This course is a survey course of prophets in Ancient Israel and the texts of the prophets of the Hebrew Bible. Studying the language of the prophetic corpus, we will explore the historical, social, and political contexts of the writings and their meanings for the intended audience and readers today. By the end of the semester, students will be able to:
- Define what it means to be called a prophet.
- Identify and understand who the former and pre-exilic prophets are, what they did in their various contexts, and how they functioned.
- Explain the focus of the messages of the prophets,
- Explore the relevance of the prophetic writings for the reader today.
Instructor: Dr. Kamilah Hall Sharp is assistant professor of Hebrew Bible and public ministry at Chicago Theological Seminary and holds a doctorate in Biblical Interpretation-Hebrew Bible from Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University; her scholarship focuses on the intersection of race, gender, and class with the biblical text and contemporary culture. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Economics from Florida A&M University, a Master of Divinity from Memphis Theological Seminary, and a Juris Doctor from Indiana University-Bloomington. Kamilah is a co-author of The Gathering, A Womanist Church: Origins, Stories, Sermons, and Litanies. She was ordained as a minister in the Disciples of Christ (Christian Church) and currently serves as co-pastor of The Gathering, A Womanist Church in Dallas.