RELI 203
“Judaism in the Time of Jesus and Hillel”
TR 2:30-3:50
Office Hours (HU 205):
TR 1:00-2:15
Teaching Assistant: Dustin Atlas ([email protected])
Dr. Shira Lander
[email protected]
Description:
This course examines the history, literature and culture of Judaism during the Second Temple
period which produced such great religious leaders as Jesus and Hillel. Topics include:
Canonization, Colonization, Diaspora, Economic and Political Instability, Eschatology,
Hellenization, Imperialism, Messianism, Pharisees, Priesthood, Sadducees, Scribes, Scriptures,
Sectarianism, Synagogue and Temple worship.
Textbooks:
Lester L. Grabbe, An Introduction to First Century Judaism. Jewish Religion and History in the
Second Temple Period (T&T Clark, 1996).
K. C. Hanson and Douglas E. Oakman, Palestine in the Time of Jesus with CD-ROM: Social
Structures and Social Conflicts (Fortress Press, 2002).
George W. E. Nickelsburg, Jewish Literature between the Bible and the Mishnah, with CD-ROM
(Fortress Press, 2005).
Articles in PDF files on Owlspace
Course Requirements:
1. Attendance: It is the student’s responsibility to take notes in class. Class notes will NOT be
posted. Attendance is therefore required.
2. Reading: Students will be held accountable for all the reading assignments, even if they are
not discussed in class. A prompt question accompanies each set of readings to provoke your
thought process as you integrate the readings with what we are learning.
3. Quizzes: About every two weeks there will be a short fill-in-the-blank quiz based on the
previous two weeks’ reading, as marked by an asterisk next to the date on which it will be
given. Any student with an unexcused absence from class when a quiz is given will receive a
ZERO on that quiz with no make-up opportunity. (Total 30 % of final grade)
4. Mid-Term Reflection Exercise (in-class): The mid-term writing exercise will ask you to
synthesize reading assignments, class lecture and discussion. (Total 30 % of final grade)
5. Final Exam: The final exam will consist of two parts. Part one will contain brief identification
of terms and pictures from assignments and class lecture and discussion. Part two will be a
choice of two essay questions distributed at the final class. (Total 40 % of final grade)
Topics and Assignments:
1. Aug. 25—Introduction to the Study of Jewish History: Historiographical and Epistemological
Considerations
2. Aug. 27—Historical Background: The Hellenistic Period—Conquest of Alexander the Great and its
Aftermath (Jewish Sectarianism)
Reading (Prompt Question: How does Hellenization change Jewish life?):
Mitchell Bard, “The Maccabees” at
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/Maccabees.html
Grabbe 1-14; 21-26
3. Sep. 1—The Hasmoneans, Hellenization, and New Genres of Jewish Literature
Reading (Prompt Question: Is Hellenization good or bad for Judeans?):
Lee I. Levine, “Palestine Under Hasmonean Rule” at
http://www.myjewishlearning.com/history_community/Ancient/TheStoryI/Hasmonean.ht
m
Mike Magee, “Hellenization” at
http://www.askwhy.co.uk/christianity/0100Hellenization.php
Nickelsburg 41-43; 67-69
Grabbe 29-50
4. Sep. 3—Hellenistic Period Jewish Historical Literature
Reading (Prompt Question: What is “history”? What was “history” in the ancient world?):
Nickelsburg 102-110
Books 1 OR 2 Maccabees (we’ll divide these evenly among students) at
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/bible/#1maccabees;
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/bible/#2maccabees
5. Sep. 8—Hellenistic Period Jewish Wisdom Literature
Reading (Prompt Question: What social class has access to “wisdom” and how does that effect its
definition?):
Nickelsburg 53-63; 94-97
Sirach OR Baruch (divided evenly among students) at
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/bible/#baruch
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/bible/#sirach
6. Sep. 10—Hellenistic Period Jewish Novels
Reading (Is Judith a historical or fictional novel? How would we know?):
Nickelsburg 97-102
Judith at http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/bible/#judith
7. Sep. 15—Hellenistic Period Apocalyptic Jewish Literature, Part I
Reading (Prompt Question: Who writes and reads this kind of literature? What purpose might it
serve for them?):
Grabbe 73-90
Nickelsburg 43-53; 83-88, 110-115
1 Enoch 72-82, 1-36, 83-90, 92-105 at
http://www.ccel.org/c/charles/otpseudepig/enoch/ENOCH_1.HTM ;
http://www.ccel.org/c/charles/otpseudepig/enoch/ENOCH_3.HTM ;
http://www.ccel.org/c/charles/otpseudepig/enoch/ENOCH_4.HTM ;
http://www.ccel.org/c/charles/otpseudepig/enoch/ENOCH_5.HTM
8. *Sep. 17—Hellenistic Period Apocalyptic Jewish Literature, Part II
Reading (Prompt Question: Why do apocalypses center on mythic figures?):
Nickelsburg 69-83
Jubilees OR the Testament of Moses (divided evenly among students), and Daniel 7-12 at
http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/jub/jub11.htm (click “next” to get from one chapter to
the next) OR http://www.piney.com/ApocJubileeBook.html (with annoying pictures and
boldface type)
http://www.piney.com/Testament-Moses.html
http://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Daniel+7
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9. Sep. 22—Jewish Life Outside of Judea: Egypt, including the “Other” Temple
Reading (Prompt Question: How did Jewish life in Egypt compare to Jewish life in Judea?):
Nickelsburg 191-193
Modrzejewski, The Jews of Egypt: From Rameses II to Emperor Hadrian 121-183
[library reserve]
10. Sep. 24—Jewish Life Outside of Judea: The Greek Jewish Scriptures & The Egyptian Jewish Novel
Reading (Prompt Question: Why would Egyptian Jews feel the need to have a Greek version of
the Scriptures?):
Nickelsburg 196-205
3 Maccabees OR Esther with Greek Additions (divided evenly among students) and
Aristeas at
http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/r/rsv/rsv-idx?type=DIV1&byte=4451716;
http://www.exodus2006.com/esther.htm
http://www.pseudepigrapha.com/pseudepigrapha/aristeas.htm
11. Sep. 29—Jewish Life Outside of Judea: Egyptian Jewish Wisdom Literature & Philo
Reading (Prompt Question: How is Philo intellectually a product of his Egyptian environment?):
Nickelsburg 205-221
Wisdom of Solomon OR Philo’s Life of Moses I (divided evenly among students) at
http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/r/rsv/rsv-idx?type=DIV1&byte=3905445
http://www.earlyjewishwritings.com/text/philo/book24.html
12. *Oct. 1—Jewish Life Outside of Judea: Egyptian Jewish Prophecy and Apocalyptic
Reading (Prompt Question: What characteristics of Apocalyptic literature might be considered
gnostic?):
Grabbe 94-108
Nickelsburg 193-196; 221-225
Sibylline Oracle 3 and 2 Enoch at http://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/sib/sib05.htm
http://www.pseudepigrapha.com/pseudepigrapha/enochs2.htm
13. Oct. 6—Jewish Life Outside of Judea: Asia Minor
Reading (Prompt Question: How does Jewish life in Asia Minor compare with Egyptian and
Judean Jewish life?):
Paul Trebilco, Jewish Communities in Asia Minor, pp. 1-36; 104-126; 167-190
[Owlspace].
14. Oct. 8—Jewish History in the Roman Period
Reading (Prompt Question: What are the overarching political dynamics of Roman period
Judaism?):
Grabbe 14-21; 53-70
Oct. 13— MIDTERM RECESS, NO CLASS
15. *Oct. 15— Characters in Roman Palestine: Subsistence Farmers, Merchants, Artisans, Priests, Sages,
Rebels, Sectarians, Estate Lords (Aristocracy), Royalty, Roman Administrators (Governors, Prefects,
Tax Collectors, e.g.), Scribes, Roman Militia (Generals, Officers, Legionaries, Equestrians,
Centurions, e.g.), and Roman Citizens
Reading (Prompt Question: If you were sent back to the first century in a time machine, who
would you like to be and why?):
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Hanson 3-17
16. Oct. 20— MIDTERM WRITING EXERCISE (in-class)
17. Oct. 22— Jewish Religion: The Four Pillars—God, Torah (Pentateuch), Israel (Nation), Temple
Reading (Prompt Question: Why haven’t we discussed religion until halfway through the
course?):
Grabbe 73-119
18. Oct. 27— The Family in Jewish Roman Palestine
Reading (Prompt Question: How does ancient family life compare with modern?):
Hanson 19-60
19. Oct. 29— The Herodian Dynasty
Reading (Prompt Question: How did the Herodians compare with the Roman dynasties?):
Nickelsburg 231-262
Hanson 63-96
20. Nov. 3— Political Economy and Religion in Roman Palestine
Reading (Prompt Question: Why did “religion” play such a prominent role in ancient economic
life? How does this compare with the modern role of religion in America?):
Hanson 99-156
21. *Nov. 5— The Yachad at Qumran
Film: Secrets of the Dead Sea Scrolls
Reading (over the next two classes) (Prompt Question: If the Dead Sea Scrolls had never been
discovered, how would our understanding of Greco-Roman period Judaism be different?):
Nickelsburg 119-159; 179-181
Damascus Document and Rule of the Community (aka Manual of Discipline) at
http://www.pseudepigrapha.com/pseudepigrapha/zadokite.html
http://www.essene.com/History&Essenes/md.htm
22. Nov. 10— Apocalyptic Expectation for the Yachad
Reading:
See previous assignment
23. Nov 12— Messianic Figures in the First Century
Reading (links can be found at http://www.livius.org/judaea.html) (Prompt Question: Why did
this period spawn so many messianic figures?):
Athronges the shepherd; Judas the Galilean; Jesus of Nazareth; Samaritan prophet;
Theudas; Egyptian prophet; Anonymous prophet; Menahem, son of Judas; Simon bar
Giora; Jonathan the weaver; Lukuas; Simon ben Kosiba; Moses of Crete
24. *Nov. 17— Hillel the Elder: Sage, Pharisee, or Miracle Worker?
Reading [Owlspace] (Prompt Question: Compare Hillel and the historical Jesus.):
David Flusser, “Hillel’s Self-Awareness and Jesus,” Judaism and the Origins of
Christianity (Jerusalem: Magness Press, 1998), 509-14.
--------, “I am in the Midst of Them (Mt 18:20),” Judaism and the Origins of Christianity
(Jerusalem: Magness Press, 1998), 515-25.
--------, “Hillel and Jesus: Two Ways of Self-Awareness,” Hillel and Jesus. Comparisons
of Two Major Religious Leaders (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1997), 71-107.
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25. Nov. 19— Jesus: End-Time Prophet, Itinerant Preacher, Rebel, Miracle Worker, or Desert Ascetic?
Film: From Jesus to Christ, Part I
Reading (Prompt Question: Why is it so difficult to delineate the historical Jesus?):
L. Michael White, “The Historical Jesus” at
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/symposium/historical.html
26. Nov. 24— Synagogues throughout the Roman Empire: Archaeology and Institution
Reading (Prompt Question: Compare synagogues and temples. What institution in the ancient
Greco-Roman world is the best analogue to synagogues?):
David Binder, “Introduction,” in Into the Temple Courts: The Place of the Synagogues in
the Second Temple Period (Atlanta: The Society of Biblical Literature, 1999),
hypertext edition at
http://www.pohick.org/sts/Introframe.html
27. Dec. 1— Josephus: The Man and His Legacy and The “Bible” in the First Century
Reading (Prompt Question: Why do “Bible” scholars use the term “Scriptures” for the GrecoRoman period?):
Nickelsburg 288-296
Lander, “The Formation of the Biblical Canon(s),” in Scripture: An Ecumenical
Introduction to the Bible and Its Interpretation, edited by Michael J. Gorman, pp.
103-117 (Hendrikson, 2005) [Owlspace].
28. Dec. 3 (last class)—Judaism or Judaisms in the Time of Jesus and Hillel?
Extra Credit Assignment on Greco-Roman Anti-Judaism [1-5 extra total points to final grade]
Essay Question (3-5 pages): What animates Greco-Roman anti-Judaism? What are its causes? What are
its underlying common features?
Reading:
Peter Schäfer, “Who Are the Jews?,” Judeophobia. Attitudes Toward the Jews in the
Ancient World, 15-118 [OWLSPACE].
FIAL EXAM TIME TBA
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