REL110.001
Introduction to the Hebrew Bible

Professor
Dr. Steven L. Jacobs
sjacobs@bama.ua.edu

Office: 201 Manly Hall
Office Phone: 348-0473
Office Hour: to be announced
Course: MTWRF (Interim) 1:00-4:00
Location: 207 Manly Hall

About Online Readings

Some course readings are placed in a "secure" folder; you can only access these PDF files (Portable Document Format, that can be opened with the free Adobe Reader) by clicking each link and then entering your Bama User Name and Password. If you have difficulty accessing these readings, contact the instructor by email.

If you have forgotten your Bama ID, but know your Campus Wide ID (CWID), then go here.

Description

An introduction to the books of the Hebrew Bible in their historical settings, with emphasis on textual analysis and on literary forms and their function and use in the past and present.

Syllabus

2007 Syllabus Interim, Summer 1 & 2

Books (required)

Berlin, Adele, and Brettler, Marc Zvi.
The Jewish Study Bible
New York: Oxford University Press, 2004
ISBN 0-19-529754-7 (paper)

Berlinerblua, Jacques.
The Secular Bible: Why Nonbelievers Must Take the Bible Seriously
New York: Cambridge University Press, 2005
ISBN 0-521-61824-X (paper)

Coogan, Michael D.
The Old Testament: A Historical and Literary Introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures
New York: Oxford University Press.
ISBN 0-19-513911-9 (paper)

Note: The above 3 books may be available at the Supe Store bundled in one package:
Coogan/Jewish Study Bible packs (paper)
Oxford Univ Press
ISBN 9780195309263

Online Readings

Berlinerblau, Jacques
"Poor Bird, Not Knowing Which Way to Fly" (PDF)

Berlinerblau, Jacques
"What's Wrong With the Society of Biblical Literature"? (PDF)

Cohen, Shaye J.D.
"The Matrilineal Principle in Historical Perspective" (PDF)

Guest, P. Deryn
"Battling for the Bible: Academy, Church and the Gay Agenda" (PDF)

Hoover, Eric
"Gay and Christian" (PDF)

McClay, Wilfred M.
"Two Concepts of Secularism" (PDF)

Stark, Rodney
"Secularization, R.I.P." (PDF)

"History Today" (PDF)

Ben Yagoda
"The Seven Deadly Sins of Student Writers" (PDF)

"Why Publishers Love the Bible" (PDF)