HEBR 201/521 Biblical Hebrew Poetry
Syllabus
Prof. Scott Noegel
URL: http://faculty.washington.edu/snoegel/
Course Description
Explores select poetic sections of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) in conjunction with commentaries. Emphasis on close readings, grammatical insights, dialectical issues, literary devices, and interpretive strategies. Prerequisite: BIBHEB 103/513 or approval of instructor.
Undergraduates: Requirements for Class and Grading
1. 80% Two exams (grammatical, literary, and interpretive in nature). The final exam (non-cumulative) will take place on the last day of class (December 9).
2. 15% Preparation.
3. 5% Improvement.
Graduate Students: Requirements for Class and Grading
1. 80% A research paper (specifics below).
2. 15% Preparation.
3. 5% Improvement.
Required Texts
1. K. Elliger and W. Rudolph, eds., Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (Stuttgart: Deutsche Biblegesellschaft, 1984). (Please bring it to class everyday since we will read
from it in class.)
2. Francis Brown, et al., eds., The New Brown, Driver, Briggs, Gesenius Hebrew and
English Lexicon (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1979).
3. Several readings in pdf format (I shall provide these via email or as links in the syllabus).
4. For each biblical book that we cover, you will need to sign out a philological (not theological) commentary of your choosing from the library. Have it handy for consultation.
Research Paper
Each graduate student will be expected to complete a research essay (approx. 20 pages, double spaced, 12 pt. font, not including bibliography). At the head of your article you must include an Abstract of no longer than 150 words (also not counted among the pages), and a separate line the offers 7 key words that one might conceivably use to search for your article electronically. The bibliography should be substantial and directly relevant to your paper, and wherever possible, it should incorporate foreign language resources that reflect your chosen research language(s).
The themes of the seminar should provide broad focal points for your research. We shall agree on the topic by no later than the start of the third week of classes. The topics should be typed and should clearly state the problem you are investigating (and not just a title or vague description of your research). A first draft of this essay will be due on the last day of the course. You should think of this draft as a completed essay, and one that contains no gaps, or lack of citation, etc. I will provide you with some additional time to rework the draft after I have read it. Together we will schedule a date for submitting the final version (only as a pdf via email). No late papers will be accepted. For a detailed explanation of what I expect in a research paper see my “Writing Tips” online at:
http://faculty.washington.edu/snoegel/writing-tips-ANE.pdf
I will expect that you have read this Writing Tips document closely and have applied its tips systematically to your research papers before handing them in. Be sure also to make use of the resource bibliography at:
http://faculty.washington.edu/snoegel/hebrew.html
Course Schedule
Module One: Introduction to the Course, Psalms 90:1-17 and 91:1-16
Introduction to the course including a look at the critical apparatus of the Biblia Hebraica and the Proto-Semitic phonemic chart. Chapters 90 and 91 are unique among the Psalms. The former is attributed to Moses and so some regard it as one of the oldest psalms in the Hebrew Bible, while the latter plays a role in Jewish and Christian circles as a magic text in Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages. We shall mine both poems for their linguistic and literary insights.
Read:
Watson, “Analysis Hebrew Poetry: Notes on Method,” pp. 11-65, “Parallelism,” pp. 114-159, “Verse Patterns,” pp. 201-221.
Module Two: Deuteronomy 33:1-29
Deuteronomy 33 claims to report the last words of Moses to Israel before he died. Thus many see it as one of the oldest poems in the Bible. We will study it in line with what we know of archaic linguistic features and dialectical issues. This week shall include a deeper introduction to the Proto-Semitic phonemic inventory.
Read:
Angel Sáenz-Badillos, “Pre-Exilic Hebrew” in A History of the Hebrew Language, pp. 50-62.
Module Three: Proverbs (Prov 3:1-25, 26:1-28)
The book of Proverbs will introduce us to this unique genre of poetry. Proverbs must be pondered deeply because they contain many subtle turns of phrase. They are riddled with all sorts of polysemy and paronomasia and with allusions.
Module Four: Exam One and Poems as Prophecy (Isa 28:1-29)
The poems of Isaiah offer a first foray into poetry as prophecy in ancient Israel. Isaiah is a rather sophisticated figure. He was a priest, prophet, aristocrat, and courtier, whose prophecies show him to be a highly literary and multilingual poet of incredible talent.
Read:
Gary A. Rendsburg, “Ancient Hebrew Phonology.”
Module Five: Poems as Prophecy continued (Jer 50:1-46)
Our look into Jeremiah’s poetry will focus on one of his first prophecy against Babylon.
Module Six: Poems as Prophecy continued (Ezek 26:1-21)
This week we will focus on Ezekiel’s oracle against the Phoenician city of Tyre. It contains a number of fascinating literary features including what appears to be a dialectical use of “Phoenicianisms.”
Module Seven: Lamentations (Lam 4:1-22)
This week we will embark on a critical reading of
The poem is filled with clever poetic devices of sound and meaning that we will examine in detail.
Module Eight: Thanksgiving break and Late Hebrew Poetry (Qoh 2:1-26 and 4:1-17)
Qoheleth is a very late book, likely dating to ca. 300 BCE. Therefore it offers an opportunity to examine some of its late linguistic features in the light of earlier poems we have read.
Module Nine: Job (Job 6:1-30, 34:1-37, 39:1-30) and the final exam
It is impossible to undertake a study of Hebrew poetry without looking at the book of Job. Arguably, it is the most difficult text in the Bible. It contains numerous peculiar grammatical, syntactical, dialectical features, and numerous rare words. It is an extremely referential book as well, with each of its figures in constant dialogue with the others, often quoting or paraphrasing each other’s words. It is also exquisite poetry. We shall open a small window into the debate by looking at the speeches of Job, Elihu, and Yahweh. If we finish the texts and there is time on Tuesday, we can review for the exam, which shall take place on the last day of class (TH, December 9).
Other Administrative Matters
Note: UW Grading Policy
https://www.washington.edu/students/gencat/front/Grading_Sys.html
Note: Student Academic Responsibility (cheating, plagiarsism, etc.)
https://depts.washington.edu/grading/pdf/AcademicResponsibility.pdf
Note: “Washington state law requires that UW develop a policy for accommodation of student absences or significant hardship due to reasons of faith or conscience, or for organized religious activities. The UW’s policy, including more information about how to request an accommodation, is available at Religious Accommodations Policy (https://registrar.washington.edu/staffandfaculty/religious-accommodations-policy/). Accommodations must be requested within the first two weeks of this course using the Religious Accommodations Request form (https://registrar.washington.edu/students/religious-accommodations-request/).”