, completion of workbooks (including learning materials, questions, learning tasks, video and audio content), attendance and participation at scheduled virtual (online) classrooms.

Indicative Bibliography

  • Blenkinsopp, Joseph. A History of Prophecy in Israel. rev. ed. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 1996.
  • Chaney, Marvin L. Peasants, Prophets, & Political Economy: The Hebrew Bible in Social Perspective. Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2017.
  • Dempsey, Carol. The Prophets: A Liberation-Critical Reading. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2000.
  • Gossai, Hemchand. Social Critique by Israel's Eighth-Century Prophets. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2013.
  • Hays, J. Daniel. The Message of the Prophets: A Survey of the Prophetic and Apocalyptic Books of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2010.
  • Leclerc, Thomas, L. Introduction to the Prophets: Their Stories, Saying, and Scrolls. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist, 2008.
  • Nogalski, James. Introduction to the Hebrew Prophets. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2018.
  • O'Brien, Julia M, ed. The Oxford Handbook of the Minor Prophets. New York: Oxford University Press, 2021.
  • O’Brien, Julia M. Prophets beyond Activism: Rethinking the Prophetic Roots of Social Justice. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2024.
  • Tully, Eric J. Reading the Prophets as Christian Scripture: A Literary, Canonical, and Theological Introduction. Reading Christian Scripture. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2022.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)

Variant 1

Audio recording or Podcast 1700 25.0
Exegetical Essay 2100 30.0
Essay 3200 45.0

Variant 2

Seminar or Tutorial 1600 25.0
Exegetical Essay 2200 30.0
Portfolio 3200 45.0

Variant 3

Short Answer Responses 2500 35.0
Exegetical Essay 2800 40.0
Summative Reflection 1700 25.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 29 Aug, 2025

Unit record last updated: 2025-08-29 11:43:57 +1000