DESCRIPTION: This course is intended to introduce students to the critical study of the religions of ancient Israel and Judah. Engaging both biblical and ancient near Eastern primary texts, it acquaints students with the similarities and differences between Israelite and Judean beliefs and practices and those of their neighbors. A reading of major secondary literature introduces students to the major theories of the nature and diachronic changes in Israelite religion. Research projects will familiarize students with the comparative study of the Old Testament and encourages them to think about the relevance and proper application of the material to the interpretation of the Bible.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: An understanding of Israelite religion is crucial to the way in which both the history of Israel and the formation of the Old Testament are understood, and it has the potential to reshape and bring into focus one's theological uses of the text.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students successfully completing this course will have demonstrated (1) a basic acquaintance with the large corpus of ancient Near Eastern religious texts; (2) a familiarity with the major scholarly literature on Israelite religion and its relationship to those of its neighbors; (3) an ability to employ comparative data and interpret the Old Testament from a comparative perspective through concrete case studies; (4) advanced knowledge of biblical Hebrew.

COURSE FORMAT: This course will meet weekly for a four-hour session. Class sessions will involve brief lectures, Hebrew translation, student presentations, and guided discussions.

REQUIRED READING:

Albertz, Rainer. A History of Israelite Religion in the Old Testament Period. Trans. J. Bowden. 2 vols. Westminster John Knox, 1994. ISBNs: 0664227198 and 0664227201, $40 each.

Cross, Frank Moore. Canaanite Myth and Hebrew Epic: Essays in the History of the Religion of Israel. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1973.

Dalley, Stephanie. Myths from Mesopotamia: Creation, the Flood, Gilgamesh, and Others. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1989.

Foster, Benjamin R. Before the Muses: An Anthology of Akkadian Literature. 3rd ed. CDL Press, 2005.

Freedman, David Noel, and Gary Alan Herion. The Anchor Bible Dictionary. New York: Doubleday, 1992.

Gammie, John G., and Leo G. Perdue. The Sage in Israel and the Ancient Near East. Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 1990.

Greenspahn, Frederick E. Essential Papers on Israel and the Ancient Near East. New York: New York University Press, 1991.

Hallo, William W., ed. The Context of Scripture. Brill, 1997-.

Keel, Othmar, and Christoph Uehlinger. Gods, Goddesses, and Images of God in Ancient Israel. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1998.

Lichtheim, M. Ancient Egyptian Literature: A Book of Readings. Univ. of California Press, 1973-80.

Miller, Patrick D. The Religion of Ancient Israel. London: SPCK, 2000.

Nissinen, Marti. Prophets and Prophecy in the Ancient Near East. Society of Biblical Literature, 2003.

Olmo Lete, Gregorio del. Canaanite Religion: According to the Liturgical Texts of Ugarit. Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 2004.

Sasson, Jack M. Civilizations of the Ancient Near East. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2006.

Smith, Mark S. The Origins of Biblical Monotheism: Israel's Polytheistic Background and the Ugaritic Texts. New York: Oxford University Press, 2001.

Smith, Mark S. The Early History of God: Yahweh and the Other Deities in Ancient Israel. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2002.

Sparks, Kenton L. Ancient Texts for the Study of the Hebrew Bible: A Guide to the Background Literature. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2005.

1. Class Participation, which includes translations, presentations, readings, and participation in discussions (30%)

2. Final comparison project (25%)

3. Final paper (45%)