Open Yale Courses
RLST 145: Introduction to the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible)
Mirrored from oyc.yale.edu · CC-BY-NC-SA-3.0 · Christine Hayes Robert F. and Patricia Ross Weis Professor of Religious Studies
Mirrored from: oyc.yale.edu · Yale University · Religious Studies
Instructor: Christine Hayes Robert F. and Patricia Ross Weis Professor of Religious Studies · License: CC-BY-NC-SA-3.0
About this 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.
Course details
Course Structure
This Yale College course, taught on campus twice per week for 50 minutes, was recorded for Open Yale Courses in Fall 2006. The Open Yale Courses Series. For more information about Professor Hayes’ book, Introduction to the Bible, http://yalepress.yale.edu/yupbooks/book.asp?isbn=9780300181791 click here.
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.
Syllabus
1 section · 25 lectures · links open at oyc.yale.edu.
Course sessions
- The Parts of the Whole
- The Hebrew Bible in Its Ancient Near Eastern Setting: Biblical Religion in Context
- The Hebrew Bible in Its Ancient Near Eastern Setting: Genesis 1-4 in Context
- Doublets and Contradictions, Seams and Sources: Genesis 5-11 and the Historical-Critical Method
- Critical Approaches to the Bible: Introduction to Genesis 12-50
- Biblical Narrative: The Stories of the Patriarchs (Genesis 12-36)
- Israel in Egypt: Moses and the Beginning of Yahwism (Genesis 37- Exodus 4)
- Exodus: From Egypt to Sinai (Exodus 5-24, 32; Numbers)
- The Priestly Legacy: Cult and Sacrifice, Purity and Holiness in Leviticus and Numbers
- Biblical Law: The Three Legal Corpora of JE (Exodus), P (Leviticus and Numbers) and D (Deuteronomy)
- On the Steps of Moab: Deuteronomy
- Midterm Exam
- The Deuteronomistic History: Life in the Land (Joshua and Judges)
- The Deuteronomistic History: Prophets and Kings (1 and 2 Samuel)
- The Deuteronomistic History: Response to Catastrophe (1 and 2 Kings)
- Hebrew Prophecy: The Non-Literary Prophets
- Literary Prophecy: Amos
- Literary Prophecy: Hosea and Isaiah
- Literary Prophecy: Micah, Zephaniah, Nahum and Habbakuk
- Literary Prophecy: Perspectives on the Exile (Jeremiah, Ezekiel and 2nd Isaiah)
- Responses to Suffering and Evil: Lamentations and Wisdom Literature
- Biblical Poetry: Psalms and Song of Songs
- The Restoration: 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah
- Visions of the End: Daniel and Apocalyptic Literature
- Alternative Visions: Esther, Ruth, and Jonah