Students are expected to post responses weekly to two of the posted discussion questions. Responses should be 150 – 250 words in length each. Please write full sentences and avoid answering in point form only.
Please choose two of the following questions and post your responses by 11:59 pm on Friday, May 16, 2025.
1. If you agree or disagree with Deuteronomy’s mandate to destroy all Canaanites, explain the political or ethical reasons for your position.2. Why do biblical scholars use the term Deuteronomistic History to refer to the books from Joshua to Kings in the Hebrew Bible? What interpretation of Israel’s history do these books offer?
3. There are repeated references to the Book of the Law (of Moses) in the book of Joshua. What role does the book play in the text and what is the leader Joshua’s role in relation to the Book of the Law?
4. Women are presented in a number of positive and negative ways in the book of Judges. Choose 2 – 3 female characters and describe how they are depicted or presented in the text.
5. Consider the pattern of David’s life and his reign as king. At what point do things begin to go very badly for him, and why?
6. There are numerous kings of both Judah (southern kingdom) and Israel (northern kingdom) listed and described in the books of 1 and 2 Kings. What is the standard for the author deciding if a particular king (or queen) is a good king or a bad king? Provide the names of three “good” kings.