Ithaca College Fall Semester 2002

Hebrew Scriptures
Religion 344-103
01 MWF 12:00-12:50
02 MWF 1:00-1:50
Room: CNS 118

Professor Rebecca Lesses
Office: Gannett G122
Office Hours: Mon., 2-3, Tues., 10:30-12, Wed., 2-3, and by appointment.
Telephone: 274-3556
E-mail: rlesses@ithaca.edu

The Hebrew Bible (referred to by Christians as the Old Testament) is one of the foundational books of both western and world culture, and serves as the basis for Judaism and Christianity. In this course, we will read the books of the Bible critically as literature, as religious and moral text, and as a source of sociological knowledge. This course surveys the biblical literature, acquaints the students with critical methods for the study of the Bible, situates the Bible within the literature and culture of the ancient Near East, and discusses the religion of ancient Israel. We will deal with questions of history and archaeology, and with questions of meaning -- what the biblical text meant to its ancient readers, and what meanings it has today.

Requirements:
Class attendance (5%) (3 unexcused absences permitted; if class is missed because of illness, student must present a doctor’s excuse; more absences will lead to a lower grade)

Class participation (10%): this includes asking questions and speaking up during class discussions, participating in small group work (chevruta, explained below), handing in Entry Tickets (explained below), and active listening to lectures and to classmates.

Map exercise--due September 13 (5%)

Four 10-15 minute Short Quizzes--every two to three weeks in class (10% total; lowest quiz grade will be dropped)

Midterm exam--October 14, in class (20%)

One short exegesis paper (6-8 pages)--due November 15, in class (15%)

Final exam--date and time to be determined by the Registrar’s Office (35%)

HOW THIS CLASS WILL BE CONDUCTED

1. BRING THE BIBLE TO CLASS! The main activity of this class will be reading and interpreting the Bible. We will always be referring to the Bible, therefore you must always have a Bible before you in class. Looking on with your neighbor is not sufficient.

2. CLASS PARTICIPATION IS REQUIRED. This class will be conducted partly as a lecture, partly as small group work, partly as large group discussion. I expect you to come to class having done each day’s reading and prepared to say something about it. To further this goal, you are required to bring Entry Tickets to class each day.

3. ENTRY TICKETS. For each class, prepare at least two questions about the reading (especially the biblical passages themselves) and hand in an index card with your questions at the beginning of class. Periodically, I will read out your questions or ask you to state them to the whole class.

4. CHEVRUTA. In class I will often ask you to read a particular text together with another person, so that you can discuss your own questions about the text and spark each other’s ideas. This method is taken from the rabbinic way of studying a text, a method that they called chevruta (fellowship). It stems from the idea that learning is acquired best through the active interaction between self, fellow, and text. Your chevruta partner may have different questions than you do, or different answers.
After a few classes, I will ask you to find one particular chevruta partner to study with for the rest of the semester. It is very useful to prepare the readings in chevruta before class and to study for exams with your chevruta partner. Sometimes I will ask you to get together with your chevruta outside of class to prepare a particular text together and present it in class.

5. ACTIVE LISTENING. Listening to another person speak is not a passive enterprise. Really to understand another person requires paying attention to his or her words, taking notes on what the other person says, making associations with what you already know, asking questions when you don’t understand. This is true when you listen to your classmates in small or large group discussions or to my lectures. I expect you to pay attention in class and learn both from your classmates and from my lectures. Take notes. Do not expect simply to remember everything said in class. If you are unfamiliar with taking notes for a class, please speak to me.

6. BIBLE TRANSLATIONS: Use the Bible translation ordered for this class, the New Oxford Annotated Bible, which has the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible plus very useful annotations. It is available in paperback in the bookstore.

CLASS POLICIES

1. ALL WRITTEN WORK MUST BE YOUR OWN. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Please consult pages 116-118 of the Student Handbook for a complete statement of the Ithaca College policy on plagiarism, including definitions of plagiarism and proper citation of sources.

2. ALL WRITTEN WORK MUST DONE IN ORDER TO PASS THE COURSE. This includes all exams (midterm, final, and short quizzes), map exercise, and exegesis paper.

3. IF YOU NEED HELP WITH YOUR WRITING: Please come speak to me. I also recommend the Writing Center, 228 Park, which is open 9-5 Mon.-Fri. and 7-10 p.m. Sun.-Thurs. To schedule an appointment, call 274-3315.

4. ATTENDANCE POLICY. 3 unexcused absences are permitted; if class is missed because of illness, student must present a doctor’s excuse. More than three unexcused absences will lead to reduction of the course attendance and participation grades.

5. STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES: please approach me early in the semester and let me know your needs in terms of papers or exams. Also, please have the Office for Support Services send me a letter with your specific needs.

BOOKS FOR PURCHASE
All books are also on reserve in the library.

Susan Niditch, Ancient Israelite Religion, Oxford University Press, 1997

Michael Coogan, ed., The New Oxford Annotated Bible, Oxford University Press, 2001

Barry L. Bandstra, Reading the Old Testament: An Introduction to the Hebrew Bible, Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1999

Recommended for Purchase

Alice Bach, ed., Women in the Hebrew Bible, Routledge, 1999

SCHEDULE OF CLASSES
Articles marked with asterisk [*] in the list of readings are available in the course packet.

Wednesday, August 28: Introduction
What is the Bible and why is it important? How do we study the Bible? What does the Bible tell us about the past? What preconceptions do we bring to the study of the Bible?
Handout: Genesis 1-2, comparative translations of Genesis 1

Friday, August 30: How to Read the Bible
Readings: Bandstra, pp. 3-16, especially 9-16 (on different methods of biblical interpretation)
chevruta and discussion of Gen. 1-2 (bring your handout to class)

Monday, September 2: Labor Day, no classes

Wednesday, September 4: Biblical history and the history of ancient Israel
handout: Timeline of ancient Israelite history
Readings: Bandstra, pp. 18-29; Niditch, 3-33.

Friday, September 6: The historical-critical approach to the study of the Bible
Readings: Genesis 1-3
Bandstra, pp. 34-48 (take careful notes)

Monday, September 9: Historical-critical approach continued

Wednesday, September 11: Creation
Readings: Genesis 1-6:4
Bandstra, pp. 50-74

Friday, September 13: Flood and aftermath
Map exercise due in class
Readings: Genesis 6:5-11
Bandstra, pp. 74-89.
Niditch, pp. 50-63.
*ancient Near eastern accounts of creation and the flood: Enuma Elish and the Epic of Gilgamesh

Monday, September 16: Yom Kippur, no class

Wednesday, September 18: Introduction to midrash
Readings (both in the course packet).
*Barry W. Holtz, “Midrash,” chapter 3 in Back to the Sources: Reading the Classic Jewish Texts
*Midrash on Cain and Abel – pp. 187-189, in Genesis Rabbah, translated by H. Freedman (be sure to bring your packet to class – we’ll be going over this passage together).

Friday, September 20: Reading midrash
Reading (in course packet): *Midrash on Gen. 1:26-27 – pp. 56-63, in Genesis Rabbah.
Before today’s class, prepare the midrashic readings with your chevruta partner.

Monday, September 23: Early Christian Interpretation of Genesis 3
*Augustine of Hippo, City of God, book 14, chs. 1, 10, 11-18, 21-23, 26.

Wednesday, September 25: Abraham and Sarah
Readings: Genesis 12-25
Bandstra, pp. 91-111
Niditch, pp. 34-49, especially 39-40.
Recommended Reading:
Phyllis Trible, “Genesis 22: The Sacrifice of Sarah,” in Bach, pp. 271-290.

Friday, September 27: Jacob and his family
Readings: Genesis 25-36
Bandstra, pp. 111-120
Niditch, pp. 41-43.
Recommended Reading:
Carol Meyers, “Women and the Domestic Economy of Early Israel,” in Bach, pp. 33-43.

Monday, September 30: Joseph and his brothers
Readings: Genesis 37-50
Bandstra, pp. 120-129

Wednesday, October 2: Moses, Miriam, and the Exodus
Readings: Exodus 1-18
Bandstra, pp. 131-144.
Niditch, pp. 34-39, 43-46.

Friday, October 4: Sinai, covenant, and law
Readings: Exodus 19-24, 32-34
Bandstra, pp. 144-163
Niditch, pp. 70-79.

Monday, October 7: the Torah of Moses (Deuteronomy)
Readings: Deuteronomy 12-26, 31, 34
Bandstra, pp. 184-199.
Niditch, pp. 79-88.

Wednesday, October 9: Law: the case of slavery; human or divine?
Readings: Law: Exodus 21:2-11, Deut. 15:12-18; Gen. 17; Ex. 12:44; Ex. 20:10; Ex. 20:17; Ex. 21:20-32; Ex. 23:12; Lev. 19:20; Deut. 5:14; Deut. 21:10-14.
Narrative: Gen. 9:26-27; Gen. 15:3, 16:1-8, 21:10-13 (Hagar); Gen. 44; Ex. 2:23, 6:6, 6:9, 13:3, 13:14 (Israelites as slaves); Ex. 13:3, 13:14, 20:2; Deut. 5:6, 6:12, 7:8, 8:14, 13:5; 13:10, Josh. 24:17, Judges 6:8, Jer. 34:13, Micah 6:4 (Egyptian “house of slavery”); Deut. 5:15, 16:12, 24:18, 24:22; Prov. 17:2, 19:10, 22:7, 29:21, 30:22; Ez. 9:8, 9:9, Neh. 9:17; Jer. 34:9.
Recommended Reading (on reserve):
Cain Hope Felder, “Race, racism, and the biblical narratives,” in Cain Hope Felder, ed., Stony the road we trod: African American biblical interpretation (Minneapolis: Fortress, 1991).

Friday, October 11: Study session for Midterm Examination

Monday, October 14: Midterm Examination (in class)

Wednesday, October 16: priesthood and purity
Readings: Leviticus 9-12, 15-16, 18-20, 25, Numbers 5:11-6:27.
Bandstra, pp. 165-182.
Niditch, pp. 88-92, 99-118.
Recommended Reading:
Tikva Frymer-Kensky, “The Strange Case of the Suspected Sotah,” in Bach, pp. 463-474.

Friday, October 18: Fall break, no classes

Monday, October 21: History in the mode of Deuteronomy
Readings: Deuteronomy 1-3, 5-7.
Bandstra, pp. 204-215.

Wednesday, October 23: Was there a conquest?
Readings: Joshua 1-11, Judges 1
Bandstra, pp. 217-235
*Hershel Shanks, ed., Ancient Israel, ch. 3: “The Settlement in Canaan: The Period of the Judges”

Friday, October 25: Women and death in the book of Judges
Readings: Judges 2-5, 11-16, 19-21
Recommended Reading:
Susan Niditch, “Eroticism and death in the Tale of Jael,” in Bach, pp. 305-315
Mieke Bal, “Dealing/With/Women: Daughters in the Book of Judges,” in Bach, pp. 317-333.
Alice Bach, “Rereading the Body Politic: Women and Violence in Judges 21,” in Bach, pp. 389-401.

Monday, October 28: Love and Intrigue in the time of the Judges—the story of Ruth
Readings: Ruth
Bandstra, pp. 445-449.

Wednesday, October 30: Samuel and Saul
Readings: 1 Samuel 1-15
Bandstra, pp. 254-263

Friday, November 1: David vs. Saul
Readings: 1 Samuel 16-31, 2 Samuel 1
Bandstra, pp. 263-267.

Monday, November 4: David’s reign and the struggle over succession
Readings: 2 Sam 2-8, 11-19.
Bandstra, pp. 268-274.

Wednesday, November 6: Solomon and the division of the monarchy
Readings: 1 Kings 1-11.
Bandstra, pp. 276-284

Friday, November 8: Division of the kingdom; Elijah and the priests of Ba’al
Readings: 1 Kings 12-19
Bandstra, pp. 284-291.

Monday, November 11: Assyrian conquest and Josiah’s reform
Readings: 2 Kings 15-23.
Bandstra, pp. 291-294.

Wednesday, November 13: Popular Religion
Readings: Lev. 19:26-31, 20:27; Num. 21:1-9; Deut. 18:9-14; 1 Samuel 28; Jeremiah 44.
Niditch, pp. 46-47, 63-69
Recommended Reading:
Susan Ackerman, “‘And the Women Knead Dough’: The Worship of the King of Heaven in Sixth-Century Judah,” in Bach, pp. 21-32.

Friday, November 15: Psalms in Israel’s worship
Readings: Psalms 3-5, 19, 24, 30, 72, 80, 91, 97, 121-122, 124, 137
Bandstra, pp. 386-391, 403-420
6-8 page paper due in class

Monday, November 18: The prophetic call
Readings: Exodus 3-4, Numbers 12, Deuteronomy 18:15-22, Isaiah 6, Jeremiah 1, Ezekiel 1
Bandstra, pp. 209-215
New Oxford Annotated Bible, pp. 969-973 (Hebrew Bible section).

Wednesday, November 20: Prophecy and Justice: Amos and Isaiah
Readings: Amos; Isaiah 1-11
Bandstra, pp. 300-309, 350-359.

Friday, November 22: Conquest and Exile
Readings: 2 Kings 24-25; Jeremiah 32-44, 52.
Bandstra, pp. 294-298

Monday, November 25-Friday, November 29: Thanksgiving break, no classes

Monday, December 2: Exile and Suffering
Readings: Lamentations, Job 1-14, 38-42.
Bandstra, pp. 432-439, 450-451

Wednesday, December 4: Return to Zion
Readings: Ezra (skip over the long lists of returnees), Nehemiah 8-9.
Bandstra, pp. 481-485

Friday, December 6: In the Court of the Foreign King
Readings: Esther
Bandstra, pp. 384-386, 455-458
Recommended Reading:
Esther Fuchs, “Status and Role of Female Heroines in the Biblical Narrative,” in Bach, pp. 77-84.

Monday, December 9: Wisdom
Readings: Proverbs 1-9
Bandstra, pp. 391-394, 422-431.
Recommended Reading:
Carol A. Newsom, “Woman and the Discourse of Patriarchal Wisdom,” in Bach, pp. 85-98.

Wednesday, December 11: Parody
Readings: Jonah
Bandstra, pp. 375-377

Friday, December 13: Evaluation and Review

Final Examination date will be determined by the Registrar’s Office

This page maintained by: Rebecca Lesses
Last revised December 15, 2002