Unit 4
Nevi’im I: The Former Prophets (Joshua, Judges, 1-2 Samuel and 1-2 Kings)

Learning Objectives

After completing Unit 4 you should be able to

1. recount the main plot lines of the story of the nation Israel, from its beginnings in the crossing of the River Jordan up to and including the Babylonian Exile.
2. critically evaluate modern theories on the origins of the Former Prophets.
3. describe the idea of the Deuteronomistic History according to Noth, Cross, and Smend.
4. critically evaluate several literary approaches (e.g., Fokkelman, Polzin) to the Former Prophets.
5. explain the religious significance of the Babylonian Exile for ancient Judah.
6. distinguish between characterizing features of the Torah and the Nevi’im.

Introduction

We now depart from the Torah and begin to explore the next section of the Hebrew Bible, the Nevi’im (pronounced neh-vee-EEM), which means “the Prophets.” The first section of the Nevi’im, The Former Prophets, will occupy our attention in this unit. In Unit 5 we will study The Latter Prophets. The Former Prophets takes up the story of Israel as the Israelites begin to move into the land of Canaan and conquer and settle it. We will also examine the scholarship on The Former Prophets, including the idea of the Deuteronomistic History.