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PROGRAMS OF STUDY & COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Bible (BIB)

Major: Yeshiva College
Jewish studies majors may concentrate in Bible. See the description of the Jewish studies major.
 

1015 or 1015H Introduction to the Bible. 2–3 credits.
Authorship and canonization; text transmission; Masoretic text; translations of the Bible; Bible in its ancient Near Eastern context; Jewish Biblical interpretation through the ages.
Instruction in Bible is offered at Isaac Breuer College and Yeshiva College. At Yeshiva College BIB 1015 is a prerequisite for al other text courses from the Later Prophets and Hagiographa.

1071 Biblical Midrashim. 2 credits.
Introduction to the Aggadah; literary study of authorship, style, and contents of the major Tannaitic Midrashim; emphasis on their use in Biblical exegesis.

1072 or 1072H Rabbinic Biblical Legal Exegesis. 3 credits.
The methods of legal exegesis of the midreshei halakhah and the Babylonian Talmud, with emphasis on the way in which rabbinic tradition dealt with the problem of providing legally meaningful interpretations of each stylistic nuance of the legal portions of the Pentateuch.

1083 or 1083H Early Jewish Biblical Interpretations. 3 credits.
A survey of the development of Jewish Biblical interpretation from its earliest representation in the late books of the Bible through its various manifestations during the Second Temple and rabbinic periods. Touches upon the major works as well as the significant methods and types of interpretation originating in these periods.

1085; 1086 Topics in Biblical Exegesis I; II. 2 credits.
Selected Pentateuchal texts, examined in light of classical and modern Jewish commentaries, with emphasis on literary and theological analysis. May be repeated for credit with variation of content.
Prerequisite: BIB 1015A.

1096 Nahmanides on Pentateuch. 2 credits.
Analysis of the commentary of Moses Nahmanides (Ramban), his method and terminology, and similarities to—and differences from—other exegetes.
Prerequisite: BIB 1085A.

1159 Great Biblical Personalities. 3 credits.
In-depth study of major personalities from the Bible and the Prophets.

1187 Man and Society. 3 credits.
Laws governing the society of man (Exodus 20–23; Leviticus 19, 20, 24, 25; Deuteronomy 12–25).

1188 Man and the Divine. 3 credits.
The laws of purity, sacrifice, the Sabbath, and Festivals.

1201, 1202 The Book of Genesis. 3–6 credits.

1213 or 1213H Genesis and Literature. 3 credits.
Topics in Genesis, including creation of man, original sin, Cain and Abel, and the Akeda, studied together with their literary afterlife, including Milton, Unamuno, Augustine, Kierkegaard, and traditional Jewish exegesis and homiletics.

1305; 1306 The Book of Exodus. 2–4 credits.
Translation and exposition of the text in accordance with standard commentaries; selected passages from Rashi and other commentators. For lower intermediate students.

1407; 1408 Leviticus. 3 credits.
Translation and exposition of the text in accordance with standard commentaries; selected passages from Rashi and other commentators.

1507; 1508 The Book of Numbers. 3 credits.
Translation and exposition of the text in accordance with standard commentaries; selected passages from Rashi and other commentators.

1609; 1610 The Book of Deuteronomy. 3 credits.
Intensive study using classical and modern commentaries. For advanced students.

2107 Early Prophets. 3 credits.
Selections from Joshua, Judges, Samuel, or Kings, with emphasis on historical context and analysis of literary technique and theological concepts.

2109; 2110 Early Prophets. 3 credits.
Selections from the Early Prophets, with classical commentaries; emphasis on historiographic study and the use of archeological findings. First semester: conquest of Canaan and early Judges; second semester: later Judges and the establishment of the Monarchy. For advanced students.

2117; 2118 Joshua/Judges. 3 credits.

2157–2158 Samuel. 3 credits.

2358–2359 Kings. 3 credits.

2500 through 2879 The Later Prophets. 2–3 credits.
Texts studied with classical and modern commentaries; literary and theological analysis.
2505 Isaiah.
2555 Jeremiah.
2605 Ezekiel.
2656 Amos and Hosea.
2658 Seven Minor Prophets.
2805 Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.

3000 through 3999 Hagiographa.
Texts of the Ketuvim studied with classical and modern commentaries; literary and theological analysis; historical context.
3209 Psalms. 3 credits.
3257 Proverbs. 2-3 credits.
3307 Job. 2-3 credits.
3409; 3410 Five Megillot. 2–3 credits.
3659 Ecclesiastes. 2-3 credits.
3807 Daniel. 3 credits.
3857 Ezra-Nehemiah. 3 credits.

4002 Biblical Narrative. 3 credits.
Readings in Biblical narratives in light of classical medieval and modern commentaries and modern literary theories.

4021 Biblical Poetry. 2-3 credits.
Readings in Biblical poetry in light of classical medieval and modern commentaries and modern literary theories.

4136 Biblical Archeology. 2–3 credits.

4138 Bible and Ancient Near East. 2–3 credits.

4520 Targumim. 2-3 credits.
The Aramaic translations of the Pentateuch and their place in Biblical exegesis.

4901, 4902 Independent Study.
Meet with the Yeshiva College academic dean.

4950 Bachelor’s Thesis. Nine hours. 3 credits.
Independent work, under faculty guidance, in an area of Biblical study. An acceptable thesis will show diligent research in primary sources, scholarly organization, and clear exposition of material.
Prerequisite: Bible major or minor, and senior status.