HEBREW 371- Section 2

Topics in Jewish Civilization: Exodus and Its Interpreters

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Spring 2007

Class: M/W, 2:30-3:45 p.m., 587 Van Hise

Instructor : Eric Tully                                                                                email: ettully@gmail.com

Office : 1352 Van Hise Hall                                                                       office phone: (608) 263-2835

Office Hours : Wednesday, 1:00-2:00p.m.

Course Description :

The book of Exodus tells a powerful story of redemption, deliverance, and the formation of a new nation of people: the Israelites. This story of deliverance has captured the imagination of generations and throughout history it has been alluded to, transformed, and studied. In addition, the book of Exodus is foundational to critical ideas in Judaism and in Christianity.

This course will take a two-pronged approach to the book. First, we will study the book of Exodus on its own as we look at historical, literary, and interpretive issues. Second, we will look at responses to the book by later readers. We will start with the biblical writers themselves and end with modern interpreters and the ways they have wrestled with Exodus' themes in recent times.

Goals :

1. To become familiar with the contents of the Book of Exodus--its literary features, themes, and theology.

2. To understand historical and interpretive issues surrounding the book.

3. To develop skills for reading ancient biblical literature

4. To examine the presuppositions, techniques, and conclusions of later interpreters of the book, from ancient to modern. 

Textbooks:

• New Revised Standard Version Bible

• Coursepack available at Student Print-Memorial Union) - always bring this to class

Requirements and Grading :

• Attendance: you are expected to attend class.  Please don't disrupt the class by arriving late or leaving early.

•  Reading: every reading assignment must be completed on the indicated day.  Lectures and class discussion will be based on the assigned readings so it is important to be prepared.

•  Assignments (30%): there are regular written assignments (20 total) connected with the readings.  These assignments will guide you in your reading, allow you to discuss topics intelligently in class, and assist you in studying for your exams.  Assignments are due at the beginning of each class and must be submitted in typed hardcopy (i.e., not emailed, not handwritten).  Late assignments will NOT be graded, because the topics they cover will be discussed in class on the day they are due.  Individual assignments will be graded on a three-point scale: late/not turned in (zero credit); incomplete/inadequate (1/2 credit); complete/adequate (full credit). I will drop the two lowest assignment grades.

• Papers (10% each): There will be three 5-page papers. These must be typed in 12-pt., Times New Roman font with 1� margins. If the paper involves research, sources must be properly documented. Please see http://www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook/Documentation.html for information on citing sources and plagiarism.

• Exams (40%): There will be two exams in the course, a midterm on March 7 and a final on May 15.  You must take the exams at the scheduled time; missed exams may be made up only in the case of an emergency.

• It is required that you attend the Hebrew & Semitic Studies lecture by Leonard Greenspoon on Monday, March 12 at 7:30 p.m. His lecture is entitled, "Interpreting the Word: Hope, Hype and Habit in 50 years of Biblical Studies. The assignment due the following class will be a short report on this lecture.

  Grading scale:      

Office hours and Special Accommodations:

I am available during office hours and by appointment.  Please see me as soon as possible if you are having difficulty with the course. 

 Students needing special accommodations for disabilities should provide documentation from the McBurney Center at the beginning of the semester.

Schedule:

1/22 Syllabus/Intro to book/ Prologue 1:1-7

1/24 Intro to book/Theology of the book

• Due: Index card w/ photo ID
• Due: Burns, "The Book of Exodus" pp. 11-21
• Due: Sarna, "Exodus, Book of" pp. 690-700
• Due: Assignment #1

1/29 Exodus and History (Problems and Views)

• Due: Meyers, pp. 2-16
• Due: Provan, Long, Longman, pp. 125-137
• Due: Assignment #2

1/31 Exodus 1:8-2:22 = Oppression and birth of Moses

• Due: Read Exodus 1:8-3:2
• Due: Meyers, pp. 32-46
• Due: Assignment #3
• In class: Sign up for topics for Paper 1

2/5 Exodus 2:23-7:7 = Call of Moses and first audience with Pharoah

• Due: Read Exodus 2:23-7:7
• Due: Read Den Hertog, pp. 213-228
• Due: Read Robinson, pp. 447-461
• Due: Assignment #4

2/7 Exodus 7:8-12:36 = Plagues & Passover

• Due: Read Exodus 7:8-12:36
• Due: Read Fretheim, pp. 385-396
• Due: Read Prosic, pp. 76-97
• Due: Assignment #5

2/12 Exodus 12:37-15:21 = The Exodus event

• Due: Read Exodus 12:37-15:21
• Due: Read Patterson, pp. 42-54
• Due: Read Hauser, pp. 265-285
• Due: Assignment #6

2/14 Exodus 15:22-18:27 = Wilderness Wanderings

• Due:Paper 1
• Due: Read Exodus 15:22-18:27
• In class: Sign up for topics for Paper 2

2/19 Exodus 19:1-24:18 = Theophany, Law, Tabernacle

• Due: Read Exodus 19:1-24:18
• Due: Read Greengus pp. 242-252
• Due: Read Sarna, pp. 273-276
• Due: Read Cohen, pp. 173-177 (Not in course-pack; coming later)
• Due: Read Greenberg, pp. 12-28

2/21 Exodus 19:1-24:18 = Theophany, Law, Tabernacle

• Due: Read Blenkinsopp, pp. 183-228
• Due: Assignment #7

2/26 Exodus 25:1-31:18 = Theophany, Law, Tabernacle

• Due: Read Exodus 25:1-31:18
• Due: Friedman, pp. 292-300
• Due: Klein, pp. 264-276
• Due: Assignment #8

2/28 Exodus 32:1-34:35 = Response: Disobedience

• Due:Paper 2
• Due: Read Exodus 32:1-34:35
• Due: Fass, pp. 171-183

3/5 Exodus 35:1-40:38 = Response: Obedience

• Due: Read Exodus 35:1-40:38
• Due: Read Durham, pp. 470-501
• Due: Assignment #9

3/7 MIDTERM EXAM

3/12 The Text and the Interpreter

• Due: Read Langston, pp. 1-10
• Due: Read Hayes/Holladay, pp. 5-32
• Due: Read Greenspahn, pp. 87-90

3/14 The Bible interprets Exodus

• Due: Read Fishbane, pp. 19-37
• Due: Read Fishbane, pp. 39-44
• Due: Read Zenger, pp. 22-33
• Due: Assignment #10

3/19 The Bible interprets Exodus

• Due: Read Kugel and Greer, pp. 13-39
• Due: Skim Eslinger, pp. 93-125
• Due: Assignment #11

3/21 The Rabbis and Exodus

• Due: Read Kasher, pp. 547-594
• Due: Assignment #12

3/26 The Rabbis and Exodus

• Due: Holtz, pp. 177-205
• Due: Assignment #13

3/28 Early Christians and Exodus

• Due: Read Gonzales, pp. 83-106
• Due: Galatians 1-6
• Due: Assignment #14

SPRING BREAK

4/9 Early Christians and Exodus

• Due: Read Keesmaat, pp. 155-215
• In class: Sign up for topics for Paper 3

4/11 Medieval Jewish Commentaries on Exodus

• Due: Read Greenstein, pp. 213-259
• Due: Assignment #15

4/16 Medieval Jewish Commentaries on Exodus

• Due: Assignment #16

4/18 Medieval Jewish Commentaries on Exodus

• Due: Assignment #17

4/23 Documentary Hypothesis - The roots of Exodus

• Due: Read Viviano, pp. 35-57
• Due: Read Exodus 3:1-14
• Due: Assignment #18

4/25 Documentary Hypothesis - The roots of Exodus

• Due: Read Exodus 7:8-12:36
• Due: Assignment #19

4/30 Redaction Criticism - Assembling Exodus

• Due: Read Barton, pp. 45-60
• Due: Assignment #20

5/2 Liberation Theology - Exodus today

• Due:Paper 3
• Due: Read Young, pp. 93-99
• Due: Read Dussel, pp. 83-92

5/7 Feminist Criticism - Exodus today

• Due: Osiek, pp. 181-187
• Due: Read Plaskow, pp. 28-34

5/9 Synthesis/Review

5/15 Final Exam 2:45-4:45 p.m.

If you have trouble accessing this page, contact: Chris Dargis (cadargis@wisc.edu)
Latest revision date: 1/19/2007  (cad)

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