Hebrew Reading

Spring 2008

 

Mark A. Throntveit

Luther Seminary BH 129

Office phone: 641-3272.  Home phone: 644-9956

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I. Course description

This course is designed to give students of varying abilities the opportunity to relearn, review, and practice their skills at reading biblical Hebrew.  Emphasis is placed upon reading extended portions of the text with an eye to discerning the genius of Hebrew narrative and poetry as they are revealed through close attention to matters of literary style and syntax.

 

II. Required texts

1. Hebrew Bible (BHS, Snaith, Koren, Kohlenberger’s Interlinear)

2. English (German, French, Greek, Scandahoovian, Klingon, etc.) Bible for comparison

3. Ronald J. Williams, Hebrew Syntax: an Outline. Second/Third edition (Toronto: U. of Toronto Press, 1976/2007)

 

III.  Class Schedule

 

Feb      12        Introduction

            19        Jacob’s Dream Genesis 32:22-32

            26        Isaiah’s Call Isaiah 6:1-10

 

Mar      04        MICHAEL CHAN PRESENTS: Isaiah 11:1-9

            11        Pentateuchal Alphabet Soup:     J: Gen 19:15-21;         E: Gen 46:1-4;

                                                                        D: Deut 26:5-9;           P: Gen 28:1-5

            18        Sarah Endangered Genesis 12:10-20 (J) Genesis 20:1-18 (E)

            25        NO CLASS “HE IS RISEN!”

 

            Apr      01        Prophets: Greatest Hits             Hab 2:1-5; Micah 6:1-8; Amos 5:21-27;

                                                                                    Joel 3(4 Heb):10 / Isa 2:4 / Micah 4:3  

                        08        Representative Psalms: Sad Song (Lament), Glad Song (Praise),

            15        Representative Psalms: Mad Song (Imprecation), Glad II (Thanksgiving)

            22        Wisdom: Greatest Hits  Proverbs 8:32-36        Song of Songs 3:1-5

                                                                        Lamentations 2:1-8     Qoh 1:12-18

            29        TBA

                       

May     06        TBA

            13        TBA

 

Essentially, you are to come to class prepared to discuss these texts. Translation is less important than discovering where the text is problematic or where it differs from an established modern translation. Work through the text, not to translate but to notice ambiguous, interesting, confusing, or enlightening aspects; then, in class, bring these up!