Unit information: Biblical Hebrew and Exegesis (Trinity and Baptist College) in 2014/15

Unit name	Biblical Hebrew and Exegesis (Trinity and Baptist College)
Unit code	THRSM0090
Credit points	40
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
Unit director	Reverend Dr. Knut Heim
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Department of Religion and Theology
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

The unit provides the groundwork for the use of the Old Testament in Hebrew. Beginning with script and phonology, the students move on to morphology and syntax, illustrated by the reading of selected narrative texts.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On completion of the unit students should have:

• acquired a good grounding in the grammatical and syntactical principles of Hebrew narrative;
• gained sufficient understanding of the language to draw on Hebrew-based resources for the exegesis of Old Testament texts;
• begun to appreciate the poetics of Hebrew narrative.
• been enabled, through a knowledge of the Hebrew language, to contribute to exegetical insight.

Teaching Information

The unit will consist of 40 class sessions. Formal instruction using a textbook leads to, and is interspersed with, the guided reading of set texts. Preparation and participation by the students will be an important feature of the latter activity. Weekly grammatical or translation exercises will help to consolidate learning and evaluate the students' progress.

Assessment Information

Please state the methods used for formative and summative assessment, including essay word length, length and type of exams, projects, etc. The relative contributions of the different summative assessments to the overall unit mark should also be included, e.g. 3-hour written exam (60%), 2000 word essay (40%)

Reading and References

• Futato, M.D., Beginning Biblical Hebrew. Winona Lake, Ind.: Eisenbrauns, 2003.
• Waltke, B. & O'Connor, M., An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax (Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbraun, 1990).
• Wegner, P.D., A Student's Guide to Textual Criticism of the Bible (Downers Grove, Ill.: IVP Academic/InterVarsity Press, 2006).
• Jo�on, P. and Takamitsu M., A Grammar of Biblical Hebrew (Roma: Editrice Pontificio Istituto Biblico, 2003).
• Stuart, D. Old Testament Exegesis: A Handbook for Students and Pastors 3rd edition, (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2001).
• Tate, W., Biblical Interpretation: An Integrated Approach (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1997).