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Samuel Syllabus - Rabbi Cohen
Samuel Syllabus - Rabbi Cohen
GOALS: To become familiar with methodologies of modern biblical scholarship and learn to
apply them independently. An enhanced understanding of Tanakh with greater appreciation for
its literary forms.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: The assigned readings in the bibliography below (pp. 4-5) were selected to
offer students a manageable introduction to the subject of biblical narrative and literary analysis
of Tanakh, which have received a great deal of attention in recent scholarship. Mastery of these
studies will enable the student to read further scholarship in these areas critically.
REQUIREMENTS:
Students are responsible to bring a complete Tanakh (without English) and relevant
secondary material to each class meeting.
Syllabus
1
BRG: BIBLICAL NARRATIVE DR. MORDECHAI COHEN
ASSIGNMENT #1: 1-2 pages, due Aug. 30, 2009 (submit on ANGEL)
In your opinion, what is the literary function of the story of Eli’s sons, his interaction with them,
and the prophecy to Eli? How might these compare with the stories about Hannah and Samuel?
ASSIGNMENT # 2: 3-4 pages, due Oct. 1, 2009 (grace period: Oct. 12, 2009)
Analyze the following three texts that depict the inception of the monarchy:
כז; יב- יז,כב; י-א, שמואל א ח.1
טז- א, שמואל א פרק ט; י.2
שמואל א פרק יא.3
Give a title to each of these three texts. Explain how they differ. E.g., what is the relationship
between Saul and Samuel in each depiction? How is Saul’s personality depicted? How is
Samuel depicted? What is the difference between the attitude toward the institution of monarchy
presented in each text?
2
BRG: BIBLICAL NARRATIVE DR. MORDECHAI COHEN
3
BRG: BIBLICAL NARRATIVE DR. MORDECHAI COHEN
Choosing texts for analysis: By Nov. 1 (first come, first serve, in person or by e-mail), choose
two possible texts for your presentation/paper (1st choice, 2nd choice). A chapter or other
literary unit, preferably from II Samuel (but other narratives will be considered) with a paragraph
indicating the direction of your analysis. On the basis of these choices I will set up a schedule of
presentations (hopefully to cover a good part of II Samuel) for the final three class meetings.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
2. -----. “On The Use of Traditional Jewish Exegesis in the Modern Literary Study of the
Bible.” In Tehillah le-Mosheh: Biblical and Judaic Studies in Honor of Moshe
Greenberg, ed. M. Cogan, B. Eichler, J. Tigay. Winona Lake, IN 1997. Pp. 173-183.
5. Cohen, Mordechai. “‘The Best of Poetry’: Literary Approaches to the Bible in the
Spanish Peshat Tradition.” The Torah U-Madda Journal 6 (1995/6): 15-57.
6. -----. “Hesed: Divine or Human? The Syntactic Ambiguity of Ruth 2:20,” Hazon
Nahum: Essays in Honor of Dr. Norman Lamm, ed. Y. Elman, J. Gurock. New York
1997. Pp. 11-38.
7. Hakham, Amos. ' תורת התעודות ושיטת הבחינות,'על חקר המקרא. Megadim 3 (5747/1987):
67-71.
8. Kugel, James. “On the Bible and Literary Criticism.” Prooftexts 1 (1981): 217-236.
9. Leibowitz, Nechama. ''כיצד לקרא פרק בתנ"ך. In: אסופת מאמרים מאת:ללמד וללמד תנ"ך
נחמה לייבוביץ. Jerusalem 1995. Pp. 1-13.
10. Rozik, Sarah. ''מדרכי המדרש ומדרכי הספרות בפרשנות המקרא. Beit Mikra 21 (1976):71-78.
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BRG: BIBLICAL NARRATIVE DR. MORDECHAI COHEN
11. Alter, Robert. The Art of Biblical Narrative. New York 1981.
15. -----. 1 and 2 Samuel: With Introduction and Commentary [in Hebrew], Miqra le-Yisrael
Series. Tel Aviv 1996.
16. Berlin, Adele. Poetics and The Interpretation of Biblical Narrative. Winona Lake, IN
1994.
18. Alter, Robert and Frank Kermode. The Literary Guide to the Bible. Cambridge, MA
1987.
19. Garsiel, Moshe. The First Book of Samuel: A Literary Study of Comparative Structures,
Analogies and Parallels. Jerusalem 1990.
20. Polak, Frank. הסיפור במקרא. Jerusalem 19992.
21. Sternberg, Meir. The Poetics of Biblical Narrative. Bloomington, IN 1985.
22. Weiss, Meir. The Bible From Within: The Method of Total Interpretation. Jerusalem
1984.