Scribes, Apostles and Sages: Early Jewish Biblical Exegesis
| Module title | Scribes, Apostles and Sages: Early Jewish Biblical Exegesis |
|---|---|
| Module code | THE3118 |
| Academic year | 2020/1 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Professor Siam Bhayro (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 20 |
|---|
Module description
This option module will introduce you to various collections of Jewish scriptures and writings from the Bible to the Talmud. Taking a combined chronological and thematic approach to the different sources to discuss examples of Jewish biblical interpretations, you will identify elements of change and continuity between each stage. You will examine themes such as scribal activity, fallen angels and apostasy (rejection of personal religious beliefs). Sources include books of the Old and New Testaments, the Talmud, Dead Sea Scrolls and Midrash.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This option module will:
- introduce the various Jewish corpora from the Bible to the Talmud
- discuss examples of Jewish biblical exegesis
- consider linked themes, such as scribal activity, fallen angels and apostasy providing a combination of a chronological and thematic treatment of the various corpora.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Describe and understand the context of each successive stage of exegesis including the exegetical methods used at each stage
- 2. Identify elements of change and continuity between each stage
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. Demonstrate, with limited guidance, detailed comprehension of and engagement with the richness of successive Jewish corpora in its varied forms
- 4. Discuss and demonstrate detailed comprehension, with limited guidance, of the sources of classical Judaism
- 5. Demonstrate detailed understanding of the multi-faceted complexity of successive stages of Jewish exegesis, and in particular the relationship between the various corpora and the biblical text and the corpora themselves
- 6. Evaluate and analyse, with limited guidance, a diversity of primary and secondary sources
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. Shape detailed information into a coherent and rigorous account, with some guidance
- 8. Make thorough use of selected written sources, with some guidance
- 9. Communicate clearly in writing
Syllabus plan
Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:
- Early Jewish Corpora from Bible to Talmud
- Ancient near eastern and Biblical scribes (e.g. Jeremiah and Baruch)
- Inner-Biblical Exegesis
- Pseudepigrapha (e.g. 1 Enoch and Jubilees)
- Dead Sea Scrolls – Pesharim (e.g. Pesher Habakkuk)
- Dead Sea Scrolls – Rewritten Bible (e.g. Genesis Apocryphon)
- Apocrypha (e.g. Baruch and Tobit)
- New Testament (e.g. Matthew, James, 2 Peter & Jude)
- Targum and The Rise of the Sages
- Midrash (e.g. Genesis Rabbah and Pesiqta of R. Kahana) and the Rabbinic Corpora
- Mishnah and Talmud
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | 267 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 33 | Lectures |
| Guided Independent Study | 267 | Private study |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preparatory reading for each class | One chapter per class | 1-8 | Group discussion |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 90 | 6000 words | 1-9 | Written and in tutorial |
| Module participation | 10 | Continuous assessment of contributions to class discussion | 1-9 | Written and oral |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Essay | 1-9 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Module participation | Discussion with tutor | 1-9 | Referral/Deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- M. Fishbane, Biblical Interpretation in Ancient Israel (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1985)
- Jacobs, The Midrashic Process: Tradition and Interpretation in Rabbinic Judaism (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995)
- A. Samely, Rabbinic Interpretation of Scripture in the Mishnah (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002)
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
- ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=3227
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 6 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 28/1/2015 |
| Last revision date | 18/08/2020 |