Bible | Courses

Courses

Bible courses (BIBL) are offered at the beginning, elementary, intermediate and advanced levels. Please see the Schedule of Classes for the current semester’s offerings.

1015; 1016 Introduction to the Bible 3 credits
Authorship and canonization; Masoretic text; translations of the Bible; survey of medieval exegesis; modern Biblical studies; bibliographical and methodological guidance. For advanced students.

1081; 1082 Introduction to Exegesis 3 credits
Principles of biblical interpretation; survey of classical exegetes.

1083; 1084; 1085; 1086 Topics in Biblical Exegesis 3 credits
Selected biblical texts, primarily from the Pentateuch, examined in light of classical and modern Jewish commentaries.

1087; 1088; 1089; 1090 Biblical Exegetes I; II; III; IV 3 credits
Survey of the major exegetes, classical and modern, analyzing historical background, style, and methodology. First semester: Northern French school; second semester: Spanish school; third semester: Provence and Italy; fourth semester: modern commentators.

1096; 1097, 1098 Nahmanides on Pentateuch 3 credits
Analysis of the commentary of Moses Nahmanides (Ramban), his method and terminology, and similarities to—and differences from—other exegetes.

1115-1120 Pentateuch: Weekly Portion 3 credits
The weekly portion of the Pentateuch studied with standard commentaries. 

1159; 1160 Women in the Bible 3 credits

1171, 1172 Personal Development in the Bible I, II 3 credits

1201; 1202 The Book of Genesis 3 credits
Basic introduction to the Pentateuch. Translation and exposition of the text in accordance with standard commentaries, with introduction to Rashi. For elementary students.

1203; 1204 The Book of Genesis 3 credits
Same content as 1201; 1202 with selections from Rashi. For lower intermediate students.

1205; 1206 The Book of Genesis 3 credits
Same content as 1201; 1202 with selected passages from Rashi and other commentators. For intermediate students.

1207; 1208 The Book of Genesis 3 credits
Same as 1205; 1206; for upper intermediate students.

1209; 1210 The Book of Genesis 3 credits
Intensive study using classical and modern commentaries. For advanced students.

1211; 1212; 1213; 1214 Topics in Genesis 3 credits

1303; 1304 The Book of Exodus 3 credits
Translation and exposition of the text in accordance with standard commentaries; selected passages from Rashi and other commentators. For lower intermediate students.

1305; 1306 The Book of Exodus 3 credits
Same as 1303; 1304; for intermediate students.

1307; 1308 The Book of Exodus 3 credits
Same as 1303; 1304; for upper intermediate students.

1309; 1310 The Book of Exodus 3 credits
Intensive study using classical and modern commentaries. For advanced students.

1311; 1312; 1313; 1314 Topics in Exodus 3 credits

1405; 1406 The Book of Leviticus 3 credits
For intermediate students.

1407; 1408 The Book of Leviticus 3 credits
Same as 1405; 1406; for upper intermediate students.

1409; 1410 The Book of Leviticus 3 credits
Intensive study using classical and modern commentaries. For advanced students.

1411; 1412 Topics in Leviticus 3 credits

1503, 1504 Book of Numbers 3 credits
Translation and exposition of the text in accordance with standard commentaries; selected passages from Rashi and other commentators. For lower intermediate students.

1505; 1506 The Book of Numbers 3 credits
Translation and exposition of the text in accordance with standard commentaries; selected passages from Rashi and other commentators. For intermediate students.

1507; 1508 The Book of Numbers 3 credits
Same as 1505; 1506; for upper intermediate students.

1509; 1510 The Book of Numbers 3 credits
Intensive study using classical and modern commentaries. For advanced students.

1511; 1512 Topics in Numbers 3 credits

1605; 1606 The Book of Deuteronomy 3 credits
Translation and exposition of the text in accordance with standard commentaries; selected passages from Rashi and other commentators. For intermediate students.

1607; 1608 The Book of Deuteronomy 3 credits
Translation and exposition of the text in accordance with standard commentaries; selected passages from Rashi and other commentators. For upper intermediate students.

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

1611; 1612 Topics in Deuteronomy 3 credits

2049; 2050 The Haftarot 3 credits
Those portions of the Prophets used as synagogue lessons. For advanced students.

2107; 2108 Early Prophets 3 credits
The Books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings. Textual study with classical and modern commentaries.

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

2114 through 2365 Early Prophets 3 credits
Specific portions of the text, with classical and modern commentaries.

2115, 2116 Joshua 3 credits
For intermediate students.

2117; 2118 Joshua 3 credits
For upper intermediate students.

2119; 2120 Joshua 3 credits
For advanced students.

2121 Judges 3 credits
For intermediate students.

2122; 2123 Judges 3 credits
For upper intermediate students.

2125; 2126 Judges 3 credits
For advanced students.

2148; 2149 Samuel 3 credits
For intermediate students.

2152; 2153 Samuel I 3 credits
For upper intermediate students.

2154; 2155 Samuel II 3 credits
For upper intermediate students.

2156; 2157 Samuel I 3 credits
For advanced students.

2158; 2159 Samuel II 3 credits
For advanced students

2160 Topics in Samuel 3 credits

2355; 2356 Kings 3 credits
For intermediate students.

2357; 2358 Kings I 3 credits
For upper intermediate students.

2359; 2360 Kings I 3 credits
For advanced students.

2363 Topics in Kings 3 credits

2500 through 2879 The Later Prophets 3 credits
Texts studied with classical and modern commentaries; literary analysis; emphasis on historical background and religious and social problems considered by the Prophets.

2501; 2502 Later Prophets—Survey 3 credits

2503; 2504 Isaiah 3 credits

2505; 2506 Topics in Isaiah 3 credits

2555; 2556 Jeremiah 3 credits

2605; 2606 Ezekiel 3 credits

2653 Minor Prophets 3 credits

2658 Seven Minor Prophets 3 credits

2805; 2806 Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi 3 credits

3205; 3206 Psalms 3 credits
For lower intermediate students.

3207; 3208 Psalms 3 credits
For upper intermediate students.

3209; 3210 Psalms 3 credits
For advanced students.

3257; 3258 Proverbs 3 credits

3307; 3308 Job 3 credits

3403, 3404 Five Megillot 3 credits
For intermediate students.

3407; 3408 Five Megillot 3 credits
For upper intermediate students.

3409; 3410 Five Megillot 3 credits
For advanced students.

3415; 3416 Song of Songs 3 credits

3450 Ruth 3 credits

3510 Lamentations 3 credits

3659; 3660 Ecclesiastes 3 credits

3707; 3710 Esther 3 credits
Intermediate-Advanced levels.

3711; 3712 Selected Megillot 3 credits

3807 Daniel 3 credits

3857 Ezra-Nehemiah 3 credits

3909 Chronicles 3 credits

4002; 4003 Biblical Narrative 3 credits
Narrative forms in prose and historical books; readings in biblical narratives, especially of the Pentateuch, with accompanying medieval and modern commentaries.

4901, 4902 Independent Study
See Academic Information and Policies section.

4930-4939 Selected Topics in Bible