BBLE 4146 Nahmanides on Genesis: Strategies of Biblical Portraiture

This course will study the commentary of Rabbi Moses ben Nahman (Ramban) on biblical narrative, with a particular focus on the stories of the Book of Genesis. Students will be able to reconstruct broad portraitures of the diverse biblical figures by integrating Ramban's individual interpretations into an amalgamated characterization. Students will reflect critically on the exegetical method of this foremost thirteenth century Spanish commentator in his analysis of the essential components of biblical stories: plot structure, character, dialogue, and theme. Students will demonstrate an understanding of Ramban-s literary approach to the study of biblical narrative in relation to modern literary tools and methodology. This course aims to investigate the influence of Ramban's multicultural background on his own interpretations of key facets of biblical stories. Students will be able to speculate about extratextual influences that often form the basis for Ramban-s analyses of biblical stories, considering historical and cultural influences, eliciting theological and philosophical underpinnings, and demonstrating underlying polemical considerations.

Credits

2