SYLLABUS
RELIGION 111G
THE WORLD OF THE HEBREW BIBLE
Fall Semester, 2010
Instructor: Bruce Zuckerman
Lecture Location: MHP 105
Time: Monday, Wednesday 2:00 P.M. to 3:20 P.M.
Office: ACB 339 (in the West Tower of ACB)
Office Phone: (213)740-0271
Email (internet) address: bzuckerm@usc.edu
Office hours: Monday, Wednesday 1:00 P.M. to 2.00 P.M and by appointment.
Teaching Assistant: Brian Bowman
Discussion Location:
Discussion Periods:
Office:
Office Phone:
Email (internet) address: bcbowman@usc.edu
Office hours:
Course Prospectus:
The aim of this course is to give a comprehensive introduction to the Hebrew Bible,
concentrating on the most central theological issues in all three subdivisions of the scriptures,
according to Jewish tradition: the Torah, the Prophets and the Writings. While we shall closely
consider what the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament can contribute to our knowledge of history of
the Ancient Near East, and also consider the literary aspects of the individual biblical texts,
neither the “Bible as History” nor the “Bible as Literature” will be the central focus in this
course. Rather, we will focus upon the Bible as the religious document out of which emerged
those basic theological concepts that have decisively shaped western civilization. Our particular
concern will therefore be biblical ideas about the nature of God, the relationship of the Deity to
mankind, and the overall human condition.
Books required:
A Bible of your choice (but preferably not the King James Version). Recommended Bible: the
Revised Standard Version with the Apocrypha in the edition of the Oxford Annotated Bible,
college edition.
A Journey through the Hebrew Scriptures; 2nd ed., by Frank S. Frick (Belmont: Thomson
Wadsworth, 2003).
A History of Ancient Israel and Judah by J. Maxwell Miller and John H. Hayes (2nd ed.,
Louisville, London: Westminster/Knox, 2006).
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Course requirements:
QUIZZES/EXAMINATIONS:
a. Weekly quizzes every Monday unless otherwise announced. (15 % of grade). For the
quizzes you will be responsible for only the material assigned in the Bible during a given
week.
NOTE: A 60 % OVERALL AVERAGE ON THE WEEKLY QUIZZES IS A
MINIMUM REQUIREMENT FOR PASSING THIS COURSE.
b. One midterm examination, Wednesday, October 13, 2010 during class period —15 % of
grade.
c. Final examination, Friday Dec. 10th 2010; 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P .M. — 30 %
of grade.
PAPERS:
a. one short paper (approximately 5 pages) due Wednesday, September 22, 2010 — 10 % of
grade.
The topic of this paper will be one of your own choice, as long as it is in reference to the
Book of Judges. Since the book of Judges will not be directly studied during this course, you
will be required to read and study this biblical book on your own and then choose an appropriate
topic. Be sure to read the book in its entirety before you decide on your paper topic and focus on
a given subject matter. You are encouraged to check the topic with the either the instructor or the
teaching assistant.
b. one term paper (approximately 10-15 pages) due Wednesday, December 1, 2010 — 30
% of grade.
The topic of this paper will also be one of your own choice and can draw upon any part
of the Bible. However, topics must be cleared with the instructor in advance.
The Archaeology Option:
USC has one of the largest Syro-Palestinian archaeological collections in the western United
States containing many unresearched artifacts from Israel and its neighbors, dating from biblical
times. Students who are interested in working in this collection as part of their independent work
in Religion 111 may exercise the “archaeology option.” If they do so, then the requirement,
noted above, to do the two papers will be waived. Instead, students will be required to do a
major research study on some artifact, set of artifacts, or other aspect of our archaeological
collection, upon which no detailed work has been done previously. Students will be required to
determine not only the precise nature of the object(s) of their research, but also to relate it/them
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to the particular culture(s) that serve as context. Students will also be expected to consider
broader issues inherent in the study of material culture, e.g., how given artifacts show the imprint
of their respective civilizations and how those artifacts and the civilizations they reflect compare
with our own. The research study can be submitted in the form of a standard paper or as a
website presentation, in accordance with the desires of your instructors and the curator of the
collection. For further information on the USCARC and a sampling of student website projects
see the USCARC website:
http://www.usc.edu/dept/LAS/religion/arc/
Students will also agree to spend a minimum of three hours per week at work in the
archaeological collection, hours to be arranged in coordination with the instructor and the curator
of the collection, Lynn Swartz Dodd. Choices of students interested in the “archaeology option”
will be determined by instructor and the collection’s curator and will be limited to no more than
six students. We consider the “archaeology option” a special program, and any student involved
therein will be expected to maintain a high grade point average in the course (B or better). If a
given student cannot do so, he or she will have to return to the mainstream of the course and will
also be required to do all papers that are part of the mainstream requirements.
Anyone interested in the Archaeology Option should promptly arrange to meet with Lynn
Swartz Dodd (swartz@usc.edu) in the archaeology lab on the third floor of ACB as soon as
possible.
A note about course requirements: The midterm, final exam and the short and term papers
(or archaeological research project) must be completed. Any paper, project or examination
left unfulfilled at the course’s conclusion risks an automatic failing grade.
The standards of the university with regard to academic integrity as addressed in the
student handbook are strictly followed in this course. Anyone who violates the university’s
standards of academic integrity—especially in terms of cheating on exams or quizzes or
plagiarism with regard to papers—risks an automatic failing grade.
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Schedule of assignments:
Week 1 (August 23, 25)
Requirements of the course; introduction; the Bible’s texts and canons
A consideration of what constitutes the canon of the Bible, the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha. A
discussion of the difficulties involved in determining what “the text” of the Bible really is as well as
the inherent problems involved in reading biblical Hebrew.
No quiz this week
Frick, 1-106
Miller, Hayes 1-60
Week 2 (August 30, September 1)
The Primeval Age; Creation and Flood
A presentation of the Ancient Near Eastern “universe” and a consideration of how the ancient
cosmic worldview differs from our own. We will then focus upon the legendary stories of Genesis,
especially Creation and Flood with special emphasis on their background in earlier Ancient Near
Eastern mythology (especially the myths of Atrahasis and Gilgamesh). A special emphasis will be
placed upon how the biblical stories react against the earlier “pagan” versions and how this reactive
aspect of Genesis plays a fundamental role in shaping Genesis’ theological concepts.
Genesis 1-11
Frick, 107-143
Miller, Hayes 55-79
Week 3 (September 6, 8)
The Patriarchal Age; Abraham to Joseph
A consideration of the Patriarchs, who they are and the nature of the Patriarchal covenant as framed
in Genesis; the concept of covenant as grant, an eternal promise. Comparison will be made with
ancient Near Eastern grant covenants. A close analysis of the literary structure of the Jacob and
Joseph narratives with special emphasis on the cyclic manner in which they are written.
Genesis 12-50
Frick, 144-183
Miller, Hayes 84-118
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Week 4 (September 13, 15)
The Exodus and the Legal Tradition
A full exposition of the Exodus story as the central event in the Old Testament. The ancient Near
Eastern background of the Passover and Red Sea crossing. The figure of Moses and the
establishment of the Sinai covenant with emphasis on the distinctions between this and the
covenant with the patriarchs. The Mosaic covenant compared with suzerainty treaties in the
ancient Near East. A discussion of the nature of biblical law, especially in its ancient Near Eastern
background; the distinctions between absolute and case law. The main legal tenants of the 10
commandments, the Book of the Covenant and Deuteronomy and how they define the agenda for
the entire Bible.
Exodus 1-24, 32-40
Deuteronomy 1-9, 28-34
Frick, 184-239
Miller, Hayes 120-147
Week 5 (September 20, 22)
Conquest; the Beginning of the Former Prophets
The Bible’s critical view of the Israelite’s sojourn in the wilderness. An introduction to the
Deuteronomic History and worldview. A discussion of why the Bible’s “history” books are
considered in the tradition to be prophetic. The conquest as viewed in Joshua and the problems
reconciling the archaeological evidence to the biblical account.
Num. 11:16 through chap. 25
All of Joshua
Frick, 240-279
Miller, Hayes 148-185
Short Paper due: Wednesday, September 22
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Week 6 (September 27, 29)
The Rise of the Monarchy; David and the Court History
The nature of kingship versus judgeship in the Bible. An in-depth discussion of the finest prose
account in the Bible, the “Court History,” chronicling David’s kingship. The Deuteronomists’
ambivalent view of kingship as a necessary evil, Saul and David as the focus of heroic tragedy.
All of First Samuel
Second Samuel 1-21
First Kings 1-2
Frick, 280-317
Miller, Hayes 186-220
Week 7 (October 4, 6)
The Divided Kingdom
The reign of Solomon and the division of the Northern and Southern kingdoms. The “myopic”
view of kings in the Deuteronomic history. The slanted view of the northern kingdom found in
“southern” biblical account.
The rest of First Kings
Second Kings 1-14
Frick, 318-349
Miller, Hayes 221-258
Week 8 (October 11, 13)
Review Session (on Monday)
No assignment
No quiz this week
Midterm Exam: Wednesday October 13, during class
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Week 9 (October 18, 20)
Latter Prophets I
The nature of biblical prophecy. The early prophets, Elijah and Elisha. A consideration of the
prophetic message of Amos, especially in terms of his demand for the primacy of justice and the
inherent difficulties necessarily involved in this demand. The prophetic message satirized in the book
of Jonah. The hard, prophetic message found in Isaiah.
All of Amos
All of Jonah
Isaiah 1-11
Second Kings 15-20
Frick, 350-385
Miller, Hayes 259-283
Week 10 (October 25, 29)
Latter Prophets II
The fall of Israel and the Exile of Judah. A full exposition of the prophetic view of Jeremiah, his
message of both despair and hope. The grand vision of Ezekiel and of “Second” Isaiah, the
prophet of the Exile.
Jeremiah 1-5; 11:18-12:16;
13:15-27; 15:10-21;
17:14-18; 18:18-23; 20:7-18;
27-28; 30:18-22; 31:31-34;
32:36-44
Ezekiel 1-4; 37; 40-48
Isaiah 40-55
The rest of Second Kings
Frick, 384-427
Miller, Hayes 284-326
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Week 11 (November 1, 3)
Hebrew “Poetry” and the Psalms
The nature of poetry and how biblical poetry differs from poetry in the western sense of the term.
The biblical song book and the glimpse it gives us into the liturgical life of ancient Israel.
Psalms 1-5, 22, 23, 33, 56 68, 72, 74, 78, 81, 82,
89, 94, 98,100, 108, 110, 124, 136, 137, 145, 150
Frick, 428-460
Miller, Hayes 327-359
Week 12 (November 8, 10)
Wisdom Literature; Proverbs, Ecclesiastes
The nature of biblical “wisdom” and its exploration of the relationship of God to man. The
positive view of God as a moral deity in Proverbs and as an amoral deity in Ecclesiastes. The
issue of why Ecclesiastes—the “minority report” of the Bible—is in the sacred canon.
All of Proverbs
All of Ecclesiastes
Frick, 461-524
Miller, Hayes 360-391
Week 13 (November 15, 17)
Job
The complicated structure of the Book of Job, a full discussion of its essential issue: Is God
a moral or immoral deity?
All of Job
Frick, 525-549
Miller, Hayes 392-438
Week 14 (November 22, 24; Thanksgiving Week)
Class will not meet this week.
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Week 15 (November 29, December 1)
Apocalyptic and Daniel; from Old Testament to New
The distinctions between apocalyptic literature and prophetic literature. History as a hidden, grand
design against the background of the Jewish persecutions in the Hellenistic period. The
development of the concept of the end of time and history and its implications for Christianity.
The New Testament in light of the Old Testament. The view of faith presented by Mark and the
nature of New Testament parable in light of Old Testament wisdom. A comparison of the parables
of Mark and the parables of Kafka. The nature of faith in the Bible and the inadequacy of rational
inquiry.
All of Daniel
All of Mark
Miller, Hayes 439-540
M. W. Holmes, “To Be Continued . . . ;
The Many Endings of the Gospel of Mark,” Bible
Review 17 (2001) pp. 12-23, 48-49 (supplied via
Blackboard)
Long Paper due: Wednesday, December 1
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