BH503 – Introduction to Biblical Hebrew 1c
S606 – Seminar: World of the Apostolic Writings
Instructor: Dr. Vered Hillel
Blogsite: Orbund – https://server11.orbund.com
Dates: March 18 – May 27, 2018 (Spring Quarter, 2017-18)
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COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course, the third in the three- course Biblical Hebrew Series, builds upon the fundamental points of grammar and vocabulary introduced in BH502. Students continue to develop both their reading skills and dictionary skills as they continue to learn to apply their grammatical knowledge to the translation and interpretation of segments of narrative and poetic texts of the Tanakh.
RELATIONSHIP TO THE CURRICULUM
This course is offered to equip students in the Rabbinic Studies and Jewish Studies programs to take required and elective Tanakh and Rabbinic Writings courses.
RELEVANCE: The nuanced and in-depth meanings of biblical and rabbinic texts is expressed in their original languages (Hebrew, with a small amount of Aramaic). The Biblical Hebrew Series lays a foundation for students to grapple with these meanings and acquire first – hand knowledge of these writings rather than rely fully on translations which often fail, or are not able, to convey these
nuances and depths. Students who complete the series will be positioned to establish a lifelong pattern of Hebrew text study for personal illumination and, where appropriate, to prepare more nuanced and in-depth public talks.
PREREQUISITES: BH502 or permission of instructor
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS: Students must have a computer and Internet access. Students must also have the means to submit their work electronically in pdf format to the instructor. Please contact Joyce Klayman, our IT assistant, for technical help at jbklay@gmail.com
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COURSE FORMAT: The course is offered by live, online video conference meeting weekly. Each session is 2 hours in duration. Class
es will be held Sundays, 7:00 – 9:00 pm EST.
REQUIREMENTS: Study assigned materials prior to each session; participate actively in the live sessions; complete and submit weekly homework and the final exam by their due date.
REQUIRED TEXTS ( The publication dates indicate the required edition of each text )
- Brown, Francis, D.D., D. Litt., S. R. Driver and Charles A. Briggs. The Brown – Driver – Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., 1994.
- Green, Jennifer S., G. Brooke Lester and Joseph F. Scrivner. Handbook to A Grammar for Biblical Hebrew, Revised Edition., Nashville: Abingdom Press, 2005.
- Seow, C. L. A Grammar for Biblical Hebrew, Revised Edition. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1995.
ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS AND DEADLINES
- Prepare weekly reading assignments in the Seow textbook prior to the weekly conference call.
- Weekly written homework assignments will be given at the end of each session, and are due by the specified time agreed upon each week. The Handbook to A Grammar for Biblical Hebrew includes an answer key which the instructor encourages students to use to assess their understanding of the material. This tool is designed to challenge students to engage the material more deeply, and to ask more focused questions. Students may correct their work before submitting it.
- Prepare assigned Scripture passage each week by reading it out loud, and translating it with the help of a dictionary and textbook notes.
- A final exam covering the course material will be given at the end of the quarter. Students will receive the Exam after the Unit 8 conference call and it will be due by midnight (your local time) Sunday, May 27, 2018.
COURSE OUTLINE
Note: This course outline and assignments are subject to minor revisions should the progress of the course demand them.
Unit 1 – Sunday, March 18, 2018
The Preterite
Seow – Lesson 20 (pp. 225-234)
Unit 2 – Sunday, March 25, 2018
Jussives, Cohortatives and Imperatives
Seow – Lesson 21 (pp. 235 – 246)
Pesach Break – No Classes March 31 – April 7
Unit 3 – Sunday, April 8, 2018
The Qal Infinitive Absolute
Seow – Lesson 22 (pp. 247 – 254)
Unit 4 – Sunday, April 15, 2018
The Qal Infinitive Construct
Seow – Lesson 23 (pp. 255 – 263)
Unit 5 – Sunday, April 22, 2018
The Piel Imperfect
Seow – Lesson 24 ( pp. 264 – 274)
Unit 6 – Sunday, April 29, 2018
The Hiphil Imperfect, the Translation of Vav
Seow – Lesson 25 (pp. 275 – 287)
Unit 7 – Sunday, May 6, 2018
The Niphal Pattern
Seow – Lesson 26 (pp. 288 – 297)
Unit 8 – Sunday, May 13, 2018
The Hithpael Pattern, Oath Formulae
Seow – Lesson 27 (pp. 298 -307)