(att.5e) rev. 3/4/15

NEW COURSE PROPOSAL FORM

Gateway Seminary

Course Name: Introduction to Biblical Hebrew II

Dept. and Level: S1214 Number of Credit Hours: 2

Grade Type: _X_ A/F ____P/F

Prerequisites: S1213 Introduction to Biblical Hebrew II

Required for degree(s): MDiv

Listed Faculty: OT Departmental Faculty

Trial Course Offering
Term & Year offered: ______
Dept. Chair Approval: ______(date)
VPAA Approval: ______(date) / Catalog Course
Dept. Approval: ______(date)
Currclm Com. Approval: ______(date)
Faculty Approval: ______(date)

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Part Two of a two-semester course designed to provide an Introduction to the grammar, syntax and translation of biblical Hebrew. It provides the foundation for proper exegetical study of the Hebrew Old Testament. The second semester focuses on advancing the students’ facility with the language toward more knowledgeable translation and exegesis as preparation for further study and ministerial practice.

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of this two-semester course the student will have built a reasonable, but incomplete, foundation for the exegesis of the Hebrew Bible. These rudimentary skills will provide a basic framework for an understanding of the exegetical task and the tools used in its performance. To show competence, the student is expected to:

1.  Demonstrate a maturing understanding of the basic elements of the grammar and syntax of biblical Hebrew;

2.  Translate Hebrew words, phrases and sentences with reasonable skill and accuracy;

3.  Be able to read, analyze, and engage in rudimentary interpretation of simple biblical Hebrew with adequate competency and speed, making use of the Hebrew grammar, Bible, lexicon, and other exegetical tools;

4.  Show familiarity with the basic structure of the language and its cultural context;

5.  Demonstrate knowledge of the basic tools: lexical, grammatical, textual, and commentary; and

6.  Appreciate the value of biblical Hebrew, especially its use in understanding the OT for a ministerial context.

This Biblical Studies course addresses those Essential Leadership Characteristics which concern the Biblical text, its interpretation and application.

COURSE COMPONENTS

This second semester course is designed to be one class hour of “lecture” and 2 hours of “lab”. Thus the focus is on basic language acquisition skills, best accomplished through laboratory experience.

1.  The student will be exposed to the following basic information:

a.  An amount of Hebrew vocabulary appropriate to facilitating the continuing study of biblical Hebrew

b.  Hebrew verb stems beyond the Qal, with a focus on the other verbal conjugations;

c.  Basic and more advanced grammatical and syntactical structures of biblical Hebrew; and

d.  The use of the current version Logos Bible Software as an aid to language acquisition, understanding, and interpretation.

2.  The student will be expected to master the following skills:

a.  identify the form and function of the parts of speech learned in the first semester;

b.  accurately translate a minimum of 10-15 verses of basic Hebrew narrative or poetry within a two-hour timeframe;

c.  memorization of a minimum of 180 additional vocabulary words; and

d.  moving from basic translation to a more mature use of the language for interpretation.

3.  The student will be expected to develop a conceptual framework for the following subject area/discipline:

a)  the issues involved in translation of the Hebrew Bible as that relates to best interpretational practice.

b)  Enriched appreciation for the nature of the Community of God which is represented in the pages of the Hebrew Bible and our modern role in that Community. Growth in humility, when confronted by the multifaceted issues involved in that most basic theological enterprise: exegesis from the original language. Growth in their love for the “Author” through a glimpse at His written Word in its original scope.

ASSESSMENT MECHANISMS

Students are expected to be able to translate a passage of Hebrew using any tools the professor deems appropriate, which may include a Lexicon, grammar, Logos, etc. Student progress and acquistition may be assessed using exams, quizzes, and/or an appropriate level exegetical paper. The assignments should provide a form of assessment that indicates that the student has progressed in her/his understanding and utilization of the language in relation to the first semester course.

**MANDATORY ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES

GGBTS engages in regular assessment of its academic programs. Student participation is essential to this process through the following three activities.

1. CoursEval Assessments – Each semester a link to a CoursEval survey for each course taken will appear in the student's MyGateway page. Students are required to complete this online evaluation of course/instructor no later than the last scheduled meeting of the class. A summary of results (without student ID) is released to the professor only after grades have been submitted for the course.

2. ePortfolio Reflections - All degree-seeking students must reflect on the work completed as part of required courses by commenting upon the manner in which the course contributed to his/her growth in relation to at least five Essential Leadership Characteristics selected by the student (see http://www.gs.edu/about/our-mission/ for the complete list). These reflections must be recorded in the student's ePortfolio and a copy emailed to the professor no later than the last scheduled meeting of the class.

DELIVERY FORMAT

Face to face or Online. 3 clock hours: 1 lecture, 2 lab + external hours @ at least 2 to 1. Class size should be kept as small as feasible to allow for maximum interaction and lab experience. Best to schedule Part 2 as immediately as feasible after Part 1 to maximize the learning goals.

**SEMINARY POLICY ON ACADEMIC CREDIT AND WORKLOAD EXPECTATIONS

In all Gateway face-to-face, hybrid or online courses, the Seminary assigns a workload of approximately 45 clock hours of academic learning activities per academic credit hour earned.Traditional in-class format normally apportions 15 hours of in-class instruction and30 hours of instructional exercises to be completed outside of class meetings per credit hour granted. For androgogical reasons, individual courses may adjust the ratio of assignments inside and outside class meeting times.

REQUIRED RESOURCES

An Introductory Hebrew Grammar Textbook

A Hebrew Text (eg., Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia)

LOGOS Bible Software – includes a Hebrew OT and Dictionary

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

Botterweck, G. Johannes, et al., eds. Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament. 15 vols. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1974-2006.

Brown, Francis, et al. Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1951. (Standard in Logos Biblical Languages Library)

Chisholm, Robert B. Jr. From Exegesis to Exposition: A Practical Guide to Using Biblical Hebrew. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1998. (Available in LOGOS)

Cowley, A. E. and E. Kautzsch. Gesenius’ Hebrew Grammar. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1910. (Standard in Logos Biblical Languages Library)

Ernst, Jenni, Clause Westermann. Theological Lexicon of the Old Testament. Translated by Mark E. Biddle. 3 vols. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1997. (Standard in Logos Biblical Languages Library)

Harris, R. Laird, et al., eds. Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. 2 vols.. Chicago: Moody Press, 1980. (Available in LOGOS)

Kelley, Page H. Biblical Hebrew: An Introductory Grammar. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1992.

_____, et al. A Handbook to Biblical Hebrew: An Introductory Grammar. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1994. (Available in LOGOS)

_____, et al. The Masorah of Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia: Introduction and Annotated Glossary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998. (Available in LOGOS)

Long, Gary A. Grammatical Concepts 101 for Biblical Hebrew: Learning Biblical Hebrew through English Grammar. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2002. (Available in LOGOS)

Merwe, H. J. Christo van der, Jackie A. Naudé, and Jan. H. Kroeze. A Biblical Hebrew Reference Grammar. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1999. (Standard in Logos Biblical Languages Library)

Rocine, B. M. Learning Biblical Hebrew: A New Approach Using Discourse Analysis. Macon: Smyth & Helwys, 2000. (Standard in Logos Biblical Languages Library)

Schertz, Mary H. and Perry B. Yoder. Seeing the Text: Exegesis for Students of Greek and Hebrew. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2001.

Scott, William R. A Simplified Guide to BHS. Berkeley: Bibal Press, 1987.

Simon, Ethelyn, et al. The First Hebrew Primer. 3rd ed. Oakland: EKS Publishing Co., 1992.

Tov, Emanuel. Textual Criticism of the Hebrew Bible. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1992.

Waltke, Bruce K. and M. O’Connor. An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax. Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns, 1990. (Standard in Logos Biblical Languages Library)

Wegner, Paul. A Student’s Guide to Textual Criticism of the Bible: Its History, Methods, and Results. Downers Grove: InterVaristy Press, 2006. (Standard in Logos Biblical Languages Library)

Williams, Ronald J. Hebrew Syntax: An Outline, 3rd ed, revised and expanded by J.C. Beckman. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2007.

Wonneberger, Reinhard. Understanding BHS: A Manual for the Users of Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia. Translated Daniels, Dwight R, 2nd Rev Ed. Roma: Pontificio Istituto Biblico, 1990. (Standard in Logos Biblical Languages Library)