Introduction to Hebrew Bible (220-0-20)
Instructors
Allison Lynelle Hurst
Meeting Info
Harris Hall L07: Tues, Thurs 9:30AM - 10:50AM
Overview of class
This introductory course is an immersive journey into the world of the Hebrew Bible (also known as the "Old Testament" in Christian tradition). Throughout this class, we will explore the historical, cultural, and literary contexts of the Hebrew Bible, examining the diverse genres and themes within the biblical text and discovering how they have influenced and shaped modern views about God, humans, and society. You will have the opportunity to delve deeply into the diverse literatures of the Hebrew Bible and to examine their relevance to contemporary issues and ideas. You will also learn about the various scholarly approaches to the academic study of the Hebrew Bible and how they have contributed to our understanding of this ancient and complex text.
Learning Objectives
1. The major texts and traditions of the Hebrew Bible;
2. The broad strokes of the history of ancient Israel in which the Hebrew Bible was written;
3. How to recognize and apply the methods scholars use to assess the various texts and traditions present in the Hebrew Bible;
4. How to assess the historicity of the Hebrew Bible and how this assessment applies to theological claims.
Teaching Method
Class Materials (Required)
The Jewish Study Bible, 2nd ed., eds. Adele Berlin and Marc Zvi Brettler (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014)
Class Notes
Allison Hurst (PhD Candidate, Harvard University) is a scholar of the Hebrew Bible. Her dissertation focuses on traditions about Israel's relationship with Egypt across the canon with particular emphasis on exodus motifs. She is interested in how ancient Israelite authors negotiated these traditions about Egypt across a range of historical periods and circumstances. Allison has worked as a research assistant on "Writing the Bible: Origins of the Old Testament," a collaboration between The Great Courses and Audible, written by Dr. Martien A. Halvorson-Taylor, and she has written for Ancient Jew Review's pedagogy series. She previously taught at Harvard Divinity School and Boston College, and she holds a BA from the University of Virginia and an MTS from Harvard Divinity School.
Alison Hurst can be contained at allison_hurst@g.harvard.edu.
Class Attributes
Ethical and Evaluative Thinking Foundational Disci
Ethics & Values Distro Area
Associated Classes
DIS - Kresge Centennial Hall 2-420: Fri 9:00AM - 9:50AM
DIS - Kresge Centennial Hall 2-420: Fri 10:00AM - 10:50AM
DIS - Kresge Centennial Hall 2-410: Fri 1:00PM - 1:50PM