DESCRIPTION:

The purpose of this course is to provide students with reinforcement skills learned in beginning Hebrew classes and to expand their familiarity with the variety of literature to be found in the Hebrew Bible. Emphasis will be placed on developing proficiency in the reading and pronunciation of Hebrew, with some discussion of grammatical and syntactical issues encountered in the Biblical texts read.

Anyone who has taught from the Bible will be aware that different versions of the Bible often give radically different translations for the same verse. A working knowledge of Hebrew will help the student understand the reasons for these differences, and make intelligent choices among the various translations and interpretations found in study Bibles and commentaries. In addition, this course will help to equip those who wish to continue their study of Hebrew as well as those who wish to make reading the Hebrew text part of their daily devotions.

The class will meet twice weekly for two-hour sessions. The course will be based on the material in the assigned textbook, supplemented by other Hebrew reading. Classes will consist of lecture, reading from the Hebrew Bible, and recitation in class on homework assigned. Each day the written translations prepared will be turned in for evaluation. Daily grades will be given based on class recitation and homework preparation in order to provide students with frequent feedback about their progress.

Ben Zvi, Ehud, Maxine Hancock, and Richard Beinert. Readings in Biblical Hebrew. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1993.

Brown, Francis, S. R. Driver, and Charles A. Briggs, eds. A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1979.

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

Joüon, Paul. A Grammar of Biblical Hebrew. Translated by Takamitsu Muraoka. Rome: Editrice Pontificio Istituto Biblico, 1991; reprinted with corrections, 1993.

Sáenz-Badillos, Angel. A History of the Hebrew Language. Translated by John Elwolde. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996.

Translation work will be discussed each day in class, and the written translation assignment will be turned in for grading on the day it is discussed. Oral participation on the daily reading will be expected from each student.

LG502 or equivalent.

Elective.

No.