Admission requirements
“Biblical Hebrew 2” (BA Ancient Cultures of the Mediterranean World: Hebrew and Aramaic languages and cultures) or comparable knowledge and, if Aramaic texts are to be read, Biblical Aramaic.
Description
This course will offer an in-depth introduction to a selection of Hebrew and/or Aramaic texts from Qumran, regularly on the basis of photographs of the original manuscripts and in comparison with the authoritative scholarly editions. The selection is meant to cover various important genres (e.g., commentaries, liturgical poetry, religious law, etc.). Close reading of these texts, with due attention to philological matters, will take place against the wider background of exegetical practices and religious views current in the Second Temple period.
Course objectives
Students will learn to study written sources from Qumran in their original language both critically and independently. They will thus acquire a general idea of their linguistic and cultural context as well as the most important scholarly tools. They will also gain hands-on experience with epigraphy and palaeography.
Timetable
The timetable is available on the “Classics and Ancient Civilizations”: http://www.hum.leiden.edu/classics-and-ancient-civilizations/timetables-classics-and-ancient-civilizations/time-schedules.html website.
Mode of instruction
Seminar
Course Load
Total course load is 10 × 28h= 280 hours, of which:
13 tutorials of about 2 hours (26 hours);
Preparing lectures, including reading (127 hours);
Writing a paper (127 hours).
Research MA students will be expected to read additional secondary literature on the cultural and religious background when preparing the texts and to write their paper on a somewhat more ambitious topic than regular MA students.
Assessment method
Preparation for classes and oral participation (40%);
Written paper (60%).
Weighing
The final grade for the course is established by determining the weighted average.
Resit
Should the overall mark be unsatisfactory, the paper is to be revised after consultation with the lecturer.
Blackboard
Blackboard will be used for:
communication;
distributing additional study materials.
Reading list
Texts and further bibliography will be announced during class.
Registration
Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.
General information about uSis is available in English and Dutch
Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs
Not applicable.
Contact
Remarks
The course will be taught in Dutch or English, depending on the first language of participating students.