DESCRIPTION: This is the second half of a two-quarter introduction to biblical Hebrew. Students enrolling in this course have completed LG502A in the Fall 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 Nociones Esenciales del Hebreo Biblico, as well as provide an introduction to the use of reference material for the reading and translation of Hebrew. In this quarter students will continue learning basic Hebrew grammar and reading large portions of the Hebrew Bible.

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; (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 them to deal with Scripture more correctly. In this introductory course the students will lay the linguistic foundations for future exegetical courses.

COURSE FORMAT: This course will meet twice a week for two-hour sessions. Each class will introduce two new lessons from the textbook by means of class presentations. Each lesson will be followed by selected exercises, which will be examples for students' homework.

REQUIRED READING:

Elliger, Karl and Wilhelm Rudolph, eds. Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia. Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1990.

Yates, Kyle M. Nociones Esenciales del Hebreo Bíblico. El Paso: Casa Bautista de Publicaciones. Décimo Tercera Edición 2007.

See the Biblical Division bibliography "Linguistic and Exegetical Books Required in the Master of Divinity Programs" available at http://www.fuller.edu/sot/ecds/091/Ling-Exeg-Biblio.html.

Chavez, Moises. Diccionario Hebreo Español. El Paso: Editorial Mundo Hispano. 1992.

Williams, Ronald J. Williams' Hebrew Syntax. 3rd ed. Revised and expanded by John C. Beckman. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2007.

1. Class participation will contribute 5% of final grade. This includes being there and being on time and reading the Lessons.

2. Memorizing the vocabulary in the lessons (vocabulary quizzes = 20%).

3. Completion of the exercises assigned from each lesson (20%).

4. Oral recitation (10%).

5. Two tests during the term (30%).

6. Final exam (15%).