REL 120: Biblical Hebrew I

 
REL 120. Introducation to Biblical Hebrew (1 course). An introduction to biblical Hebrew grammar and the reading of selected texts from the Hebrew Scriptures. The focus will be on elementary grammar and on readings from prose texts. The student will begin to attain rudimentary knowledge of Hebrew grammar and be able to read non-complex prose and poetic passages in the Hebrew Bible. The prose readings will focus on Genesis and Exodus, and the poetic readings will focus on Amos and the Psalms. HUMAN. Fall Semester.
[ Course Requirements , Schedule , Goals, Summary Website , September, October, November, December ]

Re 120: Biblical Hebrew I
Fall 2003
MTuWF 12:30 - 1:30PM

Professor Dr. Andrew G. Vaughn
Office Old Main 105C
office telephone x7475
home telephone 934-1225 (before 8PM)
office hours MW 10:30 - 11:30; W 1:30 - 2:30 AND by appointment (this means that I really do welcome you to make an appointment!)

Required Text (for both semesters):

Goals and Objectives of the Course: The primary goal of the course is to enable the student to read and interpret the Hebrew Scriptures in the original language. With this in mind, the course introduces elementary Hebrew grammar and syntax in the context of reading selected passages from the Old Testament in Hebrew. The student will be introduced to a variety of genres in the Old Testament (i.e, poetry and prose). In order to aid the student in interpretation of Old Testament texts, we will devote study to the proper use of various lexical tools and commentaries. By the end of the second semester, the student should be able to read and interpret a large portion of the Hebrew Bible with the use of lexical aids.

 

Course Requirements: The following requirements will facilitate the goals listed above:

  1. Faithful attendance and participation in class (you cannot learn Hebrew if you do not come to class)
  2. Completion of daily homework assignments (you may work with your classmates on these)
  3. Completion of daily vocabulary assignments (much of learning Hebrew is just memorization)
  4. Participation in "Interpretation Workshops" during the class hour
  5. Completion of weekly quizes
  6. Completion of a mid-term exam
  7. Completion of a final exam (we may have individual, oral exams)


Anticipated Method of Evaluation:

Attendance

10%

Homework

10%

Weekly Quizes

40%

Midterm Exam

15%

Final Exam

25%

Total

100%

 

ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE OF TOPICS AND READINGS

 Click here for a separate website with summary pages

Sep. 03 (W): Course introduction and The Alphabet
05 (F): Quiz on the alphabet
08 (M): Continue alphabet, vowels and start nouns
09 (Tu): Nouns and Plurals

10 (W): Nouns and Plurals

12: (F): Quiz and Definite article

15: (M): Definite article and nouns continued

16 (Tu): Conclude Lesson 2 and Begin Lesson 3

17 (W): Lesson 3 (Definite Article and Adjectives)

19 (F): Quiz and Plural nouns

Link to Chapter 4 PDF file

Link to summary website for Vaughn, Chapter 4

29: (M): Reading Hebrew; intro to the construct; intro to demonstrative adjectives/pronouns

30: (Tu): Review of Vaughn, Chapter 5: Participles, Demonstrative Adjectives, and Intro to Construct

Oct 1 (W): Translation Exercise and Introduction to Vaughn, Chapter 6

Link for Vaughn, Chapter 6

Summary website for Vaughn, Chapter 6

Link for Vaughn, Chapter 7

Summary website for Vaughn, Chapter 7

Link for Vaughn, Chapter 8

15 (W)

17 (F): Fall Break-- no class

20 (M): Fall Break-- no class

21 (Tu): Reading exercise and introduction of Vaughn, Chapter 8 (past tense narrative sequence, cont.)

22 (W): Past Tense Narrative Sequence, Continued

24 (F): Quiz and reading exercise

27 (M): Introduction of Vaughn, Chapter 9 ( Past Narrative [Cont.] and Miscellaneous Topics [directive -ah; Type C Suffixes; Segholates])

28 (Tu): Past Tense (cont.) and Misc. Topics

29 (W): Reading Exercise from Chapter 9

Summary for Chapter 9 Links

31 (F): Reading Exercise (cont.)

Nov. 3 (M): Quiz and beginning Chapter 10

Link for incomplete version of Vaughn, Chapter 10 (link)

Vaughn, Chapter 10

4 (Tu): Go over Vaughn, Chapter 10

5 (W): Go over verses in class and vocab quiz 10

7 (F): Reading exercise

10 (M): Vaughn, Chapter 10

11 (Tu): Reading exercise

12 (W): Reading exercise

14 (F): Quiz

17 (M): Vaughn, Chapter 11 (Link for chapter 11)

18 (Tu): Worksheets from Chapter 11

19 (W): Reading Exercise from Chapter 11

21 (F): Reading exercise from Chapter 11

24 (M): Review day (professor at a conference in Atlanta, GA)

25 (Tu): Quiz over Chapter 11 (professor at SBL conference)

26 (W): No Class (professor at SBL conference)

28 (F): Thanksgiving Holiday-- no class

Dec 1 (M): Vaughn, Chapter 12 (link for chapter 12 [not yet complete])

Link for Hebrew text of Gen 3

2 (Tu): Homework

3 (W): Homework

5 (F): Quiz

8 (M): Vaughn, Chapter 13

hannukah #1

hannukah #2

hannukah #3

hannukah #4

9 (Tu):

Translation notes for Gen 2:4b-25 (link)

10 (W):

12 (F): Translation notes for Gen 2:4b-25 (link)

Final Exam: On Date Scheduled by Registrar