Religious Studies 150 – Spring 2008
INTRODUCTION TO THE OLD TESTAMENT – HEBREW BIBLE
Tues and Thrus 11:00 -12:15 BROWN HALL 103
Dr. Joseph Edelheit – 308-6016 – jaedelheit@stcloudstate.edu
OFFICE HOURS: T/TR 8:30-10:30 and by appointment – CH 365.

GOALS:
This course was created for any student to have the experience of reading and interpreting the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. This is an exposure to interdisciplinary tools of understanding Scripture, especially as the primary text of the Jewish people and Judaism. We shall read significant portion but NOT the entire Hebrew Bible/OT.

REQUIRED TEXTS:
TANAKH – A New Translation of the Holy Scripture – Jewish Publication Society, 1985.
(This is the ONLY translation of Scripture permitted for this course)
The Great Poems of the Bible, James L. Kugel.
The Old Testament: A Historical and Literary Introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures, Michael D. Coogan.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

GRADES:
This is a course in which Scripture is read, for the purpose of understanding the ideas through critical reading of the text, discussion and re-reading the text, while other material will require some memorization, i.e. names and historical data. Students and the instructor are in covenant that this course is primarily about learning and that the evaluation through “grades” is not the real goal. Thus, the instructor may allow for as many as 20 extra points for those students who completely engage in class or in written assignments. 100-90: A; 89-80: B; 79-70: C; 69-60:D.

INTEGRITY:
Each student accepts full responsibility for the university “honor-code” and pledges that any written assignment will include every attribution of any source taken from a text or Internet material. A willful and knowing abuse of this pledge of integrity will result in “failure” and withdrawal from the course.

CLASS SCHEDULE//ASSIGNMENTS:
Jan 17 – Introduction to course - what are Hebrew Scriptures? Coogan – 545-549

Jan 22 – The World of the Bible and the Purpose of the Bible. Coogan – Part I

Jan 24 – Genesis 1 – 11 – The Creation Cycle – Coogan – Part 1
          CLASS READING: Gen 4:1-12
Jan 29 – Genesis 12-28 – The Patriarchs and Matriarchs – Coogan - Part 2// chpts 4-5

Jan 31 – Gen 29-50 –Jacob and Joseph – Coogan – Part 2// chpts 4-5

Feb 5 – Ex 1 – 11 – Moses, the Burning Bush and Plagues – Coogan – chapter 6

Feb 7 – Ex 12-18 – The Exodus/Passover/Sea of Reeds – Coogan – chapter 7

Feb 12 – Ex 20 // Deut 5 – The Ten Utterances – Coogan – chapter 8
          CLASS READING: Ex 20:1-14 and Deut 5:6-18 
Feb 14 – Ex 25//32-34 – The Tabernacle and Golden Calf - Coogan – chapter 8

Feb 19 – Leviticus 19//23 – Festival Calendar - Coogan – chapter 9

Feb 21 – Numbers 13-14//19-20 – Coogan - chapter 10
          CLASS READING: Numbers 20:1-13
Feb 26 – Deut 6 “The Sh’ma”//Deut 29-31 – Coogan – chapter 11
          CLASS READING: Deut 6:1-9
Feb 28 – MIDTERM IN CLASS

Mar 11 – Joshua and Judges – Coogan – chapters 12 and 13; Kugel – chapter 7

Mar 13 – I/II Samuel – Coogan – chapters 14 and 15
          CLASS READING: II Sam 11:26-12:25
Mar 18 – Prophets and Prophecy – Heschel Reading; Coogan – chpt 17

Mar 20 – Amos and Hosea – Kugel – chapters 4 and 6

Mar 25 – Amos and Hosea – Coogan – chapter 18

Mar 27 –Jeremiah – Kugel – chapter 12; Coogan – chapter 21

Apr 1 – Ezekiel – Coogan – chapter 22

Apr 3 – Isaiah – Messianic Passages – Coogan – chapter 19
          CLASS READING: Isaiah 7
Apr 8 – Intro to Wisdom Literature and its function

Apr 10 Psalms – Kugel – chapters: 1, 2, 3, 8, 11, 13, 14; Coogan – chapter 27

Apr 15 – Proverbs – Kugel – chapter 9; Coogan – chapter 27

Apr 17 – Song of Songs//Esther – Kugel – chapter 15; Coogan – chapter 28 and 30

Apr 22– Ecclesiastes – Kugel – chapter 18; Coogan – chapter 28
          CLASS READING: Ecc. 3
Apr 24– Job – Coogan – chapter 28; Kugel – chapter 6

Apr 29 – Job – Wiesel interpretation

May 1 – Review – Take Home Exam

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