CU4-5


 * 4:5 Israel/Introduction to the Prophets (Part 1) **
 * Goal ** Students will learn about the rise of Israel during the Omride Dynasty in the ninth century and the summit of its power in the first half of the eighth century under the rule of Jeroboam II. They will also learn of the condemnation of Israelite society by Elijah, Amos, and Hosea.
 *  1. **** Gain the attention of the learner **Tell the story of Naboth’s vineyard and get the students’ reactions.
 *  2. **** Relevant past learning ** Identify period and locations to be studied on the timeline and summarize Israel’s condition prior to this period.
 *  3. **** Present new material ** Relate what historians and archeologists know about Israel from the rule of the Omrides through the rule of Jeroboam II. (See pp. 169-214 in “The Bible Unearthed.”)
 *  4. **** Provide for guided practice ** Return to the story of Naboth’s vineyard and discuss how an ordinary citizen should react to the situation. Discuss the risks of standing up to the king.
 *  5. ****<span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> Provide for independent practice **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> Divide the students into groups. Give each group the same example of a modern day injustice and have the groups discuss what if anything they should personally or collectively do about it.
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial"> 6. ****<span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> Close the lesson **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> The groups should share their conclusions, and the lesson should end by pointing out to the students that whereas the early prophets like Samuel were themselves leaders or members of the social elite, later prophets like Elijah were ordinary citizens persecuted for their challenges to authority. Thus, individuals like Elijah, Hosea, and Amos, who stood up to authority against injustice, did so at great personal risk to themselves. (Give specific examples of their suffering for the sake of conscience.)