HEBREW 371-Lecture 2

The Book of Ezekiel and its Readers: Interpretation, Apocalyptic, and Mysticism

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Spring 2006

 

 

Class: T/Th 9:30-10:45, 583 Van Hise

Instructor: Michael Lyons                                                                               email: malyons@wisc.edu

Office: 1336 Van Hise Hall                                                                              office phone:  # 262-8240

Office Hours: Tues 10:45-11:45

 

 

Course Description:

What would you do if you were a refugee?  What if your country had been invaded by a global superpower who destroyed your city, crushed your defenses and government, and took you and your fellow citizens into exile?  Suppose you were a member of your society's religious caste--how would you try to explain the disaster to the other exiles as you struggled to live in a foreign land?  You would dream of a return, of national restoration and spiritual transformation--but what hope of these could you possibly offer?

The Book of Ezekiel is a composition from the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament dating to the sixth century BCE.  Written in a time of national catastrophe after the invasion of the Babylonian army, the author of this book responds to the destruction of his land, social structures, and religious institutions by attempting to explain the disaster and create hope for the future. 

But the story does not end there.  Curiously, the Book of Ezekiel was preserved and used as religious literature long after the events depicted in the book took place.  What did later readers find in it that spoke to their situations?  Why did some see it as a source for mystical speculation and apocalyptic hope?  In this course we will read and analyze the Book of Ezekiel (in translation) in its historical context and study its use by early Jewish and Christian readers in antiquity.

 

Goals:

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

2. To understand Ezekiel's historical and social situation and how he responded to that situation

3. To develop skills for reading ancient Israelite prophetic literature

4. To understand how and why later Jewish and Christian interpreters read and used the Book of Ezekiel

5. To trace the intellectual history of important religious ideas

 

Textbooks:

 

 

·        Coursepack available at Bob’s Copy Shop (University Square)

Requirements and Grading:

1. Attendance: you are expected to attend class.  Three unexcused absences are allowed.  Please don’t disrupt the class by arriving late or leaving early.

 

2. Reading: every reading assignment must be completed on the indicated day.  Lectures and class discussion will be based on the assigned readings.

 

3. Assignments (40%): there are regular written assignments (25 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 (0 points); incomplete/inadequate (1 point); complete/adequate (2 points).

 

4. Exams (30% each): There will be two exams in the course, a midterm (Thursday, March 9) and a final (Tues May 9 at 2:45).  You must take the exams at the scheduled time; missed exams may be made up only in the case of an emergency.

 

Grading scale:      A          94.0–100           C          70.0–75.9

                             AB        88.0–93.9          D          60.0–69.9

                             B           82.0–87.9          F          0–59.9

                             BC        76.0–81.9

 

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.


Provisional Reading Schedule:
Articles from the Reader are marked "(R)"; selections from the biblical text other than Ezekiel are marked "(NRSV)"

 

Tues

 

Thurs

Jan 17 Introduction to Course

 

19 Historical Background

 

24 Introduction to Prophecy

Due: Treaty of Ashurnirari (R); Leviticus 26 (NRSV); Assignment #1

 

26 Ezekiel as Literature; Assignment 2

31 Due: Ezek 1; Wilson (R); Assignment 3

 

Feb 2 Due: Ezek 2-3; Assignment 4

7 Due: Ezek 4-6; Assignment 5

 

9 Due: Ezek 7-8; Klawans (R); Assignment 6

14 Due: Ezek 9-10; Assignment 7

 

16 Due: Selections on the Chariot (R); Elior (R); Assignment 8

21 Due: Selections from the Talmud (R); Assignment 9

 

23 Due: Ezek 11-13; Assignment 10

 

28 Due: Ezek 14-16; Lapsley (R)

Assignment 11

 

Mar 2 Due: Ezek 17-18

Assignment 12

7 Review for Exam

Assignment 13

 

9  *Midterm*

14 Spring Break

 

16 Spring Break

21 Due: Ezek 19-20; Assignment 14

 

23  Due: Ezek 21-22

28 Due: Ezek 23-24; Assignment 15

 

30 Due: Ezek 25-26; Newsom (R); Assignment 16

April 4 Due: Ezek 27-30; Boadt (R)

Assignment 17

 

6 Due: Origen (R); Theodoret (R); also read Isaiah 14:3-22; Luke 10:17-18; Revelation 12:7-9 (NRSV); Assignment 18

11 Due: Ezek 31-33; Assignment 19

 

13 Passover

18 Due: Ezek 34-35; Schwartz (R); Assignment 20

 

20 Due: Ezek 36-37; Fox (R); Assignment 21

25 Due: Ezek 38-39; Assignment 22

 

27 Due: Ezek 40-48; Assignment 23
Return to Univ of WI homepageReturn to Hebrew Dept homepage
If you have trouble accessing this page, contact: Chris Dargis (cadargis@wisc.edu)
Latest revision date: 12/28/2005  (cad)