Hebrew Exegesis Syllabus1

Hebrew Exegesis OT506

Spring 2014

Richard (Dick) P. Belcher, Jr.

I. Course Description

This course introduces basic tools for interpreting the Old Testament. Attention is given to a working knowledge of biblical Hebrew and to principles of interpretation as they inform effective preaching and teaching of the Old Testament.

II. Course Goals

A. To increase the student's grasp of basic vocabulary.

B. To strengthen the student's competence in translation.

C. To equip the student to handle the issues of Hebrew syntax.

D. To be able to use the textual apparatus of BHS in analyzing textual variants.

E. To develop a method for using Hebrew in exegesis and sermon preparation.

II. Textbooks

A. Students may already have the following books, which are required:

1) A Hebrew Bible:Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (Hebrew text only) or BibliaSacra (Hebrew and NT Greek)

2) Hebrew Vocabulary Cards (Dillard)

3) W. L. Holladay,A Concise Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament

B. Other Required Books:

1) Bill T. Arnold and John H. Choi, A Guide to Biblical Hebrew Syntax

2) E. R. Brotzman, Old Testament Textual Criticism

3) Steven D. Mathewson, "Appendix A: Advanced Plot Analysis," in The Art of Preaching Old Testament Narrative(APOTN); this text is used in Homiletics II

4) Dennis R. Magary, "Keeping Your Hebrew Healthy," in Preaching the Old Testament (ed. Scott M. Gibson; Grand Rapids: Baker, 2006), 29-56

5) William R. Scott, A Simplified Guide to BHS (SG)

6) The Trinity Psalter, Crown and Covenant Publications, 1994: purchased through the RTS Charlotte bookstore

C. Other Resources

1)Christianity Todayarticles on translation are made available to the students.

2) Recommended: Todd J. Murphy, Pocket Dictionary for the Study of Biblical Hebrew (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2003): this book defines terms a student will come across in the study of languages and is not only useful while in seminary but also for the future.

3. Recommended for students without a computer program (Bible Works, Logos, Gramcord/Accordance):

a) Tod S. Beale, Old Testament Parsing Guide

b) Benjamin Davidson, The Analytical Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon

c) Wigram, The New Englishman's Hebrew Concordance, or itmay be titled The Englishman's Hebrew Concordance of OT

III. Basic Course Structure

A. Hebrew Exegesis is set up as a lab because of classroom participation in reading the Hebrew, translating the text, and discussing the grammar of the text. It is scheduled to meet for three hours even though it is a two-hour credit class.

B. Quizzes: the quizzes will be given at the beginning of class.The quizzes will cover vocabulary, translation, parsing, and possibly questions related to syntax. Any question on a Worksheet that has an asterisk could be asked on the quiz. Twelve quizzes will be given; the lowest quiz grade will be dropped. The first time you miss a quiz, for whatever reason, will be your dropped quiz.

C. Translation: a portion of Hebrew text will be assigned for each class with a Worksheet on the passage that needs to be completed. You should translate the passage, parse all the verbs, and complete the Worsksheet.You do not need to hand in your translation, parsing, or the Worksheets, but there will be a question on the quiz concerning whether you completed the Worksheet. The following is what will be on the quiz in relationship to the parsing of verbs (the terms in parenthesis are Futato's terms):

FormRootStem AspectPGNAdditives

(Pattern)(Conjugation)

ljoq.YIw:ljqQalImpf3mswcs

not imp

D. An Exegesis Paper is required. It should be based on a Hebrew text of of 7-8 verses (see the handout on "Basic Format of the Exegesis Paper").

E. A homiletical outline on an assigned text from Ruth is required. In addition to the outline, your exegetical work on the passage should also be handed in (see the handout "Assignment for Homiletical Outlines").

F. Classroom participation is important and can be a factor in your final grade. If you are regularly late, miss class,leave early, or are not well-prepared for class, it can affect your final grade. Such participation includes coming to class, reading the Hebrew text from BHS, translating the text, parsing the verbs, and answering questions in the Worksheets. You must bring your Hebrew Bible to class.

G. Although students may use BibleWorks (or an equivalent) to prepare homework, BibleWorks is not to be used when going over homework in class. Thus each student should bring the results of their homework on a separate sheet of paper (parsing of verbs, translation of the verse, and any other questions on the Worksheet).

V. Grading

30%Quizzes

30% Exegesis Paper

20%Final Exam

10%Ruth Assignment

05%Class Participation

05%Reading

Bibliography of Hebrew Lexicons

Brown, Francis, S. R. Driver and Charles A. Briggs, ed. A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarenden, 1966. [abbreviated BDB]

This lexicon is based on the work of Gesenius, who died in 1842. Although it is dated and so does not contain a century's worth of scholarship and references to Semitic texts (including the DSS), it is still very accurate for most Hebrew words found in the Old Testament. It is especially strong for words ocurring more than 3-4 times in the Hebrew Bible. Thus it has more information than Holliday, but is also contained in one volume, which makes it more useful for students. Although BDB lists words by verbal roots, the 1979 edition published by Hendrickson adds a list in the back of words in alphabetical order which also match the numbering system of Strong's Exhaustive Concordance. There is also a section on Biblical Aramaic.

Holliday, William L. A Concise Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1988.

This lexicon is based on the 3rd ed. of the work of Koehler and Baumgartner, Lexicon in Veteris Testamenti Libros, who took a fresh look at the lexical evidence and took full advantage of the increase of knowledge of Semitic linguistics. It lists entries in alphabetical order and not by arrangement of verbal rootes (like BDB). This lexicon is an abridgement of the original German work and has omitted all etymological material in the cognate languages, all bibliographic entries, and all citations to Sirach and the Qumran material. What is retained is all entries of the German work when they exist as semantic items in the MT, the arrangement and numbering of the definitional subdivisions, a skeleton of chapter and verse citations, and the various inflectional forms of the word. The lexicon has tried to focus on what would be strictly necessary for translation. There is also an Aramaic section. Very useful for beginning translation.

Koehler, L. and W. Baumgartner. The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament. Leiden: Brill, 1994-2001.

This is an English translation of the third edition of a German work. It is an improvement over BDB because it incorporates scholarship and references to Semitic texts in the last 100 years. It is the most authoritative and complete lexicon available and is now printed in two volumes (instead of five) and can be obtained at times at a reasonable rate. This lexicon is particularly helpful for words that occur with low frequency in the Hebrew Bible since it makes extensive use of Semitic cognates. This lexicon is now also available in CD-Rom.

Course Objectives Related to MDiv* Student Learning Outcomes

Course: Hebrew Exegesis (OT 506)

Professor: Richard P Belcher

Campus:Charlotte

Date: March 2009

MDiv* Student Learning Outcomes
In order to measure the success of the MDiv curriculum, RTS has defined the following as the intended outcomes of the student learning process. Each course contributes to these overall outcomes. This rubric shows the contribution of this course to the MDiv outcomes.
*As the MDiv is the core degree at RTS, the MDiv rubric will be used in this syllabus. / Rubric
Strong
Moderate
Minimal
None / Mini-Justification
Articulation
(oral & written) / Broadly understands and articulates knowledge, both oral and written, of essential biblical, theological, historical, and cultural/global information, including details, concepts, and frameworks. / None
Scripture / Significant knowledge of the original meaning of Scripture. Also, the concepts for and skill to research further into the original meaning of Scripture and to apply Scripture to a variety of modern circumstances. (Includes appropriate use of original languages and hermeneutics; and integrates theological, historical, and cultural/global perspectives.) / Strong / students are able to exegete Scripture at the level of the original language, to do research at that level, and to formulate original meaning and modern meaning
Reformed Theology / Significant knowledge of Reformed theology and practice, with emphasis on the Westminster Standards. / None
Sanctification / Demonstrates a love for the Triune God that aids the student’s sanctification. / Minimal / open each class with devotion and singing of a psalm
Desire for Worldview / Burning desire to conform all of life to the Word of God. / None
Winsomely Reformed / Embraces a winsomely Reformed ethos. (Includes an appropriate ecumenical spirit with other Christians, especially Evangelicals; a concern to present the Gospel in a God-honoring manner to non-Christians; and a truth-in-love attitude in disagreements.) / None
Preach / Ability to preach and teach the meaning of Scripture to both heart and mind with clarity and enthusiasm. / Moderate / there is an emphasis on moving from the text to the sermon
Worship / Knowledgeable of historic and modern Christian-worship forms; and ability to construct and skill to lead a worship service. / None
Shepherd / Ability to shepherd the local congregation: aiding in spiritual maturity; promoting use of gifts and callings; and encouraging a concern for non-Christians, both in America and worldwide. / None
Church/World / Ability to interact within a denominational context, within the broader worldwide church, and with significant public issues. / None