Winter 2018/Fuller Online

LG500

Wells

LG500: HEBREW TOOLS FOR BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION (4 Units: 160 hours). Sara Wells.

DESCRIPTION: This course offers a limited introduction to biblical Hebrew, including the writing system, basic lexicon, morphology, and syntax. The emphasis is on the responsible employment of standard reference works, commentaries, and Bible software to the practice of Old Testament interpretation in ministry contexts.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Having successfully completed this course, students will have demonstrated the ability (1) to recognize and write the Hebrew alphabet in square script; (2) to read and pronounce Hebrew words easily; (3) to work with standard Hebrew language tools (e.g., lexicons, concordances, analytical concordances, and grammars) in the service of Old Testament exegesis; (4) to discern the syntax of sentences with and without verbs; (5) to discern the meaning of words in sentences; and (6) to recognize the distinctive features of Hebrew poetry in contrast to prose.

COURSE FORMAT: This course will be conducted online on a ten-week schedule aligned with Fuller’s academic calendar for a total of 40 instructional hours. Students are required to interact with the material, with each other, and with the instructor regularly through online discussions, reading, and other assignments that promote active learning.

REQUIRED READING:

Walker-Jones, Arthur. Hebrewfor Biblical Interpretation. Society of Biblical Literature, 2003. ISBN: 978-1589830868, Pub. Price $34.95 [263 pp.]. [Reading, reference and exercises.]

Instructional videos available online.

BibleWorks, including the module “Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament (HALOT)”

Notes:

1. Use of approved Bible software is mandatory; it will be used in Hebrew, Greek, and other biblical studies courses, and will be useful in future ministry.

2. BibleWorks is priced at $389, or $289 with group discount; see www.bibleworks.com/IPP/. Currently the HALOT module is $159, the standard Greek lexicon (BDAG) is $150, and both together are $212.

3. These tools can be useful in biblical studies courses as well as in subsequent ministry. BibleWorks is available for either PC or Mac (for system requirements, see http://www.bibleworks.com/content/sys-req.html).

4. Successful completion of the course requires ongoing access to the following reference works, all of which are available in BibleWorks: an exhaustive Hebrew concordance; the text of the Hebrew Bible; Brown, F. with S.R. Driver & C.A. Briggs. Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew English Lexicon. Hendrickson, 1996; Gesenius, W., E.F. Kautzsch, et al. Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar. Dover Publications, 2006; Jouon, P. - T. Muraoka. A Grammar of Biblical Hebrew, Parts 1, 2 & 3. Biblical Institute Press, 2006; Koehler, L., W. Baumgartner. Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament. 2 Volumes. Brill, 2002.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Brown, A. Philip and Bryan Smith. A Reader's Hebrew Bible. Zondervan, 2008. ISBN: 978-0310269748, Pub. Price $49.99.

Elliger, K. and W. Rudolph. Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia. German Bible Society, 1997. Compact edition: ISBN: 978-1598561630, Pub. Price $69.95.

Vance, Donald A., George Athas, and Yael Avrahami. Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia: A Reader’s Edition (Hebrew Edition). Hendrickson, 2015. ISBN: 978-1598563429, Pub. Price $59.95.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. 200 pages of assigned reading [15 hours].

2. Bibleworks How-to videos and other technological instruction [15 hours].

3. Instructional videos [30 hours].

4. Posting in forums and other online activities, 250-word initial posts and 100-word reply posts: Each week, we will engage in discussions (by means of forums) or engage in other online activities (e.g., wikis) related to the topics for the week. (20% of final grade). [This is related to learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5] [40 hours].

5. Mini-quizzes: frequent (e.g., weekly), small quizzes (10%). [10 hours].

6. Quiz on the Hebrew alphabet (5%). [This is related to learning outcome 1] [2 hours].

7. Oral exam on reading simple Hebrew texts aloud (10%). [This is related to learning outcome 2] [3 hours].

8. Two tests related to nouns, conjunctions, prepositions, and/or verbs (20%). [This is related to learning outcomes 3 and 4] [20 hours].

9. Exegetical exercises (15%). [This is related to learning outcomes 3, 4, 5, 6] [15 hours].

10. Final exam (20%). {This is related to learning outcomes} [10 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Biblical Hebrew (HB).

FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes.