REL 229 LITERATURE AS RELIGION:

THE SHORT STORY IN THE HEBREW BIBLE

Professor Seth L. Sanders seth.sanders@trincoll.edu
Office Hours: McCook 207 TR 12:15-1:15, R 3-4 (by appointment)

Meetings: TR 1:30-2:45
Textbooks:
Herbert Marks, ed. The Norton English Bible
Robert Alter, The Art of Biblical Narrative
Unless noted, readings are from Marks
All other readings are starred.
Assignments and Grades:
Class participation: 25%
4 short written responses: 20%
4 quizzes: 25%
6-8 page close reading paper: 30%
Make-Up Quizzes and Late Assignments: None will be accepted except in case of
documented medical emergency.
Prerequisites: Either having taken an introductory Bible class (Rel 211 or Gdst 121) or a
class in literary interpretation or theory.
Format for first three responses:
1. In a paragraph, a summary of what the reading was about, plus
2. One paragraph on what you found most interesting
3. One paragraph on what you did not understand or agree with, and would like
discussed more (what would you have asked the author themselves? What would
you need to know to understand it?)
4. One paragraph where you compare it with a different piece of data or a theory
weve encountered in the course. An A-level contribution will go beyond merely
compare and contrast to bring out gaps, surprises, or further avenues of inquiry.

Class Schedule:
1. Tue Jan 21 Literature as Religion

The Idea of Biblical Literature; Do we Need to Read the Bible?

2. Thu Jan 23 Creation

Genesis 1; Genesis 2-3

What are the main differences between the two creation accounts in terms of characters
names, events, and personalities?
Marks, The Book of Genesis in The Norton English Bible, p. 6-11
What are his main points about the role of Genesis in the rest of the Bible?
from Jubilees, on the Creation p. 1817-1818
Which version of creation (Gen 1 or Gen 2-3) is this based on?
What does Jubilees add?
Origen, Threefold Interpretation, p. 1859-1861
Why are there apparently offensive and impossible things in the Bible, according to
Origen (see the last paragraph especially)?
* Ronald Hendel, The Genesis of Genesis from The Book of Genesis: A Biography
(read pages 14-44; you dont have to read the preface)
What are the major sources of Genesis, according to Hendel?
QUIZ 1, and note that RESPONSE 1 is due Monday at 9pm
3. Tue Jan 28 Eden: Does Sex=Sin?

Reread Genesis 2-3

from Genesis Rabbah [In the Beginning] p. 1845
[The Double Nature of Man] p. 1847
*Harold Bloom, Ruin the Sacred Truths: "The Hebrew Bible" pp. 1-24
Gregory of Nyssa

[Male and Female] 1863

([From Glory to Glory]
/) 1866
The Zohar

[The Creation]1895
[Male and Female] /
1896
RESPONSE 1 due by email Monday (before class) 9pm; late assignments are not
accepted (you will receive 0%)
This response should cover the Genesis, Hendel, and Bloom readings plus at least two
others.
4. Thu Jan 30 The Expulsion from the Garden: What did we Lose, and Whose Fault

Was That?
Genesis 3
*Elaine Pagels, Adam, Eve, and the Serpent: "Gnostic Improvisations on Genesis"
Life of Adam and Eve/
2165

Philo of Alexandria /
2167
The Hypostasis of the Archons/
Quran
/
2174
Mystre dAdam
/
2176
JohnMilton
/
2181
Julius Wellhausen
/
2186
FranzKafka
/
2198

2172

5. Tue Feb 4 God's Promise to Abraham Gen 12-21, 26

*Robert Alter, from The Art of Biblical Narrative, "Sacred History and the Beginnings of
Prose Fiction"
QUIZ 2
6. Thu Feb 6 The Last Trial: Abraham's Attempt to Sacrifice his Son Isaac

Gen 22
from Kierkegaard, Fear and Trembling / 2210
Ephraim Jacob of Bonn on how Abraham actually sacrificed Isaac (moodle)
Eric Auerbach, "Odysseus' Scar" / 2060
RESPONSE 2 due by 9am the day of class, late assignments not accepted
This response should cover the poem of Ephraim Jacob of Bonn and either Kierkegaard
or Auerbachs interpretations of Gen 22: do answer each of the questions in the prompt,
but focus on precisely how each of the two interpretations youre talking about is rooted
in, or departs from, details in the text of Genesis 22.
7 Tue Feb 11 Jacob, The Bewildered Gymnast

Gen 25:19-34, Gen 32

John Calvin [On the Wrestling of Jacob] / 1917
Emily Dickinson, "A Little East of Jordan" / 2127
Laurence Sterne The History of Jacob, Considered / 2148
Thomas Mann
Jacob Must Journey/ p. 2162
and [The Art of Condensation]
/
2164
snow day
8 Tue Feb 18 The Joseph Novella: I The Dreamer

Gen 37-39
*from Joel Baden, The Composition of the Pentateuch: Introduction, Case Study 1: The
Sale of Joseph (moodle)
Alter, "Composite Artistry"
Thu Feb 20 Sick day

9 Tue Feb 25 The Joseph Novella: II The Interpreter of Dreams

Gen 40-45
QUIZ 3: 1) Be ready to contrast the readings of the Jacob story by John Calvin, Emily
Dickinson, Laurence Sterne, and Thomas Mann.
2) Know the main plot details of the story of Joseph through Gen 45.
3) In the sale of Joseph story, Genesis 37:18-36, which brothers argues to save Joseph?
How does he end up getting taken out of the pit? Who does it and which group takes him
to Egypt? Using these plot questions, separate the account into two different coherent
stories that have been interwoven.
Thu Feb 27 Trinity Days
10 Tue March 4 The Joseph Novella: III Prince of Egypt

Gen 46-50
*from Thomas Mann, Joseph and His Brothers
*from James Kugel, In Potiphar's House: The Interpretive Life of Biblical Texts
11 Thu March 6. God vs. Moses

Ex 1-4, Ex 15, Ex 17, Numbers 20, Deut 31, Deut 34, Psalm 95, Psalm 106
Emily Dickinson, It always felt to me a wrong / 2127
12. Tue March 11

Samson: The Child of Promise

Judges 13-16
* Alter, "Biblical Type-Scenes and the Uses of Convention"
*Steven Weitzman, "Samson as Border Tale"
RESPONSE 3 due by email the night before class 9pm sharp
13. Thu March 13 David's Rise I: David and Goliath

I Sam 8-17
Alter, "Between Narration and Dialogue"

March 15-23 SPRING VACATION!

14. Tue March 25 David's Rise II: Switching Sides

I Sam 18-24
Alter, "The Techniques of Repetition"
15. Thu March 27. David's Rise III: The Israelite Mafia

1 Sam 25-2 Sam 2

*Kyle McCarter, "David's Apology"
16., Tue April 1 David's Fall I: "You are the Man!"

2 Sam 3-12
*from Tikva Frymer-Kensky, Reading the Women of the Bible
Alter, "Characterization and the Art of Reticence"
QUIZ 4

17. . Thu April 3 David's Fall II: The Betrayal of Tamar

2 Sam 13-14
*Phyllis Trible, "The Royal Rape of Wisdom"
*from Tikva Frymer-Kensky, Reading the Women of the Bible
Alter, "Narration and Knowledge"
18 Tue April 8 David's Fall III: Absalom's Revolt

2 Sam 15-1 Kings 2

*from Meir Sternberg, "The Poetics of Biblical Narrative"
RESPONSE 4 due by email the night before class 9pm sharp
19 Thu April 10 "Wherever you go, I will go:" Ruth I

Ruth 1-2
*from Frymer-Kensky, Reading the Women of the Bible
20. Tue April 15 Hebrew Comedy: Ruth II

Ruth 3-4
*from Ilana Pardes, Countertraditions in the Hebrew Bible
Alter, "Conclusion"
Email detailing your paper topic due by email the night before class 9pm sharp
21 Thu April 17 Close Reading Workshop I
22 Tue April 22 Close Reading Workshop II
23. Thu April 24 Prophecy as Joke: Jonah I

Jonah 1-2
24 Tue April 29 Escape from the Belly of the Whale: Jonah II

Jonah 3-4
*Tzvi Abusch on the meaning of Jonahs conclusion

Papers due last day of Reading Period