Early Judaism: From Formative to Normative
Religion and Culture · 3 hrs Lecture
Offering schedule: contact department
The calendar doesn't say which term this runs in. The sections below show the terms it actually runs in this year.
No prerequisites listed, you can take this course without prior coursework.
Where REL-2121 counts
Counts toward 3 more as one option among several, not as a course you must take:
Read from the departments' own calendar pages, where 50 of 208 programs are only partly machine-readable, so treat these as a minimum rather than the full list. Confirm with an academic advisor.
Description
This course surveys the historical events, documents, modes of interpretation, major figures and diverse communities and beliefs and practices that preceded and informed the emergence of rabbinic Judaism. The course unpacks the influence of momentous events such as Greek and Roman conquests in the Middle East, the nascent Jesus movement, and the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70 CE. It explores how documents such as the Dead Sea scrolls, the Apocrypha and the Pseudepigrapha and authors such as Philo of Alexandria and Josephus provide insight into the formative period of Early Judaism. It introduces students to the major genres of early biblical interpretation, such as typology, allegory, and midrash and oral Torah.
Restrictions
Students may not hold credit for this course and CLAS-2704.
Cross-listed
From the 2026-27 undergraduate calendar. Always verify details on WebAdvisor or with an academic advisor before registering.