Janice Capel Anderson - Office: Morrill 405 -  Office Phone 885-6065 - Philosophy Phone: 885-7107

E-mail: jcanders@uidaho.edu

Office Hours are T/Th 9:30-10:45 A.M. and many other times by appointment.

1. Students will attain a basic familiarity with a selection of texts from the three divisions of the Hebrew Bible: the Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings.

2. Students will improve their ability to read and analyze difficult ancient primary sources and interpretations of these sources. They will learn how to use various academic resources for biblical interpretation on an introductory level. They will improve their ability to write about texts and interpretations.

3. Students will become aware of several interpretive methods and hermeneutic issues. They will observe how historical, literary, social scientific, theological/philosophical, and other approaches shed light on texts. Students will explore how different perspectives and presuppositions lead to differing interpretations of several key texts.

4. Students will gain a simple, introductory understanding of the Hebrew Bible as one of the sources for modern Jewish thought and practice.

INTRODUCTION AND TORAH

Aug 25 - Introduction: Bandstra pp. 1-14.  Available as a sample at  http://www.ichapters.com/market/content/bandstra91050_0495391050_01.01_toc.pdf  

Please also read the section on textual criticism at Bible Dudes online at  http://www.bibledudes.com/biblical-studies/textual.php  (If you like more sober and extensive accounts, you may read  "Textual Criticism of the Bible" in Jewish Study Bible, pp. 2067-72 (also on e-reserve) 

Aug 27 - E- Reserve:  Jacob Neusner, An Introduction to Judaism:  A Textbook and Reader, pp. 3-35  Reading and Class Discussion Questions

Sep 1  -  Genesis 1-3, Enuma Elish and  Bandstra 34-58. Enuma Elish is available on electronic reserve (http://db.lib.uidaho.edu/ereserve/) It is from "Enuma Elish" - in Joan O'Brien and Wilfred Major, In the Beginning: Creation Myths from Ancient Mesopotamia, Israel, and Greece. AAR Aids to the Study of Religion 11. Chico: Scholars Press, 1982. ISBN 0-89130-559-9 Pages 10-30. The Userid and password given on sheet from first day of class. Chart Exercise Due 20 points

Sept. 3  Readings of Genesis 1-3 - Perspectives - Pick one of the following readings.  Jot down notes to turn in as a reader-response on the following: a. the key points that the author(s) offers as interpretation of the passage(s) covered;  b.  the elements of the text the author(s) focus upon and use to support the interpretation; c. the methods the author(s) uses to interpret the text; d. how concerns that the author(s) brings to the text shape the interpretation; and e. your evaluation of the interpretation. 

Genesis Rabbah - Genesis 3: 1-13.  Chapter 19. Parashah 19  from the Jacob Neusner translation,  Genesis Rabbah:  The Judaic Commentary on Genesis. A New American Translation.  Vol. 1.  pp. 119-212 is available on electronic reserve http://db.lib.uidaho.edu/ereserve/     Note the format:  A verse or section of a verse from Genesis is given.  Then various questions and comments on the verse are offered from other Biblical passages and from various rabbinic commentators.  Sometimes Neusner interrupts the commentary to offer his interpretation of the commentary.  The commentary is not linear, but more like hypertext.   The abbreviation R. stands for Rabbi.  Thus R. Eleazar means Rabbi Eleazar.  Genesis Rabbah was completed circa 5th Century CE.

Augustine City of God, Bk. XIV Chapters 10-19  (The chapters are very short.) Can also be found at  http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/NPNF1-02/npnf1-02-20.htm#P2273_1300432  (City of God was written between circa 413 and 426 CE.)

Luther - Lectures on Genesis (focus on Gen. 3:1-7) on electronic reserve http://db.lib.uidaho.edu/ereserve/

Phyllis Trible - "Eve and Adam: Genesis 2-3 Reread," Andover Newton Quarterly 13 (May 1973), pp. 251-58 on electronic reserve.- http://db.lib.uidaho.edu/ereserve/

Sept. 15 - Types of Interpretation Day - Introduction to Methods: Clines reading, "Methods in Old Testament Study" available on electronic reserve. http://db.lib.uidaho.edu/ereserve/   as a pdf with regular page numbers and easily printed out AND online at  http://www.shef.ac.uk/bibs/DJACcurrres/Postmodern1/Methods.html  - Discussion Questions on the Clines Reading

Sept17 -  Tools for Interpretation -  Interpretive Tools Exercise.  Write notes on the questions instead of a reader-response.

Sept 22- Exodus 1-18, Bandstra 114-29, and the Pesach (Passover) Haggadah on e-reserve:  Solomon S. Bernards, compiler and editor, The Living Heritage of Passover with an Abridged Passover Hagaddah in English. Anti-Defamation League of B’nai Brith. Pages 18-37. On electronic reserve. http://db.lib.uidaho.edu/ereserve/  Reading and Discussion Questions Note:  the reading and discussion questions include links to helpful tables.

Sept 24  Exodus 19-24 and 32-34 and Bandstra, 129-47, Levenson on electronic reserve.http://db.lib.uidaho.edu/ereserve/ .  (Note: the "Code of Hammurabi" http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/MESO/CODE.HTM    Reading and Discussion Questions   Recommended an analysis of several famous Moses films: "Moses and the Reel Exodus" by G. Andrew Tooze, Journal of Religion and Film, Vol. 7, No. 1 April 2003 at   http://www.unomaha.edu/jrf/Vol7No1/MosesExodus.htm

Sept 29 Leviticus 11, 16-19, 25 and Numbers 10-25, Bandstra Chapter Four - Reading and Discussion Questions  [An example of social scientific criticism can be found in "The Abominations of Leviticus " a chapter by anthropologist Mary Douglas.]

Oct 1 Deuteronomy Chapters 1-7; 12:1-19; 17:14-18:22; 26:31:13, and 34:1-12 and Bandstra Chapter Five - Reading and Discussion Questions

Oct 2 First Take-Home Due -   Overhead for Neviim/Deuteronomistic History

THE PROPHETS - NEVI’IM

Oct 6  Joshua 1-12 and 22-24 and Bandstra, Prologue to the Prophets 186-94 and Chapter Six:  "Joshua:  The Conquest of Canaan" - Discussion Questions

Oct 8 Judges 1-5, 6-9, 17-21 Bandstra, Chapter Seven -  Reading and Discussion Questions 

Oct 13 I Samuel 8-31, II Samuel 1-20, I Kings 1-2 Bandstra, Chapter Eight - Reading and Discussion Questions - Extra Credit Essay Option- 20 pts in reading and discussion questions.

Oct 15 - Davidic Covenant and Zion Theology II Sam. 7; II Sam 23:5, Psalms 2, 72, and 110 and Zion Psalms 46, 48, 76   Reading and Discussion Questions

    Going beyond:  for more on Zion Theology see Levenson, Sinai and Zion:  An Entry into the Jewish Bible.

Monday October 17th - Mid-term Grades Due

Oct 20 I Kings 3-11 and I Kings 17- 2 Kings 2, Bandstra Chapter 9 - Class Discussion Questions

Oct 22 Prophecy and Amos, whole book of Amos (it is short) and Bandstra 194-200 and Chapter 10 pages 282-93 Reading and Class Discussion Questions - Extra Credit Essay Option

Oct 27 Isaiah 1-11, 28-33, Bandstra, pp. 298-310  Reading and Discussion Questions - Also read over Second Take-Home Essay Questions -bring suggestions to class for additional prompts or question/suggestions about the ones already up

Oct 29 Jeremiah Ch1; Ch 7; 11:18-12:6; Chapters 26-33; Ch 36, Bandstra Chapter 11 (if you are short on time skip the section specifically on Ezekiel)-  Reading and Discussion Questions

Nov 3 Isaiah 40-55, Bandstra, pp. 339-40, 347-54 -Reading and Discussion Questions - Extra Credit Essay Option

Nov. 5 -  Prophecy Recycled - Discussion - Bandstra 360-64 and reread 194-200.   You may also want to reread 185-193 if you have time.  You might also want to read the entry in the Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible on any of the books of the Neviim you are covering on the Take Home.  These entries are usually concise and provide good overviews.  EDB is in the library reference room and on googlebooks with some pages missing.

THE WRITINGS - KETUVIM AND APOCALYPTIC IN DANIEL

Nov 10 Wisdom Literature and Job 1-26, 38-42; Bandstra 397-402 and 408-415; Job Discussion Questions -

Nov. 12  Readings of Job -  Tsevat,Gordis, Newsom.  Choose One - Brief Essay  The Tsevat and Gordis readings are on e-reserve.  The Newsom Reading is "The Book of Job as Polyphonic Text".  It can be accessed through the Find Articles feature on the library's website.  Click R for the Religion and Philosophy Index.  Then enter Newsom, Carol A. in the search box and check the box for full text.  I have added Newsom for those of you who might be interested in a  post-modern reading of Job.  You probably shouldn't pick it if you don't know what post-modern means.

Nov 19 -  Group Reports/Presentation Assignment - Groups Prep Meeting in Class 

Dec 1 -   I Maccabees  - Read introduction and chapters 1-4 at http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/1maccabees/intro.htm    and http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday7.htm   You may also want to page around Hanukkah information at http://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/default_cdo/jewish/Hanukkah.htm or watch  Indie.Yeshiva Presents: Chanukah How-To! at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0jvz1oxBmg to get a flavor of Hanukkah info on the web.

Dec 3 -  Groups:  Song of Songs and Judith

Reader-responses -  10 points each of highest four for a total of 40 points -  Except where other instructions are given on the syllabus:   Type up a paragraph of 150 to 200 words for each class day (excepts days a brief essay is due).  The length is about half of a page double-spaced, 12 point font, one inch margins.  You may also hand-write if you have very clear handwriting.  This can be a question/comment/response/reaction to the biblical text, Bandstra, and/or other assigned readings.  You can take cues from the study and class discussion questions if you wish, but this is not required.   I will collect at random 5 of these throughout the semester.  I will assign points of zero through ten with little or no comment.  At the end of the semester, I'll take your top four and add those points to your total points.  These are due at the start of class. I prefer to have the hard copy at the beginning of class, but you may also e-mail it to me before class starts. 

Genesis Chart Exercise- 20 points

Interpretive Tools Exercise - 20 points

Total Points -  520 points

Computer Policy - Each student is expected to:

1. Maintain a UI e-mail account and check this account regularly. From time to time I may send the class e-mail using the Registrar’s system. Please check the e-mail address and other personal contact information in the Registrar’s system to make sure that your current e-mail address, telephone number, etc. is entered.  All students may access http://support.uidaho.edu   in order to create accounts, change passwords, etc.

2. Be able to use either Firefox or Internet Explorer or an equivalent browser. Check course website regularly.

3. Use a word processing program (preferably Microsoft Word or WordPerfect) and maintain two electronic files (e.g.,  a hard-drive copy and a diskette copy, hard drive and flash drive, etc.) of all work submitted. Files should be saved until the final grade is received. If computers are down for an extended period of time, a handwritten copy and a photocopy should be maintained.

4. Check mid-term and final grades on the web and maintain printouts.

5. Use the library's electronic reserve system and electronic databases.

Reasonable Accommodation - Reasonable accommodations are available for students who have documented temporary or permanent disabilities.  All accommodations must be approved through Disability Support Services, located in the Idaho Commons Building, Room 306. Please contact Disability Support Services as soon as possible so that you may receive accommodations in a timely manner.  You can reach them via telephone at 885-6307or email at  dss@uidaho.edu. Their website is  at www.access.uidaho.edu I am happy to work with you and with DSS. If you need accommodations, please make sure that I know. I will do my best to support you in your work.

Assignment and Grade Record Keeping -Students are required to save all graded work until final grades are recorded with the registrar and checked by the student.

Late Papers, Exercises, Oral Reports, etc.  -  Make-ups and extensions permitted only by securing instructor's permission. Permission is more likely to be granted if I am informed before the due date. Doctor's excuses, court summons, letter from athletic department, instructor's letter concerning UI field trip are acceptable.  The Dean of Students Office of your College or the general Dean of Students Office can provide me with written notification of deaths in the family, serious illness, etc. that you were not able to inform me of in advance. Excuses will be accepted at the instructor’s discretion. Late papers or take-homes will drop one letter grade for each day late including days the philosophy office is closed. If your paper or take-home is late, you may e-mail it to me in WordPerfect 12 or below or Microsoft Word 2007 or below.

Help - Please do not hesitate to come to see me for help.  The Writing Center, the  Academic Assistance Center, and the Student Counseling Center can be of help as well.