Course description

This course examines the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) as an expression of the religious life and thought of ancient Israel, and a foundational document of Western civilization. A wide range of methodologies, including source criticism and the historical-critical school, tradition criticism, redaction criticism, and literary and canonical approaches, are applied to the study and interpretation of the Bible. Special emphasis is placed on the Bible against the backdrop of its historical and cultural setting in the Ancient Near East.

Christine Hayes is a renowned scholar in the field of religious studies, particularly known for her expertise in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) and Jewish literature. She is the Robert F. and Patricia Ross Weis Professor of Religious Studies in Classical Judaica at Yale University. Hayes has contributed significantly to the understanding of ancient Israelite religion, biblical law, and the historical and cultural context of the Hebrew Bible.

What will i learn?

• Understand the historical and cultural contexts of the Hebrew Bible.
• Analyze its literary genres and theological themes
• Apply critical scholarship methods to interpret the composition and development of biblical texts.