8/17/15

REVSIED SYLLABUS
RELIGION 111G
THE WORLD OF THE HEBREW BIBLE
Fall Semester, 2015
Instructor: Bruce Zuckerman
Lecture Location: ZHS 159
Time: Monday, Wednesday 2:00 P.M. to 3:20 P.M.
Office: ACB 339 (in the West Tower of Ahmanson Center Building)
Office Phone: (213) 740-0271
Email (internet) address: [email protected]
Office hours: Monday, Wednesday 11:00 A.M. to 12:00 noon; and by appointment.
Teaching Assistant:
Sana Tayyen ([email protected])
Course Prospectus:
The aim of this course is to give a comprehensive introduction to the Hebrew Bible and the
world out of which it emerged, 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 complex of varied documents out of which developed those basic theological concepts
that have had a decisive impact on 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
New Revised Standard Version with the Apocrypha in the edition of the Oxford Annotated
Bible, college edition.
The Old Testament; A Historical and Literary Introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures by
Michael D. Coogan (2nd ed., New York: Oxford Univ., 2011; 3rd ed. 2013).
A History of Ancient Israel and Judah by J. Maxwell Miller and John H. Hayes (2nd ed.,
Louisville, London: Westminster/Knox, 2006).

8/17/15

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 14, 2015 during class period 15 % of
grade.
c. Final Examination, Friday, December 11, 2015; 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P .M.
30 % of grade.
PAPERS:
a. One Short Paper (approximately 5 pages) due Wednesday, September 30, 2015 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 either the instructor or the
teaching assistant.
b. One Term Paper (approximately 10-15 pages) due Wednesday, December 2, 2015
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 or your teaching
assistant in advance.

The Archaeology Extra Credit Option:

The USC Archaeology Research Center (USCARC) 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.
Subject to the approval of the instructor and the collections curator, students in REL 111g, World
of the Hebrew Bible, who are interested in working in this collection can gain EXTRA CREDIT
for independent work done in the ARC lab.

8/17/15

Students who wish to have a hands-on experience working behind the scenes in a museum
collection and archaeology research center can become volunteer curatorial assistants. What does
this mean? You will gain training in the museum collection database system and in the contents
and use of the collection archivewhich stretches back a half century alreadyand which
describes objects up to 10,000 years old.
Your mission will be to help the staff to integrate images of artifacts, documents from donors,
details from past researchers and other materials into our museum database system in preparation
for the future release of USC artifact information online through an Internet-accessible system.
To gain extra credit in this class, you should plan to commit at least two hours per week working
in the collection. In addition to the benefit of gaining extra credit for your work with ancient
objects related to the world of the Bible, you also get a foot in the door for the best paid and
volunteer positions in the Archaeology Research Center, and for fellowships and scholarship
support for research on these ancient objects. So, thinking ahead, this is a great way to find out
whether working with ancient objects is an undiscovered passion of yours, while also positioning
yourself for an opportunity in a future semester.
For further information on the USCARC and a sampling of student website projects see the
USCARC website: http://www.usc.edu/dept/LAS/arc/
Your hours will be arranged in coordination with the Curator of the Archaeology Centers
collection and Director of USCs Archaeology Program, Lynn Swartz Dodd.
Choices of students interested in the archaeology extra credit option will be determined by
instructor and Prof. Dodd and will be limited. We consider this archaeology extra credit 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).
Anyone interested in the Archaeology Option should promptly contact Lynn Swartz Dodd
([email protected]) in the archaeology lab on the third floor of ACB as soon as possible.
Send your schedule of available hours in the email, along with information about your class
year and your majors/minors.
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 courses 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 universitys
standards of academic integrityespecially in terms of cheating on exams or quizzes or
plagiarism with regard to papersrisks an automatic failing grade.

8/17/15

8/17/15

Schedule of assignments:
Week 1 (August 24, 26)
Requirements of the course; introduction; the Bibles 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
Coogan 3-29 (Chapters 1-2)
Miller, Hayes 1-53 (Chapter 1)
Week 2 (August 31, September 2)
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
narratives (especially the narratives of Enuma elish, 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
Coogan 33-70 (Chapters 3-5)
Miller, Hayes 54-79 (Chapter 2)

8/17/15
Week 3 (September 9) Note: No class on Monday September 7 (Labor Day), so the
quiz will be given on Wednesday (Sept. 9).
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 and as 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
Coogan 73-93 (Chapter 6)
Miller, Hayes 80-119 (Chapter 3)
Week 4 (September 16) Note: No class on Monday September 14 (Jewish Holiday), so
the quiz will be given on Wednesday (Sept. 16).
The Exodus and the Legal Tradition
A full exposition of the Exodus story as the central event in the Hebrew Bible. 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
Coogan 94-159 (Chaptter 7-10)
Miller, Hayes 120-148 (Chapter 4)

8/17/15
Week 5 (September 21) Note: No class on Wednesday September 23 (Jewish and
Muslim holidays)
Conquest; the Beginning of the Former Prophets
The Bibles critical view of the Israelites sojourn in the wilderness. An introduction to the
Deuteronomic History, also known as the Deuteronomic Redaction (Dtr) and the worldview of its
editors. A discussion of why the Bibles history books are considered in the Jewish 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
Coogan 160-232 (Chapters 11-14)
Miller, Hayes 149-188 (Chapter 5)
Week 6 (September 28, 30)
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
narrative in the Bible, the so-called Court History, chronicling Davids kingship. The Deuteronomic
editors 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
Coogan 235-269 (Chapters 15-16)
Miller, Hayes 189-217 (Chapter 6)
Short Paper due: Wednesday, September 30
Week 7 (October 5, 7)
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

8/17/15

Coogan 270-309 (Chapters 17-18)

Miller, Hayes 218-287 (Chapters 7-8)
Week 8 (October 12, 14)
Review Session (on Monday)
No assignment
No quiz this week
Midterm Exam: Wednesday October 14, during class
Week 9 (October 19, 21)
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 (First) Isaiah.
All of Amos
All of Jonah
Isaiah 1-11
Second Kings 15-20
Coogan 310-377 (Chapters 19-22)
Miller, Hayes 289-339 (Chapters 9-10)

8/17/15
Week 10 (October 26, 28)
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
prophets 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
Coogan 381-443 (Chapters 23-26)
Miller, Hayes 340-376 (Chapter 11)
Week 11 (November 2, 4)
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 songbook 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
Coogan 444-471 (Chapter 27)
Miller, Hayes 377-415 (Chapter 12)

8/17/15
Week 12 (November 9, 11)
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 Ecclesiastesthe minority report of the Bibleis in the sacred canon.
All of Proverbs
All of Ecclesiastes
Coogan 475-493 (Chapter 28)
Miller, Hayes 416-436 (Chapter 13)
Week 13 (November 16, 18)
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
Coogan 494-519 (Chapter 29)
Miller, Hayes 437-475 (Chapter 14)
Week 14 (November 23-27; Thanksgiving Week)
Class will not meet this week.

10

8/17/15
Week 15 (November 30, December 2)
Apocalyptic and Daniel; from Old Testament to New
The distinctions between apocalyptic literature and prophetic literature. Prophetic history
reinterpreted 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
Coogan 520-538 (Chapter 30)
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)
Term Paper due: Wednesday, December 2

11