Introduction to the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible)
About the Course
This course examines the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) as an expression of the religious life and thought of ancient Israel, and a foundational document of Western civilization. A wide range of methodologies, including source criticism and the historical-critical school, tradition criticism, redaction criticism, and literary and canonical approaches are applied to the study and interpretation of the Bible. Special emphasis is placed on the Bible against the backdrop of its historical and cultural setting in the Ancient Near East.
View class sessions »Course Structure
This Yale College course, taught on campus twice per week for 50 minutes, was recorded for Open Yale Courses in Fall 2006.
Course Materials
About Professor Christine Hayes
Christine Hayes is the Robert F. and Patricia Ross Weis Professor of Religious Studies at Yale. She received her Ph.D. from University of California, Berkeley in 1993. A specialist in talmudic-midrashic studies, Hayes offers courses on the literature and history of the biblical and talmudic periods. She is the author of two scholarly books:Between the Babylonian and Palestinian Talmuds, recipient of the 1997 Salo Baron prize for a first book in Jewish thought and literature, and Intermarriage and Conversion from the Bible to the Talmud, a 2003 National Jewish Book Award finalist. She has also authored an undergraduate textbook and several journal articles.
Syllabus
Professor
Christine Hayes, Robert F. and Patricia Ross Weis Professor of Religious Studies
Description
This course examines the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) as an expression of the religious life and thought of ancient Israel, and a foundational document of Western civilization. A wide range of methodologies, including source criticism and the historical-critical school, tradition criticism, redaction criticism, and literary and canonical approaches are applied to the study and interpretation of the Bible. Special emphasis is placed on the Bible against the backdrop of its historical and cultural setting in the Ancient Near East.
Texts
Berlin, Adele, and Marc Zvi Brettler, eds., Michael Fishbane, senior consulting editor. 2004. The Jewish Study Bible: Featuring the Jewish Publication Society Tanakh Translation. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Pritchard, James B, ed. 1958. The Ancient Near East, Volume 1: An Anthology of Texts and Pictures. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press.
Requirements
(1) A midterm exam to be given in class on Monday, October 16.
(2) A paper (approximately 10 pp.) on a selected biblical passage. The paper will develop an interpretation of the passage while comparing and critiquing a range of traditional and scholarly interpretations. The paper is due at 3:00 pm on the last day of reading period (Thursday, December 14).
(3) A final exam. Exams will cover material from lectures and readings.
Grading
Midterm examination: 25%
Paper: 25%
Final examination: 40%
Discussion section attendance and participation: 10%
"Writing Intensive" students will have modified examinations and grade calculation will place greater emphasis on written assignments.
Sessions
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