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Associate Professor of Religion Distinguished Teaching Professor
Departmental Area: Religions of Western Antiquity Address: Department of Religion |
Background
David Levenson (Ph.D. '80, Harvard University, New Testament and Christian Origins) teaches introductory and intermediate-level courses in New Testament and ancient Judaism and advanced courses in "Greek Religious Texts," "Religions of the Graeco-Roman World," "Judaism in the Graeco-Roman World," "Rabbinic Judaism in Antiquity," "Jewish-Christian Relations in Antiquity," and Greek, Hebrew. Syriac, and Aramaic. He also regularly offers undergraduate and graduate seminars on the gospels. Professor Levenson's primary research areas are (1) Jewish-Christian relations in Antiquity with special attention to images of Jews and Judaism in popular narratives and historiography from the first through the fifth centuries and (2) Josephus. He is currently engaged in writing a commentary (which will also include a new translation) with Thomas Martin, College of the Holy Cross, on Book Six of Josephus' Jewish War, for the new Josephus Commentary series edited by Steven Mason, and published by E.J. Brill. He and Professor Martin are also working on the ancient Latin translation of the Jewish War, with the aim of producing a critical edition of Book Six. In addition to work on Josephus, and ancient Jewish-Christian relations, Professor Levenson is preparing a translation and commentary for the Hebrew Apocalypse of Elijah (Sefer Eliyyahu).
Research Interests
- New Testament and Early Christianity
- Josephus
- Hellenistic and Rabbinic Judaism
- History of Biblical Interpretation
- Jewish-Christian Relations in Antiquity
- Religious Conflict and Competition in the Graeco-Roman World
- Jews and Judaism in the New Testament and Christian Historiography through Late Antiquity
- Syriac
Selected Publications
Articles
- Akairos or Eukairos? The Nickname of the Seleucid King Demetrius III in the Transmission of the Texts of Josephus' War and Antiquities," Journal for the Study of Judaism 40 (2009): 307-341 (with Thomas Martin).
- "The Ancient and Medieval Sources for the Emperor Julian's Attempt to Rebuild the Jerusalem Temple," Journal for the Study of Judaism 35 (2004): 409-460.
- "University Religion Departments and Teaching About the Bible in Public High Schools: A Report from Florida," Religious Studies News, AAR Edition 17/2 (March 2002), pp. 3,7,10 (republished in SBL Forum, Nov/Dec 2003) [view essay]
- "Julian, the Emperor," in Encyclopedia of Early Christianity, ed. Everett Ferguson. Second edition. New York: Garland Press, 1997
- "Different Texts or Different Texts: The Contexts of Biblical Studies," in Hebrew Bible or
Old Testament?, ed. R. Brooks and J.J. Collins, University of Notre Dame Press, 1990.
Current Research Projects
Books
- Translation and Commentary on Josephus' Jewish War, Book 6 (Brill Josephus Project, edited by Steven Mason) (with Thomas Martin, Holy Cross)
- Critical Edition,Translation and Commentary on Hebrew Book of Elijah (with Martha Himmelfarb, Princeton University).
Articles
- "The Ancient Latin Translation of Josephus' Jewish War: State of the Question" "Syriac Translation of Josephus' Jewish War."
- "Anti-Judaism in the Gospel of Matthew" (Plenary paper at the International Symposium on the Interpretation of the Bible as a Force for Social Change, sponsored by the Evangelische Akademie Arnoldshain and the Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt am Main, October 19-21, Arnoldshain, Germany.) [download essay]
- “The Date of the Earthquake of 363CE in the Syriac Chronicon Miscellaneum”.
Teaching Specializations
- New Testament and Early Christianity
- Hellenistic and Rabbinic Judaism
- Religions of the Graeco-Roman World
- Jewish-Christian Relations
- Hebrew
- Greek
- Aramaic/Syriac
Recent Courses
Spring 2012
HBR1103/REL5204 Beginning Hebrew II Dr. Levenson
HBR 1103 continues HBR 1102 and completes coverage of the essentials of Biblical Hebrew grammar. During the course of the semester selections from Genesis and the entire book of Jonah will be read. In addition, there will be some reading from poetic texts (including songs). After the completion of HBR 1103, the student will be prepared to read any portion of the Hebrew Bible with the aid of a dictionary and commentary.
REL2240 Introduction to the New Testament Dr. Levenson
An introduction to the literature of the New Testament and to the academic approaches to it. The distinctive concerns and literary features of individual texts will be studied in the contexts of the historical development of the early Christian church, ancient Judaism, and the wider Greco-Roman world. Emphasis throughout will fall on the variety of interpretations of the Christian message as Christians encountered new social circumstances and theological challenges.This course meets the Liberal Studies literature requirement and the “Gordon Rule” writing requirement.
REL4290/5297 Rabbinic Judaism Dr. Levenson
An advanced introduction to the rabbinic literature of late antiquity. Prerequisite: one semester of Biblical or Modern Hebrew. The course will focus on a close reading of representative texts from the major rabbinic collections in order to gives students the tools to understand the distinctive rabbinic modes of legal argumentation in the Babylonian Talmud, the varieties of techniques for interpreting the Bible in both halakhic (legal) and non halakhic midrashim, and the rhetorical strategies used in the construction of narratives about famous rabbis from the past. In addition to units devoted to learning how to read rabbinic texts by the detailed analyses of a passage from the Babylonian Talmud and from Genesis Rabbah, there will be units on rabbinic interpretations of the Joseph story with comparison to other ancient Jewish and Christian exegetical traditions, the emergence of mystical traditions in rabbinic circles, rabbinic ideas about the messiah, and the distinctive rabbinic contribution to a variety of religious practices and legal traditions such as the recitation of the Shema, sanctification of ordinary and festival meals, Sabbath, Passover, Marriage, and Divorce. All readings will be in English, but there will be references to individual words and phrases in Hebrew and Aramaic and a brief presentation of the distinctive features of rabbinic Hebrew.
Fall 2011
HBR1102/REL5204 Beginning Hebrew I Dr. Levenson
Introduction to the basic grammar, syntax, and phonology of modern and classical Hebrew. Meets the foreign language requirement for the BA degree. No language laboratory required.
Sec. 1/1 (Ref# 01809/04103) M W F 8:45am-9:55am DOD 0118
HBR2222 Intermediate Hebrew Dr. Levenson
A close reading of selected passages from the book of Exodus. Most of the passages will be prose narratvies from chapters 1-12, but there will also be readings from poetry ( Exod 15: "The Song at the Sea") and legal material associated with the Sinai Covenant (Exod. 19-24: Ten Commandments and Covenant Code). The primary emphasis will be on vocabulary, grammar, and style, but some attention will be given to issues of textual and source criticism. There will also be exercises for each assignment that will provide a review and solidify the grammar and vocabulary from Biblical Hebrew I and II.
Sec. 1 (Ref# 01812) M W F 10:10am-11:00am DOD 0207
REL3936 Jerusalem: Conflict and Controversy from Antiquity to the Present Dr. Levenson
This course will focus on conflicts and controversies surrounding the city of Jerusalem and how these have shaped Judaism, Christianity and Islam. It will begin with an analysis of the biblical accounts of David's capture of the city and then turn to the historical and prophetic literature describing and responding to the Assyrian siege of 701BCE and the Babylonian conquest of 597-586. After a short unit discussing the Maccabean Revolt, there will be an extensive section on the siege and fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple during the Jewish war of 66-73. This will entail a close reading of Josephus' narrative in the Jewish War, as well as discussion of various Jewish and Christian theological responses to the dramatic events. The next units will be devoted to the creation of Jerusalem as a Christian city in the fourth century, the Persian and Byzantine conflicts at the beginning of the seventh century, and the Muslim conquest and building projects of the mid and late seventh century. Muslim-Christian conflict over the city will continue to be explored in a unit on the Crusader period. Finally, Jerusalem's role in the Arab-Zionist and Israeli-Palestinian conflict will be examined in detail, with special focus on the events of 1917, 1929, 1948, and 1967, as well as discussion of the issue of Jerusalem in Arab-Israeli and Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. Throughout the course, the emphasis will be on a close reading and careful comparison of primary texts and secondary literature representing a variety of perspectives on the events studied.
Sec. 3 (Ref# 07619) T R 2:00pm-3:15pm DIF 0204
REL4203/5204 Classical Hebrew Texts: Exodus Dr. Levenson
Students with three semesters of Hebrew will do the assignments for Intermediate Hebrew and, in addition, read selections in English from Propp's Anchor Bible Commentary and in Hebrew from the commentary of Rashi and other medieval Jewish commentators.
Sec. 1/2 (Ref# 11573/07718) M W F 10:10am-11:00am DOD 0207
Seminars
- Gospel of Matthew (Undergrad), Fall 2009
- Rabbinic Judaism in Antiquity, Spring 2009
- Gospel of Mark (Undergrad), Fall 2008
- Religions of the Graeco-Roman World, Summer 2008
- Gospel of John Undergrad), Spring 2007
- Gospel of Matthew (Grad), Fall 2007
- Jerusalem: Conflict and Controversy from Antiquity to the Present, Spring 2006
- Gospel Passion Narratives (Undergrad), Spring 2005
- Jews and Judaism in the Graeco-Roman World, Fall 2005
- Jewish-Christian Relations in Antiquity, Fall 2004
Language and Text Courses
- Beginning Biblical Hebrew, Fall 2009
- Intermediate Biblical Hebrew, Fall 2009
- Syriac, Spring 2008
- Biblical and Targumic Aramaic, Spring 2004
- Coptic, Summer 2005
- Greek Text Courses:
- Josephus, Spring 2007 (Life); Fall 2009 (Jewish War)
- Philo, On the Creation of the World, Fall 2005
- John Chrysostom's First Orations Against the Jews, Fall 2004
- Gospel of Mark, Spring 2008
- Latin Texts: Ancient Latin trans. of Josephus' Jewish War, Summer 2009
- Hebrew Text Courses:
- Medieval Jewish Commentators, Fall 2003
- Ruth, Summer 2004
- 1 Kings 17-20, Summer 2009
- Genesis Rabbah, Fall 2002
- Talmud, Summer 2002