REL 302 Second Temple Judaism

Syracuse University
Spring, 2002
REL/JSP 302
The Temple &
the Dead Sea Scrolls

Time: TT 1:00-2:20 p.m.
Place: Hall of Languages 102
Instructor: JIM WATTS (PhD)
Office: Hall of Languages 505
Office Hours: M 2-3:30, W 10:00-11:30 & by appointment
E-mail: jwwatts@syr.edu
Phone: 443-5713

Course Description: This investigation of the history and literature of Second Temple Judaism will begin with the history of political and religious developments, then read various types of literature from the period (such as apocalyptic and some of the scrolls from the Dead Sea), and conclude by considering the developing role of scripture in religious thought and literature, to set the stage for interpreting the emergence of rabbinic Judaism and early Christianity.

Course Requirements:
The course consists of class discussions, lectures, student projects, and, most of all, readings. This course is a reading course, and students' completion of all reading assignments is essential for their success. Assignments, discussions, lectures and tests all presuppose that students have read carefully and on schedule the assigned readings.

Attendance at lectures and participation in discussions is expected of all students and will influence evaluation of their work (10%), which will also be based on their performance on a midterm exam (20%), two 6-10 page papers (25% each), and a final exam (20%).

Required Textbooks (available at the campus bookstore in Schine Student Center):
         Schiffman, Lawrence. Texts and Traditions (KTAV, 1998)
         Kugel, James. The Bible As It Was (Belknap/Harvard, 1997)
         Vanderkam, James C. An Introduction to Early Judaism (Eerdmans, 2001).
Recommended: New Oxford Annotated Bible = NOAB (New Revised Standard Version)

Topics & Assignments: Readings from textbooks appear by author and page numbers, readings from biblical books appear as book title (italics) and chapters, World Wide Web assignments are marked WWW. Further resources for biblical studies and religion may be found by at http://web.syr.edu/~jwwatts/UsefulLinks.htm:

Date	Topic	Assignment (due by class on date listed)
T Jan 15	Introductions
Th Jan 17	Torah	Schiffman, 7-39
T Jan 22	Prophets & Writings	Schiffman, 39-64
*History of Second Temple Judaism*
Th Jan 24	Persian Period	VanderKam 1-11, 147-150, Schiffman 65-92
T Jan 29	The Temple	VanderKam 193-213, Schiffman 92-103
Th Jan 31	Hellenism & Judaism	VanderKam 11-32, 175-185, Schiffman 121-70
T Feb 5	Maccabees & Hasmoneans	Schiffman 151-169, 235-266
Th Feb 7	Diaspora	Schiffman 175-203
T Feb 12	Sectarianism	Schiffman 231-34, 266-300, VanderKam 186-193, 150-166;
Th Feb 14	Roman Period	VanderKam 32-52, 166-173, Schiffman 372-407; Historical Paper due
T Feb 19	Christian Origins	Schiffman 407-427; Mark 14-16; Galatians (all);
Th Feb 21	Revolt & Aftermath	Schiffman 429-479, 487-495
T Feb 26	Midterm Exam	Study!
*Literature of Second Temple Judaism*
Th Feb 28	Prophecy & Polemics	VanderKam 53-58, 135-137, Schiffman 109-116, 329-330
T Mar 5	Apocalyptic	VanderKam 102-115, Daniel 7, 12; Schiffman 340-341, 359-61, 365-66.
Th Mar 7	Stories & History	VanderKam 59-88, 138-146, Schiffman 203-211, 220-230, 308-326, 479-486
Mar 9-17	Spring Break	No class
T Mar 19	Wisdom & Poetry	VanderKam 115-135, Schiffman 326-329, 330-336, 356-358, 366-67
Th Mar 21	Scripture	Schiffman 117-120, 211-220, 306-307, VanderKam 213-217
T Mar 26	Interpretation	VanderKam 88-102, Schiffman 103-109, 336-340, 341-356, 361-62
Th Mar 28	Passover	No Class
*Interpreting Torah in Second Temple Judaism*
T Apr 2	Creation	Genesis 1-3; Kugel 51-82
Th Apr 4	The Dead Sea Scrolls	WWW Scrolls from the Dead Sea
T Apr 9	Abraham & Jacob	Genesis 12, 22, 26-28, 32; Kugel 133-148, 163-178, 197-229
Th Apr 11	Exodus & Passover	Exodus 1-3, 8-13; Kugel 309-329
T Apr 16	Sinai	Exodus 19-24; Kugel 371-414; Literary Paper due
Th Apr 18	Leviticus	Leviticus 9-11, 16, 19; Kugel 441-460, Schiffman 103-106, 363-365
T Apr 23	Deuteronomy's Laws	Deuteronomy 6, 34; Kugel 503-519
Th Apr 25	Moses' Preaching	Deuteronomy 30-32; Kugel 519-548; Schiffman 359-61
T Apr 30	Conclusions & Review	Kugel 549-560
T May 7 8-10 a.m.	FINAL EXAM	*Study!*