92936 - Bible Literature (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

Upon a successful completion of this course, students will achieve basic notions and skills in interpreting Biblical texts as literature, and re-framing their production and fortune as a distinctively historical, philological and literary phenomenon, between authoring and copying, translating and interpreting, from the Ancient Near East down to the Graeco-Roman Mediterranean world and contemporary literature.

Course contents

"In exitu Israel de Aegypto": A Wandering Myth.

In the economy of the historical and ideological construction of 'Israel' that takes shape throughout the books of Genesis-2 Kings, the book of Exodus plays a key-role in inscribing the socio-cultural imagination of the Judaite elite returning from Babylonia (6th-5th century BCE) in the 'mythical history' of the primordial times of an ethnos: innovations such as exclusive monotheism, aniconism, the centrality of the Law, and Passover, pivotal to the formation of our idea of Judaism, are thus traced back to the very 'origins' of Israel as an ethnic, social, and political entity, even antedating its settlement in the so called promised land. The course aims firstly to critically analyze per excerpta the biblical narrative. Case studies of its reception will then be presented, ranging from the first alternative versions or 're-writings' to contemporary reprises and re-interpretations.

More specifically, the course will address the following issues:

1st part (10hs):

– the state of the art: problems, 'sources', models;

– Moses and Egypt, exodus and Promised Land between history and memory, biblical report and Jewish-Hellenistic narratives;

2nd part (10hs):

– historical, philological, and literary analysis of the book of Exodus;

3rd part (10hs):

– case studies in the reception history of the book of Exodus.

N.B. No previous knowledge of Hebrew phonetics/grammar required. Translations from the Hebrew text will be provided during the course by the teacher.

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is suggested that they get in touch as soon as possible with the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en ) and with the lecturer in order to seek together the most effective strategies for following the lessons and/or preparing for the examination.

Readings/Bibliography

a) Translations:

Esodo, in La Bibbia dei Settanta. I: Pentateuco, ed. by P. Sacchi, Morcelliana 2013 (esclusivamente per gli studenti di filologia classica);

Exodus, in Biblia Sacra Vulgata, ediderunt R. Weber-R. Gryson, Stuttgart 1969 (quinta ediz. 2007; esclusivamente per gli studenti di filologia classica);

Esodo, in Bibbia. Antico Testamento, vol. I, ed. by E. Bianchi, M. Cucca, F. Giuntoli, L. Monti, Einaudi 2021;

b) Approaching the book of Exodus:

J. Assmann, Esodo, Adelphi 2023;

C. Moro, I sandali di Mosè. Storia di una tradizione ebraica, Paideia 2011;

c) Studies

1. Integral Readings for Attending Students

R.G. Kratz, Israele storico e biblico. Storia, tradizione, archivi, GBP 2021;

M. Liverani, Oltre la Bibbia. Storia antica di Israele, Laterza 2003 (and subsequent editions);

K. Schmid - J. Schröter, La formazione della Bibbia. Dai primi testi alle Sacre Scritture, Morcelliana 2024, pp. 13-202;

W.M. Schniedewind, The Finger of the Scribe. How Scribes Learned to Write the Bible, Oxford University Press 2019;

F. Stavrakopoulou, Anatomia di Dio, Bollati Boringhieri 2022;

2. Integral Readings for Non-Attending Students

C. Martone, Il Giudaismo antico 538 a.e.v.-70 e.v., Carocci 2008 (and subsequent editions);

W.M. Schniedewind, Who Really Wrote the Bible: The Story of the Scribes, Princeton University Press 2024.

Teaching methods

Lectures; analysis of literary texts; use of bibliographic and electronic databases; audio- and video resources.

Assessment methods

Oral exam. Students will have to prove their abilities

• to read and understand Exodus 1-15 in Greek or Latin (required exclusively of students of Classical Philology) or, if they are not students of Classical Philology, to read and understand the whole biblical book in a modern translation (supra, Bibliography under the entry Translations). N.B. Students of Classical Philology are obviously requested to read the whole book of Exodus in a modern translation as well;
• to interpret and profile the book of Exodus as a historical and literary artifact, supplementing and integrating class notes with one reading of their choice from the two cited supra in Bibliography under the entry Approaching the book of Exodus;
• to sketch and discuss the material, historical, and cultural processes that lead to the formation of Israel's sacred writings as we know them, or alternatively the trajectories of their fortune and reception, in the light of one reading of their choice selected from the list offered supra in Bibliography under the entry Studies, point 1. (Integral Readings for Attending Students);

Additionally, students who cannot attend the lessons will substitute class notes with one volume of their choice from the two cited supra in Bibliography under the entry Studies, point 2. (Integral Readings for Non-Attending Students).

Skills will be assessed according to the following guidelines:
- failing grade (< 18): inability to translate short sections from the Greek/Latin text of the book of Exodus (exclusively required of LM15 students); inability to provide a correct interpretation of the texts discussed during the course or, as for non-attending students, to comment on the critical essays of their choice.
- passing grade (between 18 and 24): elementary ability to translate short sections from the Greek/Latin text of the book of Exodus (exclusively required of LM15 students); inaccuracy and lack of autonomy in providing a correct interpretation of the texts discussed during the course or, as for non-attending students, in commenting on critical essays of their choice.
- positive grade (between 24 and 30): good comprehension of the grammatical and syntactical structures of the Greek/Latin text of the book of Exodus (exclusively required of LM15 students); interpretation of the texts discussed during the course is correct, but mostly superficial and not entirely autonomous; as for non-attending students, the critical essays of their choice are cursorily commented upon.
- excellent grade (30L): in-depth knowledge of the grammatical and syntactical structures of the Greek/Latin text of the book of Exodus (exclusively required of LM15 students); precision and full autonomy in interpreting, contextualizing and critically comparing the texts discussed during the course; as for non-attending students, critical discussion of the essays of their choice is detailed and deep-ranging.

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is necessary to contact the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en ) with ample time in advance: the office will propose some adjustments, which must in any case be submitted 15 days in advance to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of these in relation to the teaching objectives.

Every academic year 6 exam sessions are scheduled for the following months: February, April, June, October, November, December - for all students.

Teaching tools

Computer and projector; bibliographic and electronic databases; fotocopies; texts and segments of texts in PDF format uploaded by the teacher as teaching materials (downloadable from https://iol.unibo.it). Students who require specific services and adaptations to teaching activities due to a disability or specific learning disorders (SLD), must first contact the appropriate office: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students.

Office hours

See the website of Daniele Tripaldi