4OT506: HEBREW EXEGESIS Course Syllabus Reformed Theological Seminary, Atlanta Instructor: John J. Yeo, Ph.D. Fall 2010 E-mail: [email protected] Wednesdays, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM RTS Catalog Description (2 unit course): This course introduces basic tools for interpreting the Old Testament. Attention is given to a working knowledge of biblical Hebrew vocabulary, grammar, syntax, and to principles of interpretation. I. PURPOSE OF THE COURSE • The purpose of this third and final Hebrew module is to adequately equip the student to translate and interpret the Old Testament from the Hebrew Bible (MT). This will give the student an awareness of the grammatical and syntactical nuances present in the Hebrew text that might, otherwise, go unnoticed merely relying on English translations. • A review of the basic vocabulary, verbal patterns and paradigms, as well as, an introduction to the syntax of the noun and volitives will be included. OBJECTIVES: The successful student will: 1) Know the Hebrew vocabulary and verbal forms covered in Hebrew I and II better. 2) Be familiar with a basic Hebrew reference grammar by having studied sections in Robert B. Chisholm, Jr.’s, From Exegesis to Exposition: A Practical Guide to Using Biblical Hebrew (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1999). 3) Know how to apply the basic meanings of the verbal patterns/stems. 4) Know how to apply the basic syntactical uses of nouns and verbs. 5) Be able to translate and interpret the Book of Ruth with the aid of Chisholm’s A Workbook for Intermediate Hebrew (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel, 2006).II. COURSE SCHEDULE August 25- Syllabus Review Prolegomena: An Introduction to the Hebrew Bible READ Brotzman, pp. 97-132 BEFORE class on 8/25/10 September 01- Hebrew: Ruth 1:1-6 (Chisholm/Workbook: pp. 103-110) Vocabulary Review: Pratico/Van Pelt: pp. 25 and 36 Verbs: Qal Regular (i.e., Strong): Perfect (Chapter 13), Imperfect (Chapter 15) Chisholm: Nouns, pp. 58-66; Qal, p.79 Brotzman, pp. 97-135 September 08- Hebrew: Ruth 1:7-14 (Chisholm/Workbook: pp. 111-122) Quiz #1 Vocabulary Review: Pratico/Van Pelt: pp. 46-47 and 57 Verbs: Qal Regular, Perfect and Imperfect Chisholm: “How Words Work and Play,” pp. 31-56 Brotzman, pp. 135-138 September 15- Hebrew: Ruth 1:15-19a (Chisholm/Workbook: pp. 123-129) Quiz #2 Vocabulary Review: Pratico/Van Pelt: pp. 65 and 77-78 Verbs: Niphal Regular- Perfect and Imperfect Chisholm: Niphal, p. 79; Perfect, pp.86-89 Brotzman, pp. 138-142 September 22- Hebrew: Ruth 1:19b-22 (Chisholm/Workbook: pp. 129-136) Quiz #3 Vocabulary Review: Pratico/Van Pelt: pp. 91 and 105 Verbs: Piel Regular- Perfect and Imperfect Chisholm: Piel, pp. 80-81; Imperfect (Objective [Indicative]), pp. 89-92 Chisholm: Old Testament Narrative, pp. 149-159 September 29- Hebrew: Ruth 2:1-7 (Chisholm/Workbook: pp. 137-147) Quiz #4 Vocabulary Review: Pratico/Van Pelt: pp. 119 and 135 Verbs: Hithpael Regular- Perfect and Imperfect Chisholm: Hithpael, p.82; Imperfect (Subjective [Subjunctive]), pp. 92-94 Chisholm: Literary Features of Hebrew Narrative, pp.159-169 Brotzman, pp. 142-145 Exegetical Paper Topic Due October 06- Hebrew: Ruth 2:8-13 (Chisholm/Workbook: pp. 147-157) Quiz #5 Vocabulary Review: Pratico/Van Pelt: pp. 148-149 and 161-162Verbs: Hiphil Regular- Perfect and Imperfect Chisholm: Hiphil, pp. 82-83; Waw-relative Imperfect, pp. 94-99 Chisholm: An Exegetical Method, pp. 187-200 Midterm Examination Review October 13- Fall Break, No Class October 20- Midterm Examination October 27- Hebrew: Ruth 2:14-23 (Chisholm/Workbook: pp. 158-172) Quiz #6 Vocabulary Review: Pratico/Van Pelt: pp. 172 and 191 Verbs: Jussives- All Patterns (Jussive forms for the Qal, Niphal, Piel, Hiphil, and Hithpael [Will be discussed in class]) Chisholm: Waw-relative Perfect, pp. 99-103 Chisholm: Exegesis of Isaiah 1:2-20, pp. 200-213 Brotzman, pp. 145-149 November 03- Hebrew: Ruth 3:1-7 (Chisholm/Workbook: pp. 173-183) Quiz #7 Vocabulary Review: Pratico/Van Pelt: pp. 205-206 and 222 Verbs: Imperatives- All Patterns (Look up all Imperatival forms for the Qal, Niphal, Piel, Hiphil, and Hithpael) Chisholm: Volitives, pp. 103-107 Brotzman, pp. 149-152 November 10- Hebrew: Ruth 3:8-18 (Chisholm/Workbook: pp. 183-199) Quiz #8 Vocabulary Review: Pratico/Van Pelt: pp. 269-270; 285; and 296 Verbs: Cohortatives- All Patterns (Look up all Cohortative forms for the Qal, Niphal, Piel, Hiphil, and Hithpael) Chisholm: Volitives in sequence, pp. 108-112 Brotzman, pp. 152-157 November 17- Hebrew: Ruth 4:1-12 (Chisholm/Workbook: pp. 201-215) Quiz #9 Vocabulary Review: Pratico/Van Pelt: pp. 306-307; 315-316; 325-326 Verbs: Perfect and Imperfect: Qal, Niphal, Piel, Hiphil Chisholm: Narrative Frame, pp. 119-123 Brotzman, pp. 157-162 November 24- Happy Thanksgiving, No Class December 01- Hebrew: Ruth 4:13-22 (Chisholm/Workbook: pp. 215-223) Quiz #10Vocabulary Review: 333-334; 341; 352-353; 364; 372; 383; 392; 398 (**Words for Final Exam only) Chisholm: Nonstandard Constructions, pp. 123-128 Brotzman, pp. 163-166 Final Examination Review December 14* - (Tuesday) Final Examination Exegetical Paper Due*: Thursday, December 9, 2010 *The due dates for the final exam and the exegetical papers are not on Wednesday due to the academic calendar. The final exam is on Tuesday because Wednesday, Dec. 15 is officially the first day of Christmas break. III. ASSIGNMENTS A. Exegesis of the Book of Ruth a. Answer the preparatory questions (to be given the week before each assigned passage). b. Read any commentary of your choice on the assigned text in Ruth. c. Study and memorize the assigned vocabulary and verbal paradigms. d. Complete the assigned reading in Chisholm, Alter, or Brotzman. B. Quizzes a. There will be ten quizzes. b. They will be based on the following: 1) vocabulary, 2) verbal forms, 3) the assigned reading sections, and 4) class preparation. c. Each quiz is worth 10 points and is equivalent to 25% of the course grade. C. Examinations a. There will be two examinations: one midterm and one final. b. Each of the exams will contain: 1) vocabulary, 2) Hebrew to English translations, 3) parsing, and 4) syntax questions. c. Each exam is worth 100 points and will together be worth 50% of the course grade. D.