Jewish Scriptures
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T, F 2:00-3:20 PME 213 Office Hours: Tues 3:30-4:20pm Thurs 2:00-3:00pm and by appointment |
PME 221; x 24271
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This course explores the collection of texts known as Jewish Scripture/Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. The shape of this “canon” depends upon varying perspectives of authority. Readings, discussions, and written assignments will present opportunities for students to develop interpretative skills with relation to individual texts and larger traditions. Meanwhile each student will consider historical and cultural aspects of how these traditions relate to each other. In final projects students will investigate and share with each other one particular text and an interpretative trajectory.
Expectations:
Although there are no prerequisites for this course, the reading and writing load is heavy and the expectations I have of your performance will be high. Regular attendance is required. In order to facilitate review by both your peers and myself, assignments must be handed in on time. Class participation counts towards your overall evaluation. Your classmates will come to depend on your comments even as you will come to depend on theirs. If you are a person who does not readily talk in public, I encourage you to come see me during my office hours, and we can devise other ways for you to have input into class discussions.
Responsibilities:
1. Academic integrity.
2. Active participation. Arrive on time, with readings in hand, having done relevant readings before class session.
3. Two papers, each involving drafts and revisions (a 4-6 page paper and a final 9-12 page paper).*
4. Three written quizzes and an oral final exam (to be scheduled individually during exam week).
5. Explorations through informal writing assignments of 15-30 minutes in length.
*An appropriately formatted hard [paper] copy of formal assignments must be handed in on-time, together with all drafts and doodles. You will be evaluated based on the energy of the original exploration as well as the development in the revision process.
Writing and Class Atmosphere:
This course operates on the principle that writing and critical thinking go hand in hand. Our goal is to turn our classroom into a community of writers and a think-tank. Each of you will learn to rely on the reflections of your peers as you use writing to gain deeper insights into your own ideas. You have the right to expect honesty and respect from your peers and from me, even as we will expect the same from you. The only stupid question is the one that you didn’t ask.
Required Texts:
Jaffee, Early Judaism [EJ]
Meeks, ed. HarperCollins Study Bible [HCSB]
Meyers, ed. Women in Scripture [WIS]
You may substitute another modern translation for the HarperCollins Study Bible (e.g., RSV, NRSV, NJPS, or NIV). A few copies of Tanakh (NJPS) are available at the bookstore. The King James Version is not acceptable as a primary translation, although you are welcome to use it as a secondary text.
Additional readings will be available and electronic reserve [* = reserve reading]
Please also check Library Reserve for many additional, related books.
Schedule:
Read: Exodus 1-20
WIS 4-16, 127-9, 185-192
Tues Feb 8 Genesis -- Who wrote the Bible?
Read: Genesis 1-11, also Psalm 74
Write: A 1-2 page close reading and comparison of Genesis 1& 2
Then Read: *Who wrote the bible? 15-32, 50-69, 70-88
WIS 79-83, 175-8
Fri Feb 11 Genesis --Covenant
Read: Genesis 12-20
WIS 86-8, 150-1, 178-80
EJ 54-78 and 88-89
Tues Feb 15 What is Genesis?
Read: Genesis 25.19-30.24
WIS 61-2, 108-9, 138-40, 143-4, 169-70
*1 Enoch 1-11
*Jubilees 16-22
Reread: Relevant portions of Genesis 12-20
In class: Quiz
Fri Feb 18 Web materials
Due: A 4-6 page written comparison of Genesis and Jubilees OR of
Genesis and Enoch.
[Two copies of paper due]
[Exchange papers with peers]
Tues Feb 22 Peer Review and Overview
Read: Two papers from peers
Due: PRF for each paper
Fri Feb 25 Descendants of Jacob
Read: Deuteronomy 16-19
1 Samuel 24
Job 27-28
Proverbs chapter 1, 3-4,7-9, 14
WIS, 226, 548-550
*Robert Alter, “Sacred History and the Beginnings
of Prose Fiction”
*Mark Smith, “The Origins and Development of Israelite
Monotheism”
Tues Mar 1 Descendants of Israel
Read: Joshua 1-10 and 24, 1 Samuel 9-10, 2 Sam 1-7,
Read Sam 10:17-27 in NRSV and NJPS
2 Kings 22 and Psalm 105
WIS, 96-7, 98-9 and 140-1
EJ introduction and chapter 1
Fri Mar 4 Prophets and Song of Songs
Read: Jeremiah 1-2
Amos 1-3
Isaiah 1-6 and [39]-40
Song of Songs
Due: Revision of written assignment
Tues Mar 8 Is Daniel Prophetic?
Read: Daniel, 7-12
1 Maccabees 1 and *1 Enoch 83-90
EJ chapter 3
Fri Mar 11 Politics and Biblical Texts
Read: Ezra (1-8) 9-10, Nehemiah 8-10, 13 and skim 1 Chronicles 1-10
2 chron 34-46
4 Ezra 13-14 aka 2 Esdras
*Letter of Aristeas
In class: Quiz
Also Hand out Research Assignment
Tues Mar 15 Other Narratives
Read: Esther
Don’t Forget to Read: Additions Esther (in HCSB 1481ff)
Fri Mar18 Class cancelled
SPRING BREAK
Tues Mar 29 Differing Jewish traditions of scriptural interpretation
Read: Philo, “Life of Moses” 2.1-135 and “Special Laws” 1.1-50
See Philo on: http://www.earlyjewishwritings.com/
Fri Apr 1 Research Tools -- presentation by Librarian Gail Novak
Tues Apr 5 More Philo
Read: Philo “On the Contemplative Life”
EJ chapter 4
Fri Apr 8 Josephus
Read: Josephus, “Against Apion” 1.1-72
(see early Jewish Writings Website 3/29)
Tues Apr 12 DSS Pesher
Read: Habakkuk
*Pesher Habakkuk
J.C. VanderKam, “The Identification of the Qumran Group”
In Class: Quiz
Fri Apr 15 Ritual and thoughts about Synagogues
Read: BR 68.9
*Levine, tba
Due: Written assignment, 7-10 page research of text and trajectory
[Two copies of paper due]
[Exchange papers with peers]
Tues Apr 19 Peer Review
Read: Two papers from peers
Fri Apr 22 Introduction to Rabbinic Judaism
Read: *Shaye J.D.Cohen “The Emergence of Rabbinic Judaism”
EJ 78-89 and chapter 5
Tues Apr 26 Rabbinic Interpretation: Midrash Agadah
Read: *BR 55.4, *bShabbat156a-b
EJ chapter 6
Fri Apr 29 Talmud and Midrash Halakhah
Read: *Mekh ch 5 on Ex 12.6, *mBer 1.1, *bBer 2a
In rabbinic excerpts on e-reserve
Reread:EJ chapter 5
Due: Final Paper
Tues May 3 Rabbinic Presentations of Scripture
Read: *mYad 3.2-5, mYad 4.6, bMeg 9a, bBBat 14b-15a
*Lightstone, “The Rabbis’ Bible.” Skim170-184, but read carefully
pages176-7
Fri May 6 Share interpretation finds
Come prepared to discuss your own paper and those of your peers
Bring: Scriptures
Tues May 10: Presentations continue
Bring: Scriptures
Fri May 14 What is Jewish Scriptures?
Bring: Scriptures
Exam Week: Individual Oral Exams (20 minutes)