1 4OT506: Hebrew Exegesis Course Syllabus Reformed Theological Seminary, Atlanta Instructor: John J. Yeo, Ph.D. Summer 2008 Mobile Phone #: (404)775-4346 Thursdays, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. E-mail address: [email protected] 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 also 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. 4) Know how to apply the basic 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).2 II. COURSE SCHEDULE June 5- Hebrew: Ruth 1:1-6 (Chisholm/Workbook: pp. 103-110) Quiz #1 Vocabulary: Futato, Lessons 2-5 Verbs: Futato, Qal Regular (i.e., Strong): Perfect (p. 31), Imperfect (p. 63) Chisholm: Nouns, pp. 58-66; Qal, p.79 Brotzman, pp. 97-135 June 12- Hebrew: Ruth 1:7-14 (Chisholm/Workbook: pp. 111-122) Quiz #2 Alter, pp. 88-113 Chisholm: “How Words Work and Play,” pp. 31-56 Brotzman, pp. 135-138 June 19- Hebrew: Ruth 1:15-22 (Chisholm/Workbook: pp. 123-136) Quiz #3 Vocabulary: Futato, Lessons 6-9 Verbs: Futato, Niphal Regular- Perfect and Imperfect (p. 226) Chisholm: Niphal, p. 79; Perfect, pp.86-89 Alter: pp. 114-130 Brotzman, pp. 138-142 June 26- Hebrew: Ruth 2:1-7 (Chisholm/Workbook: pp. 137-147) Quiz #4 Vocabulary: Futato, Lessons 10-13 Verbs: Futato, Piel Regular- Perfect and Imperfect (p. 175) Chisholm: Piel, pp. 80-81; Imperfect (Objective [Indicative]), pp. 89-92 Chisholm: Old Testament Narrative, pp. 149-159 Brotzman, pp. 142-5 July 3- Hebrew: Ruth 2:8-13 (Chisholm/Workbook: pp. 148-157) Quiz #5 Vocabulary: Futato, Lessons 14-17 Verbs: Futato, Hithpael Regular- Perfect and Imperfect (p. 244) Chisholm: Hithpael, p.82; Imperfect (Subjective [Subjunctive]), pp. 92-94 Chisholm: Literary Features of Hebrew Narrative, pp.159-169 July 10- Mid-term Examination (2 hours)3 July 17- Hebrew: Ruth 2:14-23 (Chisholm/Workbook: pp. 158-172) Quiz #5 Vocabulary: Futato, Lessons 18-21 Verbs: Futato, Hiphil Regular- Perfect and Imperfect (p. 195) Chisholm: Hiphil, pp. 82-83; Waw-relative Imperfect, pp. 94-99 Chisholm: An Exegetical Method, pp. 187-200 Brotzman, pp. 145-9 July 24- Hebrew: Ruth 3:1-7 (Chisholm/Workbook: pp. 173-183) Quiz #6 Vocabulary: Futato, Lessons 22-25 Verbs: Futato, Jussives- All Patterns (cf. “Lesson 24: The Verb: Qal Volitives” then look up the Jussive forms for the Qal, Niphal, Piel, Hithpael, and Hiphil) Chisholm: Waw-relative Perfect, pp. 99-103 Chisholm: Exegesis of Isaiah 1:2-20, pp. 200-213 Brotzman, pp. 149-152 July 31- Hebrew: Ruth 3:8-18 (Chisholm/Workbook: pp. 183-199) Quiz #7 Vocabulary: Futato, Lessons 26-29 Verbs: Futato, Imperatives- All Patterns (Look up all Imperatival forms for the Qal, Niphal, Piel, Hithpael, and Hiphil) Chisholm: Volitives, pp. 103-107 Brotzman, pp. 152-7 August 7- Hebrew: Ruth 4:1-12 (Chisholm/Workbook: pp. 201-215) Quiz #8 Vocabulary: Futato, Lesson 30-33 Verbs: Futato, Cohortatives- All Patterns (Look up all Cohortative forms for the Qal, Niphal, Piel, Hithpael, and Hiphil) Chisholm: Volitives in sequence, pp. 108-112 Brotzman, pp. 157-162 August 14- Hebrew: Ruth 4:13-22 (Chisholm/Workbook: pp. 215-223) Quiz #9 Vocabulary: Futato, Lessons 34-37 Verbs: Futato, Perfect: Qal, Niphal, Piel, Hiphil Chisholm: Narrative Frame, pp. 119-123 Brotzman, pp. 163-6 August 21- Hebrew: Psalm 1 Quiz #10 Vocabulary: Futato, Lessons 38-40 Verb: Futato, Imperfect: Qal, Niphal, Piel, Hiphil4 Chisholm: Nonstandard Constructions, pp. 123-128 Chisholm: Poetic Literature, pp. 142-7; pp. 169-186; sample exegesis of Psalm 23, pp. 213-220 (not required reading) August 28- Final Examination (2 hours) 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 50% of the course grade. C. Mid-term and Final Examinations a. There will be mid-term and final exams based on the readings and syntax of Ruth. b. Each exam is worth 100 points and is equivalent to 25% of the course grade (or 50% total). D. Attendance a. Although attendance will not be figured into the final course grade, your participation will be required in order to take the weekly quizzes as well as the exams. b. Please notify the instructor prior to the scheduled class session if you will not be present. IV. GRADING A. Scale. The standard RTS grading scale will be used. A (97-100) A- (94-96) B+ (91-93) B (88-90) B- (86-87) C+ (83-85) C (80-82) C- (78-79) D+ (75-77) D (72-74) D- (70-71) F (below 70)5 B. Basis for computation Midterm Examination 25%