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Introduction to the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) — Open Yale Curriculum Study

A 24-lesson academic study pathway following Open Yale Courses RLST 145, with original Immanuel USA quizzes, assignments, progress tracking, and independent certification.

👤 Christine Hayes (Open Yale Courses); Immanuel USA assessment administered independently⏱ Self-Paced🌐 Online
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📚 24Lessons
✍️ Self-PacedStudy Format
🌐 OnlineAccess
✓ FreeEnrollment
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About this course

Course Description

This study pathway follows the 24-lecture sequence of Yale University's Open Yale Courses RLST 145, Introduction to the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible), taught by Professor Christine Hayes. Students access the Yale lectures on the public OYC website; this file does not reproduce the full transcripts or video files.

Attribution: Christine Hayes, Introduction to the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) (Yale University: Open Yale Courses), https://oyc.yale.edu/religious-studies/rlst-145 (Accessed September 20, 2026). License: Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0.

Immanuel USA independently provides the quizzes, assignments, progress tracking, grading, and certificate. This is not Yale credit or Yale certification, and Yale does not endorse or sponsor Immanuel USA.

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Learning outcomes

What You Will Learn

Learning Objectives

  • Identify the structure, genres, and major contents of the Hebrew Bible.
  • Describe its Ancient Near Eastern setting.
  • Explain major historical, literary, source-critical, redaction-critical, tradition-critical, and canonical approaches.
  • Trace major themes through Torah, Prophets, and Writings.
  • Analyze selected passages using academic methods and evidence.
  • Distinguish biblical texts from scholarly reconstruction and later interpretation.

Study Method

Open each linked Yale lecture, study the lecture on OYC, read the biblical passages, make notes, complete the original Immanuel USA quiz, and submit the written assignment.

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Course structure

Course Overview

24-Lesson Structure

The 24 lessons correspond to the 24 public RLST 145 lectures. Yale's original midterm, paper, final exam, and discussion grading are not reproduced. Immanuel USA uses independently created assessments.

License and Access

Yale materials are linked rather than copied into the LMS. Reuse of OYC material must comply with the applicable Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 license, OYC Terms, non-commercial restrictions, attribution requirements, and any separate third-party rights noted on individual lecture pages.

CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 | OYC Terms

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Curriculum

Course Lessons

1
The Parts of the Whole
🔒 Student access
2
The Hebrew Bible in Its Ancient Near Eastern Setting: Biblical Religion in Context
🔒 Student access
3
The Hebrew Bible in Its Ancient Near Eastern Setting: Genesis 1-4 in Context
🔒 Student access
4
Doublets and Contradictions, Seams and Sources: Genesis 5-11 and the Historical-Critical Method
🔒 Student access
5
Critical Approaches to the Bible: Introduction to Genesis 12-50
🔒 Student access
6
Biblical Narrative: The Stories of the Patriarchs (Genesis 12-36)
🔒 Student access
7
Israel in Egypt: Moses and the Beginning of Yahwism (Genesis 37-Exodus 4)
🔒 Student access
8
Exodus: From Egypt to Sinai (Exodus 5-24, 32; Numbers)
🔒 Student access
9
The Priestly Legacy: Cult and Sacrifice, Purity and Holiness in Leviticus and Numbers
🔒 Student access
10
Biblical Law: The Three Legal Corpora of JE (Exodus), P (Leviticus and Numbers) and D (Deuteronomy)
🔒 Student access
11
On the Steps of Moab: Deuteronomy
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12
The Deuteronomistic History: Life in the Land (Joshua and Judges)
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13
The Deuteronomistic History: Prophets and Kings (1 and 2 Samuel)
🔒 Student access
14
The Deuteronomistic History: Response to Catastrophe (1 and 2 Kings)
🔒 Student access
15
Hebrew Prophecy: The Non-Literary Prophets
🔒 Student access
16
Literary Prophecy: Amos
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17
Literary Prophecy: Hosea and Isaiah
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18
Literary Prophecy: Micah, Zephaniah, Nahum and Habakkuk
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19
Literary Prophecy: Perspectives on the Exile (Jeremiah, Ezekiel and 2nd Isaiah)
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20
Responses to Suffering and Evil: Lamentations and Wisdom Literature
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21
Biblical Poetry: Psalms and Song of Songs
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22
The Restoration: 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah
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23
Visions of the End: Daniel and Apocalyptic Literature
🔒 Student access
24
Alternative Visions: Esther, Ruth, and Jonah
🔒 Student access