The course studies the religious historical background of Ancient Israel and her neighbors, methods of interpreting law and writings of the Old Testament, issues in Ancient Israelite religion and the contents of the Pentateuch and the Writings of the Old Testament.  The course also discusses the relevance of the books in question to the current theological milieu. The course also looks at various methods of studying the Bible evaluating them. The course also looks at issues like the Patriarchal traditions, the Covenant and the settlement traditions in light of the Bible and the scholars. The course also looks at the origins, roles and functions of the Israelite prophets.