The Bible in History: Interpretation of the Hebrew Bible from the Rabbis to America
Dr. John Mandsager
Spring 2015
USC Columbia
MWF 9:40-10:30
Course Description:
Even before the books of the Hebrew Bible were written down,
different people have held different arguments for how to read
and interpret it. This course will delve into the sea of
interpretations of the Bible, with particular emphases on
competing interpretations through time and space. We will start
with the investigation of how the Bible became an authoritative
book and how different parts of the Bible already interpret earlier
parts, we will move on to classical Jewish interpretations of the
Bible, the approaches to the Hebrew Bible in early Christianity,
the place of biblical interpretation in early Islam, and we will
conclude the course with modern interpretations of the Hebrew
Bible, particularly in America.
Office Hours:
Tuesday 1-3, Thursday 3-5, or by appointment; Welsh Humanities Office Building 223
[email protected] (650)533-3022
Learning Objectives:
By the end of the semester, a successful student will:
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Demonstrate knowledge of the competing ways of interpreting the Hebrew Bible through
history.
Be able to demonstrate how the reading of the Hebrew Bible is an act of interpretation
that is informed by the time and place of the reader, and be able to demonstrate how each
of these competing interpretations are arguments for how to read the Bible.
Be able to situate individual interpretations of the Bible in the context of the interpreters
and to identify the viewpoints and biases of each interpretation.
Critically analyze and interpret key portions of the Hebrew Bible and key interpreters of
the Bible through history, considering the “plain” meaning of these texts and possible
alternative readings.
Be able to differentiate between historically contingent interpretations of the Hebrew
Bible and modern approaches to the Bible that are contingent upon 20th-21st century
approaches to literature and culture.
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Preparation:
You must complete the readings before class, bring copies of the readings to class, and be ready
to discuss what you’ve read!
Course Texts:
You will need an English translation of the Bible. I prefer the New Revised Standard Version:
The New Oxford Annotated Bible (ISBN-10: 0195289609) will be available in the bookstore.
(The Harper Collins Study Bible – Student Edition [ISBN-10: 006078641] is also a good choice.)
The other textbooks for the course will also be available at the bookstore:
William Yarchin, History of Biblical Interpretation: A Reader (ISBN-10: 0801039800)
James L. Kugel and Rowan A. Greer, Early Biblical Interpretation (ISBN-10: 0664250130)
All other readings will be posted on Blackboard.
Final Exam: Wednesday April 29 – 9:00 AM
Grade breakdown: 5 interpretations of the Bible based on our readings: 30%; Participation:
20%; Midterm: 20%; Final: 30%
Grading scale: 90-100=A; 86-89=B+; 80-85=B; 76-79=C+; 70-75=C; 66-69=D+; 60-65=D;
<59=F
Date
1/12/15
Topic
Welcome – What is
the Hebrew Bible?
1/14/15
What is the Hebrew
Bible (continued)?
1/16/15
Return from
Babylon
No class – MLK day
Canonization
BB reading 3: “The Dimensions of Canon,” 4-14; and
“Approaches to Jewish Canonizing,” 37-58
What is biblical
Yarchin, “Introduction: The History of Biblical
interpretation?
Interpretation,” vii-xxx
BB Reading 4: “Preparatory Issues in Approaching Biblical
Texts,” (Anthony Campbell), 3-18
Biblical
Kugel and Greer, “The Need for Interpretation,” 27-39
interpretation within Jeremiah 51:34-58; Ezra 1:1-4; 2 Chronicles 36:20-22
the Bible
Translation as
Yarchin, “Ancient Greek Translation of the Hebrew
Interpretation
Scriptures: The Aristeas Legend,” 3-8
Isaiah 7:1-17; Septuagint translation of Isaiah 7:1-17
1/19/15
1/21/15
1/23/15
1/26/15
1/28/15
Prepare for Today
Blackboard reading 1: Introduction to Judaism
BB reading 2: “Israelite Origins and Kingdom,” 1-23
2 Kings 22:1-23:3
Torah: Deuteronomy Ch. 4
Prophets: 1 Kings Ch. 17
Writings: Psalms Ch. 139
Kugel and Greer, “The Rise of Scripture,” 13-26
Ezra Chs. 6-7
2|Mandsager, The Bible in History, USC Columbia Spring 2015
1/30/15
2/2/15
Introduction to early
biblical
interpretation
Dead Sea Scrolls
2/4/15
Allegorical
interpretation
2/6/15
Modern
Interpretation 1:
Feminist Criticism
2/9/15
Introduction to
rabbinic
interpretation
2/11/15
Midrash
2/13/15
Halakha
2/16/15
Modern
Interpretation 2:
The Rabbis and
Literary Criticism
New Testament and
the Hebrew Bible
2/18/15
2/20/15
Prophecy
2/23/15
Christian Allegory
www.ccel.org/bible/brenton/Isaiah/7.html
Kugel and Greer, “Interpreters of Scripture,” 52-72
Psalms 119:1-40
Yarchin, “Biblical Commentary in the Dead Sea Scrolls,” 917
Habakkuk Chs. 1-2
The Book of Jubilees Ch. 1
www.pseudepigrapha.com/jubilees/1.htm
Yarchin, “Philosophical Allegory: Philo of Alexandria,” 1828
Genesis 12:1-9; 15:1-19
***First student interpretation due by 9am, emailed to
[email protected] ***
BB Reading 5: Exum, “Feminist Criticism: Whose Interests
are Being Served?” 65-90.
Judges Ch. 4, Ch. 19
Yarchin, “An Overview of the Classical Jewish Interpretive
Tradition,” 111-120
Leviticus 23:1-5
Mishnah Pesachim Ch. 10
http://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Pesachim.10
BB reading 6: Fraade, “Rabbinic Midrash and Ancient
Jewish Biblical Interpretation,” 99-120
Genesis Ch. 1
Bereshit Rabbah Ch. 1, paragraphs 3-4
http://www.sefaria.org/Bereishit_Rabbah.1
Yarchin, “Halakhic Interpretation of the Scriptures,” 121140
Exodus 20:1-12; Exodus 31:12-14; Deuteronomy 5:12-15
BB Reading 7: Handelman, “Rabbinic Thought: The
Divinity of the Text,” 27-50
Exodus 33:1-23, 34:1-28
Kugel and Greer, “The Rise of a Christian Bible,” 109-125
Typological interpretations: Numbers 20:7-11 and Exodus
16:4-35 -> 1 Corinthians 10:1-11
Jeremiah Chs. 31-34 -> Hebrews 8:1-13, 9:11-22
Yarchin, “Christian Fulfillment of Prophecy,” 31-40
Isaiah 7:1-17 -> Matthew 1: 18-25
***Second student interpretation due by 9am, emailed to
[email protected] ***
Yarchin, “Penetrating the Inner Meaning of Scripture,” 4150, Kugel and Greer, “Christian Transformations of the
Hebrew Scriptures,” 126-154
3|Mandsager, The Bible in History, USC Columbia Spring 2015
2/25/15
Augustine
2/27/15
Syriac Christianity
3/2/15
Modern
Interpretation 3:
Theological v.
historical criticism
Review for Midterm
3/4/15
3/6/15
3/93/13
3/16/15
Midterm
No class – Spring
Break
Literal interp. in the
Jewish middle ages
3/18/15
Medieval Jewish
interp. with
Christian roots
3/20/15
Philosophical
interpretation
Modern Interp. 4:
The Failure of
Historical Criticism
and Rhetorical
Criticism
How does the
Qur’an interpret the
Hebrew Bible?
3/23/15
3/25/15
3/27/15
3/30/15
Islam inheriting
Jewish Scripture
Muslim readings of
Eve
Yarchin, “Figurative, Literal and Christian Meanings from
Scripture,” 61-75
Deuteronomy 25:4 -> 1 Corinthians 9:1-14
Guest Lecturer Naomi Koltun-Fromm, Haverford College
BB Reading 8: “Psalm 22’s Christological Interpretive
Tradition”
Psalm 22
Yarchin, “Jews, Christians, and Theological Interpretation of
the Bible,” 333-350
Genesis 15:1-6 -> Romans 4:1-24
Prepare 2 sample exam questions and email them to
[email protected] by 11:59PM on 3/3/15. Please
bring 4 copies of the questions to class to share with your
study group.
***Third student interpretation due by 9am, emailed to
[email protected] ***
BB Reading 9: “Biblical Literal Sense and Talmudic
Tradition: Rashi,” 219-233
BB Reading 10: Genesis 11:28-32 with Rashi’s Commentary
BB Reading 11: “Under the Influence of Arabic Culture:
Abraham ibn Ezra, 234-247
Yarchin, “Haggadic Interpretation of the Scriptures,” 140148
Psalms Ch. 23
Yarchin, “Systematically Philosophical Jewish Exegesis,”
149-167
Yarchin, “The Illusion of Objective Biblical Interpretation,”
351-361
Yarchin, “Rhetorical Interpretation of the Bible’s
Literature,” 362-373
Genesis Chs. 2-3
BB Reading 12: “The Stories of the Prophets in the Qur’an,”
3-35
Exodus Ch. 32
Qur’an 20:83-98 (feel free to read all of Sura 20 re: Moses)
http://www.noblequran.com/translation/
BB Reading 13: “Arab-Jewish Messianism: Syria,” 11-35
Jeremiah 30:16-22
BB Reading 14: “Selections from the Qur’an,” and AlTabari’s “Commentary on the Qur’an,” 178-190
Genesis Chs. 2-3
4|Mandsager, The Bible in History, USC Columbia Spring 2015
A return to Christian Kugel and Greer, “A Framework for Interpreting a Christian
interpretations
Bible,” 155-176
Deuteronomy 18:9-22 -> Acts 3:17-26
4/3/15
Multiple meanings
Yarchin, “Spiritual Application of the Bible,” 86-92
of the Hebrew Bible Yarchin, “How Can a Text Bear Multiple Meanings?” 93-96
Job Ch. 1
4/6/15
A “Gloss” of the
***Fourth student interpretation due by 9am, emailed to
Hebrew Bible
[email protected] ***
Yarchin, “Medieval Recognition of the Literal Sense,” 97108
Psalms Ch. 23
4/8/15
Modern Interp. 5:
Yarchin, “Unmasking Ideologies in Biblical Interpretation,”
Postmodern Interp.
383-397
John Ch. 7
4/10/15 The Enlightenment
Yarchin, “Renewing the Jewish Past to Engage with the
and Jewish Interp.
Present,” 208-217
Genesis Ch. 1
4/13/15 Modern Interp. 6:
Yarchin, “Biblical Rhetoric and Revelation, 398-414
Rhetoric and Divine Exodus Chs. 3-4
Revelation
4/15/15 Modern Interp. 7:
BB Reading 15: “Susan T. Foh, ‘The Head of the Woman is
Traditional
the Man,’” 391-401; “The Authorized Daily Prayerbook,”
Readings
401-404.
Genesis Chs. 1-2
4/17/15 Modern Interp. 8:
BB Reading 16: “Riffat Hassan, ‘The Issue of Woman-Man
Gender Equality
Equality in the Islamic Tradition,” 464-476
Genesis Chs. 2-3
4/20/15 Modern Interp. 9:
***Fifth student interpretation due by 9am, emailed to
Queer Readings
[email protected] ***
BB Reading 17: “The Song of Songs in the History of
Sexuality”
Song of Songs Ch. 7 (feel free to read the rest of the Song!)
4/22/15 Conclusions: How
Interpreting the family
to read the Bible?
Leviticus Ch. 18
4/24/15 Conclusions: How
Interpreting Shavuot
to read the Bible?
Exodus Ch. 20; Exodus 23:14-19; Exodus 34:22-35;
Numbers 28:26-31
4/27/15 Review for Final
Prepare 2 sample exam questions and email them to
Exam
[email protected] by 11:59PM on 4/26/15. Please
bring 4 copies of the questions to class to share with your
study group.
4/29/15, Final Exam
9:00
AM
4/1/15
5|Mandsager, The Bible in History, USC Columbia Spring 2015
Reminder: Each class session will
consist of both a short lecture and a class
discussion: each class will require you to
think, raise your voice, and discuss
material, either individually or in small
groups. Come to class with the assigned
readings, take notes, look up terms,
concepts, or biblical passages you are not
familiar with, and ask questions. Share
your findings in class! Your reading and
interpretation of the assigned texts is
essential for every class.
Classroom etiquette: Make sure to arrive
on time, and turn off your cell phone. Cell phones must be out of sight and make no noise!
Attendance: I take attendance and will, as is USC policy, notify the Student Success Center after
2 absences. If you are unable to attend a class, make sure to inform me in advance, or as soon as
possible. Unless I explicitly grant an exception for illness, family emergency or other
extenuating circumstance, students who miss 3 or more classes will lose 2 points per missed
class from their final grades. Students will fail the class with more than 5 unexcused absences.
If you have special needs, make sure you are registered with the Student Disability Services
office and notify me early on in the semester. I like to know what I can do to make this class a
success for you. If you are an out-of-state student, have transferred, are a scholarship recipient,
or think you need assistance, contact the Student Success Center.
Academic Integrity: You are expected to practice the highest possible standards of academic
integrity. Any deviation from this expectation will result in a minimum penalty of your failing
the assignment, and will result in additional disciplinary measures including referring you to the
Office of Academic Integrity. Violations of the University’s Honor Code include, but are not
limited to improper citation of sources, using another student’s work, and any other form of
academic representation. Failure to uphold the University’s Honor Code will result in a failing
grade on the assignment and, depending on the severity of the case, fail the course, receive a note
on your transcript, and have a serious chat with your Dean. Don’t cheat: it’s not worth it!
Assessments
1) Exegesis papers (30%): Throughout the term, you will be required to complete five
short (750-1000 words) papers in which you select a story or other passage from the
Hebrew Bible (approximately 8-20 verses) and analyze the passage alongside one or
more of the biblical interpreters we have discussed in class. These papers give you the
opportunity to directly engage with the biblical text and with the historical trends in
biblical interpretation. For example, for the first paper, you might select a section of
Genesis and provide a philosophical allegorical interpretation of that section based on
Philo’s theory of interpretation (readings for 2/4/15). These papers should neither be
6|Mandsager, The Bible in History, USC Columbia Spring 2015
solely your opinion nor a repetition of the authors we are reading. Instead, critically
engage both the biblical text and the biblical interpreters from your syllabus, either
presenting an interpretation in the style of one or more of our interpreters, or critically
disagreeing with the interpreters in question. (See “how to read a primary text,” below.)
a. CITE YOUR SOURCES using the Chicago citation style, the style preferred by
both historians and scholars of Religious Studies.
b. Use the following writing resources:
i. The OWL center at Purdue University:
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/658/01/
ii. The USC Writing Center: http://artsandsciences.sc.edu/write/universitywriting-center
iii. Byrnes 703: drop-in or make an appointment at 777-2078
iv. ACE Coaching: http://www.sa.sc.edu/ssc/acecoaching/ 777-1000
c. The rubric I use to grade your papers will be available on Blackboard under
Course Documents.
2) Participation (20%): The success of this course’s learning experience will depend on the
active participation of each of you. Students will be called on to summarize and discuss
the readings in class.
3) Midterm (20%) and Final (30%):
a. Section 1 requires you to analyze short sections of texts we have read in class,
following the prompts below (“how to read a primary text”).
b. Section 2 consists of 1 or 2 essays, mostly questions we have discussed in class.
Here you should strive to give as full an answer as is possible in the time allotted
without flowery prose or lengthy introductions. Make sure to respond in a full and
informative essay and read the prompt carefully. The main purpose of these
exams is to help the students to pull together the individual aspects of the course,
identify major themes, and see how biblical interpretation has evolved over time.
How to read a primary text. Primary texts are open windows into the past. Yet, they often appear
opaque, their meaning obscured by sets of norms, expressions, and ways of thinking that are
alien to us: we must learn to interpret the interpreters we are reading! I suggest responding to the
following questions. We will practice this in class.
1)
2)
3)
4)
What kind of text is this? This passage comes from the book of xy, written around xy.
Why should I care? This book is significant because xyz…
What’s going on here? A concise 1-2 sentence summary of the passage.
The passage’s goal is… It does to by… (narrative technique, genre, etc.)
7|Mandsager, The Bible in History, USC Columbia Spring 2015