BLA 623 (323): Advanced Hebrew
(Selected Texts)
Fall Semester, 2012
Tuesday, 3:20-6:00 P.M.
Cincinnati Bible Seminary (Cincinnati Christian University)
3 Credit Hours
Instructor: Dr. Douglas Redford
CCU Phone: 244-8178
E-mail:
Home Phone: 513-648-0793
Office: Presidents' Hall (second floor)
CCU Mission Statement:
The mission of Cincinnati Christian University is to teach men and women to live by biblical principles and to equip and empower them with character, skills, insight, and vision to lead the church and to impact society for Christ.
1. DESCRIPTION (from catalog): A study of Hebrew grammar and syntax drawn from selected Old Testament texts. Emphasis is placed on developing reading and translating skills.
2. GOALS
This course will seek to help the student do the following:
a. Become proficient at translating a variety of Hebrew texts (narrative, prophetic, legal, poetic, wisdom).
b. Improve the student's grasp of Hebrew grammar and syntax.
c. Identify important Hebrew forms, particularly those that are part of the verbal system.
3. TEXTBOOKS
Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia.
Holladay, William. A Concise Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1972. (Brown, Driver, and Briggs' lexicon is acceptable).
Webster, Brian L. The Cambridge Introduction to Biblical Hebrew. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2009.
4. LESSON PLANS AND PROCEDURES
Attendance and Attitude. In a "block class" such as this one, it is imperative that each class member be committed to both regular attendance and to good study habits outside of class. Also, it is obvious that, since this is a three-hour class that meets one day per week, any missed sessions take on additional significance. Anyone who misses a total of three class sessions will have to be dropped from the course. (The College attendance policy states: “A student who misses more than 2 sessions of a ‘block class’ would fail the class due to absences. It does not matter how many hours the class is for. Only 2 absences are allowed. The third absence will result in the grade of FA.”)
Weekly Homework. There will be weekly translation assignments from the Old Testament that are designed to give the student some exposure to the variety of genres found there (see course agenda). Each student will be expected to keep up with the assignments and prepare to participate in the discussion of the Hebrew text and any important issues that are raised. (At the same time, the pace at which we move will be determined to some degree by the class’s “level of comfort.”) Each student should be prepared to translate a passage when called upon and answer questions about the translation, particularly concerning the parsing of verbal forms. NOTE: I realize that information about verb parsing can be found in certain helps. I encourage you not to use these helps; learn to do the necessary “detective” work to determine a given verb’s identification.
Quizzes. Periodic quizzes will be given based on one of the verb charts found in Webster’s grammar (pp. 336, 337). Specific dates are listed on the course agenda. The subject matter for each quiz will be surveyed the week before the quiz is given.
Grammar Comparisons. The student should closely examine two Biblical Hebrew grammars besides the one that he or she used as a primary grammar during the first year of Hebrew (Webster, for most students). The student should compare and contrast how the grammars cover various topics, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses in each grammar. Among the subjects to consider: Are new concepts explained adequately, or do they leave the student confused? Are the exercises helpful? Do they do a good job of familiarizing the student with the subject matter being covered? What additional helps does each grammar offer the student? The analysis should be approximately five pages (typed, double-spaced) in length. The second paper that you do should consist of an overall assessment of the three grammars that you will have examined to that point. A list of suggested grammars will be distributed in class. These will be kept on the Hebrew resource table in the library throughout the semester. The first paper is due on Tuesday, September 11; the second, on Tuesday, October 23.
Word Studies. Each student should prepare three word studies examining Hebrew words and their meaning, usage, and significance in the Old Testament. Two of these are to focus on words that we have covered in our translationassignments. The other may examine a word that we have covered in our reading, but it could examine a word that has not occurred but is one that the student simply has an interest in researching further. Guidelines for doing a word study will be given at the beginning of the semester. I have never used this assignment before, so I’m not certain what to suggest for length. I’m guessing each should be about three pages in length (typed, double-spaced). These are all due on Tuesday, November 13, but can be turned in at any point in the semester before that. (It is probably better to “stretch them out.”)
Examinations. There will be a midterm in this course on Tuesday, October 2 (during approximately the first half of class). The final will be given on Tuesday, December 11. The midterm will include translation of passages covered in class to that point along with verb parsing (no lexicons allowed). The final will consist of two parts: translation of a passage we have covered in class (without use of any helps) and translation of a new passage (with lexicons allowed). Parsing of verb forms will be required. Additional questions about issues of grammar or syntax may be included with either the midterm or the final.
5. GRADING
Weekly attendance; class preparation10%
Quizzes15%
Midterm15%
Word studies20%
Grammar comparisons20%
Final exam20%
6. COURSE AGENDA
We will try to adhere to this, though there may be variations depending on our progress during the semester.
August 21
Introduction to course; readings at random
August 28
Text Covered: Genesis 27:1-40
September 4
Quiz on Qal, Strong Verb and R1 yod roots (Columns 1, 2, and 3, Webster, p. 336)
Text Covered: Genesis 27:1-40
September 11
First grammar comparison due
Text Covered: Genesis 27:1-40
September 18
Quiz on Qal, R2 yod/vav roots (Columns 4 and 5, Webster, p. 336)
Text Covered: Psalm 118
September 25
Text Covered: Psalm 118
October 2
Midterm (first half of class)
Texts from previous weeks covered
October 9
Quiz on Qal, R2 yod/vav roots and final heh roots (Columns 6 and 7, Webster, p. 336)
Text Covered: Deuteronomy 21:10-21; 24:10-22
October 16
Text Covered: Deuteronomy 21:10-21; 24:10-22
October 23
Second grammar comparison due
Quiz on Qal, R1 guttural roots (Columns 1 and 2, Webster, p. 337)
Text Covered: Jeremiah 15:1-9
October 30
Text Covered: Jeremiah 33:14-26
November 6
Quiz on R1 aleph, R3 guttural, and R3 aleph roots (Columns 3, 4, and 5, Webster, p. 337)
Text Covered: Jeremiah 33:14-26
November 13
Word studies due
Text Covered: Proverbs 3:1-10
There will be no class on Tuesday, November 20 (Thanksgiving break).
November 27
Quiz on geminate roots (Columns 6 and 7, Webster, p. 337)
Text Covered: Proverbs 15:1-9
December 4
Text Covered: Micah 6:1-8 or “Catch-up” day
December 11
Final Exam
1