GRADUATE SEMINAR
EARLY BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION
Hebrew Studies 956 Prof. Jonathan Schofer
Spring 2005 1352 Van Hise Hall
T
951
Van Hise
Office Hours: Tuesday
Thursday
and by appointment
Email: jwschofer@wisc.edu
This seminar examines the forms and content of
biblical
interpretation in the Hebrew Bible itself,
As a seminar, an important part of the course will be developing skills in discussing and writing about the material. Student presentations will be a significant element in opening each class session, and a major part of the seminar is a paper that draws upon and evaluates the scholarly readings in analyzing specific texts.
Each class session will include student presentations, and the main project will be a final paper of approximately 15 pages.
Daniel Boyarin, Intertextuality and the
Michael Fishbane, Biblical
Interpretation in Ancient
Steven Fraade, From Tradition to Commentary
James Kugel, In Potiphar's House
Azzan Yadin, Scripture as Logos
Please bring a copy of the Bible, the readings, and relevant primary sources to class every session.
Requirements:
1. Class sessions:
Thorough preparation of materials for study – both secondary literature and relevant primary sources – is a basic part of this course. For every class session, two students will lead us through the reading and selected examples. On the first day of class, you will be asked to volunteer for specific days.
2. Seminar paper:
In your paper, you should draw upon the scholarship addressed in class and apply, critique, or develop it in relation to primary sources. In terms of scope, consider 15 pages as your guideline. If your paper is much shorter, you may need to deal with more examples or explore your topic in more depth. If you paper is much longer, you may need to edit to highlight your main points, or cut down the scope of your inquiry.
An outline and
preliminary
statement of the project is due in class on March 8. If you would like me to read a rough draft of
your paper, I am happy to do so if you give it in to me by class time
of April
12. The final paper is due Wednesday
May 11 at
Schedule:
Week 1: Introduction (Jan. 18)
Week 2: Inner
Biblical Interpretation (Jan. 25)
Fishbane, Biblical Interpretation in Ancient Israel: Introduction, Scribal Comments, Legal Exegesis (we will focus on pages 1-19, 23-32, 66-88, 99-123, 131-137)
Week 3: Inner
Biblical Interpretation (Feb. 1)
Fishbane, Biblical Interpretation in Ancient Israel: Aggadic Exegesis, Conclusions (we will focus on pages 281-300, 307-314, 320-350, 410-411, 435-440)
Week 4: The
Bible in the Ancient World (Feb. 8)
Kugel, In Potiphar's House, 1-65
Week 5: The
Bible in the Ancient World (Feb. 15)
Kugel, In Potiphar's House, 66-93, 125-155, 247-270
Week 6: Rabbinic
Midrash
and Intertextuality (Feb. 22)
Boyarin, Intertextuality and the Reading of Midrash, vii-xiii, 1-56
Week 7: Rabbinic Midrash and Intertextuality
(March 1)
Boyarin, Intertextuality
and the
Week 8: Rabbinic Midrash and Revelation (March 8)
Fraade, From Tradition to Commentary, 1-68
à proposal/outline of paper project due ß
Week 9: Rabbinic Midrash and Rabbinic Sages (March
15)
Fraade, From Tradition to Commentary, 69-121
Spring Break – March 22
Week 10: Halakhic Midrash (March 29)
Yadin, Scripture as Logos, ix-xii, 1-79
Week 11: Halakhic Midrash (April 5)
Yadin, Scripture as Logos, 80-121 (skim 122-154)
Week 12: Student presentations (April 12)
àrough
draft of paper dueß
Week 13: Student
Presentations (April 19)
Week 14: Student
Presentations (April 26)
Week 15: Synthesis and Review: What is Midrash? (May 3)
May 11: Final
Paper Due
If you have trouble accessing this page, contact: Chris Dargis (cadargis@wisc.edu)
Latest revision date: 1/7/2005 (cad)