This course traces the history of ancient Israelite religion from its polytheistic beginnings to the emergence of Jewish monotheism in the Second Temple period.

• Lecture 1. Canaanite Polytheism and the Gods of Early Israel
• Lecture 2. The Rise of Yahwism 
• Lecture 3. Yahweh Alone: Loyalty Oaths and Covenant Theology
• Lecture 4. The Impact of Exile and the Emergence of Monotheism

Instructor Bio

Daniel is a former PhD candidate in Hebrew Bible and ancient Near Eastern Studies at Brandeis University, where he spent over a decade immersing himself in the languages, cultures, and history that surround, permeate, and animate the biblical text. Though no longer pursuing a career in academia, he remains deeply engaged with academic Bible study, and looks forward to sharing its insights and cutting edge research in this course.  Originally from Connecticut, Daniel lives in East Boston with his husband, Steven, and their miniature poodle, Bowie.