Welcome to the course RT2512 Male and Female? Gender, God and Humanity in the Hebrew Bible 7.5 hp!

The course begins on November 10 when we meet over zoom and introduce ourselves as teachers and students and the course itself is introduced.

Course content:

The course involves a study of selected text from the Hebrew bible (BHS see "literature" below), focusing on constructions of gender and attributes of gender to God and human beings. Using various biblical methods, feminist exegesis, masculinity research, and queer theory, the student is provided tools for a critical approach to different Jewish and Christian interpretations of God and humans, expressed in terms of sex and gender in the Hebrew Bible. In addition to reading texts in the original language of the Hebrew Bible, extra-biblical texts as well as secondary literature in the form of monographs and comments are read.

Learning outcomes:

identify different aspects of sex and gender in the Hebrew Bible.
describe linguistic characteristics in sections of the Hebrew Bible describing gods and people and discuss these characteristics in relation to sex and gender.
problematize norms, beliefs and power structures that are related to sex and gender in the Hebrew Bible.

translate central text sections from biblical Hebrew to Swedish or English and identify linguistic problems in the texts
account for the importance of central words and concepts in the text sections, and show familiarity with text critical work by using the text-critical aparatus in Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia
discuss current text sections based on feminist exegetics, masculinity research and queer theory.

critically analyze descriptions of gods and people in the Hebrew Bible, from both historical-critical, feminist theological, masculinity research and queer theoretical perspectives.
evaluate the significance of sex and gender in Jewish and Christian interpretations of the roles and characters of gods and humans the Hebrew bible.

Literature:

Elliger, K. & Rudolph, W., eds. (1990) Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (Stuttgart: Deutche Bibelgesellschaft, (1966, 1983, 1977).

Clines, David J. A. (1995) "David the Man : The Construction of Masculinity in the Hebrew Bible", in Interested Parties, 212-243. (Excerpt available on Canvas).

Denise Dombkowski Hopkins, Psalms: Book 2-3, Wisdom Commentary Series vol. 21. Michael Glazier Liturgical Press, 113-119; (available on Canvas), 215-220 (available on canvas).

F. S. Spencer (2017) Song of Songs, Wisdom Commentary Series 25. Michael Glazier Liturgical Press.

Julia M. O'Brien (2008) Challenging Prophetic Metaphor: Theology and Ideology in the Prophets, Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox. Pp. vii + 202

Julianna Claassens (2012) Mourner, Mother, Midwife: Reimagining God's Delivering Presence in the Old Testament, Westminster John Knox, Louisville. Pp. 126.

Marcel V. Macelaru (2014) “Saul in the Company of Men: Deconstructing Masculinity in 1 Samuel 9-31,” in Creangă, O. & Smit, P. B., eds. Biblical Masculinities Foregrounded HBM 62. (Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix Press, s. 51-64. (Excerpt available on Canvas)

Rhiannon Graybill (2016), Are We Not Men?: Unstable Masculinity in the Hebrew Prophets. Oxford University Press. Open access on https://www-oxfordscholarship-com.ezproxy.ub.gu.se/view/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190227364.001.0001/acprof-9780190227364

https://thetorah.com/the-gender-of-god/

Course Schedule:

Course Introduction

November 10, 09.00 am-11.00 am, Course introduction and presentation of teacher and students (all seminars take place on zoom)

I Masculinities and the Pentateuch

November 24, 09.00 am-11.00 am: Seminar

Prepare for the seminar by translating the following Bible texts: Exod 1-4; 1 Sam 9; 10; 16.

December 3, Assignment 2

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1476993X15575496

Rhiannon Graybill " The Materiality of Moses" in, Are We Not Men?: Unstable Masculinity in the Hebrew Prophets.

Marcel V. Macelaru, “Saul in the company of men: Deconstructing masculinity in 1 Samuel 9-31” in Creangă, O. & Smit, P. B., eds. Biblical Masculinities Foregrounded

Clines, David J. A. "David the Man." In David the Man : The Construction of Masculinity in the Hebrew Bible" in, Interested Parties.

II The Gender of God

December 8, 10.00 am-12.00 am: Seminar

Prepare for the seminar by translating the following Bible texts: Ps 22; 57; 71; Isa 42:13-15; 66:6-16;

December 17, Assignement 2

https://thetorah.com/the-gender-of-god/

Denise Dombkowski Hopkins, Psalms: Book 2-3, Wisdom Commentary Series vol. 21. Michael Glazier Liturgical Press, s. 113-119;

Julianna Claassens, Mourner, Mother, Midwife: Reimagining God's Delivering Presence in the Old Testament, Westminster John Knox, Louisville.

III Israel as a metaphorical woman in the Prophets

December 22 09.00 am-11.00 am: Seminar

Prepare for the seminar by translating the following Bible texts: Hosea 1-2; Ezek 16.

January 7, Assignement 2

Julia M. O’Brien Challenging Prophetic Metaphor: Theology and Ideology in the Prophets

Graybill, Rhiannon “The Horror of Hosea”, in Are We Not Men? Unstable Masculinity in the Hebrew Prophets.

IV Gender equality in the Song of Songs?

January 12, 09.00 am-11.00 am: Seminar

Prepare for the seminar by translating the following Bible texts: The Song of Songs

January 21, Assignment 4

Spencer, F. S. Song of Songs, Wisdom Commentary Series vol. 25. Michael Glazier Liturgical Press.

Forms of teaching

Teaching takes place through obligatory text seminars. The seminars take place online at certain specific times, students are expected to be present and connected to Zoom well in the time for the seminars.

Assessment

The course is assessed through participation in seminar discussion (compulsory), as well as through individual written home assignments. The assignment must be submitted before deadline and at Canvas (not by email). The grading scale comprises: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U).