Hist/Rels
271c, Winter 2007
Analysis of Bible commentaries
Due Wednesday, February 14 by the
beginning of class. Submit via Moodle.
The task: Compare commentaries on a short section of Genesis or
Exodus.
Suggested
structure for your essay:
I. An
introduction in which you tell the reader which commentaries you've chosen, and
preview what you see as the main similarities and differences.
II. Analysis of the
first commentary. See #6 below for
suggested questions to consider in your analysis. (In most cases, it will
probably make most sense to analyze first the commentary that was written
earliest. If the two commentaries
are very close in time, you can use other factors for the decision.)
III. Analysis of the second commentary, with comparison back to the
first commentary. [The word "comparison" always implies looking for
contrasts as well as similarities.]
Throughout the essay, as you put forward your main assertions about the
nature of the commentaries, make sure that you provide evidence for your
assertions.
IV. Conclusion: A
short conclusion in which you reflect on the significance of what you've
found—e.g., how it connects with issues discussed in the course so far,
what you've learned from doing the exercise, what troubled or frustrated you in
doing the assignment, etc.
Suggestions on how to
proceed:
1)
Select
one of the passages identified on the reverse of this sheet as possibilities
for the assignment. (If there is
some other selection you'd like to do, talk with me about it before Monday,
2/5.)
2)
Review
the essay on "The Modern Study of the Bible," JSB, 2084-2096, This essay provides a convenient review
of the types of modern approaches we've discussed, and some we haven't; it will
help you identify various approaches in modern commentaries.
3)
Choose
two commentaries: one Jewish
commentary and one Christian. (See bibliography of commentaries for
possibilities). To get to
two that interest you, you may need to look at several commentaries on your
chosen passage. Photocopy the
relevant pages of commentary. Do
not check out commentaries! The
ones in the stacks need to be left there for the other students who may be
using them.
4)
Read
the preface and/or introduction to the commentary; it will almost always give a
clear indication of the approach taken—very helpful for your essay! If
you are reading a multi-volume or multi-author commentary, there may be
multiple essays at the beginning of the book. Most important is that you read the preface/introduction at
the very beginning, the one that tells you about the nature and purpose of the
whole commentary. If your
commentary also has a general introduction to Genesis or Exodus (whichever one
you're using), take a look at that too, in addition, of course, to the chapter-by-chapter
commentary on your selected passage.
5)
Work
your way through the two commentaries.
How to do this so that you find your way to major assertions, and to
evidence to support those assertions?
I suggest that as you read each commentary, you make marginal notes on
your photocopy, noting what assumptions are being made, what questions are
being asked, what methods are being used to answer the questions, etc. Put asterisks by things that are
particularly strong examples. Then
step back and ask yourself: What
assertions can I make about the key characteristics of this commentary? What evidence is best for supporting
these assertions? What are the
main differences and similarities between the two commentaries?
6)
Some questions you might consider in
your analysis include:
á
What
kind of approach is taken in the commentary (e.g. historical, literary,
archeological, philological, theological, etc.)?
á
What
kinds of questions are asked in each?
What kinds of things are seen to be in need of explanation?
á
What
kind of answers does the commentator put forward?
á
What
assumptions and inclinations are embedded in each commentary?
á
How
are the two commentaries similar, how different, and to what might you
attribute the commonalities and the differences?
Formatting
Written Assignments for Uploading
All
these little things make it a lot easier for me when downloading and printing
your work from Moodle.
Proofread carefully before turning
in: for spelling (spell-check is
not enough), grammar, word usage, etc.
Citations:
Commentaries: Give full citations for the two commentaries at the end of your
paper; use the same form that I have used in the list of commentaries. In the body of your essay, use a short
form of citation in parentheses, e.g. (Friedman, 265) or (Plaut, 2:378). Be
sure to include volume number if the commentary is multi-volume (like Plaut in
last example).
The Bible:
Cite book, chapter, and verse, using the model of citations on the syllabus
and in JSB.
Length: About 1,500 words.
I am not fixated on a precise length; use this suggestion as a
guide. If your essay is much
longer than this, read it again to be sure that all that you've included is
central to your argument. If it is
much shorter, read it again to be sure that you have covered the questions
asked and that you have supported your assertions with evidence.
Passages
to choose from
(There may be some
deletions and additions to this list, depending on what we have discussed in
class. The list will be updated a
few weeks before the essay is due.)
GENESIS
1.1-2.4 creation
2.4-3.24 Adam
and Eve
chp. 4 Cain
and Abel
11.1-9 tower
of Babel
11.26-12.9 Abram
goes to the land of Canaan
chp. 22 the
binding of Isaac
chp. 24 Rebekah
becomes the wife of Isaac
26.1-33 episodes
in the life of Isaac
28.10-22 Jacob's
dream at Bethel
chp. 34 the
rape of Dinah
EXODUS
13.14-14.31 the
crossing of the Red Sea
chp. 16 God
provides food for the Israelites
chp. 18 Moses
and Jethro
chp.
32 the
golden calf episode
chp. 34 another
version of the ten commandments