DESCRIPTION: This is the first of a two-quarter sequence of the Biblical
Hebrew; the second half of the course will be offered in the Winter quarter.
Students enrolling in the Fall quarter are expected to complete their study in
the Winter quarter with the same instructor. No transferring between sections
is permitted. The course will seek to develop the mastery of elementary Hebrew
grammar and vocabulary and of translation of exercises from the textbook and
the Hebrew Bible, as well as provide an introduction to the use of reference
material for the reading and translation of Hebrew. At the end of the
two-quarter sequence, the student will be able to read and translate portions
of the Hebrew Bible as basis for future exegetical work.
COURSE OBJECTIVES/LEARNING OUTCOMES: The students will (1) memorize basic
vocabulary for prose readings of the Hebrew Bible; (2) understand and recognize
the different grammatical categories present in Hebrew: nouns, adjectives,
adverbs, prepositions, verbs, and verbal forms; (3) learn to read aloud
biblical sections of the Hebrew Bible according to the Sephardite tradition;
(4) translate Hebrew texts and interact with reference books and
commentaries for biblical exegesis; (5) understand a basic introduction to
exegesis of Old Testament texts.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: The study of biblical Hebrew will help students to
better handle the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). Almost two-thirds of the
Scriptures were written in Hebrew. Learning this language will open a window
into the culture and history of the biblical text, enabling us to deal with
Scripture more correctly. In this introductory course the students will lay the
linguistic foundations for future exegetical courses.
COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet twice weekly for two-hour sessions. The
course will be based on the material in the required texts for the class.
Classes will consist of lecture, reading from the Hebrew Bible, translation
exercises, and daily quizzes.
REQUIRED READING: