See the table below for the schedule of topics, what texts to prepare for class, and assignment due dates.
**Updated Nov. 21, 2018**
BIB525 Course Schedule – Fall 2018
Dr. T. R. Marvin
| Wk | Date | Topic | Text | Assignment |
|
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| 1 | Aug. 27 (M) | Introduction: How We Got Miqraot Gedolot | Write an outline of Sefer Bamidbar | |
| Aug. 29 (W) | Bamidbar Beqiyut | Bring a Tanakh
Map (Handout) |
Revise outline;
Read through source sheets |
|
| 2 | Labor Day – no class – Sept. 3 (M) | |||
| Sept. 5 (W) | What is Parshanut ha-Miqra? | Targum Onqelos
Tanḥuma Menaḥem b. Saruq, Maḥberet (Source sheets) |
Prepare methodologies source sheet; | |
| 3 | Rosh ha-Shanah – no class | |||
| Sept. 12 (W) | Who were the Mefarshim? | Methodological Introductions
(Source Sheet) |
Prepare texts;
Read Harris article |
|
| 4 | Sept. 17 (M) | Text Reading Workshop | Bamidbar: The Designation of the Levites
Texts: Rashi on Num. 1: 1, 53; 3: 12 Reading: R. Harris, “Jewish Biblical Exegesis from Its Beginning to the Twelfth Century” |
Prepare texts;
Read Viezel article |
| Yom Kippur – no class – Sept. 19 (W) | ||||
| 5 | Sukkot – no class – Sept. 24 (M) | |||
| II. Medieval Ashkenaz—From Derash to Peshat | ||||
| Sept. 26 (W) | Rashi | Naso: The Sotah Ritual
Texts: Rashi on Num. 5: 12, 21 Reading: E. Viezel, “The Secret of the Popularity of Rashi’s Commentary on Torah” |
Prepare texts | |
| 6 | Shemini Atzeret – no class – Oct. 1 (M) | |||
| Oct. 3 (W) | Rashi | Behaʿalotekha: Miriam’s Affliction
Texts: Rashi on Num. 12:1 |
Prepare texts | |
| 7 | Oct. 8 (M) | Rashi | Behaʿalotekha: Miriam’s Affliction
Texts: Rashi on Num. 12: 4, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14 |
Prepare texts |
| Oct. 12 (W) | Rashbam | Behaʿalotekha: Miriam’s Affliction
Texts: Rashbam on Num. 12: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 12 (note that this constitutes the entire set of Rashbam’s comments on ch 12) Reading: E. Viezel, “The Anxiety of Influence” |
Prepare texts; | |
| 8 | Oct. 15 (M) | Rashbam | Shelaḥ: The Meraglim
Texts: Rashbam on Num. 13: 2, 16, 18, 19, [22, 30, 33] (all of Rashbam on ch. 13) |
Prepare texts |
| Oct. 17 (W) | Rashbam | Shelaḥ: The Wilderness Generation
Texts *updated*: Rashbam on Num. 13: 22, 30, 33 (con’t. from Mon.) & 14: 9, 14, 16, 20, 21, 33, 36 |
Prepare texts;
Read Simon article |
|
| III. Medieval Sefarad—From Philology to Pardes | ||||
| 9 | Oct. 22 (M) | Ibn Ezra | Shelaḥ: The Meraglim & Wilderness Generation
Texts: Ibn Ezra on Num. 13: 2, 16, 17, 19, 23, 30; 14: 5, 6, 9, 33 Reading: U. Simon, “Abraham Ibn Ezra” |
Prepare texts;
Parashah response |
| Oct. 24 (W) | Ibn Ezra | Texts: (con’t.)
**Please bring a Tanakh and a copy of the MG text, we’re going screen-free** |
Prepare texts;
Read Simon article |
|
| 10 | Oct. 29 (M) | Ibn Ezra | Qoraḥ: The Rebellion Against Moshe
Texts: Rashi, Rashbam, Ibn Ezra on Num. 16: 1, 3, 6, 7 (where they occur) Reading: N. Sarna, “Abraham Ibn Ezra as Exegete” |
Prepare texts;
Parashah response |
| Oct. 31 (W) | Ibn Ezra | Rashi, Rashbam, Ibn Ezra con’t, & Num. 16: 28, 30, 35 (where they occur) | Prepare texts;
Work on prospectus |
|
| 11 | Nov. 5 (M) | Ramban | Ḥuqqat: Water From the Rock (II)
Texts: Rashi, Rashbam, Ibn Ezra on Num. 20: 8 **Prospectus assignment due** |
Prepare texts;
Read Septimus article |
| Nov. 7 (W) | Ramban | Huqqat
Texts: Ibn Ezra on Num. 20: 8 (con’t.) Introduction to Ramban Reading: B. Septimus, “Open Rebuke and Concealed Love” |
Prepare texts;
Read Wolfson article |
|
| 12 | Nov. 12 (M) | Ramban | Huqqat
Texts: Ramban on Num. 20: [Torat Hayyim 7]-8 Reading: E. Wolfson, “By Way of Truth” (Read Part II: pp. 129-153) |
Prepare Texts |
| IV. Miqraot Gedolot—Bringing the Mefarshim Together | ||||
| Nov. 14 (W) | All | Huqqat
Texts: Ramban on Num. 20: [Torat Hayyim 7]-8 (con’t.) |
Read through source sheet; Parashah response | |
| 13 | Nov. 19 (M) | All | Balaq: Bilaʿm & the Donkey
Inter-Biblical & Rabbinic Sources (The Bila’am Narrative Source Sheet) Texts: Num. 22: 5, 8-11 (as they occur) Reading: M. Dijkstra, “Is Balaam Also among the Prophets?” |
Prepare texts |
| Nov. 21 (W) | All | Balaq: Bilaʿm & the Donkey
Texts: Num. 22: 5, 8-11 (all commentators, as they occur) |
Prepare texts | |
| 14 | Nov. 26 (M) | All | Balaq: Bilaʿm & the Donkey
Texts: Num. 22: 20, 23, 25, 28 |
Prepare texts |
| Nov. 28 (W) | All | Balaq: Bilaʿm & the Donkey
Texts: Num. 23: 1, 9-10, 21; 24: 1, 5 |
Prepare texts;
Parashah response |
|
| 15 | Dec. 3 (M) | All | Pinḥas: The Peʾor Incident
Texts: Num. 25:1-3, 31: 16, 17 |
Prepare texts,
Parashah response |
| Dec. 5 (W) | All | Masa’ei: Preparing to Enter the Land Texts: Num. 33:50-56 | Read over source sheet; Parashah response | |
|
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| 16 | Dec. 10 (M) | Selected commentators on Bamidbar | Early Modern & Modern Commentators (source sheet)
Supercommentaries (source sheet) |
Work on final project |
| Dec. 12 (W) | **Student Oral Final Presentations** | Work on final project | ||
| Finals Week – Dec. 17-21 – **Final project due Dec. 19 (W)** | ||||