Dr. des. Kirsten Maria Schäfers

My research is based in the field of Hebrew Bible Studies and engages with asymmetrical dependencies from two angles.

1) “(Inter-)Dependency? Human-Divine Relationships in the Hebrew Bible”

I analyze constructions of dependency in human-divine relationships in the textual corpus of the Hebrew Bible. For my second book, I am particularly interested in the limitations of divine agency within the framework of human-divine relationships and interactions. In the Hebrew Bible, I focus especially on the prophetic Book of Hosea, which contains extensive divine speeches that try to explain the ups and downs in the relationship between YHWH and Israel from a divine perspective. My research combines socio-historical, religious-historical, narratological, and biblical-theological perspectives. The results will be contextualized using textual evidence from the ANE.

2) “Priestly Leadership, Coercive Restraints of Membership, and Apostasy”

This part of my research aims at understanding the institutionalized consequences of dependencies from god, gods, and the divine. In the Pentateuch, priestly claims of leadership culminate in the figure of Phinehas the priest in the Book of Numbers, ch. 25. Phinehas’ actions are exemplary for promoting coercive and violent restrictions to membership, sanctioned by the priest himself. Based on the results of my previous research on Num 25, I analyze the restrictive and total concepts of membership and apostasy resp. that come along with institutionalized dependency constructions in the Hebrew Bible.

Further research interests:

• Pentateuch (Genesis and Numbers)
• The Book of the Twelve (Hosea)
• Textual history and textual criticism, esp. of the Book of Numbers (Qumran, Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, Peshitta, Targumim)
• Exegetical methods and theory of science
• Authority, leadership and legitimization in the Old Testament

2021
Dr. theol., Old Testament Studies at the Faculty of Catholic Theology, Ruhr University, Bochum. Doctoral dissertation: “Non-Linearität, Varianz und Verdichtung als Kennzeichen von Textentstehung und -tradition. Paradigmatische Erkundungen im Grenzland von Num 25” (Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Christian Frevel)

2011
M.A. in Medieval and Modern History at the University of Bonn

2009
Dipl. theol. in Catholic Theology at the University of Bonn

since 01/2022
Tenured lecturer (Akademische Rätin a.Z.) at the Department of Old Testament Studies, Faculty of Catholic Theology, University of Bonn

since 10/2019
Lectureship for “Einleitung in das Alte Testament” at the Department of Catholic Theology, University of Wuppertal

2017–2021
Research associate (WMA) at the Department of Old Testament Studies, Faculty of Catholic Theology, University of Bonn

2011–2013
Research associate (WMA) in the MERCUR project: “Traditions- und Redaktionsprozesse im Buch Numeri und ihr Zusammenhang mit der Entstehung des Pentateuch” (Prof. Dr. C. Frevel) at the Chair for Old Testament Studies, Faculty of Catholic Theology, Ruhr University, Bochum

2009–2010
Research assistant (WHK) in the DFG project “Theologisches Wörterbuch zu den Qumrantexten” at the Universities of Bonn and Siegen/Freiburg; Prof. Dr. H.-J. Fabry and Prof. Dr. U. Dahmen)

2017–2017
Doctoral scholarship: Wilhelm und Günter Esser-Stiftung

2013–2017
Doctoral scholarship: Bischöfliche Studienförderung des Cusa­nuswerkes

2005–2011
Student scholarship: Bischöfliche Studienförderung des Cusa­nuswerkes

10/2022–09/2024
Projekt: „Mapping Variant Textuality. Towards a Textual History of the Book of Numbers“ (Argelander Starter-Kit Grant; 24.950 €)

10/2019–09/2020
eLearning-Projekt „Altes Testament“, gefördert mit 11.376 € durch das Programm „Gemeinsam für mehr Qualität in Studium und Lehre (QSL)“ der Universität Bonn (Bund-Länder-Programm Qualitätspakt Lehre)

10/2018–09/2019
eLearning-Projekt „Altes Testament“, gefördert mit 11.376 € durch das Programm „Gemeinsam für mehr Qualität in Studium und Lehre (QSL)“ der Universität Bonn (Bund-Länder-Programm Qualitätspakt Lehre)

Monographs

• Non-Linearität, Varianz und Verdichtung als Kennzeichen von Textentstehung und ‑tradition. Paradigmatische Erkundungen im Grenzland von Num 25 (in preparation, to be published in 2022)

Edited volumes

• Reinhard Müller/Kirsten M. Schäfers (ed.), Von Textbeobachtungen zu Entstehungsmodellen in der Pentateuchkritik. Untersuchungen zu Gen 20–22. FAT. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, in preparation, to be published in 2022.

Articles

• together with K. Pyschny, Berlin: “Aktuelle Tendenzen und Desiderata der Anwendung historisch-kritischer Methodenschritte in der Pentateuchforschung.” In Von Textbe­obachtungen zu Entstehungsmodellen in der Pentateuchkritik. Untersuchungen zu Gen 20–22, edited by Reinhard Müller and Kirsten M. Schäfers. FAT. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, in preparation, to be published in 2022.
• together with R. Müller, Göttingen: “Gen 21,8-21: Synopse und Kommentierung.” In Von Textbeobachtungen zu Entstehungsmodellen in der Pentateuchkritik. Untersuchungen zu Gen 20–22, edited by Reinhard Müller and Kirsten M. Schäfers. FAT. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, in preparation, to be published in 2022.
• together with R. Müller: “Literarische Sollbruchstellen in Gen 21,8–21. Diskussion des Befundes.” In Von Textbeobachtungen zu Entstehungsmodellen in der Pentateuchkritik. Untersuchungen zu Gen 20–22, edited by Reinhard Müller and Kirsten M. Schäfers. FAT. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, in preparation, to be published in 2022.
• “4QNumb LXX vs. MT SP: Evidence for Non-Linear Processes in the Textual Development of the Book of Numbers from a Neglected Variant Pattern”, in: Jean-Sébastien Rey/Stefan Schorch (Hg.), Urtext – Fluidity – Textual Convergence? The Quest for the Texts of the Hebrew Bible (CBET), Louvain (to be published 2023).
• 2021. “Verwickelte Textgeschichte. Neue Erkenntnisse zum Verhältnis von Qumran und Samaritanus.” Welt und Umwelt der Bibel 2/2021: 37–38.
• 2020. “Vom Dienst und seinen Ordnungen. Kompetenzabgrenzung als (über‑)lebens­notwendige Maßnahme in den priesterlichen Ordnungen des Pentateuch.” In Wer entscheidet, wer was entscheidet? Zum Reformbedarf kirchlicher Führungs­praxis, edited by Matthias Sellmann and Benedikt Jürgens, 71–90. QD 312. Freiburg im Breisgau: Herder.
• 2018. “‘... and the LORD's Anger was Kindled against Israel” (Num 25:3)—Who’s in Charge and Who’s to Blame?: Punishment, Intercession, and Leadership-Related Competences in Num 25.” In Debating Authority. Concepts of Leadership in the Pentateuch and the Former Prophets, edited by Katharina Pyschny and Sarah Schulz, 132–158. BZAW 507. Berlin, Boston: de Gruyter.
• 2016. “Art. רשׁע – Frevel.” In Theologisches Wörterbuch zu den Qumrantexten. Vol. III, edited by Heinz-Josef Fabry and Ulrich Dahmen, 722–741. Stuttgart: Kohlhammer.
• 2013. “Art. יצא – ausziehen.” In Theologisches Wörterbuch zu den Qumrantexten. Vol. II., edited by Heinz-Josef Fabry and Ulrich Dahmen, 215–231. Stuttgart: Kohlhammer.
• 2011. “Art. בוא – kommen.” In Theologisches Wörterbuch zu den Qumrantexten. Vol. I, edited by Heinz-Josef Fabry and Ulrich Dahmen, 379–407. Stuttgart: Kohlhammer.
• 2010. “Towards a Theology of Qumran: The ‘Theological Dictionary of the Qumran Texts’ (Theologisches Wörterbuch zu den Qumranschriften, ThWQ).” Journal of Ancient Judaism 1, 322–328.