Long before Isaiah, Ezekiel and Jeremiah, there was Elijah. This fascinating figure from the 9th century BCE expresses the essence of the prophetic role that all his successors will follow: opposing corrupt power, social justice, announcing G-d's word, and more. In defining the role of his successors, Elijah draws on the ultimate model: Moses. Our class will explore the Elijah/Moses parallels as we translate key passages from the Elijah story cycle. We'll also visit his world: an Israel edging toward monotheism in conflict with the many gods of Phoenicia and the Aramaean kingdoms. Our course will use Bibleworks software to project the Hebrew text and our group translation and analysis onto a large screen.

Coming attractions in 2011: The Art and Ethics of Biblical War; and The Birth of Judaism: Ezra

Prerequisite: Lehrhaus Hebrew 1 and 2 (prayerbook or modern) or equivalent are strongly recommended