RELG 464 - The Inter-Testamental Era
Module 2 - The Babylonian Exile
Key Topics
- The Babylonian Empire
- Ziggurats
- The Ishtar Gate
- Daniel
- Aramaic
Aramaic is very like Hebrew. The relationship of Hebrew to Aramaic is a bit like that of Shakespearian English to modern American English. The Canaanite letters of the old Hebrew alphabet were also replaced by "square Aramaic letters" similar to those used today for printed Hebrew.
Scripture and Apocrypha Readings
- Psalm 137
- Daniel
- The Prayer of Azariah and The Song of the Three Young Men
- Susanna
- Bel and the Dragon - "Bel" is the Aramaic spelling of the Hebrew and Canaanite word "Baal" (Lord), which was often used as the title for a nation's chief god, or for the storm god of the Canaanites.
Textbook Readings
The text book does not show Page numbers very well - they are inside the logo on the top of the page - but the Maps are numbered clearly. It is easier to find sections by following the Map numbers
- The Exile, pages 158-160, maps 79-81
- Babylon : Heart of an Empire, pages 161-2
Course Notes
Useful Links to get you started
Go here for InterNet Links
Discussion Board 2
Thread : Whom would you most like to have been :
Gedaliah, Jehoiachin, Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Azariah, or Susanna ?
Choose whom you would most like to have been, write an account of his/her life, and say why you chose him/her rather than any of the others.
Replies to 2 of your classmates' Threads :
If possible, choose Threads which deal with different people.
What are your thoughts about the people chosen, and their influence on the history of the period ?
Report for this Module
A First-Person Essay on the Life of Daniel
Write as if you were Daniel, telling the story of his life to young Esther
Length about 3-10 pages. Remember to cite your sources
Use MSWord or a text editor such as Notepad to prepare and save your work, then submit it to the relevant SafeAssign box on the BlackBoard site for the course.
Copyright © 1999 Shirley J. Rollinson, all Rights Reserved
