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Religious Studies 300

Second Temple

Fall Term 2020

(3 credits; MW 10:05-11:25; Oegema; Zoom & Recorded)

Instructor: Prof. Dr. Gerbern S. Oegema Faculty of Religious Studies McGill University 3520 University Street Office hours: by appointment Tel. 398-4126 Fax 398-6665 Email: [email protected]

Prerequisite: This course presupposes some basic knowledge typically but not exclusively acquired in any of the introductory courses in Hebrew (The of Ancient ; Literature of Ancient Israel 1 or 2; and ), ( of Nazareth, New Testament Studies 1 or 2) or .

Contents: The course is meant for undergraduates, who want to learn more about the history of Ancient Judaism, which roughly dates from 300 BCE to 200 CE. In this period, which is characterized by a growing Greek and Roman influence on the in and in the Diaspora, the canon of the came to a close, the Biblical books were translated into Greek, the Jewish people lost their national independence, and, most important, two new came into being: Early and Rabbinic Judaism. In the course, which is divided into three modules of each four , we will learn more about the main historical events and the political parties (Hasmonaeans, , , , etc.), the religious and philosophical concepts of the period (, Ethics, Freedom, Political Ideals, Messianic Kingdom, Afterlife, etc.), and the various Torah interpretations of the time. A basic knowledge of this period is therefore essential for a deeper understanding of the formation of the two new religions, Early Christianity and Rabbinic Judaism, and for a better understanding of the growing importance, history and Biblical interpretation have had for Ancient Judaism.

Method: 1-2 lectures of one hour each per through Zoom with recordings with 1 hour reading of texts in English, ½-1 hour online work in small groups (total workload 140 hours), as well as occasional class discussions through Zoom with recordings.

Books: 1) Shaye J.D. Cohen, From the to the , Philadelphia: Westminster Press 1987, paperback 1989 (E-book) 2) George W.E. Nickelsburg, Jewish Literature Between the Bible and the Mishnah, Philadelphia: Fortress Press 1981, 2nd print 1987 (E-book) 3) Hartmut Stegemann, The Library of : On the Essenes, Qumran, John the Baptist and Jesus, Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company 1998 (E-book) 4) Günter Stemberger, Introduction to the and , Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1992, 2nd print 1996 (E-book) 5) James C. VanderKam, An Introduction to Early Judaism, Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company 2001 (E-book)

Readings: Readings of the essential texts in an English translation for every week will be provided during the course (electronic course pack & e-books).

Evaluation: 30% Class participation witnessed through oral contributions and/or attentive listening, as well as questions and answers during and/or emails with instructor and TA during and afterwards. N.B. Participation in small discussion and reading groups is mandatory 20% Online oral presentations, live or recorded (replaces Midterm exam) 50% Final exam: research paper on a subject of own a student’s interest in consultation with the instructor or TA; deadline: December 2nd 2020

Course Outline

Introduction

Week 1 Sept. 2 First day of class: Introduction

Module I: Post Biblical

Week 2 Sept. 7/9 Jewish History from to : Survey, Texts, Analysis.

Week 3 Sept. 14/16 Jewish History from the Seleucids to the Hasmonaeans: Survey, Texts, Analysis.

Week 4 Sept. 21/23 Jewish History from Pompeius to : Survey, Texts, Analysis.

Week 5 Sept 28/30 Jewish History from the Interbellum to Judah ha-: Survey, Texts, Analysis.

Module II: Post Biblical Jewish Religious Concepts

Week 6 Oct. 5/7 Thanksgiving / Jewish Religious Concepts from Ezra to Alexander the Great: Survey, Texts, Analysis.

Week 7 Oct. 12/14 Jewish Religious Concepts from the Seleucids to the Hasmonaeans: Survey, Texts, Analysis.

Week 8 Oct. 19/21 Jewish Religious Concepts from Pompeius to Vespasian: Survey, Texts, Analysis.

Week 9 Oct. 26/38 Jewish Jewish Religious Concepts from the Interbellum to Judah ha- Nasi: Survey, Texts, Analysis.

Module III: Post Biblical Torah Interpretations

Week 10 Nov 2/4 Torah Interpretations from Ezra to Alexander the Great: Survey, Texts, Analysis.

Week 11 Nov. 9/11 Torah Interpretations from the Seleucids to the Hasmonaeans: Survey, Texts, Analysis.

Week 12 Nov. 16/18 Torah Interpretations from Pompeius to Vespasian: Survey, Texts, Analysis.

Week 13 Nov. 23/25 Torah Interpretations from the Interbellum to Judah ha-Nasi: Survey, Texts, Analysis.

Week 14 Dec. 2 Deadline for paper

Reading Guide

Introduction

Week 1

Sept. 2 Introduction

Module I: Post Biblical Jewish History

Week 2

Sept. 7 Introduction to the books to be accessed and read (partly available in a course pack):

1) Shaye J.D. Cohen, From the Maccabees to the Mishnah, Philadelphia: The Westminster Press 1987, paperback 1989; 2) George W.E. Nickelsburg, Jewish Literature Between the Bible and the Mishnah, Philadelphia: Fortress Press 1981, 2nd print 1987; 3) Hartmut Stegemann, The Library of Qumran: On the Essenes, Qumran, John the wBaptist and Jesus, Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company 1998; 4) Guenter Stemberger, Introduction to the Talmud and Midrash, Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1992, 2nd print 1996, and 5) James C. VanderKam, An Introduction to Early Judaism, Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company 2001.

Sept. 9 Jewish History from Ezra to Alexander the Great: General Overview of the main historical events and political parties to ca. 300 BCE. Chronology, method and definition applied to the period by modern scholarship.

Read: Shaye J.D. Cohen, From the Maccabees to the Mishnah, Philadelphia: The Westminster Press 1987, paperback 1989, 13-26, and George W.E. Nickelsburg, Jewish Literature Between the Bible and the Mishnah, Philadelphia: Fortress Press 1981, 2nd print 1987, 1-11.

Week 3

Sept. 14 Ptolemaic (332-198 CE) and Seleucid (198-164 BCE) Influence on Palestine. Hasmonaean State (164-63 BCE).

Read: James C. VanderKam, An Introduction to Early Judaism, Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Pu blishing Company 2001, 11-32

Sept. 16 Jewish History from the Seleucids to the Hasmonaeans: General Overview of the main religious institutions. Temple, , Sects and Schools.

Read: Shaye J.D. Cohen, From the Maccabees to the Mishnah, Philadelphia: The Westminster Press 1987, paperback 1989, 104-143

Week 4

Sept. 21 The three main religious groups: Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes.

Read: Shaye J.D. Cohen, From the Maccabees to the Mishnah, Philadelphia: The Westminster Press 1987, paperback 1989, 143-173

Sept. 23 Jewish History from Pompeius to Vespasian: General Overview of the main historical events and political players

Week 5

Sept 28 Historical context of 300 BCE to 200 CE and its main political events. Maccabaean Rebellion, First (66-73 CE) and Second (132-135 CE) War against , Diaspora Revolt (115-117 CE). Encounter of Judaism and Hellenism.

Read: Shaye J.D. Cohen, From the Maccabees to the Mishnah, Philadelphia: The Westminster Press 1987, paperback 1989, 27-59

Leaders (Priests, Civil Rulers, Sanhedrin) and Groups (Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes).

Read: James C. VanderKam, An Introduction to Early Judaism, Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company 2001, 175-193 (compare with Cohen, o.c., 143-173)

Sept. 30 Jewish History from the Interbellum to Judah ha-Nasi: Lecture on the main historical events and political parties. Palestine under Roman Rule (63 BCE and beyond).

Read: James C. VanderKam, An Introduction to Early Judaism, Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company 2001, 32-52

Module II: Post Biblical Jewish Religious Concepts

Week 6

Oct. 5 Thanksgiving / The Centre of Life: Temple Worship, Festivals, and Other Worship.

Read: James C. VanderKam, An Introduction to Early Judaism, Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company 2001, 193-217

Oct. 7 Jewish Religious Concepts from Ezra to Alexander the Great: General Overview of the main religious concepts and beliefs. The Jewish Religion: Ritual, Ethics, and the Law.

Read: Shaye J.D. Cohen, From the Maccabees to the Mishnah, Philadelphia: The Westminster Press 1987, paperback 1989, 60-103

Week 7

Oct. 12 The Canonization of the Hebrew Bible: Torah, Prophets, and Writings.

Read: Shaye J.D. Cohen, From the Maccabees to the Mishnah, Philadelphia: The Westminster Press 1987, paperback 1989, 174-213

Oct. 14 Jewish Religious Concepts from the Seleucids to the Hasmonaeans: General Overview of the main religious concepts and beliefs. The Essenes: The Excavations at Qumran.

Read: Hartmut Stegemann, The Library of Qumran: On the Essenes, Qumran, John the Baptist and Jesus, Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company 1998, 12-57

The Teachings of the Essenes: Angels and Demons, Eschatology and , of the Dead.

Read: Hartmut Stegemann, The Library of Qumran: On the Essenes, Qumran, John the Baptist and Jesus, Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company 1998, 139-162 and 201-210

Week 8

Oct. 19 Jewish Religious Concepts from Pompeius to Vespasian: Survey: General Overview of the main religious concepts and beliefs

Oct. 21 Jewish Literature of the : The Writings outside of the Canon of the Hebrew Bible, but part of its Greek translation (Septuaginta).

Read: James C. VanderKam, An Introduction to Early Judaism, Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company 2001, 53-88

Further Books outside of the Canon of the Hebrew Bible, but now also outside of the .

Read: James C. VanderKam, An Introduction to Early Judaism, Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company 2001, 88-115

Week 9

Oct. 26 Jewish Jewish Religious Concepts from the Interbellum to Judah ha-Nasi: General Overview of the main religious concepts and beliefs

The Richness of the (non-canonical) and Poetic Literature of Ancient Judaism.

Read: James C. VanderKam, An Introduction to Early Judaism, Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company 2001, 115-137

Oct. 28 and and the Discovery of Further (non-canonical) Writings.

Read: James C. VanderKam, An Introduction to Early Judaism, Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company 2001, 138-173

Module III: Post Biblical Torah Interpretations

Week 10

Nov. 2 Torah Interpretations from Ezra to Alexander the Great: General Overview of the various Torah interpretations

Nov. 4 Writings from the second century BCE: Daniel 1-6, Additions to the , 1 Enoch, Jesus .

Read: George W.E. Nickelsburg, Jewish Literature Between the Bible and the Mishnah, Philadelphia: Fortress Press 1981, 2nd print 1987, 19-69

Further Writings from the second century BCE: Jubilees, Testament of , Daniel 7-12.

Read: George W.E. Nickelsburg, Jewish Literature Between the Bible and the Mishnah, Philadelphia: Fortress Press 1981, 2nd print 1987, 71-99

Week 11

Nov. 9 Torah Interpretations from the Seleucids to the Hasmonaeans: General Overview of the various Torah interpretations

Judith, Baruch, 1 and , and the Writings of the Community at Qumran.

Read: George W.E. Nickelsburg, Jewish Literature Between the Bible and the Mishnah, Philadelphia: Fortress Press 1981, 2nd print 1987, 101-132

Nov. 11 Further Qumran Writings, 1 Enoch, and the Martyrdom of Isaiah.

Read: George W.E. Nickelsburg, Jewish Literature Between the Bible and the Mishnah, Philadelphia: Fortress Press 1981, 2nd print 1987, 132-160

Week 12

Nov. 16 Torah Interpretations from Pompeius to Vespasian: General Overview of the various Torah interpretations

Jewish Literature from : Sibylline Oracles, Book 3, , , Wisdom of , .

Read: George W.E. Nickelsburg, Jewish Literature Between the Bible and the Mishnah, Philadelphia: Fortress Press 1981, 2nd print 1987, 161-193

Nov. 18 The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs and other Testaments.

Read: George W.E. Nickelsburg, Jewish Literature Between the Bible and the Mishnah, Philadelphia: Fortress Press 1981, 2nd print 1987, 231-275

Week 13

Nov. 23 Torah Interpretations from the Interbellum to Judah ha-Nasi: General Overview of the various Torah interpretations

Nov. 25 Torah Interpretation in the Mishnah and Midrashim: General Overview of the Torah interpretation in the Mishnah

The Emergence of Rabbinic Judaism. Rabbinic Schools and Hermeneutics.

Read: Shaye J.D. Cohen, From the Maccabees to the Mishnah, Philadelphia: The Westminster Press 1987, paperback 1989, 216-231, and Guenter Stemberger, Introduction to the Talmud and Midrash, Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1992, 2nd print 1996, 1-30

Deadline for research paper: December 2nd 2020

Oral Presentation Schedule RELG 300

Date: Name: Topic:

Oct. 12

Oct. 14

Oct. 19

Oct. 21

Oct. 26

Oct. 28

Nov. 2

Nov. 4

Nov. 9

Nov. 11

Nov. 16

Nov. 18

Nov. 23

Nov. 25