DESCRIPTION:

This course will help students to reinforce and to enhance skills learned in beginning Hebrew classes and to expand their familiarity with the variety of literature in the Hebrew canon. Attention will be given to reviewing basic vocabulary and forms as well as to introducing more advanced grammar and syntax as they are encountered in a selection of texts drawn from different genres.

The ability to read ancient texts of Scripture in their original languages is fundamental to understanding and appropriating their message.

The course will meet twice weekly, two hours per session, for ten weeks. The majority of time will be given to reading and discussing texts that students will have prepared in advance.

Students should own a text and a lexicon, and should own or have easy access to a reference grammar and a syntax guide.

Text:

Elliger, K. and W. Rudolph. Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia. 5th ed. Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1997.

Lexicon:

Brown, F.; S. R. Driver; and C. A. Briggs. A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament, with an appendix, containing the Biblical Aramaic. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1996 [original date, 1906].

Or Koehler, Ludwig and Walter Baumgartner et al. Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament. Trans. M. E. J. Richardson et al. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1994-2000 (2-volume, unabridged study edition, 2002).

Reference Grammar:

Joüon, P. and T. Muraoka. A Grammar of Biblical Hebrew. Roma: Editrice Pontificio Istituto Biblio, 1991.

Or Gesenius, W. and E. F. Kautzsch et al. Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar. 2d ed. Oxford: Clarendon, 1963 [original date, 1910].

Syntax:

Waltke, Bruce K. and M. O'Connor. An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax. Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 1990.

Or Arnold, B. T. and J. H. Choi. A Guide to Biblical Hebrew Syntax. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003.

See the Biblical Division bibliography "Linguistic and Exegetical Books Required in the Master of Divinity Program" available in the SOT Academic Advising office.

1. Students will be expected to prepare a translation and specific grammatical notes for each assigned passage, and to participate in oral reading and discussion. Consistency of preparation, attendance, and participation will be very important. Preparation materials will be collected and evaluated weekly (70%).

2. Each student will prepare a grammatical commentary on one of the passages read in class, following guidelines provided in the syllabus (30%).