Winter 2012/Pasadena
OT854/554
Hays
OT854/554: ISRAELITE RELIGION IN ITS ANCIENT NEAR EASTERN ENVIRONMENT.
Christopher B. Hays.
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.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- 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.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT: The final grade will consist of the following
components:
- Class Participation, which includes translations, presentations, readings,
and participation in discussions (30%)
- Final comparison project (25%)
- Final paper (45%)
PREREQUISITES: LG502 or equivalent Hebrew ability. Master's students admitted
with permission of the instructor.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective.
FINAL EXAMINATION: No. Final paper due on last day of finals week.
This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (October 2011)