War and Peace in the Hebrew Bible

Upon successful completion of this unit, it is expected that students will be able to:

Undergraduate

1. Describe selected scholarly theories about human and divine participation in biblical representations of war.
2. Rigorously exegete a biblical text related to the themes of war or peace.
3. Analyse the biblical background to notions of ‘just war’ and pacifism.
4. Level 3: Reflect critically on the concept of genocide and its applicability in understanding Deuteronomy 20 and Joshua’s conquest narratives.

Postgraduate

1. Describe selected scholarly theories about human and divine participation in biblical representations of war.
2. Rigorously exegete a biblical text related to the themes of war or peace.
3. Reflect critically on the concept of genocide and its applicability in understanding Deuteronomy 20 and Joshua’s conquest narratives.
4. Analyse the biblical background to notions of ‘just war’ and pacifism.
5. Demonstrate an ability to research and write using appropriate methods and form at postgraduate level.

Undergraduate

Level 2:

• One exegetical paper (1,500 words) (40%)
• One essay (2,000 words) (40%)
• One tutorial paper (1,000 words) (20%)

Level 3:

• One exegetical paper (2,000 words) (40%)
• One essay (2,000 words) (40%)
• One tutorial paper (1,000 words) (20%)

Postgraduate

• One exegetical paper (3,000 words) (40%)
• One essay (3,000 words) (40%)
• One tutorial paper (2,000 words) (20%)

• Conrad, Edgar W. Fear not warrior. Chico: Scholars Press, 1985
• Conrad, Edgar W. Reading Isaiah. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1991
• Crouch, Carly L. War and ethics in the Ancient Near East: Military violence in the light of cosmology and history. Berlin: De Gruyters, 2009
• Decosse, David E. But was it just? Reflections on the morality of the Persian Gulf War. New York: Doubleday, 1992
• Dever, William G. Who were the Israelites and where did they come from? Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003
• Hobbs, T R. A time for war. Wilmington: Glazier, 1989
• Kang, Sa Moon. Divine war in the Old Testament and in the ancient near east. Berlin: de Gruyter, 1989
• Lind, Millard. Yahweh is a warrior. Scottdale: Herald, 1980
• Lind, Millard. Monotheism, power, justice. Elkhart: Institute of Mennonite Studies, 1990
• Niditch, Susan. War in the Hebrew Bible. Oxford: OUP, 1993
• Ollenberger, Ben C. Zion, the city of the great king. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic, 1987
• Rad, Gerhard von. Holy war in ancient Israel. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1991
• Swartly, Willard M. Violence renounced: Rene Girard, biblical studies and peacemaking. Telford: Pandora, 2000
• Tatz, Colin M. With intent to destroy: Reflecting on genocide. London: Verso, 2003
• Williams, James G. The Bible, violence and the sacred. San Francisco: Harper, 1991
• Wood, John A. Perspectives on war in the Bible. Macon: Mercer University Press, 1998
• Yoder, Perry B. and Willard Swartley (eds). The meaning of peace. Louisville: Westminster, 1992
• Younger, K Lawson. Ancient conquest accounts. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1990

Set texts recommended for purchase: Nil