INTRODUCTION TO BIBLICAL LITERATURE

Hebrew Studies 217/Jewish Studies 227/Religious Studies 227/Lit Trans 227

Fall, 2006

Web Site: http://imp.lss.wisc.edu/~rltroxel/Intro/index.html

Class email list: littrans227-1-f06@lists.wisc.edu

Ronald L. Troxel, Ph.D.

rltroxel@wisc.edu

1348 Van Hise Hall; 263-1972

Office Hours: Tuesday, 11:00-12:00; Thursday, 1:00-2:00

Goals

1. To become acquainted with the Hebrew Bible, how scholars have studied it, and what they have discovered.

2. To explore the Bible's diverse responses to life, quests for meaning, and expressions of religious experience.

3. To develop skills for reading the Bible.

Requirements

1. Read the assigned materials prior to class. Completing the readings will prepare you for the issues to be addressed.

2. Attend class to expand your understanding of the material assigned and to raise questions.

3. Write three examinations: the first on Tuesday, October 5; the second on Thursday, November 7; and the third on Wednesday, December 20. These exams will probe your familiarity with the assigned readings and material from the lectures, as well as your understanding of biblical passages discussed in class. The second and third exams will cover only the material studied since the previous exam. [please note: Unless you have extreme extenuating circumstances (e.g., you require life-saving surgery on December 19), you must take the third exam at the time it is scheduled. Make your travel plans accordingly.]

4. Submit a paper reporting the conclusions of your close reading of a passage from the Hebrew Bible. Your TA will provide more information about the paper and its due date. A half grade reduction will be assessed for each day a paper is late.

5. Your TA will distribute a syllabus detailing assignments for the discussion sections.

Course Grades

Course grades will be computed using the following values: a) exams: first exam, 20%, second exam, 25%, third exam, 25%; b) discussion section, 30% (includes the paper).

Office Hours (in 1348 Van Hise Hall)

Tuesdays, 11:00-12:00; Thursdays, 1:00-2:00. If neither of these times fits your schedule, contact me (rltroxel@wisc.edu) to schedule an appointment.

Texts and Resources

John J. Collins, Introduction to the Hebrew Bible. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2004.

The New Revised Standard Version (available online, via links in the online syllabus). Because we cannot get bogged down in questions of why one student's Bible translates a verse one way, while another's takes a different approach, this version will be the standard for our class. Its chief advantage is that it taps the best scholarship regarding both what the "original" Hebrew text was and how that text can best be translated into English.

Worksheets and reading materials available on the web.

I have set up a class email list, which I will use to announce additions to the web site or any other communication relevant to the course. Moreover, anyone in the class may submit a query or comment for discussion outside of class. Everyone posting to the list is expected to show appropriate courtesy and to keep discussions relevant to the course material. (NOTE: Posts will be sent to student wisc.edu addresses. You are responsible to have emails forwarded from your wisc.edu account to the email address you use, if it is different than your campus address.)

Schedule [A copy of this schedule, with hyperlinks to downloadable materials and other resources, is available on the course web site. Any changes to this syllabus will be posted in burgundy, and you will be notified via the email class list.]

JC = John Collins, Introduction to the Hebrew Bible

BT = Bible texts. Passages are cited by indicating the book, followed by the chapter and verse(s), separated by a colon. (For example, "Genesis 1:12-27" designates Genesis chapter one, verses 12 through 27. "Genesis 1-3" designates chapters one through three of Genesis.) Verses are separated by commas ("Genesis 1:12, 16" = Genesis chapter one, verses 12 and 16), while chapters and parts of chapters are separated by semicolons ("Genesis 1:12-16; 2:1-3" = Genesis chapter one, verses 12 through 16, and chapter 2, verses 1 through 3).

ER = Electronic Reserves articles can be accessed via "My UW."

Web = Material available from the on-line schedule [http://imp.lss.wisc.edu/~rltroxel/ Intro/schedule.html]. This course web site contains a variety of resources for this course, including selected PowerPoint presentations from class, handouts, and links.

Some lecture titles are linked to a summary of that lecture's content, together with supporting web-based presentations or other resources.

Week 1

9/5 - Introduction to the Hebrew Bible (Tanak/Old Testament)

JC, 1-9 These pages are the basis for this session's presentation. Skim these pages as part of the assignment for 9/7.

9/7 - The History of Israel

JC, 10-20

ER, Hershel Shanks, "The Biblical Minimalists: Expunging Ancient Israel's Past." (Those unfamiliar with the narrative of Israel's history or who want a quick review click here.)

Review Israel's history. This expands the too-brief account given by Collins and specifies dates you are required to know.

Web, Bring to class the linked chart of the contents of the Hebrew Bible. A useful one page summary, entitled "Highlights of Israelite and Judean History," as well as a comparison of Israel's history with events elsewhere in the Mediterranean world (chiefly Greece and Rome).

Week 2

9/12 - The environment of the Bible

JC, 25-45

9/14 - The Pentateuch (Torah): Who Wrote It?

JC, 47-64 This is a very complex topic. While Collins attempts to make it as clear as possible, you might still find yourself bewildered. The lecture should clarify the complexity, thanks to PowerPoint's utility for providing visual aids and examples. I.e., don't sweat the details in Collins' chapter; read it as background for class.

Week 3

9/19 - The Pentateuch (Torah): The Primeval History

JC, 67-81

ER, bring to class the summary entitled "Genesis 1 Translations"

Web - bring to class a copy of the grid for Genesis 1:1-2:3.

BT, Genesis 1-3

9/21 - The Pentateuch (Torah): The Patriarchs

JC, 83-104

Web - You might find helpful the document entitled "Patriarch Chart"

BT, Genesis 12, 15, 17

N.B. Because of the complexity of this lecture, I'm making it available in advance so that you can focus more on the presentation than on getting down every word. Click here.

Week 4

9/26 - The Pentateuch (Torah): The Exodus

JC, 107-119

Web - Exodus 14

BT, Exodus 1-7

For a copy of this lecture, click here.

9/28 - The Pentateuch (Torah): Legal codes

ER, R. N. Whybray, "The Laws"

Web - Bring to class the handouts on Leviticus 6-7.

BT, Leviticus 19

Week 5

10/3 – The Pentateuch (Torah): Deuteronomy

ER - R. N. Whybray, "The Book of Deuteronomy."

Web - Bring to class the document entitled "Deuteronomy"

BT, Deuteronomy 1-5

For a copy of this lecture, click here.

10/5 – EXAM 1 – For the "fair game" questions for the first exam, click here.

Week 6

10/10 - The Former Prophets: Joshua and Judges

JC, 183-214

Note: pp. 193-195 contain a fascinating discussion of the moral problem the story of conquest produces for moderns. You are welcome to read this, but stands outside the purview of the course.

In the first sentence of the first full paragraph on p. 200, he means "the farewell speech of Joshua" rather than "of Moses."

BT, Joshua 1, 6; Judges 1

Web – Those unfamiliar with the narrative thread of Joshua through 2 Kings (the history of Israel) or who want a quick review should view this brief overview of Joshua-2 Kings.

10/12 - The Former Prophets: 1&2 Samuel

JC, 217-243 (Note: on p. 232, end of the eighth line of the first full paragraph, "punitive action against Job" should read "against Joab.")

Web, Read the summary of 1 Samuel's reports of the origins of the monarchy, entitled "I Samuel and the Monarchy"

BT 1 Samuel 9:1-10:16

Week 7

10/17- The Former Prophets: 1&2 Kings and the Deuteronomistic History

JC, 245-278 (Note: on p. 250, the first sentence of the second full paragraph, should read, "First Kings addresses the wisdom of Solomon in chapter 3, and again in 4:29-34 (MT 5:9-14)." Accordingly, the first sentence in the final paragraph should read, "A different kind of wisdom is highlighted in chapter 4" (not "5").

10/19 - The Latter Prophets: Prophetism, Amos & Hosea

JC, 283-304

BT, Hosea 1-3; Amos 1-2, 5

Week 8

10/24 - Isaiah, Micah and Nahum

JC, 307-326 (down to "Zephaniah")

BT, Isaiah 1; 6; Micah 1-3; Nahum 1

10/26 - Zephaniah, Habakkuk, and Jeremiah (introduction)

JC, 326-327; 331-336

BT, Zephaniah1; Habakkuk 1-2; Jeremiah 1

Week 9

10/31 - Jeremiah (cont.) and Ezekiel