This course is an introduction to the Hebrew Bible. It will focus upon the story of the Israelites, beginning with the call of Abraham in Genesis 12 and concluding with narratives written after the exilic period (586-539 BCE). Texts from three divisions of the Hebrew Bible (Torah, prophets, and writings) will be read in conversation with contemporary work on methods of biblical interpretation. The course will emphasize both knowledge of historical information (names, dates, and events) and knowledge of the relationship between Israelite history and the development of Israelite theology in areas such as the nature of God, the concept of divine retribution, and the role of women and non-Israelites in the life of God's people.