Transcript Lecture 2 (1/7)

Lecture 2: The Bible?
RELIG 210: INTRODUCTION TO JUDAISM
PROF. NOAM PIANKO
Prince of Egypt
 Best Hanukkah Moments
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EJ SAMPLE QUIZ
What is the Torah? What does “Torah” mean?
 List two themes present in Genesis or Exodus
 Describe one event chronicled in the Prophets
or Writings
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Introduction to Judaism
Lecture 1
SOME TERMINOLOGY
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Hebrews
Israelites-Children of Jacob/Israel
Jews-Book of Esther
Judaism
Hebrew Bible/TaNaCh
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THE TANAKH
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Torah (5 Books of Moses)
 Establishment
of covenant
 Promise (land, seed) and Warnings
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Nevi’im (Prophets)
 Covenant
Broken
 Exile, Loss of Land
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Ketuvim (writings)
 Covenant
restored
IF YOU WANTED TO FOUND A RELIGION…
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What would go into foundational text?
WHAT IS TORAH?
Not a Law code
 Not only “religion”
 Not a history book
 Instruction, teaching
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WHAT IS TORAH, CONTINUED
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What forms does it take?
 Laws
 Narrative
 Genealogies
 Poems
 Songs
 prayers
Introduction to Judaism
Lecture 1
GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES
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Introduction to Judaism
Lecture 1
ACCORDING TO HEBREW BIBLE…
19TH-11TH CENTURY BCE
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Abraham’s Migration to Canaan
Jacob and his sons flee to Egypt
Enslavement of Israelites in Egypt
Moses-“Let My People Go”
Exodus from Egypt (c 13th century BCE)
Wandering in the Sinai Desert
Israelite Conquest of Canaan
Federation of tribes and rule by Judges (13-11th
century BCE)
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Introduction to Judaism
Lecture 1
ABRAHAM’S JOURNEY
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Introduction to Judaism
Lecture 1
THE ROUTE OF THE EXODUS
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Introduction to Judaism
Lecture 1
THE TWELVE TRIBES
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Introduction to Judaism
Lecture 1
THE UNITED MONARCHY (C. 922)
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Introduction to Judaism
Lecture 1
DIVIDED KINGDOM (922-721)
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Introduction to Judaism
Lecture 1
FALL OF ISRAEL (721BCE)
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Introduction to Judaism
Lecture 1
FALL OF JUDAH (587)
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WHAT DID YOU NOTICE ABOUT THE TEXT?
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HEBREW BIBLE
Ambiguous
 Terse
 No clear message
 World-plays- Bible as literature
 Problem of translation
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GENESIS-ALL IN THE FAMILY
AN ANCIENT SOAP OPERA
Lekh lekha/Go Forth
 Barren/Birth of Isaac/Hagar
 Binding of Isaac
 Isaac and Rebecca
 Twins: Jacob and Esau/Birthright Blessing
 God Wrestling-Yisrael
 The Switch: Jacob, Leah, and Rachel
 Famine, Egypt, Joseph as Advisor to Pharoah
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WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM GENESIS STORY?
Brainstorm three lessons…
 Note: There is no correct answer!
 Focus on Biblical text, not other readings you
might bring
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SOME POSSIBLE THEMES…
Tribes-kinship, diversity, shared history
 Imperfect beginnings
 Ethical principles
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 “Underdog”
mentality
 Empathy compassion
Covenant
 Exile
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THE COVENANT WITH ABRAM
“Go from your country and your kindred and your
father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will
make of you a great nation, and I will bles you, and
make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I
will bless those who bless you, and the one who
curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of
the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 11)
GENESIS 12:1-3 (JSB 30)
GENESIS 17:9 CIRCUMCISION
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First commandment in the Torah
EXODUS-REVELATION AT SINAI
“Now then, if you will obey Me faithfully and
keep My covenant, you shall be My treasured
possession among all the peoples.” (19:5)
 Then God spoke all these words, saying: I am
your God who brought you out of the land of
Egypt, the house of bondage: You shall have no
other gods besides me…” (20:1)
 See also Deuteronomy 30
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CONDITIONAL AND UNCONDITIONAL
What is the difference?
 What is the significance of the tension?
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TRANSGRESSION, EXILE, REDEMPTION
Patriarch
 Egypt
 Golden Calf
 Arrival in Promised Land
 Kingdom
 Exile
 Return
 Exile
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