Jewish Scriptures and Early Scriptural Interpretation

T, F 12:30-1:50 Dr. Susan Marks

PME 219 smarks@ncf.edu

Office Hours: Tues 2:30-3:30p.m. PME 221; x4271

Fri 10:00-11:00a.m.

and by appointment

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 one particular text or narrative strand and its many trajectories.

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 3-4 page paper and a final 9-12 page paper).*

4. A mid-semester exam.

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:

Week 1

SECTION 1: Jewish Scriptures

Tues Aug 26 Introduction

Fri Aug 29 Exodus

Read: Exodus 1-20

WIS 4-16, 127-9, 185-192

Week 2

Tues Sep 2 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? 13-32, 50-88

WIS 79-83, 175-8

Fri Sep 5 Genesis --Covenant

Read: Genesis 12-20

WIS 86-8, 150-1, 178-80

EJ chapter 2

Week 3

Tues Sep 9 What is Genesis?

Read: *1 Enoch 1-11

*Jubilees 16-22

Reread:Relevant portions of Genesis

Fri Sep 12 Descendants of Jacob

Read: Genesis 25.19-30.24

WIS 61-2, 108-9, 138-40, 143-4, 169-70

Due: A 3-4 page written comparison of Genesis and Jubilees OR of

Genesis and Enoch.

[Two copies of paper due]

[Exchange papers with peers]

Week 4

Tues Sep 16 Peer Review and Overview

Read: Two papers from peers

Due: PRF for each paper

Fri Sep 19 Descendants of Israel

Read: Joshua 1-10 and 24, 1 Samuel 9-10, 2 Sam 1-7,

2 Kings 22 and Psalm 105

WIS, 96-7, 98-9 and 140-1

EJ introduction and chapter 1

Week 5

Tues Sep 23 Politics and Biblical Texts

Read: Ezra (1-8) 9-10, Nehemiah 8-10, 13 and skim 1 Chronicles 1-8

*4 Ezra 13-14

*Letter of Aristeas

Fri Sep 26 Prophets

Read: Amos, Isaiah 1-6 and 39-40

EJ chapter 3

Due: Revision of written assignment

Week 6

Tues Sep 30 Is Daniel Prophetic?

Read: Daniel

1 Maccabees 1 and 1 Enoch 83-90

Fri Oct 3 Other Narratives

Read: Esther and Tobit

Don’t Forget to Read: Additions Esther (in HCSB 1481ff)

Week 7

Tues Oct 7 Exam

Fri Oct 10 Song of Songs AND a look ahead

Read: Song of Songs

In Class: Hand out Research Assignment

Week 8

SECTION 2: Early Scriptural Interpretation

Tues Oct 21 Differing Jewish traditions of scriptural interpretation

Read: Philo, “Life of Moses” 2.1-70 and “Special Laws” 1.1-50

Fri Oct 24 Research Tools -- presentation by Librarian Gail Novak

Week 9

Tues Oct 28 More Philo

Read: Philo “On the Contemplative Life”

EJ chapter 4

Fri Oct 31 Josephus

Read: Josephus, “Against Apion” 1.1-72

Week 10

Tues Nov 4 Rabbi Saperstein

Fri Nov 7 DSS pesher tba

Read: tba

Week 11

Tues Nov 11 Rabbinic Interpretation: Midrash Agadah

Read: *BR 55.4, *b156a-b

EJ chapter 6

Fri Nov 14 Talmud and Midrash Halakhah

Read: *Mekh ch 5 on Ex 12.6, *mBer 1.1, *bBer 2a

EJ chapter 5

Week 12

Tues Nov 18 Ritual and thoughts about Synagogues

Read: BR 68.9

Due: Written assignment, 7-10 page research of text and trajectory

[Two copies of paper due]

[Exchange papers with peers]

Fri Nov 21 Peer Review

Read: Two papers from peers

Week 13

Tues Nov 28 Rabbinic Presentations of Scripture

Read: *mYad 3.2-5, mYad 4.6, bMeg 9a, bBBat 14b-15a

*Lightstone, “The Rabbis’ Bible”

Due: Peer Review Forms to me

Fri Nov 30 No Class – Thanksgiving Break

Week 14

Tues Dec 2: Share interpretation finds

Come prepared to discuss your own paper and those of your peers

Fri Dec 5 What is Jewish Scriptures?

Bring: Scriptures

Final Papers due Tuesday, December 9^th at Noon