The Early Biblical Interpretation Seminar series runs throughout the academic year. It is focused on the study of texts and considers the vitality of biblical texts, traditions and themes across the ancient world. In this seminar, one might hear research on the theme of wisdom in Greek tragedy, prayer in the Dead Sea Scrolls, biblical and classical commentaries or rabbinic reading strategies. The Bodleian’s incredible collection of Hebrew, Aramaic, Latin and Greek manuscripts are an integral part of this seminar, and it regularly organises group visits to the Weston Library.
MICHAELMAS TERM 2026
EARLY BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION SEMINAR
Weeks 1, 2, 4, 5, & 8
Thursdays, 10:00–12:00
Harris Seminar Room (Oriel College)
Convened by Hindy Najman (Oriel)
Week 1, 15 October
Vladimir Olivero (Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies), When Variants Speak: the Importance of Textual Criticism for Linguistics
Week 2, 22 October
Hindy Najman (Oriel), Hermeneutics and Poetics
Week 4, 5 November
Shoni Lavie-Driver (New College), Latin and Greek in Rabbinic Literature
Week 5, 12 November
Professionalization sessions: AAR/SBL papers, 10:00–14:00; Rebekah Van Sant (Worcester)
Week 8, 3 December
Hindy Najman (Oriel) and Cesár Merchan-Hamann (Bodleian Libraries), Reading Midrash: Weston Library session (registration required). Mekhilta de-Rabi Yishma’el (ff. 152v). Bodleian Library MS. Marshall Or. 24. Catalogue Identifier: Neubauer 151 [text to be precirculated].
Consult the Oriel College porter’s lodge for the 4-digit code to enter the Harris Seminar Room.
If you have any queries, please write to ocsb@oriel.ox.ac.uk