RELIGION 310: THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES

FALL, 2003

Miriam Dean-Otting
Professor of Religious Studies
Kenyon College

Ascension 124 PBX 5655
Office Hours Mon 9-11; Tues and Thurs 2:45-4:15

Course Aims
To gain a general knowledge of the contents of the Hebrew Bible and deeper knowledge of particular books within that vast text;
To learn to read and understand these writings with a view to their historical, religious and literary contexts;
To learn to recognize different genres in the biblical writings and discern the intents of the various authors and editors;
To become familiar with the various tools used to study the Bible and a variety of scholarly works on the subject;
To increase one's appreciation of the Bible both as a religious document written, adapted and preserved by a multitude of individuals and communities throughout history, and as a book which as been shaped by western culture and continues to shape human history;
To become familiar with some of the non-biblical literature (prose and poetry) that has been inspired by biblical works.

GENERAL INFORMATION: The format of the course will be a combination of short lectures and extensive discussion, with large emphasis placed on student participation. Always have the reading done before class and bring all readings to every class meeting. Be prepared to raise questions and be called upon. Please use my office hours or make an appointment if you need to discuss anything. (E-mail is the least preferred form of communication--please see me in person instead.) If you have a physical, psychological, medical or learning disability that may affect your ability to carry out assigned course work, I urge you to contact the Office of Disability Services at 5453. The Coordinator of Disability Services, Erin Salva (salvae@kenyon.edu) will review your concerns and determine, with you, what accommodations are appropriate. After your meeting with Erin Salva, please see me to discuss accommodations and learning needs.

Required Books
HarperCollins Study Bible
This Bible is suitable for academic study. It contains up to date introductions to individual books, maps and extensive notes. It also has illustrations, maps and useful charts, tables and chronologies. Be sure to use these tools.
Genesis, translated by Robert Alter
The Book of Job, translated by Raymond P. Scheindlin
J.B. a play in verse by Archibald MacLeish

Electronic Reserve (E-RES)
John Steinbeck, East of Eden, excerpt and other texts as announced.

Academic Tools for Biblical Study
Early in the semester you should familiarize yourself with holdings in the library relevant to our study. The reference section contains tools for academic study of the Bible. All of these tools are found in the section designated BR-BV. Peruse the library's holdings in this section and in the general collection, and discern the differences between various approaches to biblical study. Evaluate tools for theological biases. Note the publisher and publication dates. You are expected to use these books, not just for assigments, but throughout the course as research tools. This is a list of the most useful works in Reference:

Dictionaries
Anchor Bible Dictionary (1992)
Oxford Bible Dictionary (1996)
HarperCollins Bible Dictionary (1996)
Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible (1999)
Eerdmanns Dictionary of the Bible (2000)
Commentaries
HarperCollins Bible Commentary (2000)
Oxford Bible Commentary (2001)
The IVP Women's Bible Commentary (2002)

In addition to these one-volume commentaries there are single commentaries devoted to each biblical book. You will find these in the general holdings of the library and CONSORT. The Anchor Bible Commentary Series (BR192.2A1) and the Jewish Publication Society Torah Commentaries (Genesis-Deuteronomy only) are both recommended. Some of them have been updated, so check CONSORT and OHIOLINK for wider holdings and try to use the most recent edition. Note also the multi-volume Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament. This research tool gives full entries on central Hebrew words and concepts. It is difficult to use without a knowledge of Hebrew but with some guidance it can be useful.

Apart from four assigned works of literature (Steinbeck, Twain, O'Connor and MacLeish) I will be supplementing our reading with poetry, music and art. Please bring your own suggestions to my attention so that they can be shared with the class. Literature majors and other interested students will want to consult A Dictionary of Biblical Tradition in English Literature, ed. Jeffrey.

Course Reserve
Tanakh-The Holy Scriptures- the Jewish Publication Society translation
Hershel Shanks, Ancient Israel --a useful text with chapters written by experts on particular periods of biblical history:
James Kugel, The Bible as it Was --surveys ancient interpretations of biblical stories
Robert Alter, two works: The Art of Biblical Narrative and The David Story
Phyllis Trible, Texts of Terror--examines a selecton of texts from a feminist-literary perspective
Thorkild Jacobsen, Treasures of Darkness --a study of Mesopotamian religion
Arthur Waskow, Seasons of Our Joy--helpful for the Megilloth group project
Jon Levenson, Sinai and Zion, an entry into the Jewish Bible--a thematic study of the Torah

Course Requirements and Grading

I. Regular attendance (no more than one unexcused absence), active participation in class discussions and group projects and timely completion of reading and writing assignments.(20%)
II. Terms quiz (15%) Thirty minute quiz of terms and dates December 4th
III. Written Assignments
Carefully read and follow my Guidelines, which will be distributed early in the semester. Review the College rules on Academic Honesty (see pp. 26-29 in the Course of Study). Please keep copies of all your writing the end of the semester. I do not accept e-mail requests for extensions. Plan ahead and see me during my office hours.

1 short essay (3-5 pages; notation and bibliography attached) on a topic of your choice: begin with a question that arises from your reading of a biblical text and utilize a combination of reference tools to gather information for your essay. (15%) due Wednesday, October 15th at 4:00

5 Response Essays (no more than one single-spaced page) You may turn these in whenever you wish but each must be on a different text and all must be turned in according to this schedule: essays must be evenly spaced out over the semester, three by 10/23 and two by 12/4 Please date and number your essays and keep them after I return them to you. I will ask to see them one more time at the end of the semester: when you turn your last one in staple or paper clip all previously graded essays together with the last one. These should be short, immediate responses to assigned biblical reading, due on the day we discuss the assigned reading. Do not attempt to address everything you have read but, rather, focus on one particular reading or issue. (25%)

One 12 page, double spaced, fully annotated, research paper This paper will give you an opportunity to explore some aspect of the Bible in more depth, making use of secondary sources, commentaries and reference tools. You are expected to consult with me at the beginning of the research process. (25%)

FRIDAY October 17th at noon proposed topic and bibliography due
MONDAY, November 10th at 4:00 final paper due

NOTE: Biblical texts are cited by book title, chapter and verse. Always use the abbreviated form of citation in written work. Citations are made this way:

Jon 1:15 (means book of Jonah, chapter 1, verse 15)
Job 1-11 (means book of Job, chapters 1-11)
Gen 35:5-37:2 (means book of Genesis, chapter 35, verse 5 through chapter 37, verse 2)z
Course Outline

8/28-9/2 Introduction to the terms; bring your Bibles along with Robert Alter's translation of Genesis

You should familiarize yourself with the biblical text by simply examining it. What are the names of the books and how are they placed in the Bible? How does one find one's way around the Bible and around individual books? Read Wayne Meek's Introduction to the HarperCollins Study Bible, [HCSB] pages xvii-xxiv and study the rest of the preface carefully. Is every Bible the same? If so, how? If not, how not? What shapes individual Bibles?

The Torah/The Pentateuch

9/2 Read the HCSB introduction to Genesis and then use Robert Alter's translation for our study of Genesis. Be sure to pay attention to the notes in Alter and consult notes in the HCSB as needed. Study Genesis 1-3
NOTE: When reading the HCSB introductions to individual books, do not get bogged down in the chapter and verse references; read instead for the main ideas. For more detail go to Shanks and the other resources listed above.

9/4 Study Genesis 1-11 and read Alter's introduction

9/9-11 Genesis 12-36

9/16 Genesis 37-50

9/18 John Steinbeck, East of Eden, excerpt (E-Res)

9/23-HCSB introduction to Exodus
Exodus 1-20
The Decalogue: Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-7

9/25 HCSB introduction to Deuteronomy, Leviticus and Numbers
The Covenant Code: Exodus 20:22-23:23
Leviticus 16 and The Holiness Code: Leviticus 17-26
The Deuteronomic Code: Deuteronomy 12-26
Exodus 25:10-ch. 34 and Numbers 12-14

9/30: Video: Krzysztof Kieslowski's "Decalogue: Thou Shalt not Murder"

The Historical Books

10/2 Highlights of the Historical Books
HCSB introduction to Judges
Judges 4-5, 9, 11, 13-16
HCSB introduction to I Samuel
I Samuel 1-4, 8-13, 16-31, II Samuel 1, 5-7, 9, 11-19
I Kings 1-3, 4:20-34, 6, 10-12
Mark Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Ch. 14 (handout)

10/7
HCSB introduction to I and II Kings
I Kings 17-22
II Kings 1-13
Flannery O' Connor, The Violent Bear it Away, exerpts (handout)

10/9-10 October Reading Days
The Prophets

10/14 HCSB introduction to Amos
Amos, entire book
HCSB introduction to Hosea
Hosea, selections
1-3, 6:1-6, 9:10-17, 11, 14

FRIDAY, 10/17 research paper topic and bibliography due at noon in the box on my door (no electronic submissions, please)

10/16 HCSB introduction to Isaiah
First Isaiah, selections
1:1-17 3:1-4:1 5, 6, 7:10-25, 9, 11, 30:27-31:9, 36-39
HCSB introduction to Micah
Micah, chapter 6 and 7:18-20

10/21
HCSB introduction to Jeremiah
Jeremiah, selections
1, 4:1-4, 7, 18-21, 26, 31:27-40, 39
Psalm 137
HCSB introduction to Ezekiel
Ezekiel 1, 18, 37

10/23
Second Isaiah, selections
40-42, 44:21-45, 47, 49:8-26, 51:9-16, 52:1-55
Malachi, chapters 3 and 4 and Jonah

The Writings

10/28-11/4 The Book of Job

11/6 J.B. by Archibald MacLeish

MONDAY, 11/10 Research Paper due at 4:00

11/11-11/20 GROUP PROJECT The Megilloth (The Five Scrolls): Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther
Small groups of students will make 20-25 minute presentations on one of these books. One class period will be used for planning and teams will get together once outside of class. Each of these short books plays a role in one of the Jewish festivals. Student panels should be prepared to convey the following things: the essence of the book, its genre and place in the Hebrew Scriptures, its connection to a Jewish festival , and any role the book has in the Christian tradition. Consult resources in the library including reference tools, commentaries and a few books on course reserve.

11/11 Come to class prepared to discuss your book with your teammates. Consider whether your book fits with the rest of the canon; if so, how, if not, why not? Visit the library together and divide up responsibilities for the panel. Arrange for a second meeting time to bring the panel together once more before you present in class.

11/13-20: The entire class should read the assigned books. Each panel will present followed by open discussion.

11/13 Song of Songs and Ruth

11/18 Lamentations and Ecclesiastes

11/20 Esther
THANKSGIVING BREAK

12/2 Psalms, selections
comparisons of translations: HCStudy Bible, King James Version, The Bay Psalm Book, and Opening to You, Zen-Inspired translations of the Psalms by Norman Fischer and others

12/4 TERMS QUIZ

12/4-9 Daniel, selections

12/11 WRAP UP