99916 - Hebrew 2 (LM)

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, students possess the linguistic tools necessary to understand written sources in the Hebrew language; they acquire a second level of competence in Hebrew and are able to update and deepen their knowledge and develop independent analytical perspectives on the basis of the most recent scholarly debate and relevant bibliography.

Course contents

The course begins on 9.th November 2022 and focuses on specific features of Classical Hebrew morphology, syntax and poetry. Moreover, attention is devoted to the structural elements of biblical literature. The course has three parts. In the first one, weak verbs are learnt (geminate, primae yod, primae 'alef and primae/secundae/ultimae gutturalis verbs). Meanwhile, selected passages from the Pentateuch are translated (Exodus 3, 19, 20, Deuteronomy 6).

The second part of the course deals with syntactic issues, such as narrative and comment techniques, temporal transitions (highlighting, information retrieved, grade zero, advance information) and the protasis-apodosis uses (in conditional, temporal, relative and causal sentences). Meanwhile, selected passages from the prophetic literature are translated (1 Kings 3, 2 Kings 2, 17, Isaiah 6, Jeremiah 1).

The third part of the course investigates the dynamics of parallelism in Hebrew poetry and the semantics of sapiential language. This will be done while translating Psalm 1 and 137, Proverbs 1, Qohelet 1 and 3.

Readings/Bibliography

- Students who will regularly attend classes will receive handouts with the Hebrew topics discussed. Students can also refer to the following textbooks:

R. Alter, The Art of Biblical Poetry, New York, Basic Books, 2011

G. Deiana – A. Spreafico, Guida allo studio dell’ebraico biblico, Torino, Claudiana, 2018

T.O. Lambdin, Introduction to Biblical Hebrew, London, Darton - Longman - Todd, 1973

A. Niccacci, Sintassi del verbo ebraico nella prosa biblica classica. Seconda edizione riveduta e ampliata a cura di G. Geiger, Milano, Terra Santa, 2020

C.H.J. van der Merwe - J.A. Naudè - J.H. Kroeze, A Biblical Hebrew Reference Grammar, London, Bloomsbury, 2018

J. Weingreen, A Practical Grammar for Classical Hebrew, Oxford, Clarendon, 1959

- Students attending classes will also receive copies of the Hebrew text of the biblical passages under translation, with a glossary. For full reference, the following resources are especially recomended:

Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, Editio quinta, Stuttgart, Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1997 (available online at https://www.bibelwissenschaft.de/online-bibeln/biblia-hebraica-stuttgartensia-bhs/lesen-im-bibeltext/)

K. Feyerabend, Pocket Hebrew Dictionary. Hebrew-English, Berlin, Langenscheidt, 1995

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

- Both class-attending and non-attending students are required to read what follows:

J.J. Collins, Introduction to the Hebrew Bible. Third Edition, Minneapolis, Fortress, 2018, pp. 191-560

OR

P. Dubovský, «Israel and Judah: History and Society», in J.J. Collins – al. (edd.), The Jerome Biblical Commentary for the Twenty-First Century, London, T&T Clark, 2022, 67-121; P. Dubovský, «Introduction to the Historical Books», ibidem, pp. 361-372; G. Hens-Piazza, «Introduction to the Prophetic Literature», ibidem, pp. 798-816; J.L. McLaughlin, «Introduction to the Wisdom Literature», ibidem, pp. 711-719

- Students who do not attend classes are required to learn the contents of the grammar and to do all the exercises in either Deaiana - Spreafico's or Weingreen's method (lessons 29-39 or §§ 65-83, respectively). Special attention should be devoted to the biblical passages therein presented. They are also expected to read A. Niccacci, Sintassi del verbo ebraico nella prosa biblica classica. Seconda edizione riveduta e ampliata a cura di G. Geiger, Milano, Terra Santa, 2020, pp. 37-48, 143-169 (or C.H.J. van der Merwe - J.A. Naudè - J.H. Kroeze, A Biblical Hebrew Reference Grammar, London, Bloomsbury, 2018, pp. 490-518) and R. Alter, The Art of Biblical Poetry, New York, Basic Books, 2011, pp. 1-28.

Teaching methods

- Traditional in person classes

- Corrections of grammar exercises and group translation of Hebrew texts.

Assessment methods

Students who attend at least 75% of the lessons are considered to be attending.

Oral exam: students will be asked to discuss some major features of the biblical literature in its historical-religious context, to translate selected biblical passages from Hebrew Prophets and Writings, to parse some grammatical and syntactical constructs.

The exam candidates will receive a note falling into one of four assessment ranges: 1) excellent (28-30 cum laude); 2) good (24-27); 3) sufficient (18-23); insufficient (fail), according to their ability to translate correctly some biblical passages, to articulate their knowledge with the appropriate terminology and to locate a specific issue in an overall competent understanding of the whole subject.

Teaching tools

PowerPoint slides will facilitate both the discussion of Hebrew language and the analysis of biblical texts.

Office hours

See the website of Marco Settembrini