The Book entitled AM YAHWEH: The Life and Witness of God’s People in the Old Testament is a Two Volume publication consisting of two Subjects in each volume. These are the Senate of Serampore College compulsory subjects required for BD students. Volume consists of (1) The Life and Faith of the People of God, and (2) The Liberation and Formation of the People of God - A Study of the Pentateuch. Volume II consists of (1) Prophetic Responses to the Struggles of the People of God and (2) Hope in Suffering and Joy in Liberation - A Study of Hebrew Poetry and Wisdom Literatures. The subjects are entitled according to the nomenclatures given by the Senate of Serampore College. Contents Preface Part I The Faith and Life of the People of God in the Old Testament Introduction: Survey of Ancient West Asia 1. Map of Ancient West Asia - Showing Ancient Civilizations 2. Civilizations in the Ancient West Asia 2.1. Egypt 2.2. Mesopotamia 2.3. Amorites 2.4. The Hurrians 2.5. Hittites 2.6. Hyksos 3. Palestine 3.1. The Land: Geography 3.2. Climate 3.3. Physical Features 3.4. Seasons 3.5. Winds 3.6. Palestine: A Bridge Between the Two Civilizations 3.7. Map of Palestine Showing Physical Features 3.8. Map of Palestine - Showing Tribal Allotment of Land 4. History in Relation to Myths, Legends/Sagas? 4.1. Myths 4.2. Legends/Sagas 4.3. History 4.4. Contrast Between History and Legends Chapter 1: General Introduction to the Old Testament 1. What is the Bible? How is the Bible Described or Understood? 2. Different Ways in Which the Bible is Described or Understood 3. What is TANAK? 4. The Making of the Bible 5. Writing Materials 6. Different Circles of the Old Testament Writers 7. Manuscripts, Texts and Translations 8. Different Versions 9. Different Types of Biblical Literature Chapter 2: Origin of the Ancestors 1. Biblical Evidence of the Historicity of the Ancestors 2. Extra Biblical Evidence of the Historicity of Ancestors 3. Religion of the Ancestors 4. The Hebrews in Egypt Chapter 3: The Exodus (Liberation) from Egyptian Bondage 1. The Role of Women for the Liberation of the Hebrews 2. Moses: God’s Instrument for Exodus (The Liberation) 3. The Exodus (The Liberation) 4. Date of Exodus 5. Significance of the Exodus 6. Exodus: A Paradigm of Liberation for all Oppressed Groups Today 7. Wandering in the Wilderness 7.1. Wilderness Traditions 7.2. Sinai Traditions 7.3. Symbols of Yahweh’s Presence in the Midst of Israel 7.4. Spies Sent Out (Num. 13,14:36-38) Chapter 4: Occupation and Settlement in Palestine 1. Nature of Conquest 2. Tribal Confederation (Amphictyoni) 3. The Battle of Megiddo 1125 BCE 4. Socio-Political and Religious Condition During the Period of Judges 5. Judges Charismatic Leaders Chapter 5: Emergence of Monarchy/Kingship 1. Anti-Monarchical Source (1 Sam. 8:10:17-27) 2. Pro-Monarchical Source (1 Sam 9:1-10; 16:11:1-15) 3. Factors Responsible for the Emergence of Monarchy Chapter 6: Rulers Under the United Kingdom 1. Saul 2. David 1000-961 BCE 3. Solomon 961-922 BCE Chapter 7: Factors Responsible for Division of the United Kingdom 1. The Loose Nature of the Formation of the State 2. Solomon’s Luxurious and Oppressive Policies 3. Religious Factor 4. Jeroboam’s Revolt 5. Role of Prophet Ahijah 6. Immediate Factor - Rehoboam’s Negative Response Chapter 8: Rulers/Kings After the Division of the United Kingdom 1. Kings of Northern Kingdom 1.1. Jeroboam I 1.2. Omri 1.3. Ahab 1.4. Jeroboam II 2. The Fall of the Northern Kingdom 3. Kings of the Southern Kingdom 3.1. Ahaz – Anti Assyrian Coalition 3.2. Hezekiah 3.3. Josiah 4. The Fall of Judah and Jerusalem 587 BCE Chapter 9: Exile and After 1. Condition of the People of Israel in Exile 2. Prophets of the Exile 3. Cyrus 4. Return from Exile: 538 BCE 5. Nehemiah, the Reformer 6. Ezra’s Ministry Chapter 10: The Hellenistic Period 1. Samaritan Schism (Ezra 4) 2. The Maccabean Revolt 167 BCE 3. Result 4. Hasmonean Rulers 5. The Roman Intervention 6. The Inter-Testamental Period: Sects and Groups Bibliography Appendix: Chronological Chart Part II The Liberation and Formation of God's People - A Study of Pentateuch Chapter 1: Formation of the Pentateuch 1. Introduction 2. The Place of Pentateuch in the Canon 3. Content of the Pentateuch 4. Structure of the Pentateuch Chapter 2: History of Pentateuchal Criticism 1. Traditional view Concerning Authorship of Pentateuch 2. The Beginning of Higher Criticism 3. Results of Literary Criticism in Relation to Pentateuchal Study 4. Arguments Against Mosaic/Single Authorship of the Pentateuch 5. Different Hypothesis/Theories Concerning the Sources of Pentateuch 6. Theological Features and Characteristics of the Sources 7. Source Criticism: A Search for Alternative Theories 8. Form Criticism and Its Value for Pentateuchal Study Chapter 3: creation Narratives 1. The Primeaval History: Genesis 1-11 2. Creation Narratives in Genesis in Chapters 1 & 2 3. Creation in Ancient West Asia (AWA) 4. Man – Woman Relationship in the Creation Stories 5. Gender Roles in the Ancestral Narratives 6. The Place of Humans in Creation 7. God As Liberator in Genesis 1–11 8. In What Way the Creator God Can Be Described as a Liberator from Genesis 1-11? 9. Re-reading and Re-interpreting Genesis 3 from Liberation Perspective Chapter 4: Witness of Yahweh as Liberator 1. Israel in Bondage 2. Exodus - The Liberation from Oppression 3. Exodus: A Paradigm for Liberation Theology Chapter 5: Election, Covenant and the Laws 1. Election 2. The Covenant 3. The Laws 4. Legal Sections 5. Different Types of Law Chapter 6: Social Laws Pertaining to Liberation 1. Social Laws Pertaining to the Poor and Underprivileged 2. Release Laws 3. Freedom of Land (Sabbatical Year) 4. The Jubilee Year: Freedom of the Poor 5. Women in the Laws Chapter 7: Exegesis on Selected Texts 1. Exegesis Genesis 1:1-5 2. Exegesis on Gen. 1:26-31 3. Exegesis on Genesis 3:1-7 Bibliography