Jewish Bible interpretation flourished in the Middle Ages, especially between the 10th and 13th centuries. Contributing factors include the rise of literacy among the Jews and their acculturation in Christian and Muslim lands. In the first months of the course we will discuss diachronic developments in the changing of ancient exegetical models, as well as synchronic developments in the adoption of new exegetical and reading strategies found in the milieu of Christian Bible exegesis and Qur’anic exegesis. Special focus will be given to the “literal” or “Peshat” schools of Jewish Bible exegesis, as well as to radical and reformist reading strategies, and the emergence of new audiences. Excerpts from the commentaries and the programmatic introductions of the medieval commentators will serve as source materials in the course.  Later on we will  focus on the work of Pre-renaissance exegetes who introduced a new historical and critical dimension to their work on the Bible as precursors of the early modern age of biblical criticism.

Final assignment: exam.