Bible as Literature--Schedule of Reading

Wk	Day	Date	Topic	Notes
1	M	14-Jan	Introduction to Course (Begin reading The Red Tent for later discussion on Feb 27 & midterm) Read Ruth
	W	16-Jan	Harris, 1-36 Important biblical dates Map of near east My notes from Harris Ch. 1 and 2	Drop add ends Friday, Jan 18 Film: Who Wrote the Bible? part 1 Film Viewing Sheet Boldface readings are bible books from the Oxford Annotated Bible
2	M	21-Jan	MARTIN LUTHER KING--NO CLASS
	W	23-Jan	Book of Ruth (book available for purchase in bookstore) Harris 260-2 (Festival Scrolls) - 260; 267-70 (Ezra and Nehemia) Handouts: Important biblical dates Lecture notes on Ruth About the Festival of Weeks Ruth (parallel translations) Ruth (King James/ Hebrew footnote) Illustration: Threshing floor Map--Moabites and Ammonites Other: Assignments and email Notes on the journals translation (example from Leviticus 18:22) teleology vs. etiology	Film: Who Wrote the Bible? part 1 Film Viewing Sheet RS (we'll do this one in class)
3	M	28-Jan	Harris 37-69 Notes from Harris ch. 3 Maps Canaan and Israel OT Nations Mesopotamia Assyrian Empire Babylonian Empire Persian Empire Greek (Alexandrian) Empre Roman Empire (at its height) Mythology Canaanite Mesopotamian/Babylonian Sumerian Egyptian Gods and Goddesses Architecture Ziggurat Art of the ancient near east	Film: Who Wrote the Bible, Part 2: Film Viewing Sheet
	W	30-Jan	Esther My notes on Esther Apocryphal additions to Esther (note: links are from the Revised Standard, not the New Revised Standard) BibleDudes' 1-page explanation of the difference Harris 265-267 Hebrews Five Scrolls About Purim Modern analogs: St. Patrick's day (March 17, 1762) Shamrocks and the vernal equinox Christmas and Saturnalia	RS Introduction to Paper 1
4	M	4-Feb	Lamentations and Mesopotamian City Laments Tisha B'Av (or The Saddest Day in History) How Tisha B'Av is observed Acrostic Jeremiah 9:16-21 Musical versions Lamentations 1:1-2 Hebrew chant sung by women Ancient Jewish Harp Tallis's Lamentations (16th Century England) Psalm 74 Wailing Wall live Harris 264 Modern City Laments A Dream of New Orleans -- Andrei Codrescu Mourning My New Orleans by Josh Levin Modern Funeral Dirges Dirge (audio) Dirge without Music (poem by Edna St Vincent Millay)	Quiz on Esther, Lamentations, and Harris chapters 1-3
	W	6-Feb	Today's Class Cancelled! Read Job for Monday. I'll work in Ecclesiastes somewhere soon. Job and Harris ch. 247-256 My Notes on Job The Satan (Hebrew for Adversary) Story of Balaam and his donkey (Numbers 22) Numbers 22:22 The Sea (Chaos) and The Sea-monster in Job Near-eastern analogs of Job Babylonian Job Declaration of Innocence (Egyptian Book of the Dead 1250 BCE) Legalist terms in Job case justice mediator redeemer perfect (1:1; 37:16) Job 42:5 Names in Job Job "Hated" Uz "Wooded" Satan "adversary" Eliphaz "my god is gold" Bildad "confusing love" Zophar "sparrow" Elihu "He is my God" 3 daughters: Jemima "Day by Day" or "Dove; Kezia "cinnamon"; Keren - happuch " "horn of eyeshadow"	RS
5	M	11-Feb	Reminder: read Red Tent for 2/27/08 Job cont'd; for Monday, read Eccl 1-2,12, as well as Genesis 1-11. Ecclesiastes Harris 256-60 Harris 263 About Pesach (Passover) Other handouts My notes to Ecclesiastes Jewish holiday of Succot Cool Hebrew Words: Hebel Sheol striving after wind Qoheleth sleep, rest 5:12, 6:5 mouth, appetite 6:7 Dr. Constable's notes to Ecclesiastes (with a traditional Christian religious reading)
	W	13-Feb	Ecclesiastes 1,2,12 Genesis 1-11 Important terms/ Names/ Themes Themes in Genesis Genesis 1: Creation acc. to P Genesis 1: See, Say, Adam or human; day, Seven Genesis 2: Rest, Create, Soul, Serve, Keep (2:15); Eden Genesis 2:4 Creation according to J? Man and Woman Eve Genesis 2-3: Nude, Shrewd Know Genesis 4 Cain, Abel, and Sin Seth and Enos (mortal man) Cain's children's names (Genesis 4) Genesis 5 Angels? Strive, Flesh For comparison: Psalms 104,74,89; Proverbs 8.22-31 Handouts (context) Friedman's translation with documentary sources More on the documentary hypothesis and side by side description of flood (J and P) Hope college course: explanation of each strand Wiipedia summary--quite useful Fox's more poetic translation selections Akkadian Story of Atrahasis (from OT Parallels) Gilgamesh flood story	RS
6	M	18-Feb	Online class--read Harris and other creation myths (below) for online discussion. Follow the instructions for registration and participation. Harris, 86-107 (thru Flood) Excerpts from Gilgamesh, Marduk, Baal and Yaam Baal (encyclopedia mythica entry) Baal's primeval battles with Yam (elsewhere ascribed to El) Marduk (Babylonian god) and his ziggurat (by Hammurabi?) Akkadian Story of Atrahasis (from OT Parallels) Gilgamesh flood story
	W	20-Feb	Introduction to the Research Paper Harris 107-117 Genesis 12-25 Abraham and monotheism Abraham's journeys Sumerian mythology Haran (Wikipedia, which is not a trustworthy source, but has good pics) Abraham's place in three religions Mecca Themes in Genesis Binding of Isaac Isaac story--sources revealed Approaches to Akedah by Hebrew scholars Legends about Abraham from the Midrash Kierkegaard on Akedah (student essay) Holiday of Rosh Hashanah Isaac or Ishmael? More on research paper and deadline	RS
7	M	25-Feb	Genesis 26-50 Slides related to Hebrew Bible (from UPenn course) including "Asiatic" migration to Egypt around the time of the patriarchs	Film (Joseph and brothers) Film Viewing Sheet
	W	27-Feb	Diamant, The Red Tent Near eastern goddesses Ninhursag or Ki (Sumerian) Inanna Ishtar Lilith and Pictures of Lilith Isaiah 34:14 El's consort, Asherah Asherah or Queen of Heaven Jewish holiday of Tu B'Shvat household figurine plaque Anath/Astarte Astarte Headshot Egyption Gods and Goddesses, an index (includes those of Semitic origin) Egyptian goddesses (better pictures) Taweret, Egyptian Goddess of fertility more on Taweret Pictures 1, 2, 3, 4 Frog goddess--maybe Heqet or Atargatis (worship involved ritual prostitution)
	M	3-Mar	SPRING BREAK
	W	5-Mar	SPRING BREAK
8	M	10-Mar	Harris 117-130 Exodus 1-15 my handout another translation of ch. 3 About Pesach (Passover) Names of God: Tetragrammaton, El, and Elohim Songs of Moses and Miriam Wordplay hardened heart vs. mighty hand 6:1 "to see" (2:5; 3:3; 3:7; 3:16; 4:31; 6:1; 7:1; 10:28-9; 14:30-31; vs. "to see" 1:9 "forced labor" 2:11, 5:4; vs. serve, worship 4:23 "deliver" 5:23 "Goddess" links: Moses and The Shekhina The Cherubim Miriam	RS Film
	W	12-Mar	Exodus 18-20, 32 Midrash on Exodus Harris 70-83; 130-146 The next two books (Wikiepedia) Leviticus Numbers Map of the journeys in wilderness my handout Deuteronomy 6,7 (Shema) Teffilin Instructions for use significance 12,13 (centralized worship and foreign gods) 20 (holy war;Herem) 22 (misc. laws; Tow`ebah) 28 (Deuteronimic history) 34 Death of Moses (in class) Moses 3 speeches 1-4 5-26, 28 29-30 Important biblical dates handout: Code of Hammurabi Vassal Treaty of Esarhaddon (672 BCE)
9	M	17-Mar	Judges and Harris 158-164 My notes to Judges	Take home Midterm RS
	W	19-Mar	EASTER HOLIDAY
10	M	24-Mar	Samuel, Kings excerpts: Israel and Judah Deuteronomistic History Harris 164-190 (read 1st) 2 Samuel My Handouts: Themes in Kings Other links: Houses of Ancient Israel Moabite stone--records submission of Jehu et al to the Assyrians Dates Biblical Dates Kings Chronology Babylonian / Persian Chronology	Film Viewing Sheet Take-home midterm due
	W	26-Mar	Kings & Prophets Isaiah (of Jerusalem) and Jeremiah Assyrian Prophecies: Harris 190-197, 202-206 1st Isaiah 1-2, [6, 7:14,] 28-33 Senacherib's Invasion 701 BCE Non-biblical accounts Picture of Sargon & Sennacherib Israelite captives Other reliefs Babylonian Prophecies: Harris: 210-214 Jeremiah 1-6, 36, [31-33,44 ] Babylonian Exile Ancient Babylon Aerial view Ishtar Gate 1 and 2	DUE TODAY: ALL RESEARCH PAPER SOURCES ON BIBLIOGRAPHY CARDS (NOTE: NO PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED UNLESS I HAVE CHECKED OFF YOUR CARDS)
11	M	31-Mar	Ezekiel (chs 1-7,32,37), 2nd Isaiah (chs. 40-55) and Harris 214-221 Ezekiel handout Images of Ezekial Peter Robson another one and another Brigid Marlin William Blake David S Hardy (as spaceship) 2nd Isaiah (chs. 40-55) 2nd Isaiah handout Cyrus Cylinder words redeem 44:23 annointed 45:1 first and last 48:12 Movie analogy	RS Exile Prophecies: Ezekiel & 2nd Isaiah
	W	2-Apr	Post-exile: Malachi, Jonah, and Harris 226-231 Malachi Kings & Prophets handout About Jonah Yom Kippur or Day of Atonement Sackcloth 1 Sackcloth 2	LAST DAY TO DROP WITH A W
12	M	7-Apr	Harris chapter 10; Film (TBA) Frontline's Apocalypse--web site	RS LIT FESTIVAL
	W	9-Apr	After the Hebrew Bible (links are to Hope College course) Apocrypha and Pseudoepigrapha Apocryphal works: Wisdom of Solomon 1-4.1 (71-74) (plus Harris 284-88; 301-307) 2 Esdras 3-8 Enoch 1 Enoch -- entire thing 1 Enoch 17-36 (short verses--click next after you have read the first one) 2 Enoch ch. 31 only Recommended reading: Tobit 1-12 Maccabees and Chanukah	LIT FESTIVAL
13	M	14-Apr	Apocalypticism Daniel (1253-1278 HB), Apocryphal Additions to Daniel 189-201 AP, and Harris 274-279 two views of Daniel and biblical apocalyptic prophecy My notes on Daniel Ancient of Days Michelangelo 1 and 2 Adaptation My Notes on Revelation Links: Qumran War Scroll Prayer of Nabonidus Zoroastrianism Wikipedia link Demons and demonology Astrology Angels Michael Gabriel Straight Dope page on angels Kabbalah and Jewish Mysticism Tammuz, Adonis, or Damu-zid
	W	16-Apr	Harris Chapter 10 Film: Who Wrote the Bible Part II Powerpoint: Mediterranian World between the Testaments Extra Credit: For Saturday at Sundown Passover Seder (Wikipedia article) Passover Wizard Instructions on Reciting the Haggadah	Film Viewing Sheet All research due on note cards
14	M	21-Apr	Harris 448-475 Thessalonians Romans 4-7 (248-253) James 2 (389-90 NT) Map: Journeys of Paul My notes on Paul (from Harris text) RESEARCH PAPER DUE (MUST USE SOME FORM OF STANDARD CITATION SUCH AS MLA)	MONDAY IS FIRST DAY FOR DOING ONLINE COURSE EVALUATIONS. Username is your 92#; password is Birthdate in mmddyy format (example, birthday of Oct. 1, 1988 would be password of 110188. April 1, 1988 would be 40188--only 5 digits.) RS Film Viewing Sheet
	W	23-Apr	Harris 343-359; 429-448 Synoptic Problem Competing Gospels Infancy Gospel of Thomas Infancy Gospel of James Gospel of the Nazorenes Bitter Withy--English folk ballad Messiah and Messianic contenders in Jesus's time Gnostic Gospels Gnostic gospels and gnosticism Gnosticism Gospel of Thomas Gospel of Judas St. Judas Modern gnostic groups: Heaven's gate link to their site Scientology
15	M	28-Apr	Gospel of Mark; competing gospel portraits Harris 360-374 Mark My handout on Mark 4 Gospels compared 33 this year: Leonardo DiCaprio, Joaqin Phoenix, Dale Earnhardt, Jr, Drew Barrymore Comtempoary issues First Jewish Revolt Jesus's Social Class: the debate Roman world in 1st century 1st century Trade Routes 1st century Palestine the world of Jesus Destruction of Temple (with art) Pompeii - a virtual tour Son of Man (bar en-awsh' ) Daniel: 7:13 Mark 2:10 Jesus 4:12 Parable on the Parables 4:14 word embedded symbolic narratives--fig, naked man symbolic numbers, esp 12 audience	RS
	W	30-Apr	FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE! Gospel of John (plus Harris text 408-426) Also check out: Colossians 1:11-20 Proverbs 8:22-31 Article: Philo of Alexandria's Logos and quick synopsis Links Messiah and Messianic contenders in Jesus's time My notes on John's Gospel 4 Gospels compared Commentary: "I am" sayings (Ego Eimi) Excavations at Qumran	FRIDAY IS LAST DAY FOR DOING ONLINE COURSE EVALUATIONS. Username is your 92#; password is Birthdate in mmddyy format (example, birthday of Oct. 1, 1988 would be password of 110188. April 1, 1988 would be 40188--only 5 digits.)
				LAST DAY FOR MENTAL HEALTH, ETC WITHDRAWAL
	R	May 8	Final exam 8:30-11 AM

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