The Five Books of CTI 375 (29481); J S 364 (39113); MES 342 (40309); R S 353 (42429)

The University of Texas at Austin Spring 2020

Dr. Philip Yoo

Course Description: Termed the ‘’ in Jewish tradition and the ‘Pentateuch’ in Christian tradition, the first five books of the Bible — Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy — contain influential episodes that continue to shape ideas about deity, humanity, nationhood, the cosmos, worship, family, law, science, and history. A close reading of these books is key to understanding the biblical text. In this course, we will undertake the study of these books in their socio-historical context, and in light of its ancient Near Eastern background, with the aim to examine how these books continue to give meaning to readers in the present time. Accordingly, we will read through the entirely of these books and consider the process by which these texts were composed, transmitted, and ultimately accepted as authoritative.

Learning Outcomes: By the end of the course, students will 1) develop skills of close reading and analysis of a wide variety of texts; 2) have a deeper appreciation for the many ways an ancient text is read and interpreted by its readers; and, 3) be introduced to some of the critical methods of reading a religious text.

The Five Books of Moses Spring 2020 Syllabus Page 1 of 10 Flags: This course carries the Global Cultures flag. Courses that carry the Global Cultures Flag increase your familiarity with cultural groups outside the United States. Courses with the Global Cultures Flag ask you to explore the practices, beliefs, and histories of at least one non- U.S. cultural group, past or present. Many of these courses also encourage you to reflect on your own experiences within a global context.

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites (or corequisites) for this course. Either CTI 305G/J S 311/MES 310 (‘Introduction to the Old Testament’) or CTI 304/R S 315 (‘The Bible and its Interpreters’) is recommended, but not required. Primary and secondary literature will be read in translation. If you have Hebrew, see below for an option to complete the course requirements. It is crucial to remember that students come from a variety of backgrounds, cultures, and traditions and that we are not only respectful of these differences but also willing to undertake the critical study of biblical literature.

Required Books. The following (available at the University Co-Op) will be used extensively and a hard copy must be brought to each class: - Friedman, Richard Elliott. The Bible with Sources Revealed: A New View into the Five Books of Moses. HarperOne, 2003. (ISBN: 9780060730659)

Additional readings (if any) will be posted on Canvas.

Highly Recommended is any one of New Oxford Annotated Bible (“NOAB5” below), 5th ed. (2018); or 4th ed. (2010); or Jewish Study Bible (“JSB2” below), 2nd ed. (2014); or Harper Collins Study Bible, rev. ed. (2006). o A copy of NOAB5 is placed on Course Reserves. Call number: BS 191.5 A1 2018 N48 2018. This copy shall not be brought to class.

Additional Resources. While the above materials will be sufficient to fulfil the requirements for this course, see Appendix A for additional course resources.

Course Requirements: 1. Attend class (20%). Students are expected to prepare for each class and come to each class ready to participate. In order to earn full credit for attendance, preparation (bring the assigned readings and your notes to each class as hard copies) and participation are essential. Please arrive on time for the start of class and remain seated until the end. Students are permitted one unexcused absence (including illness); each subsequent absence (without prior arrangements made to make up each anticipated absence) will result in a deduction that amounts to ≅ 0.667% of the final grade (see also “In Case of Illness or Emergency”, below). Except in cases of extraordinary circumstances discussed in advance with the instructor, more than 15 absences will result in failure. Electronic devices are not permitted in class, any use in class will count as an unexcused absence.

2. In-Class Presentation (10%). Date TBD. Students are required to make an in-class presentation (chosen from meetings 3–28) of approximately 15 mins, on a portion of the assigned reading for that class. Selections will be made by the beginning of the second week of the semester. See Appendix B for more details. This presentation consists of two parts: a) A meeting with the instructor to discuss the presentation. This meeting should occur at least 24 hours before the class presentation. Students are expected to arrive to their

The Five Books of Moses Spring 2020 Syllabus Page 2 of 10 meeting with the readings for the day of the presentation prepared and an idea for which portions of the reading they would like to focus on. A meeting held within 24 hours before the class presentation will result in a half-letter grade deduction (i.e., from A to A-); no meeting results in a deduction of two half-letter grades (i.e., from A to B+). b) The class presentation. A one-page (single sided) handout must accompany the presentation. To ensure that hard copies are available for everyone, this handout should be emailed to the instructor no less than one hour before the start of class. Late handouts will be deducted a half-letter grade (i.e., from A to A-); a presentation without a handout will receive a deduction of two half-letter grades (i.e., from A to B+). Handouts will be posted on Canvas within 24 hours of the end of each class.

3. Reading the Five Books (5 reports x 8% each = 40%). Due 21 February, 13 March, 3 April, 17 April, 1 May (all on Friday, 11:59pm). To encourage a close reading of Genesis– Deuteronomy, a report of 500–750 words is due at the end of each unit (see Plan of Study). Reports should be uploaded onto Canvas. Late reports are subject to a penalty of one half- grade per day and the last day to submit a report is 7 days after the due date. Based on the assigned readings and class discussion, there are four components to each report (can be discussed in any order): a) A concise summary of the individual “book”. b) A concise summary of the individual “source(s)”. c) Identify one or more literary or interpretative problems that arise out of a single chapter. d) Raise additional questions.

4. a. Final Exam (30%). This is the default. A three-hour exam during the official exam period. (For now, the final exam is tentatively set for Friday 15 May, 9:00am–12:00pm; please plan your travel accordingly.) The exam will consist of identifications and 2–3 essay questions. A study sheet will be made available one month before the date of the final exam. — or — b. Read and translate portions of the Hebrew text (30%). Students who choose this option do not write the final exam. For students who a) have prior work in Hebrew and b) have approval from the instructor by the end of the first week of the semester. Students who take this option will meet with the instructor for one additional hour a week (to be determined) throughout the semester to read, translate, and discuss set readings from Genesis–Deuteronomy. (For a sample list, see Appendix C.) Weekly homework will be assigned and will form part of the grade. Students who choose this option should obtain a copy of Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (BHS), Kittel et al (eds.). Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft. 5th reprint, 1997.

Summary of Requirements: 1. Attendance (20%) Throughout the semester 2. Class Presentation (10%) TBD (sign-up by 1 February) 3. Reading Reports (5 x 8% each = 40%) 21 February, 13 March, 3 April, 17 April, 1 May 4. Final Exam (30%) Tentatively, Friday 15 May, 9am–12pm or with approval from the instructor: Reading the Hebrew Text (30%) Throughout the semester

Students are asked to keep all graded and returned tests and assignments until the end of the course.

The Five Books of Moses Spring 2020 Syllabus Page 3 of 10 Might miss a deadline or exam? Students must request special consideration from the instructor by email before the stated deadline date and time. Supporting documentation may be required.

Grading Scheme: Final grades will be assigned based on the scale below. The instructor also reserves the right to raise or lower a student’s grade by a slight amount, based on the instructor’s perception of the student’s effort throughout the course. Total % Letter Grade Total % Letter Grade 93.0–100.0 A 73.0–76.9 C 90.0–92.9 A- 70.0–72.9 C- 87.0–89.9 B+ 67.0–69.9 D+ 83.0–86.9 B 63.0–66.9 D 80.0–82.9 B- 60.0–62.9 D- 77.0–79.9 C+ < 59.9 F

The question usually arises: how are tests and assignments graded? Generally, what I look for is how you are incorporating and critically reflecting upon the assigned readings. While informative, prior learning of the material is not an acceptable substitute for the requirements of this course.

In Case of Illness or Emergency… If you are sick, please notify the instructor by email and take care of yourself. If you have a family or health emergency that means you have to miss more than three classes, then I will need a note from a doctor or authority that explains your situation. Depending on the situation, we will work out the next steps after the absence.

Academic Integrity: The University of Texas at Austin Honor Code: The core values of The University of Texas at Austin are learning, discovery, freedom, leadership, individual opportunity, and responsibility. Each member of the university is expected to uphold these values through integrity, honesty, trust, fairness, and respect toward peers and community. Academic honesty holds a fundamental and cherished place in our community. An important element of academic integrity is fully and correctly attributing any materials and ideas taken from the work of others. Plagiarism in any form will not be tolerated and all cases of plagiarism will be referred to the Student Judicial Services at the Office of the Dean of Students. As a student, please familiarize yourself (if not already) with the following document: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/services/instruction/learningmodules/plagiarism. If you have any questions about plagiarism or academic dishonesty, please contact me.

Accessibility: Students with diverse learning styles and needs are welcome in this course. If you require accommodations, please feel free to approach me and/or the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, Services for Students with Disabilities, 512-471-6259. See also http://www.utexas.edu/diversity/ddce/ssd.

Religious Observances: It is the policy of UT Austin that you notify instructors of a pending absence at least 14 days prior to the date of observance of a religious holy day. In the event that a class or a deadline is missed due to the observance of a religious holy day, you will be given an opportunity to complete the missed work or submit within a reasonable time period after the absence.

The Five Books of Moses Spring 2020 Syllabus Page 4 of 10 Courtesy: All members of the learning environment in this course should strive to create an atmosphere of mutual respect. As course instructor, I will neither condone nor tolerate behavior that undermines the dignity or self-esteem of any individual in this course and wish to be alerted to any attempt to create an intimidating or hostile environment. It is our collective responsibility to create a space that is inclusive and welcomes discussion. Discrimination, harassment, and hate speech will not be tolerated.

Communication: Please contact the instructor through your UT email address. I will do my best to reply within two business days. Regular announcements pertaining to this course will be posted on Canvas.

Finally… if you have any questions or confusion concerning the course materials or requirements, contact the instructor (sooner rather than later). If you have complaints regarding the course or if you wish to appeal a grade, I hope you will want to discuss with me first.

PLAN OF STUDY subject to change T = Tuesday; Th = Thursday Readings marked with # will be made available on Canvas

** For meetings 3–29, be prepared to discuss the following: - What happens in the “final form” of the text? - What happens in each source? What does not happen? - What are some of the important ideas or themes in the readings? - What was difficult about the reading? - What questions do you have about the reading?

T 21 January 1) Introduction to the Course: What are the Five Books of Moses? Recommended reading: “Introduction to the Pentateuch” in NOAB5, pp. 3–6 or “Torah” in JSB2, pp. 1–6

Th 23 Jan 2) Four Sources, Five Books Read: Friedman, Sources Revealed, pp. 1–31

Unit I. Genesis = bre’shit (“In [the] beginning”) Recommended reading: “Genesis” in NOAB5, pp. 7–11 or “Genesis: Introduction” in JSB2, pp. 7–10

T 28 Jan 3) Creation. Genesis 1:1–2:25

Th 30 Jan 4) First Humans. Genesis 3:1–6:4

T 4 February 5) Flood. Genesis 6:5–10:32

Th 6 Feb 6) Tower of Babel; Cycle. Genesis 11:1–17:27

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T 11 Feb 7) Abraham Cycle, continued. Genesis 18:1–25:18

Th 13 Feb 8) Cycle. Genesis 25:19–28:9

T 18 Feb 9) Cycle. Genesis 28:10–36:43

Th 20 Feb 10) Novella. Genesis 37:1–50:26

Report #1 due, Friday 21 February, 11:59pm

Unit II. Exodus = shmot (“Names”) Recommended reading: “Exodus” in NOAB5, pp. 81–83 or “Exodus: Introduction” in JSB2, pp. 95–99

T 25 Feb 11) Israel in Egypt, Moses in Midian. Exodus 1:1–6:30

Th 27 Feb 12) Wonders. Exodus 7:1–11:10

T 3 March 13) and the Sea. Exodus 12:1–15:21

Th 5 Mar 14) From Sea to Mountain. Exodus 15:22–18:27

T 10 Mar 15) Sinai. Exodus 19:1–24:18

Th 12 Mar 16) The . Exodus 25:1–40:38

Report #2 due, Friday 13 March, 11:59pm

16–21 March: SPRING BREAK (no classes)

Unit III. Leviticus = vayikra’ (“And he called”) Recommended reading: “Leviticus” in NOAB5, pp. 143–145 or “Leviticus: Introduction” in JSB2, pp. 193–195

T 24 Mar 17) Sacrificial Laws. Leviticus 1:1–7:38

Th 26 Mar 18) Ordination of Cult Personnel. Leviticus 8:1–10:20

T 31 Mar 19) Purity and Impurity. Leviticus 11:1–16:34

Th 2 April 20) The . Leviticus 17:1–27:34

Report #3 due, Friday 3 April, 11:59pm

Unit IV. Numbers = bamidbar (“In the wilderness”) Recommended reading: “Numbers” in NOAB5, pp. 187–189 or “Numbers: Introduction” in JSB2, pp. 267–270

The Five Books of Moses Spring 2020 Syllabus Page 6 of 10 T 7 Apr 21) Preparations and Departure from Sinai. Numbers 1:1–11:3

Th 9 Apr 22) Rebellion in the Wilderness. Numbers 11:4–14:45

T 14 Apr 23) More(!) Rebellion in the Wilderness. Numbers 15:1–25:18

Th 16 Apr 24) More Laws. Numbers 26:1–36:13

Report #4 due, Friday 17 April, 11:59pm

Unit V. Deuteronomy = (“Words”) Recommended reading: “Deuteronomy” in NOAB5, pp. 247–250 or “Deuteronomy: Introduction” in JSB2, pp. 339–345

T 21 Apr 25) A Historical Review. Deuteronomy 1:1–4:43

Th 23 Apr 26) Events at Horeb. Deuteronomy 4:44–11:32

T 28 Apr 27) The “Second” Law. Deuteronomy 12:1–26:19

Th 30 Apr 28) Blessings and Curses. Deuteronomy 27:1–30:20

T 5 May 29) Moses’s Final Words. Deuteronomy 31:1–34:12

Report #5 due, Friday 1 May, 11:59pm

Beyond the Five Books

Th 7 May 30) When “Torah” Emerges: # Nehemiah 8 (either NRSV or NJPS)

Final Exam: Friday 15 May, 9am–12pm (tentative)

The Five Books of Moses Spring 2020 Syllabus Page 7 of 10 Appendix A: Course Resources

There is definitely not a shortage of scholarly and popular literature on the first five books of the Bible. While the resources listed in the syllabus are sufficient for successful completion of this course, I offer the following suggestions for the student who is interested in further study. Most of the materials listed here are available at the PCL. You may also borrow my copy; please return my copy within a reasonable time and in decent shape.

I. Commentaries. There are many commentaries available, but the following are among the philologically responsible and critically-minded: a) Anchor Bible (AB). New York: Doubleday. (Currently, Anchor Yale Bible. New Haven, Conn.: Press.) Speiser, E. A. Genesis. AB 1. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1964. Propp, William H. C. Exodus 1–18. AB 2. 1999. Propp, William H. C. Exodus 19–40. AB 2A. 2006. Milgrom, Jacob. Leviticus 1–16. AB 3. 1991. (Reprint, 2008.) Milgrom, Jacob. Leviticus 17–22. AB 3A. 2000. (Reprint, 2008.) Milgrom, Jacob. Leviticus 23–27. AB 3B. 2001. (Reprint, 2008.) Levine, Baruch A. Numbers 1–20. AB 4. 1964. Levine, Baruch A. Numbers 21–36. AB 4A. 1964. Weinfeld, Moshe. Deuteronomy 1–11. AB 5. 1991. b) Jewish Publication Society Torah Commentary (JPSTC). Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society. Sarna, Nahum. Genesis = . 1989. Sarna, Nahum. Exodus = . 1991. Levine, Baruch A. Leviticus = VaYiḳra. 1989. Milgrom, Jacob. Numbers = BaMidbar. 1989. Tigay, Jeffrey. Deuteronomy = Devarim. 1989.

II. Other Course Resources. Throughout the course, additional readings will be drawn from the following resources (and posted on Canvas):

Kugel, James L. The Bible as It Was. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1997. Most of the course will focus on the “pre-history” of the biblical text, but if you are interested in how anonymous ancient biblical interpreters (200 BCE – 100 CE) worked through many of the problems in the “canonical” text (Genesis–Deuteronomy) then this work is a valuable guide.

TheTorah.com. The flagship website of Project TABS (Torah and Biblical Scholarship), a nonprofit organization. This website contains a wealth of articles that aim to make academic biblical scholarship accessible to readers from all backgrounds and is a valuable resource that highlights emerging and recent trends in biblical studies.

III. More Resources. For students who are interested in academic biblical studies, here is a start:

Wellhausen, Julius. Prolegomena to the History of Ancient Israel. Translated from German. 1878. Reprint, New York: Meridan, 1957. Massively influential and very difficult to ignore within biblical studies.

Nicholson, Ernest W. The Pentateuch in the Twentieth Century: The Legacy of Julius Wellhausen. Oxford: , 1998. Although Pentateuchal scholarship has been re- shaped since its publication, this work remains a valuable sourcebook.

The Five Books of Moses Spring 2020 Syllabus Page 8 of 10 Appendix B: A Short Guide to Presentations

From the syllabus: In-Class Presentation (10%). Date TBD. Students are required to make an in-class presentation (chosen from meetings 3–28) of approximately 15 mins, on a portion of the assigned reading for that class. Selections will be made by the beginning of the second week of the semester. See Appendix B for more details. This presentation consists of two parts: a) A meeting with the instructor to discuss the presentation. This meeting should occur at least 24 hours before the class presentation. Students are expected to arrive to their meeting with the readings for the day of the presentation prepared and an idea for which portions of the reading they would like to focus on. A meeting held within 24 hours before the class presentation will result in a half-letter grade deduction (i.e., from A to A-); no meeting results in a deduction of two half-letter grades (i.e., from A to B+). b) The class presentation. A one-page (single sided) handout must accompany the presentation. To ensure that hard copies are available for everyone, this handout should be emailed to the instructor no less than one hour before the start of class. Late handouts will be deducted a half-letter grade (i.e., from A to A-); a presentation without a handout will receive a deduction of two half-letter grades (i.e., from A to B+). Handouts will be posted on Canvas within 24 hours of the end of each class.

Please sign-up on the online form once you receive a link through email. The presentation line-up will be announced on Canvas.

Some tips:

- After you receive confirmation of your presentation date, read the entire set of readings. Consider the following questions: o How do the readings move the narrative(s) onwards? o What are one or two questions that you have about the readings? o Is there a word or a phrase that needed clarification? o Is there anything that was troubling? o Is there an excerpt that interested you the most?

- It is this last question that will likely form the basis of your presentation. Consider yourself the soon-to-be expert in the classroom on this topic. Some additional reading will be expected, and the resources listed in Appendix A can be a good start.

- Once you have an idea of what you would like to present on (and what resources you would like to use), set an appointment with the instructor to discuss the contents of your presentation. Depending on the topic you have chosen, your presentation may be at the beginning or middle or end of the class. We will work out a meeting plan.

- Your presentation must be accompanied by a one-page handout. o Include your name and a title (be creative). o Your handout should have a brief outline of your presentation. As you give your presentation, you may find that you are diverging from the outline—this is fine!

- If you would like to put up an audio/visual clip, you can send me the file(s) no less than one hour before the class.

- Plan to entertain one or two questions at any time during your presentation.

The Five Books of Moses Spring 2020 Syllabus Page 9 of 10 Appendix C: Hebrew Text Option

From the syllabus: Read and translate portions of the Hebrew text (30%). For students who a) have prior work in Hebrew and b) have approval from the instructor by the end of the first week of the semester. Students who take this option will meet with the instructor for one additional hour a week (to be determined) throughout the semester to read, translate, and discuss set readings from Genesis–Deuteronomy. (For a sample list, see Appendix C.) Weekly homework will be assigned and will form part of the grade. Students who choose this option should obtain a copy of Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (BHS), Kittel et al (eds.). Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft. 5th reprint, 1997.

Before each weekly meeting, students will prepare a translation of the agreed-upon texts and—this is important—at least one hour prior to the scheduled meeting send the instructor a list of 2–4 questions concerning the Hebrew grammar or any issues in translation. (Continued failure to do will result in a deduction of a two half-letter grades.) When preparing a translation, students may wish to consult a commentary (see Appendix A) and available lexical tools (such as BDB). What follows below is a tentative plan of study for students who wish to pursue this option as the texts will be set before the first meeting.

Week of Selected texts

27 January Genesis 4:1-9 ()

3 February Genesis 11:1-9 (Tower of Babel)

10 February Genesis 22:1-19 (The Aqedah)

17 February Genesis 28:10-22 (Jacob at )

24 February Exodus 7:19-25 ()

2 March Exodus 15:1-6 (Song of the Sea)

9 March Exodus 19:14-23 (Sinai)

16 March SPRING BREAK (no meeting)

23 March Leviticus 10:1-7 ()

30 March Leviticus 23:23-36 (The Seventh Month)

6 April Numbers 13:30–14:4 (The Scouts)

13 April Numbers 20:2-13 (Meribah)

20 April Deuteronomy 1:9-18 (The Judiciary)

27 April Deuteronomy 12:1-7 (Cult Centralization)

4 May Deuteronomy 34:1-12 (Moses’s Death)

The Five Books of Moses Spring 2020 Syllabus Page 10 of 10