University of Minnesota

Classical and Near Eastern Studies

Center for Jewish Studies

Mishnah and Midrash in Translation

Course Overview 

Mishnah and Midrash represent the earliest forms of Rabbinic literature.  Mishnah refers to the early 3^rd century C.E. compendium of Rabbinic legal traditions, while Midrash indicates the various collections of Rabbinic interpretation of the Bible that were compiled in the following centuries.  These texts reflect early Rabbinic models of biblical interpretation, law, and theology.  At the same time, Mishnah and Midrash, like Rabbinic Judaism in general, are heavily indebted to earlier expressions of Judaism that existed in the Second Temple period (539 B.C.E. – 70 C.E.).  This course explores Mishnah, Midrash, and early Rabbinic Judaism in dialogue with Second Temple period Judaism and its literature (such as the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha, and Philo).  Each week, we examine a particular theme and track its development from Second Temple literature into Rabbinic Judaism.  These topics are structured around the two central elements of Mishnah and Midrash: (1) Biblical Interpretation and (2) Law and Theology.  All texts will be read in translation.

 

Textbooks

1. Martin Jaffee, Early Judaism: Religious Worlds of the First Judaic Millennium (2d edition; Bethesda: University of Maryland Press, 2005).

2. Jacob Neusner, Introduction to Rabbinic Literature (New York: Doubleday, 1994).

3. George Nickelsburg, Jewish Literature between the Bible and the Mishnah (2d edition; Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2005).

4. Bible: we will often read selections from the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), Apocrypha, and New Testament.  I have ordered the New Oxford    Annotated Bible (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1994).

5. Supplementary Readings: these can be found on WebCT

6. Primary Readings: these will be posted each week on WebCT.

 

· All textbooks are available at the UMN bookstore (if purchasing from elsewhere, be sure to get the second editions for both Jaffee and Nickelsburg).

· All textbooks will be available in the Wilson Library Reserve.

 

Course Requirements

1. Midterm: 20%

2. Two Text Analyses: 25%

3. Two Analytical Papers: 35%

4. Student Presentations: 10%

5. Attendance and Participation: 10%

 

Writing Assignments

There will be four writing assignments for this course (follow hyperlinks for details):

 

Text Analyses

These assignments will require you to analyze closely a specific passage from the Midrash and the Mishnah.  No secondary sources will be utilized for these assignments (3115: 900-1200 words; 5115: 1500-1800 words).

 

Analytical Papers

In the first paper, you will analyze the way that a specific biblical verse/passage/idea is interpreted in Second Temple and rabbinic exegetical sources.  In the second paper, you will analyze the development of a specific concept/theme from biblical and Second Temple period literature through early rabbinic texts.  You are expected to engage with secondary scholarship for these papers (3115: 2100-2400 words; 5115: 2700-3000 words).

 

· For each paper, students are required to turn in a proposal within two weeks that will include a topic, a list of at least five primary sources you will consult, a bibliography of relevant secondary sources, and a general outline of your paper.  This counts toward your final grade.

We will devote some class-time to discussing research methods and writing techniques.

Submissions Procedures

All papers will be submitted in a hard copy in class and as an electronic file uploaded to www.turnitin.com.  This site provides protection to you, to your work, and the grades assigned by confirming that the essay avoids overlap with any material on the web.  It provides instructors with “originality reports” for each essay.  It also protects your papers from any subsequent unauthorized reuse by third parties (detailed instructions to follow).

Campus Writing Resources

There are resources on campus to assist with writing.  These services are not only for students who require assistance with grammar or organization; they are recommended for strong writers who wish to learn how to write even more effectively.  Please consult:

Student Writing Center, 15 Nicholson Hall http://writing.umn.edu/sws/index.htm

 

Presentations

Each student is responsible for one in-class presentation.  The topics for these presentations are listed on the syllabus and are intended to illuminate the physical evidence (i.e., manuscripts, printed editions, archaeological remains) of the texts and ideas that we are discussing.  Presenters are expected to prepare a short supplementary reading (available on WebCT).  Presenters should identify its most important points and their relationship to the larger scope of the course.  Presentations should be approximately 10 minutes.

 

Difference between 3115/5115

Students registered at the 5115 levels have higher expectations in writing assignments (including midterm), with regard to requirements, length, written ability, and format.  For the analytical papers, 5115 level students are expected to display a more thorough engagement with secondary scholarship (detailed instructions will be found on paper assignments).  Graduate students are expected to draw upon their respective areas of specialization for analytical papers (please make an appointment with me to discuss further).

 

Attendance

Students are expected to attend all class sessions.  Students are expected to come to each class with the assigned readings completed and prepared to contribute actively to classroom discussion.  Attendance and active participation in class discussions is essential to successful completion of the other course requirements.  If you miss a class due to illness, please let me know before class and then contact a fellow student to find out what you missed.

 

Late Work

All late work will be dropped one third of a letter grade per late class day.  Please contact me prior to due date if extenuating circumstances arise.

 

Grading

Final course grades will be assigned according to the following scale: 100-93=A, 92-90=A-, 89-87=B+, 86-83=B, 82-80=B-, 79-77=C+, 76-73=C, 72-70=C-, 69-60=D, 59-0=F. (S/N: S=70%).  A passing grade will only be given if all course work is completed.

 

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism

All student work is expected to represent the independent thinking and research of each student.  All students are expected to abide by the University of Minnesota’s academic code.  Scholastic dishonesty is defined by CLA as follows:

“Scholastic dishonesty is any act that violates the rights of another student with respect to academic work or that involves misrepresentation of a student’s own work.  Scholastic dishonesty includes (but is not limited to) cheating on assignments or examinations, plagiarizing (misrepresenting as one’s own anything done by another), submitting the same or substantially similar papers (or creative work) for more than one course without consent of all instructors concerned, depriving another of necessary course materials, and sabotaging another’s work.”           http://advisingtools.class.umn.edu/cgep/studentconduct.html

Any violations of this academic code will be dealt with according to the University’s guidelines:

“Academic dishonesty in any portion of the academic work for a course shall be grounds for awarding a grade of F or N for the entire course.”

             http://www1.umn.edu/usenate/policies/grades&acadwork.html

We will spend some class time discussing proper ways to draw upon secondary scholarship and how to forge your own independent thinking in dialogue with earlier scholarship.

 

Student with Disabilities

Any student with a documented disability condition (e.g., physical, learning, psychiatric, systemic, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations should contact me and Disability Services at the beginning of the semester.  Students should first contact Disability Services at 180 McNamara Alumni Center (612-626-1333). For further information, see: http://ds.umn.edu/

 

Class Schedule

· All readings should be done by the date on which they are listed.  Bring primary texts to class with you.

· See the abbreviations list below for primary texts references.

 

History of Second Temple and Rabbinic Judaism

 

1. Introduction to the Course

 

2. The Second Temple Period

 

Readings:

Jaffee 1-38, 125-52; Nickelsburg 288-96

 

3. The Literature of Second Temple Judaism

 

Readings:

Nickelsburg 1-7, 17-22, 29-35, 77-83, 102-10, 301, 332-38

 

4. The Rabbinic Period

 

Readings:

I. Gafni, “The Historical Period,” in The Literature of the Sages, 1-34; Jaffee 38-48; 152-65

 

5. Rabbinic Literature

 

Readings:

Jaffee 74-86; Neusner 1-29

 

· Dual Torah: m. Abot 1:1; Sifra Behukotai 2; Sifre Deut. 351; y Hag. 1:8 (76a); y. Meg. 4:1 (74a); b. Erub. 54a; b. Bab. Mes. 59a-b; b. Men. 29b.

· M. Ned 4:3; Exod. Rab. 47:7

· Familiarize yourself with the chart in Jaffee 83-84.

 

Bible and Canon

 

6. The Formation of the Canon

 

Readings:

Jaffee 49-74; Nickelsburg 165-69

 

· Neh 7:73-8:18; 2 Mac 2:13-15; Luke 24:27, 44-46; prologue to Ben Sira

· Josephus Ag. Ap. 1.37-43; 4 Ezra 14:23-48; 4QMMT C.

· Selections from 11QPsalms Scroll; Deut 32:8 in LXX, MT and 4QDeut; 1 Sam 11 in MT, 4QSam and Josephus.

· Familiarize yourself with the canon list

 

7. The Canon in Rabbinic Tradition

 

Presentation: Ben Sira Manuscripts (Hebrew)

 

Readings:

J. Lightstone, “The Rabbis’ Bible: The Canon of the Hebrew Bible and the Early Rabbinic Guild,” in The Canon Debate, 153-84.

 

· On the Canon: m. Yad. 3:2-5; 4:6; t. Yad 2:14; y. San. 28a; b. Bab. Bat. 14b-15a; b. Sanh. 100b.

· The Disputed Books: t. Yad. 2:14; b. Meg 7a; Koh. Rab. 12:12

· Ben Sira: b. Sanh. 100b (with manuscripts) t. Yad. 2:13; y. Ber 11c; b. Bab. Qam. 92b; b. Hag 12a.

· Scribal Activity: Ber. Rab. 39.7; Mekh. Shira 4; Tanhuma Beshalah 16; Sifre Num. 1.84 (with Num 10:35-36); 11QPaleoLev; Abot R. Nat. A 34 (with Gen 33:4)

 

Strategies of Interpretation

 

8. Biblical Interpretation in Second Temple Judaism

 

Readings:

Nickelsburg 77-83; 119-31; 172-77; 191-99; 202-5; 212-21

 

· Inner-Biblical Exegesis: Num 20:10-13 with Ps 106:32-33; Daniel 9 (with Jer 25:9-12).

· Pesher: 1QpHab 2:1-10; 7:1-4; 4QpNah 3-4 i 1-8; 4QFlorilegium

· Rewriting: Genesis Apocryphon 19-20; Temple Scroll 56:12-59 (“Law of the King”); 4QPseudo-Ezekiel 2 (with Ezek 37); Greek Additions to Esther

· Translations: Philo, Life of Moses 2.5-7; Letter of Aristeas 308-11.  LXX (with MT) on Exod 24:10; Jud 18:30; Prov 13:10; Mekhilta Pisha 14 (on Exod 12:40).

· Allegorical: Philo, Alleg. Int. 2 15.53-6, 16.60, 64

· New Testament: Matt 2:16-18; Rom 9:7-9; Gal 3:8; Rom 1:17 (with 1QpHab 8:3);

 

9. Midrash Aggadah (Homiletical Exegesis)

 

Text Analysis #1 handed out

 

Readings:

Neusner 221-45, 382-410

 

· Genesis Rabbah 20

· Leviticus Rabbah 12

· t. Bab. Qam. 7:3; Mekh. on Exod 17:8 (on allegory)

 

10. Targum as Midrash

 

Presentation: Palestinian Targums

 

Readings:

Neusner 609-30

 

· b. Qid 49a; b. Meg 3a

· Targums to Numbers 22-24

· Targum Jonathan to Judges 5

 

Noah and the Flood in Interpretive Tradition

 

11. Second Temple Literature

 

Text Analysis #1 due

 

Readings:

Nickelsburg 43-52; 69-74; 265-70

 

· Genesis 6-9

· 1 Enoch 6-16, 106-7; Jubilees 5-7; 4QAdmonition Based on the Flood; Josephus Ant. 1.80-95; Philo, Quest. on Gen 1.100, Life of Moses 2.10-11

 

12. Rabbinic Literature

 

· Presentation: Louis Ginzberg, Legends of the Jews

· Analytical Paper #1 handed out

 

Readings:

Neusner 355-81; 411-33

 

· Targums on Genesis

· Genesis Rabbah

· M. Sanh. 10:3; b. Sanh 108a

 

13. Midterm

 

Foundations and Formulations of Law

 

14. Law in Second Temple Judaism

 

Readings:

Nickelsburg 137-42; 147-50; 154-59; L.H. Schiffman, “The Temple Scroll and the Systems of Jewish Law in the Second Temple Period,” in Temple Scroll Studies.

 

· Qumran: Rule of the Community 5:7-13; 6:6-8; 8:15-16; 9:13-14; 4QMMT B; Selections from Damascus Document

· Temple Scroll: column 2 (with Exod 34:10-16); look again at Law of the King.

· Pharisees: Josephus Ant. 13.297; Philo Spec. Laws 4.143-50; Matt 15:2; Gal 1:14

· Sadducees: Scholion to Meg. Ta‘anit

 

15. The Mishnah

 

· Presentation: Mishnah Manuscripts

· Text Analysis #2 handed out

 

Readings:

Neusner 97-128

 

· M. Shab. 1-2; m. Yeb. 1-2; m. B. Mes. 1; m. Zeb. 1-2; m. Neg. 1-2

· Midrash vs. Mishnah: m. Ed. 8:4; Sifra Hova 12

· Scope of Law: m. Erub. 6:2; m. Yad. 4:6-8

· Style: m. Peah 4:10; 6:8; m. Shab. 2:3; m. Men. 10:3

 

16. Midrash Halakhah (Legal Exegesis)

 

Readings:

Neusner 249-70, 328-50

 

· Hermeneutical Rules: y. Pes. 6:1 (33a); t. Sanh. 7: introduction to Sifra; Midrash ha-Gadol 22

· Second Temple Legal Exegesis: Neh 8:13-18 (with Lev 23:40); CD 9:2-8 (with Lev 19:17); CD 10:17-21; CD 11:17-18; LXX on 12:15 (with m. Pes. 1:4)

· Mekhilta Yitro 7 (on Exod 20:9); Sifra Emor 12:10

· Sifre Deut. 343

 

Systems of Theology

 

17. God in Second Temple Judaism

 

Text Analysis #2 due

 

Readings:

Jaffee 90-104

 

· Qumran: Rule of the Community 3:13-4:26; 11QPsalms Scroll 26; War Scroll 1:8-10 (with Exod 15:3); Hodayot 9:19-20.

· Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes: Josephus Ant. 13.171-73; War 2.119-66; Ant. 18.18-22; War 2.119-61.

· 1 Enoch 1-5; Assumption of Moses 9-10; Tob 4:5-11

 

18. God in Rabbinic Literature

 

Readings:

Jaffee 113-17; Neusner 510-32

 

· The Shema: m. Tam. 5:1 (with Deut 6:4-9); look at Nash Papyrus; Gen. Rab. 98:3; Deut. Rab. 2:31

· Num. Rab. Naso 12:4; Mid. Ps. on 24:1; Exod. Rab. Shemot 3:6; Terumah 24:1.3

· A Just God: Num 5:11-31; m. Sota 1:1-10; t. Sot 3:18-19; 4:1

· God and Exile: Lam. Rab. 34; Mekh. Pisha Bo 1

· God as Warrior: Mekh. Beshalah 4

· Free Choice and Determinism: Gen. Rab. 9:3; m. Abot 3:19; Pesiq. Rab. 32b; Pesiq. Rab. Kah. 165a

 

Sacrifice, Prayer, and Ritual Space

 

19. Spiritualization of Sacrifice

 

Presentation: Theodotus Inscription

 

Readings:

Jaffee 172-99

 

· Ps 84; Ben Sira 50:1-21; Jer 7:1-15; Amos 5:18-25; Ps. of Sol. 2:1-3; CD 4:15-18; Ben Sira 34:21-24; Philo, Spec. Laws 1.271, 293

· Plato Euthyphro 14e; Laws 716d; Xenophon, Memorabilia 1.3.3; Cicero, The Nature of the Gods 2:71; Apollonius, On Sacrifices

· Qumran: 1QS 9:3-10; 9:26-10:10; 4Q409; 1QS 8:5; 4Q174 1:6-7

· Christianity: Matt 5:23-24; 12:6-7; Acts 17:24; Eph 2:19-22; Heb 9-10

 

20. Ritual Piety in Rabbinic Judaism

 

Readings:

Jaffee 199-225

 

· Attitude toward Sacrifice: Abot R. Nat. A 4; Lev. Rab. 22:8; Sifra Num. 143; Sifre Lev. 9; m. Ed. 8:6; m. Pes. 2:7

· Prayer and Sacrifice: m. Rosh. Hash. 4:1-3; m. Tam. 4:1-2; 7:2; Mid. Ps. on 5:4; m. Ber 1-5

· “Eighteen Benedictions” (Amida); selections from synagogue inscriptions and iconography

 

Wisdom and Ethics

 

21. Ben Sira and 4QInstruction

 

· Analytical paper #1 due

 

Readings:

Nickelsburg 53-66; 169-72

 

· Prov 1, 8; Ben Sira 1:1-20; 6:5-17; 13:1-14:2; 24; 25:13-26:18; 38:24-39:11; selections from 4QInstruction

· John 1:1-14

 

22. Abot and Rabbinic Ethics

 

· Presentation: The Fathers According to Rabbi Nathan

· Analytical paper #2 handed out

 

Readings:

Neusner 571-608

 

· Selections from m. Abot (in Neusner)

· Gen. Rab. 1:1

 

Prophecy and Mysticism

 

23. Prophecy in Ancient Judaism

 

Readings:

P.S. Alexander, “‘A Sixtieth Part of Prophecy’: The Problem of Continuing Revelation in Judaism,” in Words Remembered, Texts Renewed: Essays in Honour of John F.A. Sawyer (ed. J. Davies, G. Harvey and W.G.E. Watson; JSOTSup 195; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1995), 414-33

 

· 1 Mac 9:27; Ben Sira 24:31-33; 1QH 12; Jos. War 3.351-54; Ant. 14.172-76, 17.41-45, 20.97-99

· M. Sot 9:13; t. Sot 13:2-3

 

24. Early Jewish Mysticism

 

Presentation: Heikhalot Manuscripts

 

Readings:

Nickelsburg 151-54; Jaffee 230-62

 

· Selections from Songs of the Sabbath Sacrifice; 4Q491

· Selections from Pirkei Heikhalot

· T. Hag 2:3-4; y. Hag 2:1 (77a-c).

 

Messianism and Eschatology

 

25. The Imminent End of Days

 

Readings:

Jaffee 105-12; Nickelsburg 143-47, 150-51, 237-65, 270-88

 

· Rule of the Congregation, Selections from War Scroll, 1QpHab 7:6-14; 4Q285; 4QTestimonia; 4QpIsa^a

· Ps. of Sol. 17; 4 Ezra 7:28-42; 11-12

· Matt 16:13-19; 21:1-11

 

26. Rabbinic Messianism

 

Presentation: Bar Kokhba Letters

 

Readings:

Jaffee 117-24; L.H. Schiffman, “Messianism and Apocalypticism in Rabbinic Texts” in Cambridge History of Judaism, vol. 4.

 

· m. Sot. 9; Ber. Rab. 63:6; y. Ta’an. 1:1; 4:5; t. 13:3-5

 

27. Final Thoughts

 

Readings:

             Neusner 633-49