Dr. Robin J. DeWitt Knauth
Welcome to
my Home Page!
Assistant Professor, Department of Religion, Lycoming College
Snowden
Director, Program in Archaeology (Ancient Near East, Classical
Mediterranean, Latin America)
(formerly “Archaeology and Culture of the Ancient Near East and Mediterranean”
and “Near Eastern Culture and Archaeology”)
See the program requirements from the Lycoming College Catalogue.
Contact Info:
office D-314 (AC 3rd fl), campus box 3, email knauth@lycoming.edu,
phone (570)321-4298 (xGAYT), home (570)326-3822
("DAN-DUBB").
Schedule for Spring 2019: Rel 113, Rel 328, Rel 333w
MWF 10:15 – 11:20 am REL 113A Old Testament (B-309) M/W 11:20 – 11:50 am Office Hours (D-314) MWF 11:50 – 12:30 Lunch in Caf MWF 12:45 – 1:50 pm REL 328A History/Culture of the Ancient Near East (B-309) M/W 2:00 – 2:50 pm Office Hours (D-314) M-F 3:00 – 4:00 pm Walking at Rec Ctr (come join me!) Fri (occ) 3:15 – 4:20 pm SCHOL 450-A (Lynn 153) Mon 4:30 – 6:00 pm Faculty Mtgs (Heim G-09) M/W 7:00 – 9:15 pm WCCO choir (Clarke Chapel), Trinity Church choir T/Th 1:00 – 2:50 pm REL 333w Old Testament Women (D-301) Office Hours (D-314): M/W 11:20-11:50am, 2:00–2:50pm or by appointment (call, email).Also available walking at Rec Ctr 3-4pm each day (M-F)!Tutoring is also available through the Academic Resource Center.
Tentative Schedule for Fall 2019: Arch/Rel 226, Hebr 101, Rel 113
MWF 10:15 – 11:20 am REL 113 Old Testament (B-309)
MWF 11:50 – 12:30 Lunch in Caf
MWF 12:45 – 1:50 pm ARCH/REL 226A Biblical Archaeology (B-309)M/W 2:00 – 3:30 pm Office Hours (D-314)MWF 3:15 – 4:20 pm HEBR 101 Biblical Hebrew (D-302)
Mon 4:30 – 6:00 pm Faculty Mtgs (Heim G-09)T/Th 7:45 – 8:35 am (Nov) ARCH 449W-A (C-300)Th 11:40 – 11:55 am Lab Prep (Archaeology Lab, C-301)
T/Th 11:55 – 12:50 Lunch(caf), Schol(Heim G-11), TPAC/TEff (Jonas/Schultz)Tu 3:00 – 4:30 pm ARCH 348/448 Archaeology Colloquium (C-303)
Th 3:00 – 4:30 pm ARCH/REL 226A Lab (C-301)
Current Courses (Spring
2019): Rel 113, Rel 328, Rel 333w
Course descriptions are taken from the Lycoming
College Catalogue, Religion Section.
Links are for course syllabi. Further links for other course materials will be
found within the syllabi.
HUMA 159f7: Origins – Myth, Legend, and Archaeology at the Dawn
of Civilization (Freshman Seminar fall 2011, 2013, 2014, 2018; spr 2016) T/Th 1:00 pm, B-309
Human beings, both ancient and modern, seem to have a
natural urge to explain the origin of things. This course uses an
interdisciplinary approach to explore the origins of civilization in the
ancient near East as viewed through (and explained by) ancient mythology,
foundation legends, and modern archaeological research. As a “Freshman Seminar,” this course stresses
development of basic skills for the college setting such as critical thinking,
critical reading, information literacy, oral and written communication,
teamwork, leadership and initiative.
REL 113: Old Testament Faith and History
(fall 1999…spring 2009, fall 2009…2014, 2019) MWF 10:15 pm, B309
A critical examination of biblical literature within
its historical setting and in the light of archaeological findings to show the
faith and religious life of the Hebrew-Jewish community in the Biblical period,
and an introduction to the history of interpretation with an emphasis on
contemporary Old Testament criticism and theology.
REL
224d: Judaism and Islam
(taught by George Adams in fall 2004, 2006; spring 2009)*
An examination of the rise, growth, and expansion of
Judaism and Islam with special attention given to the theological contents of
the literatures of these religions as far as they are normative in matters of
faith, practice, and organization. Also,
a review of their contributions to the spiritual heritage of humankind.
*(cp HIST 232: The Rise of
Islam, taught by Cullen Chandler in spring 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010 MWF 12:45)
*(cp REL 210: Judaic Studies
- From the Exodus to the Romans, taught by Pamela Gaber fall 2011 T/Th 1-2:50 pm)
*(cp REL 211: Judaic Studies
- Talmud to Today, taught by Pamela Gaber in fall 2010, 2012 T/Th 1-2:50 pm)
*(cp REL 212: Islam,
scheduled to be taught by George Adams in spring 2012 M/W 4:30 – 6:20 pm)
REL 226d: Biblical Archaeology
(fall 1999… 2004 ... 2009,
2018) MWF 12:45pm + Lab Th 3:00-4:50, B309,C-301
An introduction to basic archaeological method in the
Near East with reference to major representative excavations in Israel, along
with artifacts and material culture recovered from various historical periods
(primarily Bronze Age and Iron Age), including study of the role of archaeology
in reconstructing the world in which biblical literature originated, and
archaeological results that clarify the biblical text.
REL
328d: History & Culture of the Ancient Near East
(spring 2000…2003, 2004...2009…2019)
MWF 12:45 pm, B309
A study of the history and culture of ancient
Mesopotamia, Egypt, Anatolia, and Syria-Palestine from the rise of Sumerian
culture to Alexander the Great. Careful
attention will be given to the critical use of primary documents (ancient
inscriptions) along with archaeology in reconstructing ancient history and
culture, as well as to the cultural legacy of the ancient Near East - including
ancient Near Eastern religious views as they interacted with the culture and
faith of biblical tradition.
REL
333dw: Biblical Topics - Old Testament Women (spring 2002…2008…2014, 2019) T/Th 9:45 am, D301
Offered in cooperation with the Women
and Gender Studies Program, this seminar will involve in-depth study
of
a variety of biblical texts and themes relevant to the
roles and character of women in the Old Testament, including selections from
Genesis, Ruth, Esther, Song of Songs, Proverbs (esp. ch.
31), and the songs of Deborah and Miriam.
Excerpts from the prophecies of Hosea and Ezekiel will also be
considered. This is intended to be an upper-level seminar, which is offered as
"Writing-focused"
and thus will incorporate a variety of written assignments and attention to the
writing process. Alternate years.
REL 337W: Biblical Topics - Genesis (fall 2016) T/Th 9:45 am, D302
Genesis is a story of beginnings in the Bible, setting
both a universal context and a relational context centered around
God’s covenants with his creation and humanity as a while, and with the
particular family of Abraham.
This course explores the various traditions conveyed
in the biblical book of Genesis within their appropriate historical, political,
cultural, literary, and theological contexts.
Students utilize various scholarly approaches and methods to better
understand the larger biblical message.
This is an upper-level seminar offered as writing focused, and thus
incorporates a variety of written assignments and attention to the writing
process.
REL
337W: Biblical Topics – King David (spr
2004; fall 2005, 2007, 2011, 2018)
T/Th 9:45 am, B309
King David is a central figure in biblical history and
literature, presenting a complex story of heroism, pathos and tragedy.
This course will explore the character of David in proper literary,
historical, political and theological context utilizing various scholarly
approaches and methodologies, to enlighten our understanding of the larger
biblical message. Using primarily the books
of 1-2 Samuel, with parts of Judges and 1Kings (in the "Deuteronomistic History"), we will look at the
development of David's character from various viewpoints in terms of the
"charismatic leadership ideal," in contrast with Saul, Absalom and
Solomon, and in the context of biblical debates over kingship and temple. Historical background and ancient Near
Eastern context will also be important.
This is intended to be an upper-level seminar, which will be offered as
writing focused and thus will incorporate a variety of written assignments and
attention to the writing process.
REL 337W: Biblical Topics - Moses and Exodus (fall 2009?) T/Th 9:45 am, D302
An in-depth study of the character of Moses in the
context of the Torah, particularly focusing on the book of Exodus along with
other related biblical and ancient Near Eastern texts, employing a variety of
academic methodologies. Exodus is an
extremely rich book, including a wide variety of genres and themes which are
pivotal for the national identity of Israel.
Starting with the book of Exodus, we can come to a much deeper
understanding of the Old Testament as a whole.
This is intended to be an upper-level seminar, which will be offered as
writing focused and thus will incorporate a variety of written assignments and
attention to the writing process.
REL 337W: Biblical Topics - Exodus (fall 1999, fall 2001) T/Th 3:00 pm, D302
An in-depth study of the book of Exodus along with
other related biblical and ancient Near Eastern texts, employing a variety of
academic methodologies. Exodus is an
extremely rich book, including a wide variety of
genres and themes which are pivotal for the national identity of Israel. Starting with the book of Exodus, we can come
to a much deeper understanding of the Old Testament as a
whole. This is intended to be an
upper-level seminar, which will be offered as writing focused and thus will
incorporate a variety of written assignments and attention to the writing
process.
REL 337W: Biblical Topics - Kingship Ideologies (spr 2000) T/Th 1:00 pm, C300
An in-depth study of Israelite Kingship Ideologies in
the Old Testament, along the theme of the "Anti-Power Struggle in
Israelite Kingship Ideals." Using
primarily the books of Judges, 1-2 Samuel and 1-2 Kings (in the "Deuteronomistic History"), we will explore Israelite
kingship ideologies in their ancient Near Eastern context, including
pro-monarchic and anti-monarchic biases within the texts, and especially the
charismatic leadership ideal as exemplified by King David and contradicted by Solomon. This is
intended to be an upper-level seminar, which will be offered as writing focused
and thus will incorporate a variety of written assignments and attention to the
writing process.
HEBR 101-102: Biblical Hebrew Grammar & Readings (00-01, 02-03, ...08-09, …2019-2020) MWF 7:45, 9:00 am, D302
Fundamentals of Old Testament Hebrew grammar and
readings of selected passages of the Hebrew text.
HEBR 221: Readings in Biblical Hebrew Narrative (fall 2001, 2003… 2009…2016, 2018) M/W 8:15-10:05 am,
D302
A critical reading of the Hebrew text of selected
narrative portions of the Old Testament with special attention being given to
exegetical questions. Texts vary in conjunction with current REL 337W
seminar: Exodus in 2009, Samuel in 2011, Genesis in
2013. Alternate years. Prerequisite:
HEBR 102 or equivalent.
HEBR
222: Readings in
Prophetic Books, Wisdom Literature (spr 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008…
2014) M/W 8:15-10:05 am, D302
A critical reading of the Hebrew text of selected
portions of Old Testament prophecy and wisdom literature with special attention
being given to exegetical questions and poetic texts. The texts read vary from year to year.
This year, in conjunction with the REL333 seminar, we
will focus on the songs of Miriam and Deborah, Ruth, Esther, Hosea, Song of
Songs, Proverbs 31, and other texts relating to Women in the Old Testament.
Alternate years.
Prerequisite: HEBR 221 or
equivalent.
Find out more about our offerings in Biblical Languages!
Need a tutor for any of these courses? Visit the Academic Resource Center!
Hebrew Tutor: Ben Conrad Religion Tutor: Ben ConradArchaeology Lab Assistant: Emily Anderson
Link to Table of Contents for RJDKnauth home page
Link to Religion Department home page
Link to Archaeology Program home page
Link to Lycoming College home page
Send Email to Robin J. DeWitt Knauth at one
of the following:
knauth@lycoming.edu
rdewitt@hds.harvard.edu
rdewitt@alumni.princeton.edu