Seminars

The Study of the Hebrew Bible

  • Founded
    1968
  • Seminar Number
    473

The seminar is composed of scholars of different faiths and traditions with a common interest in research on and teaching of the Hebrew Bible. The seminar aims to illuminate the cultural milieu, language, text, and interpretation of the Hebrew Bible. This research is characterized by a variety of methodologies, including historical-critical, literary, philological, archaeological, sociological and ideological approaches to the text, as well as history of interpretation. Research on ancient Near Eastern cultures and languages relating to the Hebrew Bible is also regularly presented.

Co-Chairs
David Carr
dcarr@utsnyc.edu

Karina Hogan
kahogan@fordham.edu

Rapporteur
Christiaan (Jacob) Faul
jf3261@utsnyc.edu

Meeting Schedule

09/11/2023 Faculty House, Columbia University
7:00 PM
TBD
Beth Berkowitz ,




10/16/2023 Faculty House, Columbia University
7:00 PM
“He nursed Hadassah”? Childist and Cross-Cultural Insights in Adoption Texts Related to Women and Girls
Julie Faith Parker , Union Theological Seminary
Abstract

Abstract

This paper gives an overview of adoption in the Hebrew Bible through comparative, cross-cultural, and linguistic study to discern the hallmarks of texts indicating adoption in the Hebrew Bible (HB). Using a childist approach, I bring insights from child-centered biblical studies to explore select passages that portray adoption, with a focus on those related to women and girls. Through examination of the language in Exodus 2:1-10, 21:7-11, Ruth 4:14-17, and Esther 2:7, I show how these scenes relate to different types of adoption arrangements. Anthropological insights from adoption practices around the globe further reveal a wide range of practices that are reflected in the HB. The conclusion reviews the role of adoption in ancient Israel and its theological implications.
11/15/2023 Faculty House, Columbia University
7:00 PM
TBD
Matthieu Richelle, Louvain University, Belgium




12/12/2023 Faculty House, Columbia University
7:00 PM

Gary Rendsburg,




02/26/2024 Faculty House, Columbia University
7:00 PM
TBD
Michael Legaspi,




04/08/2024 Faculty House, Columbia University
7:00 PM
TBD
Kenneth Ngwa ,




05/06/2024 Faculty House, Columbia University
7:00 PM
TBD
Rachel Slutsky,