Syllabus and Babel: Studies in The Bible and Ancien - 48115

Last update 31-10-2015

HU Credits: 3

Degree/Cycle: 1st degree (Bachelor) and 2nd degree (Master)

Responsible Department: program for undergraduate students )y/s(

Academic year: 0

Semester: 2nd Semester

Teaching Languages: English

Campus: Mt. Scopus

Course/Module Coordinator: Prof Wayne Horowitz

Coordinator Email: [email protected]

Coordinator Office Hours: Sunday 11-12

Teaching Staff: Prof Wayne Horowitz

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Course/Module description: An introduction to the civilization of Ancient in ancient times in its wider Ancient Near Eastern context. The course follows a chronological sequence from the Bronze Age in down to the fall of the Kingdom of Judah to Nebuchadnezzar II, King of Babylon, in 539 B.C., and beyond. In terms of the Bible, the periods covered will include the time of the Patriarchs, the Exodus from Egypt, the United Monarchy of Kings David and Solomon, the first temple period in the Kingdoms of Judah and Israel, and the beginnings of the Babylonian exile from the Town of Al- Yahudu (The City of Judea), a new of the Babylonian exile dating to the first generations of the Babylonian diaspora on display in the Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem. In addition to chronology and historiography, students will explore issues relating to anthropology, sociology, literature, and theology, thus extending the participants’ appreciation of the biblical text, and placing the biblical text in its own contemporary context. Assessment will be by examination. Students will have the option of writing a short paper in lieu of the final exam. Students will be assessed by means of a midterm exam (30%), and final assignment or exam (60%) with the final 10% represented by ongoing assessment of class participation.

Course/Module aims: Students will study selected readings in translation from both the Biblical text and extra-biblical sources including historical inscriptions and other documentary evidence from the Ancient . Of central importance will be an in depth study of the newly published archive from the Town of Al-Yahudu (The City of Judea), a new Jerusalem of the Babylonian exile dating to the first generations of the Babylonian diaspora on display in the Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem. In addition to chronology and historiography, students will explore issues relating to anthropology, sociology, literature, and theology, thus extending the participants’ appreciation of the biblical text, and placing the biblical text in its own contemporary context.

Learning outcomes - On successful completion of this module, students should be able to: Students will be albe to make use of primary sources in translation to develop their own ideas regarding the subject matter of the course, and assess ideas presented by others in light of the documentary evidence.

Attendance requirements(%): 100

Teaching arrangement and method of instruction: Lectures and Research

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Course/Module Content: 1. Introduction: Bible and Babel

2. The Flood Genesis 6-9 B. Schmidt, “Flood Narratives of Ancient Western Asia” (Sasson CANE) . 939 S252 A. George, The Epic of Gilgamesh 88-100. 221.849.2 G473 A. Kilmer: “The Symbolism of The Flies in The Mesopotamian Flood Myth” ERESERVE 001511384

3. The Modern Bible and Ancient Near East E. Speiser, Anchor Bible Genesis, XVII-LII 221.72 A538 J. Tigay, The Evolution of The Gilgamesh Epic, 214-240. ERESERVE 001511312

4. Mesopotamia I: From The Beginnings to Hammurabi D. Charpin, “The History of Ancient Mesopotamia, An Overview” (Sasson CANE) . 939 S252 J. Sasson, “King Hammurabi of Babylon” (Sasson CANE) . 939 S252

5. Mesopotamia II: From Hammurabi to Nebuchadnezzar M. Roaf, Cultural Atlas of Mesopotamia and the Ancient Near East 935(084) R628 G. Roux, Ancient Iraq 935 R871 C. Walker, Reading the Past, Cuneiform. ERESERVE 001210559

6. Canaan: First Encounters Genesis 11-12 J. Collins, Introduction to The Hebrew Bible 1-21. 221.1 C712 A. Mazar, Archaeology of The Land of the Bible, 1-34. E13 M475

7. The Patriarchs and The West Semites Genesis 13-14 G. Schwartz, “Pastoral Nomadism in Ancient Western Asia” (Sasson CANE) . 939 S252 Mazar, Archaeology of The Land of the Bible174-231 E13 M475 P.K. McCarter, “The Patriarchal Age” in H. Shanks, Ancient Israel, From Abraham to the Roman Destruction of the Temple 1-31. . 933.1 S528

8. Covenant: Man and His God Genesis 15, 17 “Covenant”, The Anchor Bible Dictionary, I 1179-1190. 220.3 A538 T. Jacobsen, The Treasures of Darkness 147-165. 935 J17 W. Horowitz, “The Ship of The Desert, The Donkey of the Sea: The Camel in Early Mesopotamia Revisited” ERESERVE 001511326

9. Rebecca By The Well: A Near Eastern Narrative of The Mother of Israel

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Genesis 24 E. Speiser, Anchor Bible Genesis 174-185. 221.72 A538 R. Westbrook, Old Babylonian Marriage Law 1-28. ERESERVE 001511375

10. Cuneiform in Canaan: Hazor W. Horowitz and T. Oshima, Cuneiform in Canaan 3-25. Main Library DS 111 A2 H68 2006

11. In Egypt: The Amarna Age and Now Jerusalem Too Sh. Izre’el, “The Amarna Letters from Canaan” (Sasson CANE). 939 S252 W. Horowitz, "An Inscribed Clay Cylinder From Amarna Age Beth Shean." IEJ vol. 46 , 1996, pp. 208-218 ERESERVE 001511515 E. Mazar, W. Horowitz, T. Oshima, and Y. Goren, “A Cuneiform Tablet from the Ophel in Jerusalem,” Israel Exploration Journal, vol. 60, no. 1, 2010 ERESERVE 001511428

12. Midterm Exam

13. Enuma Elish I: The Narrative W.G. Lambert, “Mesopotamian Creation Stories”

14. Enuma Elish II: A Living Tradition Genesis 1-2 N. Sarna, Understanding Genesis 1-28 W. Horowitz, “Babylonian Wisdom Literature and The Marduk Cycle: Preliminary Thoughts,” The Journal of The History of Ancient Civilizations 24 (2009) 39-51. ERESERVE 001511360

15. From Joshua to Empire J. Collins, Introduction to The Hebrew Bible 183-193, 203-215. 221.1 C712 N. Na’aman, “The ‘Conquest of Canaan’ in the Book of Joshua and History,” in H. Shanks, Ancient Israel, From Abraham to the Roman Destruction of the Temple 249-281. . 933.1 S528 A. Mazar, Archaeology of The Land of the Bible 368-402. E13 M475

16. The Rise of Assyria and Fall of Israel S. Horn and P.K McCarter, “The Divided Monarchy, The Kingdoms of Judah and Israel,” in H. Shanks, Ancient Israel, From Abraham to the Roman Destruction of the Temple 130-199. . 933.1 S528 A. Biran and J. Naveh, "The Tel Dan Inscription: A New Fragment," ERESERVE 001225427 A. Rainey, "Uncritical Criticism." ERESERVE 001511327 P. Davies, "House of David Built on Sand." ERESERVE 001221391

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17. Ideologies in Conflict: Hezekiah, Isaiah, The Tower of Babel and The Marduk Ordeal Genesis 11, II Kings 18-20 M. Cogan and H. Tadmor, II Kings 215-252. 221.72 A538 A. George, ‘Bond of The Lands:’ Babylon, The Cosmic Capital ERESERVE 001227877

18. Nebuchadnezzar II, Jeremiah, and The Babylonian Map of the World Wiseman D., Nebuchadrezzar and Babylon 42-78. ERESERVE 001511303 Horowitz W., Mesopotamian Cosmic Geography 20-42. ERESERVE 001511383 J. Collins, Introduction to The Hebrew Bible 334-346. 221.1 C712

19. By The Waters of Babylon: The Jewish Communities of Babylonia R. Zadok, The Jews in Babylonia; Archaeology Library ASS 4700.Z (on reserve ) M. Geller, 'The Influence of Ancient Mesopotamia on Hellenistic Judaism' (Sasson CANE). . 939 S252

20. The Death of Cuneiform D. Brown, “Increasingly Redundant: The Growing Obsolescence of the Cuneiform Script in Babylonia from 539 BC ERESERVE 001511328 J. Cooper, “Redundancy Considered: Reflections on David Brown’s Thesis.” ERESERVE 001511386

21. Final Thoughts

Required Reading: See above

Additional Reading Material: See above

Course/Module evaluation: End of year written/oral examination 90 % Presentation 0 % Participation in Tutorials 0 % Project work 0 % Assignments 0 % Reports 0 % Research project 0 % Quizzes 0 %

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Other 10 % Class Paricipation

Additional information:

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