Department
of Hebrew & Semitic Studies
MA Reading List
[last revision September 2007]
(* = especially important for PhD exams too)
The readings are updated annually. The list published in September is valid for one year. Items from a recent reading list may be substituted, in consultation with the Graduate Adviser. Most of the readings and texts other than complete books are available in a reading packet. Copies of some of these books are available in the Grad Reading Room. A master copy of articles and texts, which can be photocopied, can be borrowed from the departmental office. All readings stiudied in courses may be included on the exams.
I.) Biblical texts
R. P. Beckwith, "Formation of the Hebrew Bible," in Mikra: Text, Translation, Reading and Interpretation of the Hebrew Bible in Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity, edited by M. J. Mulder (Assen/Maastricht: Van Gorcum and Minneapolis: Fortress, 1990), 39-87.
M. Goshen-Gottstein, "Editions of the Hebrew Bible - Past and Future." Pp. 221-42 in Sha'arei Talmon, ed. by M. Fishbane and E. Tov. (Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 1992).
M. J. Mulder, "The Transmission of the Biblical Text," in Mikra: Text, Translation, Reading and Interpretation of the Hebrew Bible in Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity, edited by M. J. Mulder (Assen/Maastricht: Van Gorcum and Minneapolis: Fortress, 1990), 87-135.
E. Tov, Textual Criticism of the Hebrew Bible (2d ed.; Minneapolis: Fortress, 2001).
I. Yeivin, Introduction to the Tiberian Masorah, translated and edited by E. J. Revell (Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1980).
The entire Bible, in English if not in Hebrew.
II.) Hebrew language
C. Brovender, et al., "Hebrew Language," Encyclopedia Judaica 16:1560-1607.
P. Joüon-T. Muraoka, A Grammar of Biblical Hebrew (Rev. ed; Rome: Pontifical Biblical Institute, 2006), 1-324.
III.) Literature
R. Alter, The Art of Biblical Narrative (New York: Basic Books, 1981).
R. Alter, The Art of Biblical Poetry (New York: Basic Books, 1985).
J.-L. Ska, Introduction to
Reading the Pentateuch (
J. Barton, Reading the Old Testament: Method in Biblical Study (Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 1996 [not the 1984 edition]).*
J. Barton, The Nature of Biblical Criticism (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2007).
A. Berlin, Poetics and Interpretation of Biblical Narrative (Reprinted; Winona Lake, Ind.: Eisenbrauns, 1995).s
K. van der Toorn, Scribal Culture and the Making of the Hebrew Bible (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 2007).IV.) Other
William Dever, What did the Biblical Writers Know and When did they Know it? (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001).
B. Holtz, ed., Back to the Sources: Reading the Classic Jewish Texts (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1984), 31-260.*
Philip J. King and Lawrence E. Stager, Life in Biblical Israel (Louisville: Westminster/John Knox Press, 2002).
Amichai Mazar, The Archaeology of the Land of Israel. Vol. I (New York:, Doubleday, 1990).
S. Niditch, Ancient Israelite Religion (New York: Oxford University Press, 1997).
J. C. VanderKam, The Dead Sea Scrolls Today (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1994).
V.) Hebrew Texts
1. Texts studied in courses, both as 513-514 and as Advanced Text Courses.
2. Texts prepared independently: Gen 12-36; Exod 1-12; Deut 1-12; Lev 1-10; Josh 1-11; 2 Kgs 1-10; Zech 1-14; Mic 1-7.
3. Sight passages.
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Latest revision date: 7/12/2007 (mvf)