1 4OT502: INTRODUCTION TO HEBREW Course Syllabus Reformed Theological Seminary, Atlanta Instructor: John J. Yeo Fall 2007, Sept. 6 – Dec. 6 Phone #: TBA Thursday Evenings, 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. E-mail: [email protected] RTS Catalog Description: This course introduces basic elements of the Hebrew language. Lectures and small group sessions cover the Hebrew alphabet, pronunciation, and elementary grammatical structures. I. PURPOSE OF THE COURSE • The purpose of this first Hebrew module is the acquisition of the rudimentary elements of Hebrew grammar for the preparation of the broader hermeneutical task of translating and interpreting the Hebrew Bible. • Because Biblical Hebrew is indispensable to the study of the Old Testament with greater depth and accuracy, this introductory Hebrew course will bring the student closer to that goal. OBJECTIVES: Successful students will have: 1) Become thoroughly acquainted with the essential material of the first 19 chapters in Mark D. Futato’s Hebrew grammar, Beginning Biblical Hebrew (Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 2003). 2) Familiarized themselves with the basic elements of Hebrew morphology (forms) and syntax (uses) of Hebrew nouns, verbs, adjectives, conjunctions, numbers, and prepositions. 3) Successfully memorized a large portion of frequently occurring vocabulary words and verbal forms found in the Hebrew Bible (i.e., 180 words). 4) The ability to translate basic Hebrew texts from the Hebrew Bible. 5) Read the first three chapters from P.J. Silzer & T.J. Finley’s How Biblical Languages Work (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2004), pp. 19-117. II. COURSE SCHEDULE September 6- Syllabus Review and Course Requirements Prolegomena: “Why Study Biblical Hebrew?” Chapter 1: The Alphabet Assignment: Memorize the Hebrew alphabet; p. 6 September 13- Quiz #1 Chapter 2: The Vowels2 Assignment: Memorize the Hebrew vowel points and vocabulary words (p. 9); pp. 10-12. September 20- Quiz #2 Chapter 3: Syllables, Sheva, and Strong Dagesh Assignment: pp. 16-17 Chapter 4: The Noun, Basic Forms Assignment: pp. 21-23 September 27- Quiz #3 Chapter 5: Pronouns and the Definite Article Assignment: pp. 26-28 Chapter 6: The Verb, Qal Perfect Assignment: pp. 33-35 October 4- Quiz #4 Chapter 7: Sentences with Verbs Assignment: 38-41 Chapter 8: The Noun, Vowel Changes Assignment: pp. 46-48 October 11- Quiz #5 Chapter 9: Prepositions and Vav Conjunction Assignment: pp. 53-55 Chapter 10: The Adjective Assignment: pp. 60-62 Silzer & Finley, Chapter 1 Reading Notes Due Mid-term Exam Review October 18- Mid-term (2 hours) October 25- Quiz #6 Chapter 11: The Verb: Qal Imperfect Assignment: pp. 65-67 Chapter 12: Construct Relationship: Singular Assignment: pp. 71-74 November 1- Quiz #7 Chapter 13: Construct Relationship: Plural Assignment: pp. 77-80 Chapter 14: Qal Perfect and Imperfect: Weak Roots Assignment: pp. 84-87 November 8- Quiz #8 Chapter 15: Qal Perfect and Imperfect: I Nun and III Hey Assignment: pp. 92-943 Chapter 16: Possessive Suffixes on Singular Nouns Assignment: pp. 99-101 November 15- Quiz #9 Chapter 17: Demonstrative and Relative Pronouns Assignment: pp. 105-107 Chapter 18: Qal Imperfect: I Yod and I Alef Assignment: pp. 111-113 November 22- Happy Thanksgiving! November 29- Quiz #10 Chapter 19: Possessive Suffixes on Plural Nouns Assignment: pp. 116-119 Silzer & Finley, Chapters 2-3 Reading Notes Due Final Exam Review December 6- Final Exam (2 hours) III. ASSIGNMENTS A. Practice Assignments in Beginning Biblical Hebrew a. Study and reread the material covered in the assigned chapters. b. Answer and write out all practice questions. There are two reasons for this: 1) it will be good practice for you to write them out, and 2) you will be turning in your practice assignments on the days of your midterm and final exams, respectively. c. Study and memorize the assigned vocabulary words and verbal paradigms. B. Quizzes a. There will be ten quizzes. b. The majority of them will be based on the following: 1) vocabulary, 2) verbal forms, 3) the assigned practice sections, and 4) class preparation. Your lowest quiz score will be dropped. c. Each quiz is worth 10 points and is equivalent to 50% of the course grade. C. Examinations a. There will be a mid-term and a final exam. The final exam is a comprehensive exam that will cover the entire semester. b. Each exam is worth 50 points and is equivalent to 25% of the course grade.4D. Attendance a. Due to the nature of learning any language, consistency and repetition are important. Weekly attendance, therefore, is highly encouraged. b. Although attendance will not be figured into the final course grade, your presence will be required in order to take the weekly quizzes and exams. c. Please notify the instructor prior to the scheduled class session if you will not be present. Quizzes and exams will not be “made up” without previous notification. 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) B. Basis for computation Midterm Examination 25% Final Examination 25% + Quizzes 50% Total 100% V. BOOK LIST [Required Resources] Elliger K. & W. Rudolph. Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia. Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1980. (BHS) Futato, Mark D. Beginning Biblical Hebrew. Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 2003. Holladay, W. A Concise Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1988. Silzer, P.J. & T.J. Finley. How Biblical Languages Work. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2004.5 [Recommended Resources] BibleWorks 7. Bible Software for Windows. © 1992-2003. Arnold, Bill T. & John H. Choi. A Guide to Biblical Hebrew Syntax. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003. Brown Francis, S.R. Driver, & C.H. Briggs. The New Hebrew and English Lexicon. Reprinted. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1979. (BDB) Clines, David J.A., ed. The Dictionary of Classical Hebrew. 8 vols. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1993-. (DCH) Garrett, Duane A. A Modern Grammar for Classical Hebrew. Nashville: