Rel118a: From Creation to Covenant: The First Five Books of the Bible
[Fall 2012]
Professor:
Dr. Daniel Miller
822-9600 (ext. 2378)
[email protected]
Class Time and Location:
M W 10:00–11:20 a.m. in Nicolls 214
Office Hours:
T Th 2:00–3:30 p.m., and by appt. (Div. 21)
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Course Description
This course is an introduction to the narratives, characters, themes and modern study of the first
five books of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), whose English names are Genesis, Exodus,
Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Collectively, these books are usually called either the
Torah (Hebrew for ―Law‖ [the Jewish designation]) or the Pentateuch (―the five books‖).
They’re also sometimes referred to as ―the five books of Moses,‖ due to the ancient tradition that
Moses wrote them. Previous exposure to the Hebrew Bible isn’t assumed.
There will be frequent audio-visual material during lectures, particularly video clips. This is
intended to supplement lecture points. You’ll find that the information you need to answer a
number of the questions on the quizzes, the midterm and the exam has been reinforced by the
audio-visual material. Therefore, coming to lectures is crucial.
When I’m displaying something on the video screen, please refrain from watching something
else on your laptops or other devices; it’s potentially disruptive to other students and, of course,
disrespectful.
Course Approach
The Hebrew Bible is a foundational document of Western civilization with great relevance for
the modern world, but it’s also a textual artifact from the ancient Near East. In order to
understand it properly we must examine it in its original historical and sociocultural context. The
perspective adopted in the course is what’s referred to as ―historical-critical.‖ It’s not faith-based.
You may find some of your assumptions and beliefs challenged by what we discuss. What’s
needed is a willingness to confront the material without biases and presuppositions, as far as
possible.
Required Text
No textbook adequately treats the material for this course, so all you need to buy is the primary
text: the translation of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) known as the New Revised Standard
Version (NRSV). Copies of the NRSV (containing also the Apocrypha and the New Testament)
are in the bookstore. Please, don’t use other translations! (The NRSV is also available free
online, but in order for students to follow along when we read from the text we often go by page
numbers in the hardcopy, so if you’re using an online version on your laptop or other device it
may be harder to keep up with the in-class reading.) You must bring your NRSV to every
class. I’ll often be asking for reading volunteers, and I’ll take a very dim view of those who
forget to bring their Bibles…
In addition to the Bible readings, there will be other texts from the ancient Near Eastern and
Mediterranean worlds that will allow for contextualization of the Pentateuchal texts. These will
be in a package of readings and other handouts that I’ll distribute next week in class. That minicoursepack should also be brought to every class.
About the Bible Readings
1) Although we’re covering only five books of the Hebrew Bible, it still won’t be possible to
discuss every verse of the Pentateuch during the course—nor would it be desirable, since there
are, I freely admit, passages that cause one’s eyes to glaze over (e.g., genealogical lists, some
legal material and, unfortunately, most of the book of Leviticus). So, I’ll mostly be hitting only
the highlights, and we’ll go much faster through some sections than through others.
Nevertheless, the assigned readings do comprise the entirety of the five books, and I hope that
you’ll give a cursory reading even to the less scintillating parts, so that you’ll at least be able to
say at parties that you’ve read the whole Pentateuch.
2) There are many passages of the Hebrew Bible, including in the Pentateuch, that are of
uncertain meaning and/or difficult to understand. When you encounter such passages, don’t be
troubled if you can’t make sense of them to your satisfaction; you’re in good company—biblical
scholars haven’t been able to agree on the precise meaning of numerous words and passages.
Short Written Assignment
In the next couple of weeks, I’ll distribute a list of persons and geographical locations
(toponyms) that appear in the Pentateuch. Using only your Bible, your lectures notes and
―dictionaries‖ (i.e., encyclopedias) of the Bible,* you’re to write a summary of one person or
place listed. Obviously, the summary must include the contexts in which he/she/it is attested in
the Pentateuch. The minimum length of the summary is to be two full pages and the maximum
four full pages.** The assignment is due Monday, Nov. 26. The late penalty is 5% per day,
including weekend days.
* For shorter entries, I recommend Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (one vol.). For longer entries, I
recommend The New Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible (five vols.) or The Anchor Bible Dictionary
(six vols.). All three are in the Reference room of the library. Since they cannot be taken out of the
library, nobody will be unable to access them when they need to.
** assuming approximately 250–275 words per page
Course Requirements
two quizzes
midterm (in class):
final exam:
short written assignment:
attendance, participation:
2 x 7% = 14%
20%
40% [whole semester, but weighted more to the second half of it]
12%
14%*
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* Once the add/drop deadline has passed (Sept. 14), I’ll start to keep track of who’s present for each class.
You’re allowed two unexplained absences; after that I’ll begin to deduct points from the ―attendance,
participation‖ grade.
If you find you’re having significant problems with the course content, please don’t hesitate to
let me know! You need to address difficulties before they accumulate too much—you can’t come
to me the day before the exam with all of your concerns. Also, keep in mind that it won’t be
possible to do any extra-credit assignments to improve your grade.
Schedule of Class Meetings (subject to change)
Bible readings are to be done prior to the day beside which they’re listed.
(e.g., read Genesis 1–2 for Sept. 19)
Week 1: Sept. 5
W Syllabus distribution, class introduction, ABSOLUTELY NO REAL WORK
Week 2: Sept. 10, 12
M Basic course terms and definitions
(Hi)storyline and chronology of the Hebrew Bible
W (Hi)storyline and chronology of the Hebrew Bible cont.
Modern criticism of the Hebrew Bible
Week 3: Sept. 17, 19
M Modern criticism of the Hebrew Bible cont.
W Modern criticism of the Hebrew Bible cont.
Gen 1–2 (Creation)
Week 4: Sept. 24, 26
M Gen 1–2 cont.
Gen 3:1–6:4 (includes the fall in the Garden of Eden; The murder of Abel by
Cain)
W Gen 3:1–6:4 cont.
Week 5: Oct. 1, 3
M Gen 6:5–9:17 (the Flood)
W Gen 6:5–9:17 cont.
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Gen 9:18–11:26 (includes the Tower of Babel)
Week 6: Oct. 10
M: Thanksgiving (no class)
W quiz #1
Gen 11:27–23:20 (Abraham)
Week 7: Oct. 15, 17
M Gen 24–36 (Isaac and Jacob)
W Gen 37–50 (Joseph)
Week 8: Oct. 22, 24
M Ex 1:1–12:36 (includes the commissioning of Moses; the plagues on Egypt)
W midterm (in class)
Week 9: Oct. 29, 31
M Ex 12:37–19:25 (the exodus from Egypt)
W Ex 20–24 (includes The Ten Commandments)
Week 10: Nov. 5, 7
M Ex 25–40 (includes the tabernacle and tent of meeting; the golden calf)
W Leviticus (includes laws for ritual purity/cleanliness; the scapegoat ritual; the
―Holiness Code‖)
Week 11: Nov. 12, 14
M Num 1–6 (includes the magical ordeal for a suspected adulteress; the Priestly
Blessing)
W quiz #2
Num 7–14 (includes manna from heaven redux; the reconnaissance mission
into Canaan)
Num 15–21 (includes the rebellion[s] of Korah, Dathan and Abiram)
Week 12: Nov. 21
M no class
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W Num 22–24 (the Balaam story)
Num 25–36 (includes the apostasy with the Baal of Peor)
Week 13: Nov. 26, 28 [SHORT WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT DUE IN CLASS MONDAY]
M Deut 1–11 (includes a repetition of the Ten Commandments; the Shema)
W Deut 12–26 (the core of the Deuteronomists’ theology)
Deut 27–34 (includes the death of Moses)
……………………………………………………………………………………….…………….
By the end of this course, you will:
• know that major biblical stories and themes have origins going back long before the
Hebrew Bible was written
• find out that the golden calf may not be what you’ve been told
• be able to distinguish conflicting biblical accounts of several key events that have been
mixed together in the text
• wonder why God would want to kill Moses
• and one more thing…
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