Jack M. Sasson
Encyclopedia
Jack M. Sasson currently serves as Mary Jane Werthan Professor of Jewish Studies
and Hebrew Bible
at Vanderbilt Divinity School
and as a Professor of Classics
at Vanderbilt University
. His research focuses primarily on Assyriology
and Hebrew Scriptures, writing on the archives from eighteenth century BCE found at Mari, Syria
, by the Euphrates
, near the modern-day Syria-Iraq border as well as on biblical studies
.
Born in Aleppo, Syria, on October 1, 1941, Sasson immigrated to the United States
in 1955 after a significant stay in Lebanon
where he attended the Alliance Israélite Universelle schools. In America, Sasson enrolled in Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn, New York, and then Brooklyn College
, a constituent school of the City University of New York
college system. He received his B.A.
in history in 1962 from Brooklyn College
.
Immediately after completing his undergraduate education, Sasson accepted a scholarship to pursue his graduate studies at Brandeis University
. At Brandeis, he focused first on Islamic Studies
, earning an M.A.
in Mediterranean Studies in 1963. Eventually, however, he earned his doctorate in Ancient Near Eastern Studies in 1966.
Sasson taught at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
, moving up the rank and becoming a full professor of Religious Studies in 1977. In 1991, Sasson was appointed to the prestigious William R. Kenan Chair in Religious Studies where he remained until joining the faculty of Vanderbilt University
in 1999.
Sasson was president of the American Oriental Society
from 1996 to 1997 and of the International Association for Assyriology from 2005 to 2009. He also established and directed the Jewish Studies
program at Vanderbilt University
from 2002 to 2005.
Jewish studies
Jewish studies is an academic discipline centered on the study of Jews and Judaism. Jewish studies is interdisciplinary and combines aspects of history , religious studies, archeology, sociology, languages , political science, area studies, women's studies, and ethnic studies...
and Hebrew Bible
Hebrew Bible
The Hebrew Bible is a term used by biblical scholars outside of Judaism to refer to the Tanakh , a canonical collection of Jewish texts, and the common textual antecedent of the several canonical editions of the Christian Old Testament...
at Vanderbilt Divinity School
Vanderbilt Divinity School
The Vanderbilt Divinity School and Graduate Department of Religion is an interdenominational divinity school at Vanderbilt University, a major research university located in Nashville, Tennessee...
and as a Professor of Classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
at Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
. His research focuses primarily on Assyriology
Assyriology
Assyriology is the archaeological, historical, and linguistic study of ancient Mesopotamia and the related cultures that used cuneiform writing. The field covers the Akkadian sister-cultures of Assyria and Babylonia, together with their cultural predecessor; Sumer...
and Hebrew Scriptures, writing on the archives from eighteenth century BCE found at Mari, Syria
Mari, Syria
Mari was an ancient Sumerian and Amorite city, located 11 kilometers north-west of the modern town of Abu Kamal on the western bank of Euphrates river, some 120 km southeast of Deir ez-Zor, Syria...
, by the Euphrates
Euphrates
The Euphrates is the longest and one of the most historically important rivers of Western Asia. Together with the Tigris, it is one of the two defining rivers of Mesopotamia...
, near the modern-day Syria-Iraq border as well as on biblical studies
Biblical studies
Biblical studies is the academic study of the Judeo-Christian Bible and related texts. For Christianity, the Bible traditionally comprises the New Testament and Old Testament, which together are sometimes called the "Scriptures." Judaism recognizes as scripture only the Hebrew Bible, also known as...
.
Born in Aleppo, Syria, on October 1, 1941, Sasson immigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1955 after a significant stay in Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
where he attended the Alliance Israélite Universelle schools. In America, Sasson enrolled in Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn, New York, and then Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College is a senior college of the City University of New York, located in Brooklyn, New York, United States.Established in 1930 by the New York City Board of Higher Education, the College had its beginnings as the Downtown Brooklyn branches of Hunter College and the City College of New...
, a constituent school of the City University of New York
City University of New York
The City University of New York is the public university system of New York City, with its administrative offices in Yorkville in Manhattan. It is the largest urban university in the United States, consisting of 23 institutions: 11 senior colleges, six community colleges, the William E...
college system. He received his B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in history in 1962 from Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College is a senior college of the City University of New York, located in Brooklyn, New York, United States.Established in 1930 by the New York City Board of Higher Education, the College had its beginnings as the Downtown Brooklyn branches of Hunter College and the City College of New...
.
Immediately after completing his undergraduate education, Sasson accepted a scholarship to pursue his graduate studies at Brandeis University
Brandeis University
Brandeis University is an American private research university with a liberal arts focus. It is located in the southwestern corner of Waltham, Massachusetts, nine miles west of Boston. The University has an enrollment of approximately 3,200 undergraduate and 2,100 graduate students. In 2011, it...
. At Brandeis, he focused first on Islamic Studies
Islamic studies
In a Muslim context, Islamic studies can be an umbrella term for all virtually all of academia, both originally researched and as defined by the Islamization of knowledge...
, earning an M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in Mediterranean Studies in 1963. Eventually, however, he earned his doctorate in Ancient Near Eastern Studies in 1966.
Sasson taught at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
, moving up the rank and becoming a full professor of Religious Studies in 1977. In 1991, Sasson was appointed to the prestigious William R. Kenan Chair in Religious Studies where he remained until joining the faculty of Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
in 1999.
Sasson was president of the American Oriental Society
American Oriental Society
The American Oriental Society was chartered under the laws of Massachusetts on September 7, 1842. It is one of the oldest learned societies in America, and is the oldest devoted to a particular field of scholarship....
from 1996 to 1997 and of the International Association for Assyriology from 2005 to 2009. He also established and directed the Jewish Studies
Jewish studies
Jewish studies is an academic discipline centered on the study of Jews and Judaism. Jewish studies is interdisciplinary and combines aspects of history , religious studies, archeology, sociology, languages , political science, area studies, women's studies, and ethnic studies...
program at Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
from 2002 to 2005.
Selected publications
- "Absalom's Daughter: An Essay in Vestige Historiography," Journal for the Study of the Old TestamentJournal for the Study of the Old TestamentThe Journal for the Study of the Old Testament is a peer-reviewed academic journal that publishes papers five times a year in the field of Biblical Studies. The journal's editors are John Jarick and Keith Whitelam...
343 (2001): 179-196.
"Albright as an Orientalist" The Biblical Archaeologist. 56.1 (1993): 3-7.
"An Apocalyptic Vision from Mari: Speculations on ARM X:9" Mari: Annales de Recherches Interdisciplinaires. 1 (1982): 151-67.
"Biographical Notices on Some Royal Ladies from Mari" Journal of Cuneiform Studies. 25.2 (Apr 1973): 59-78.
"The Blood of Grapes: Viticulture and Intoxication in the Hebrew Bible" Drinking in Ancient Societies; History and Culture of Drinks in the Ancient Near East. Ed. Lucio Milano. Padua: Sargon srl, 1994. 399-419.
"Bovine Symbolism in the Exodus Narrative" Vetus TestamentumVetus TestamentumVetus Testamentum is an academic journal covering various aspects of the Old Testament....
. 18.3 (Jul 1968): 380-7.
"The Burden of Scribes" Tzi Abusch, ed. Riches Hidden in Secret Places: Studies in Memory of Thorkild Jacobsen. (2002): 211-28.
"Canaanite Maritime Involvement in the Second Millennium B.C." Journal of the American Oriental Society. 86.2 (1966): 126-138.
"Divine Providence or Human Plan?" Interpretation. 30 (1976): 415-419.
"Forcing Morals on Mesopotamian Society" Studies in Honor of Harry A. Hoffner, Jr., on the Occasion of his 65th Birthday. Eds. Gary Beckman Richard Beal, and Gregory McMahon. Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 2003. 329-40.
"Instances of Mobility Among Mari Artisans" Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental ResearchBulletin of the American Schools of Oriental ResearchThe Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research is one of three academic journals published by American Schools of Oriental Research....
. 190 (Apr 1968): 46-54.
"Isaiah LXVI 3-4a" Vetus TestamentumVetus TestamentumVetus Testamentum is an academic journal covering various aspects of the Old Testament....
. 26.2 (1976): 199-207.
"The King and I: A Mari King in Changing Perceptions" Journal of the American Oriental Society. 118.4 (1998): 453—470.
"Love's Roots: On the Redaction of Genesis 30:14-24" Love and Death in the Ancient Near East: Essays in Honor of Marvin H. Pope. Eds. John H. Marks and Robert M. Good. Guilford, CT: Four Quarters Publishing Company, 1987. 205-09.
"A Major Contribution to Song of Songs Scholarship" Journal of the American Oriental Society. 107.4 (1987): 733—739.
"Mari Dreams" Journal of the American Oriental Society. 103.1 (1983): 283—293.
"Musical Settings for Cuneiform Literature: A Discography" Journal of the American Oriental Society. 103 (1983): 233-35.
"Of Time & Immortality: How Genesis Created Them" Bible Review. 21.3 (Summer 2005): 32-41, 52-54.
"Old Babylonian Tablets from Al-Rimah" Journal of the American Oriental Society. 100.4 (1980): 453-460.
"On the Use of Images in Israel and the Ancient Near East" Barry M. Gittlin, ed. Sacred Time, Sacred Place: Archaeology and the Religion of Israel. Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 2002. 63-70.
"Oracle Inquiries in Judges" Birkat Shalom: Studies in the Bible, Ancient Near Eastern Literature, and Postbiblical Judaism Presented to Shalom M. Paul on the Occasion of His Seventieth Birthday. Eds. Chaim Cohen Victor A. Hurowitz, Avi Hurvitz, Yochanan Muffs and others. Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 2008. 149-68.
"The Posting of Letters with Divine Messages" Florilegium marianum, 2: Recueil d'études à la mémoire de Maurice Birot [Mémoires de N.A.B.U., 3]. Eds. D. Charpin and J.M. Durand. Paris: Nouvelles assyriologiques Brèves et Utilitaires, 1994. 299-316.
"The Road to Vanderbilt" The Spire; Vol. 22 No. 01, 2001. 28-32.
"The Search for the Hebrew God" University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. 23 Sept 2001. Lecture.
"The Servant's Tale: How Rebekah Found a Spouse" Journal of Near Eastern Studies. Chicago: Univ of Chicago Press. 65.4 (2006): 241-265.
"Should Cheeseburgers Be Kosher?" Bible Review. 19.6 (Dec 2003): 41-43, 50-51.
"Sketch of North Syrian Economic Relations in the Middle Bronze Age" Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient. 9.3 (Dec 1966): 161-81.
"Thoughts of Zimri-Lim" Biblical Archaeologist. 47.2 (June 1984): 110-20.
"The Treatment of Criminals at Mari: A Survey" Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient. 20.1 (Jan 1977): 90-113.
"Untold Stories: The Bible and Ugaritic Studies in the Twentieth Century" Jewish Quarterly ReviewJewish Quarterly ReviewThe Jewish Quarterly Review is an peer-reviewed academic journal which focuses on Jewish studies. It is published quarterly for the Herbert D. Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania by the University of Pennsylvania Press. The current editors are Elliott Horowitz...
. 93.1/2 (2002): 314-316.
"Utopian and Dystopian Images in Mari Prophetic Texts" Utopia and Dystopia in Prophetic Literature. Ed. Ehud Ben Zvi. Helsinki: Finnish Exegetical Society, 2006. 27-40.
"Who Cut Samson's Hair? (And Other Trifling Issues Raised by Judges 16" Prooftexts. 8.3 (1988): 333-339.
"Year: Zimri-Lim Dedicated His Statue to Addu of Halab, Locating One Year in Zimri-Lim's Reign" Mari: Annales de Recherches Interdisciplinaires. 5 (1987): 577-89.
"Year: Zimri-Lim Offered a Great Throne to Shamash of Mahanum: An Overview of One Year in Mari, Part 1: The Presence of the King" Mari: Annales de Recherches Interdisciplinaires. 4 (1985): 437-52.
"Zimri-Lim Takes the Grand Tour" Biblical Archaeologist. 47.4 (1984): 246-52.
"Zimri-Lim's Letter to Tish-ulme" Nouvelles assyriologiques Brèves et Utilitaires. 3.116 (1989): 91-92.
External links