Biblical Jewish History Please log in to access your purchased courses. An overview of Jewish history from earliest times through the second century, covering First and Second Temple periods, the Assyrian and Babylonian Exiles, the Roman period and the birth of Christianity, the first Roman-Jewish War and the Bar Kochba revolt. Impress your relatives and former friends with your knowledge of Biblical Jewish History! Course Outline Modules: The Land of IsraelThe Biblical NarrativeThe Archaeological RecordDaily Life in Biblical IsraelThe Assyrian ExileThe Babylonian ExileThe Maccabean RevoltThe World of the SagesJudaea under Roman RuleThe Birth of ChristianityThe First Roman-Jewish WarThe Bar Kochba RevoltWomen in Ancient IsraelEarliest Diaspora CommunitiesThe Jewish People Survive Antiquity Please scroll down for details. Course Structure This course builds on the Jewish History Lab series in my YouTube channel. If you’re just interested in binge-watching the free videos, please do so in good health, no need to register for this course. On the other hand, if you would like to pursue your learning objectives to a greater depth, here’s a few things you can expect by registering: Access to the draft text of Volume 1 of The Jewish People: A History, a three-volume series under contract with Koren Publishers in Jerusalem. You’ll have the opportunity to comment on the draft as I write it, and thereby literally make your contribution to Jewish history! Amazing, right? I love the Internet.Low-stakes, no-pressure self-tests on each of the 15 modules in the course, so you can measure your comprehension.On occasion, some new videos that I’m not quite ready to release to the wider web audience just yet.A nifty certification of completion when you’ve gone through the units.More opportunities to interact with the instructor (me) and other serious fellow students. A note about the suggested tuition price If you are familiar with the Hebrew language, you will know that each letter corresponds to a number: alef, the first letter, has the value of “one,” bet, the second, has “two,” and so on. The word for “life” (חי, “chai”) has the numerical value of 18, and therefore it is customary among Jews to make donations or gifts in multiples of $18. So $36 is just a nice number, wishing both your family and mine a long and happy life. I recognize that many worthy students might find even $36 challenging, so the course is open for as little as $3.60 (if you are a fellow educator and would like to request complimentary registration, please click this link). If the course isn’t what you expected, please contact me through the link in the first module of the course within the first week of registration and I’ll be happy to send you a refund. Enjoy the course in good health! Suggested price: $36.00 – Purchase Course 1. The Land of Israel Toggle module content A discussion of the Land of Israel before the arrival of Abraham as described in Genesis. Lessons Video: The Land of Israel in the Ancient World Video: Earliest Populations in the Land of Israel Video: Hebrews, Israelites, Jews: A Note on Terminology Reading: 1. The Land of Israel (Draft Text) Quiz: Self-Test Your Learning 2. The Biblical Narrative Toggle module content After discussing the challenges of using the Bible to study History (with reference to the Maximalist-Minimalist debate), a discussion of the period of the Patriarchs (Genesis), Egyptian servitude (Exodus), and the settlement of the Land of Israel (Joshua). Lessons Video: Approaching the Bible as a Historical Source Video: Genesis in Historical Perspective Video: Exodus in Historical Perspective Readings: The Biblical Narrative (In Progress December 2021) Quiz: Self-Test Your Learning 3. The Archaeological Record Toggle module content A brief look at the major archaeological discoveries as they relate to the narrative described in the Bible, particularly Samuel, Kings and Chronicles. Lessons Video: The Settlement of Ancient Israel Video: The United Monarchy Video: The Divided Kingdom of Judah and Israel Readings: The Archaeological Record (Forthcoming November 2021) 4. Daily Life in Biblical Israel Toggle module content An overview of some of the major elements of everyday life in Biblical Israel: economics, family and ritual life. Lessons Video: Daily Life in Biblical Israel: Economics Video: Daily Life in Biblical Israel: Family Video: Daily Life in Biblical Israel: Ritual Reading: Daily Life in Biblical Israel (Forthcoming November 2021) 5. The Assyrian Exile Toggle module content The tumultuous events of the late 8th century BCE: the Assyrian invasion and the forced population movements of the tribes of Israel and the origins of the Samaritan population. Lessons Video: The Assyrian Invasion of Israel Video: The Ten Lost Tribes of Israel Video: Origins of the Samaritans Reading: The Assyrian Exile (Forthcoming December 2021) 6. The Babylonian Exile Toggle module content The disastrous 6th century BCE with the destruction of the first Temple and the dislocation of the population of Judah to Babylonia, and then their remarkable return and renaissance with the beginning of the second Temple era. Lessons Video: Judah after the Fall of Israel Video: The Babylonian Exile Video: The Persian Period Reading: The Babylonian Exile (Forthcoming December 2021) 7. The Maccabean Revolt Toggle module content The conquest of Alexander the Great and the Maccabean revolt against his successor kingdoms, placing the Hasmonean dynasty in control of the land of Israel. Lessons Video: Athens and Jerusalem Video: The Maccabean Revolt Video: The Hasmonean Dynasty Reading: The Maccabean Revolt (Forthcoming December 2021) 8. The World of the Sages Toggle module content A look at Rabbinic Judaism, with emphasis on two key texts: the Midrash and the Mishnah. Lessons Video: The Rise of the Rabbis Video: The Midrash Video: The Mishnah Reading: The World of the Sages (Forthcoming December 2021) 9. Judaea under Roman Rule Toggle module content The rise of the Herodian dynasty under Roman sponsorship and the development of sectarianism, including the Qumran community of Dead Sea Scrolls fame. Lessons Video: The Reign of King Herod Video: Pharisees, Sadducees, Zealots Video: The Dead Sea Scrolls Reading: Judaea under Roman Rule (Forthcoming January 2022) 10. The Birth of Christianity Toggle module content A discussion of the rise of Christianity in the first century and the conflicts with the parent religion. Lessons Video: Judaea in the Days of Jesus Video: Jesus and the Jewish Community Video: The Separation of Church and Synagogue Reading: The Birth of Christianity (Forthcoming January 2022) 11. The First Roman-Jewish War Toggle module content The political, economic and religious underpinnings to the disastrous Roman-Jewish War of the first century, which resulted in the destruction of the second Temple. Lessons Video: The First Roman-Jewish War Video: The Fall of Jerusalem Video: Aftermath of the Great Revolt Reading: The First Roman-Jewish War (Forthcoming January 2022) 12. The Bar Kochba Revolt Toggle module content The heroic, doomed revolt of Bar Kochba against the Romans in the second century. Lessons Video: The Kitos Rebellion Video: The Bar Kochba Revolt Reading: The Bar Kochba Revolt (Forthcoming February 2022) 13. Women in Ancient Israel Toggle module content A look at Biblical Jewish history through the lens of the experience of women. Lessons Video: When Did Judaism become Matrilineal? Video: Women in Ancient Israel Video: Jewish Women in Antiquity: Three Exceptional Examples Reading: Women in Ancient Israel (Forthcoming February 2022) 14. Earliest Diaspora Communities Toggle module content A look at the major Diaspora communities that predated the first Roman-Jewish war: Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the eastern Mediterranean. Lessons Video: Egypt Video: Mesopotamia Video: The Mediterranean Reading: Earliest Diaspora Communities (Forthcoming February 2022) 15. The Jewish People Survive Antiquity Toggle module content Reflections on the experience of the Jewish people in antiquity and the remarkable fact of their survival into the medieval period. Lessons Video: How did the Jewish People Survive Antiquity? Video: What is the Meaning of Jewish History? Reading: The Jewish People Survive Antiquity (Forthcoming February 2022) Thank you very much for learning with me!