Fundamentals of Exegesis — Hebrew @ Friends University with J. Ted Blakley

calendar OF AssignmentS — Summer 2007
Homework Index
Meeting 1 • Tuesday, June 5, 2007 • Chapter 1 — The Hebrew Alphabet • Grammar Quiz 1	Ted, if you find that you are moving along at a good pace see if you can at least make an initial foray into Chapter 4 — Hebrew Nouns. If not, no big deal. Or maybe at least begin working on the vocabulary words at the end of the chapter.
Meeting 2 • Tuesday, June 19 • Chapter 2 — The Hebrew Vowels • Chapter 3 — Syllabification and Pronunciation • Chapter 4 — Hebrew Nouns • Grammar Quiz 2 • Vocabulary Quiz 1
Meeting 3 • Tuesday, July 10 • Chapter 5 — Definite Article and Conjunctive Vav • Chapter 6 — Hebrew Prepositions • Chapter 7 — Hebrew Adjectives • Chapter 8 — Hebrew Pronouns • Grammar Quiz 3 • Vocabulary Quiz 2
Meeting 4 • Tuesday, July 31 • Chapter 9 — Hebrew Pronominal Suffixes • Chapter 10 — Hebrew Construct Chain • Chapter 11 — Hebrew Numbers (only vocabulary) • Chapter 12 — Introduction to Hebrew Verbs (just reading and vocabulary) • Chapter 13 — Qal Perfect — Strong Verbs • Grammar Quiz 4 • Vocabulary Quiz 3
Meeting 5 • Tuesday, August 14 • Chapter 15 — Qal Imperfect — Strong Verbs • Chapter 17 — Waw Conversive • Grammar Quiz 5 • Vocabulary Quiz 4 • Final Exam — The Shema

Meeting 1 — Tuesday, 5 June 2007 The following Chapters are to be completed in preparation for our June 4th meeting.
Chapter 1 — The Hebrew Alphabet (i.e., The Aleph-Bet) Homework Index

Skills:	to be able to say, sing, and write the Hebrew alphabet in alphabetic order
	to be able to pronounce the names of the Hebrew letters
	to be able to easily recognize the Hebrew letters in all of their forms (both typed and hand-written)
	to be able to transliterate the Hebrew letters
Reading:	Basics Grammar • 1. The Hebrew Alphabet, all Hebrew 4 Christians: • Unit One — Learning the Letters, 1.1–6, 9–10
Exercises:	Basics Workbook • 1. The Hebrew Alphabet, all
Resources:	Hebrew4Christians
	• 1.9 The Complete Hebrew Aleph-Bet with MP3

Habits:	Auditory • Say and sing the Hebrew alphabet 10 times a day so that it becomes second nature • If you master this early on, pick a letter from the alphabet at random and try to complete the alphabet from that point onward. This will really help you when you begin to look up words using a dictionary. Tactile-Kinesthetic • Write the Hebrew alphabet (including final forms) 3 times a day. Make sure to write the alphabet right to left. Pronounce the names of the letters aloud as you write them. NOTE: There are many interesting and beneficial ways in which this can be done. I find that writing the letters large (3 or more inches) to be particularly helpful and fun. Some people use a small chalkboard or dry eraser board, and simply write them over and over again, maybe with different colors. Some people might sit down in the dirt and trace them out with a stick or finger (or if you are near the ocean in the sand). Some people paint them. Allow yourself to learn as a child. • Write the consonantal text of the Shema once a day (Deut 6:4–5). Focus upon making the letters legible. Pronounce the names of the letters aloud as you write them. NOTE: The link actually has Deut 6:4–9, all of which of course you may practice with, but we are working toward memorizing just 6:4–5. • You can listen to the Shema (Deut 6:4–5) and the Complete Shema (Deut 6:4–9).

Concepts:	Alphabet
	Categories of Consonants
	• The Final Form letters (a.k.a., the Sofit Letters)
	• The BeGaD KePaT letters
	• Gutterals
	Transliteration Dagesh Lene



Quiz — 5 June 2007 Homework Index
	Grammar Quiz #1. This week there will be only one grammar quiz that will cover everything from Chapters 1–3 from Basics. Your homework exercises and practices should give you a good idea of what to expect. The quiz may encompass both auditory and written aspects. At this point I will not test you on anything related to Deut 6:4–5, unless I do any bonus sorts of questions.

Meeting 2 — Tuesday, 19 June 2007 The following Chapters are to be completed in preparation for our June 19th meeting.
Chapter 2 — The Hebrew Vowels Homework Index

Reading:	Basics Grammar • 2. The Hebrew Vowel, all Hebrew 4 Christians: • Unit Two — Learning the Vowels, 2.1–10, 12–13 Resources • J. Ted Blakley, Short and Long Vowels. NOTE: This chart combines things you will learn in Chapters #2 and #3, so don’t attempt to learn everything on the chart; simply use it as a helpful way to organize the various categories, classes, and types of vowels. • Hebrew 4 Christians, Hebrew Nikkudot — The Complete Hebrew Vowel List. NOTE: The nice thing about this chart is that the Hebrew name of the letter is actually presented in Hebrew and so will help with learning to pronounce the names of the vowels.
Exercises:	Basics Workbook • 2. The Hebrew Vowel, all
Habits:	Auditory • Practice reading the Shema aloud for 5 minutes a day. Initially focus upon proper pronunciation of words, saying each word three times. When individual words start to become comfortable, begin pronounce two then three words together at time, again saying each phrase three times. • You can listen to the Shema (Deut 6:4–5) and the Complete Shema (Deut 6:4–9). Tactile-Kinesthetic • Write the Hebrew alphabet (including final forms) 3 times a day. Pronounce the names of the letters aloud as you write them. • Write the text of the Shema once a day, both vowels and consonants (Deut 6:4–5). Focus upon making the letters legible. Pronounce the names of the letters and vowels aloud as you write them. NOTE: The link actually has Deut 6:4–9, all of which of course you may practice with, but we are working toward memorizing just 6:4–5.

Concepts:	Working with Vowels
	• Unchangeable Long OR Long • Changeable Long OR Lengthened • Short OR Normal • Reduced OR Reduced
	• vowel type (a-type, e-type, u-type) • vowel class (a-class, e-class, i-class, o-class, u-class) • vowel letters (matres lectionis)

	Dagesh Forte

	Spelling • Full • Defective

Chapter 3 — Syllabification and Pronunciation Homework Index

Reading:	Basics Grammar • 3. Syllabification and Pronunciation, all Hebrew 4 Christians: • Unit Three — Syllables, 3.1–11 Resources • J. Ted Blakley, Short and Long Vowels
Exercises:	Basics Workbook • 3. Syllabification and Pronunciation, all

Habits:	Auditory • Hebrew 4 Christians Unit Three Exercises — Reviewing the Hebrew Syllables • You can listen to the Shema (Deut 6:4–5) and the Complete Shema (Deut 6:4–9). Tactile-Kinesthetic • Write the Hebrew alphabet (including final forms) 3 times a day. Pronounce the names of the letters aloud as you write them. • Write the text of the Shema once a day, both vowels and consonants (Deut 6:4–5). Focus upon making the letters legible. Pronounce the names of the letters and vowels aloud as you write them. NOTE: The link actually has Deut 6:4–9, all of which of course you may practice with, but we are working toward memorizing just 6:4–5.

Vocabulary:	Basics Grammar 3.?? You will now begin to add vocabulary words to your daily habits. I would recommend the following. • With each new list of vocabulary words start out by writing the Hebrew word with its English gloss (and of course saying them aloud as you do it), once a day for three days. This will provide a nice foundation. • Make flashcards and read through them aloud throughout the day, 3 times a day for five to ten minutes. • REMEMBER — Input, Input, Input! . . . No testing! . . .

Concepts:	Working with Syllables
	• syllables classified according to type — open and closed • syllables classified according to accent — tonic, pretonic, propretonic • syllables classified according to type and accent — near open, distant open, closed unaccented

	Dagesh Forte

	Spelling • Full • Defective
Chapter 4 — Hebrew Nouns Homework Index

Reading:	Basics Grammar • 4. Hebrew Nouns, all Become familiar with everything in the chapter but put your energies into memorizing the masculine and feminine endings, singular, plural, and dual. Hebrew 4 Christians: • Unit Four — Learning Hebrew Nouns, 4.1–5 In 4:2, a brief introduction is given to verbs and the definite article. Read through it but don’t spend any time with it because we will address these elements in due course. Resources • J. Ted Blakley, “Nouns” This file includes summaries of regular noun formation, segolates and geminates, and also includes a table of the more frequent irregular nouns. An irregular noun chart can also be found here.
Exercises:	Basics Workbook • 4. Hebrew Nouns, all — odd then even
	I would recommend doing the odd numbers on one day and the even on another day.
	Auditory • Practice reading through the singular and plural forms of individual nouns that you find throughout chapter four, including segholates, geminates, and irregular nouns (don’t worry so much about the dual forms). • Continue listening to the Shema (Deut 6:4–5) and the Complete Shema (Deut 6:4–9). Tactile-Kinesthetic • Write out Hebrew nouns and their plurals. On one day focus upon regular masculine, another day on regular feminine, another day on segolates, then geminates, then irregulars. • Write the text of the Shema once a day, both vowels and consonants (Deut 6:4–5). Notice the nouns that you have now become familiar with.

Vocabulary:	Basics Grammar 4.10

Concepts:	Working with Nouns
	• singular, dual, plural • masculine, feminine • propretonic reduction • voweling patterns (segolates, geminates)


Quizzes — 19 June 2007 Homework Index
	Grammar Quiz #2. This week the grammar quiz will cover Chapters 2–4 from Basics. Your homework exercises and practices should give you a good idea of what to expect. Vocabulary Quiz #1. This vocabulary quiz covers the vocabulary words at then end of chapters 3 and 4. • NOTE. Subsequent vocabulary quizzes will be cumulative, meaning that vocabulary words from previous weeks will be fair game for the quiz.

Meeting 3 — Tuesday, 10 July 2007 The following Chapters are to be completed in preparation for our July 3rd meeting.
Memorization and Auditory Work Homework Index
Note:	Since memorization takes time, I have identified the major memory work that will be required prior to our July 3rd meeting. I would begin right away on these. Get your vocabulary cards ready and start reading through and writing your pronouns out every day even if you do not get to that chapter’s work until later.

Vocabulary:	Vocabulary will cover chapters 5–8 • Basics Grammar, 5.9 (= 20 words) • Basics Grammar, 6.9 (= 23 words); I anticipate this to be the most challenging since its just prepositions. • Basics Grammar, 7.8 (= 23 words) • Basics Grammar, 8.12 (= 20 words)
Pronouns:	Be able to produce the following from memory, which are from Chapter 8 of Basics and which can be found in a convenient chart here (Alternatively, go to Grammar » J Ted Blakley » “Personal and Demonstrative Pronouns”) • Independent Personal Pronouns (see note below) • Near Demonstrative Pronouns — this, these • Far Demonstrative Pronouns — that, those PLEASE NOTE: For some reason the Basics Grammar organizes the personal pronouns in a chart beginning with first person, then second person, then third person, which is what is typically done in English but not in Hebrew. In most Hebrew grammars, they are introduced beginning with third, then second, then first. The reason for this is that Hebrew verbs are organized from third to first because the third person masculine singular is the most basic verb form. So, please use my chart and not the grammar’s. This will also apply when we get to pronominal suffixes.

Other:	The Shema • Keep working on the Shema, continuing to read the Shema aloud and to write it. Try to have it memorized by July 3; and then after that you can focus upon writing it from memory.
Chapter 5 — Definite Article and Conjunctive Vav Homework Index

Reading:	Basics Grammar • 5. Definite Article and Conjunctive Waw, all Hebrew 4 Christians: • Unit Four — Learning Hebrew Nouns, 4.6–7 Resources • J. Ted Blakley, “Definite Article, Simple Vav, and Bound Prepositions” At this point do not worry about prepositions.
Exercises:	Basics Workbook • 5. Definite Article and Conjunctive Waw, all — odd then even


Chapter 6 — Hebrew Prepositions Homework Index

Reading:	Basics Grammar • 6. Hebrew Prepositions, all Hebrew 4 Christians: • Unit Seven — Learning Hebrew Prepositions, 7.1–5 Resources • J. Ted Blakley, “Definite Article, Simple Vav, and Bound Prepositions”
Exercises:	Basics Workbook • 6. Hebrew Prepositions, all — odd then even

Chapter 7 — Hebrew Adjectives Homework Index

Reading:	Basics Grammar • 7. Hebrew Adjectives, all Hebrew 4 Christians: • Unit Five — Learning Hebrew Adjectives, 5:1–6
Exercises:	Basics Workbook • 7. Hebrew Adjectives, all — odd then even

Chapter 8 — Hebrew Pronouns Homework Index

Reading:	Basics Grammar • 8. Hebrew Pronouns, all
Exercises:	Basics Workbook • 8. Hebrew Adjectives, all — odd then even

	Auditory • Memorize the Independent Personal Pronouns and the Near and Far Demonstratives
Quizzes — 10 July 2007 Homework Index
	Grammar Quiz #3. This week the grammar quiz will cover Chapters 5–8 from Basics. Your homework exercises and practices should give you a good idea of what to expect. I will not expect you to provide English to Hebrew translations. Vocabulary Quiz #2. This vocabulary quiz covers the vocabulary words at the end of chapters 3 thru 8 (it is cumulative so keep up on chapters 3 and 4.

Meeting 4 — Tuesday, 31 July 2007 The following Chapters are to be completed in preparation for our July 31st meeting.
Memorization and Auditory Work Homework Index
Note:	Since memorization takes time, I have identified the major memory work that will be required prior to our July 31st meeting. I would begin right away on these. Get your vocabulary cards ready and start reading through and writing your pronouns out every day even if you do not get to that chapter’s work until later.

Vocabulary:	Vocabulary will cover chapters 9–13 • Basics Grammar, 9.17 (= 19 words) • Basics Grammar, 10.7 (= 19 words) • Basics Grammar, 11.8 (= 19 words) • Basics Grammar, 12.18 (= 18 words) • SEE the Note on Learning Hebrew Verbs (below) • Basics Grammar, 13.15 (= 14 words) Note on Learning Hebrew Verbs. Beginning in Chapter 12 your vocabulary learning will start to include verbs. If you look at the list on 12.18 you will notice that for verbs the English equivalent is given in the infinitive form (to plus the verb). Yet, the form in which the Hebrew verb occurs is not the Hebrew infinitive form but the Qal perfect third masculine singular, which is the form that normally occurs in the Hebrew lexicons. Of course, the form that occurs in English lexicons is the infinitive, which is why Basics has chosen the English infinitive in learning Hebrew vocabulary. The obvious problem, which many other grammars have corrected, is that if you were to translate any of these verbs occurring in this form in a Hebrew text, you wouldn’t translate them with an English infinitive but with an English indicative in the past tense. Thus, the first verb is not “to eat” but “he ate.” Consequently, when you create your Hebrew vocabulary cards and memorize Hebrew verbs, use “he...” not “to...” So, when you make out your vocabulary cards, make sure to use a 3MS past tense English translation as in: he ate he said he went he walked he was, he happened, he became he sat, he dwelled, he inhabited he gave he did, he made he saw he ceased, he rested he heard, he gave ear to, he obeyed Later on, we will come across weak (i.e., irregular) verbs whose lexical form is not the qal perfect 3MS form but in the qal infinitive form, in which case you would learn them with “to . . .” and not “he . . .”
Grammar	Pronominal Suffixes on Nouns • Be able to produce the pronominal suffix paradigm for the noun סוּס (horse), which can be found in Nouns with Pronominal Suffixes. DO NOT learn it in the form found in Basics 9.4. Qal Perfect Strong Verb • Memorize the Qal Perfect Sufformatives (13.5) and be able produce a strong verb in all of its Qal Perfect forms (13.5, 7). That is, if I give you a triconsonantal root, be able to produce the Qal perfect paradigm for that verb. • The Qal Perfect paradigm is available on online, as an mp3, and in two pdf files, Qal Perfect and Imperfect and Qal Perfect and Imperfect — Detailed

Other:	The Shema • Practice writing the Shema from memory.
Chapter 9 — Hebrew Pronominal Suffixes Homework Index

Reading:	Basics Grammar • 9. Hebrew Pronominal Suffixes, all At first glance, this chapter is a bit overwhelming, with detailed paradigms on almost every page. But take courage, most of this is variation on a theme. As with the personal pronouns, one of the big drawbacks of Basics’ presentation is the way they organize their paradigms from first person to third person instead of from third to first person which is how all of the verb paradigms will be presented. Consequently, I will provide you with all of the paradigm charts required for this chapter. When you see my charts, you will notice that I have used a slightly different nomenclature (taken from Seow’s grammar). Whereas Basics discusses Type 1 and Type 2 pronominal suffixes and then identifies some alternative forms for the Type 1 suffixes, I present these as Types A, B, and C. Note how these types relate to one another Seow Basics Type A » Type 1 Type B » Type 1 alternative Type C » Type 2 Resources J. Ted Blakley • “Pronominal Suffixes — Summary” • Prepositions with Pronominal Suffixes • Nouns with Pronominal Suffixes • color
Exercises:	Basics Workbook • 9. Hebrew Pronominal Suffixes, all — odd then even

	Auditory and Memory work • Be able to produce the pronominal suffix paradigm for the noun סוּס (horse), which can be found in Nouns with Pronominal Suffixes. DO NOT learn it in the form found in Basics 9.4.

Chapter 10 — Hebrew Construct Chain Homework Index

Reading:	Basics Grammar • 10. Hebrew Construct Chain, all Oddly enough, though Basics gives a nice discussion of the construct chain and the forms of construct nouns, it doesn’t ever offer a chart listing the construct endings. For this see the first page of my "Noun file," which I have already given you. Resources • J. Ted Blakley, “Noun file”
Exercises:	Basics Workbook • 10. Hebrew Construct Chain, all — odd then even Remember that on your exercises use the resources you need to learn the information. That is, don’t try to do everything from memory. In particular, when you get to the section on irregular nouns make sure to use the noun file, which has a table of irregular verbs. Alternatively, they can be found here, Irregular Noun of the Week..

Chapter 11 — Hebrew Number Homework Index

Reading:	Basics Grammar • 11. Hebrew Numbers, skip Actually, you might take five to ten minutes to glance through this chapter. Just so you’ve seen it.
Exercises:	Basics Workbook • 11. Hebrew Numbers, only do these if your life feels empty and void Actually, these are simply some translations with numbers so they might be good practice at some point.

Chapter 12 — Introduction to Hebrew Verbs Homework Index

Reading:	Basics Grammar • 12. Introduction to Hebrew Verbs, just read This chapter introduces you to Hebrew verbs, which, as you can see from the table of contents, is what the rest of the grammar is devoted to. This is one of the best introductions and overviews on Hebrew verbs that I have come across. The goal of this chapter is to give you the big picture of the Hebrew verbal system so that as you become slowly introduced to its various stems, tenses, forms, irregularities, etc. you will have some way of organizing and relating the parts to one another within the whole. So, read this chapter carefully but don’t study it because you will learn what you will need to learn later. One thing I would encourage you to do as you progress through Hebrew verbs is to come back and simply reread this chapter every month or two, which will help keep you oriented.
Exercises:	Basics Workbook • 12a. Introduction to Hebrew Verbs, all • 12b. Choosing and Using a Hebrew Lexicon, read

Chapter 13 — Qal Perfect — Strong Verbs Homework Index

Reading:	Basics Grammar • 13. Qal Perfect — Strong Verbs, all
Exercises:	Basics Workbook • 13. Qal Perfect — Strong Verbs, all — odd then even

	Auditory and Memory work • Memorize the Qal Perfect Sufformatives (13.5) • Be able to produce a strong verb in all of its Qal Perfect forms (13.5, 7) Resources • J. Ted Blakley. The Qal Perfect paradigm is available on online, as an mp3, and in two pdf files: Qal Perfect and Imperfect and the Qal Perfect and Imperfect — Detailed
Quizzes — 31 July 2007 Homework Index
	Grammar Quiz #4. This week the grammar quiz will cover Chapters 9–13 from Basics. Your homework exercises and practices should give you a good idea of what to expect. I will not expect you to provide English to Hebrew translations. Vocabulary Quiz #3. This vocabulary quiz covers the vocabulary words at the end of chapters 3 thru 13 (remember it is cumulative).
Meeting 5 — Tuesday, 14 August 2007 The following Chapters are to be completed in preparation for our final meeting on August 14.
Memorization and Auditory Work Homework Index
Note:	Since memorization takes time, I have identified the major memory work that will be required prior to our August 14th meeting. I would begin right away on these. Get your vocabulary cards ready and start reading through and writing your pronouns out every day even if you do not get to that chapter’s work until later.

Vocabulary:	Vocabulary will cover chapters 9–13 • Basics Grammar, 15.11 (= 15 words) • SEE the Note on Learning Hebrew Verbs — Part 2 (below) • Basics Grammar, 17.10 (= 14 words) Note on Learning Hebrew Verbs — Part 2. Beginning in Chapter 12 your vocabulary learning started to include verbs. As I noted last time, the lexical form for most Hebrew verbs is the Qal Perfect 3MS, which equates not to the English infinitive (“to” plus the verb) but to a past tense verb with the subject of he (e.g., he ate, he said). Now in Hebrew as in English there are a class of irregular verbs, which in Hebrew they are referred to as weak verbs. Weak verbs, for various reasons, do not follow the same pattern as strong verbs. We will not be getting into weak verbs except for one issue that comes up in learning vocabulary. Specifically, there are a category of weak verbs variously called middle weak, middle hollow, or CVC. Basics refers to them as biconsonantal verbs (see 14:12–13). Basically, as their name implies, biconsonantal verbs for all practical purposes have just two consonants instead of three, having lost the middle radical (thus the name middle weak or middle hollow). Yet, in most Hebrew dictionaries the lexical entries of verbs must still be listed with three consonants. So the lexical entry of biconsonantal verbs is not the Qal Perfect 3MS but the Qal Infinitive where the middle consonant, which is really a vowel letter (either a hireq-yod, a holem-vav, or a sureq), reappears. Consequently, the English equivalent for these verbs will be an English infinitive. So when you come, for instance, to the vocabulary list on 15.11 (p171), you will notice that the fourth verb listed has a sureq for its middle consonant, which indicates that this is its infinitive form. So here are the English equivalents for the six verbs listed. he lived he was able he cut off, he made a covenant to turn he answered he served
Grammar	Qal Imperfect Strong Verb • Memorize the Qal Imperfect Preformatives and Sufformatives and be able produce a strong verb in all of its Qal Imperfect forms (15.3, 5). That is, if I give you a triconsonantal root, be able to produce the Qal imperfect paradigm for that verb. • The Qal Imperfect paradigm is available on online, as an mp3 with or without, and in two pdf files, Qal Perfect and Imperfect and Qal Perfect and Imperfect — Detailed

Other:	The Shema • Practice writing the Shema from memory.
Chapter 15 — Qal Imperfect: Strong Verbs Homework Index

Reading:	Basics Grammar • 15. Qal Imperfect — Strong Verbs, all
Exercises:	Basics Workbook • 15. Qal Imperfect — Strong Verbs, all — odd then even

	Auditory and Memory work • Memorize the Qal Imperfect Preformatives and Sufformatives (15.3) • Be able to produce a strong verb in all of its Qal Imperfect forms (15.3, 5) Resources • J. Ted Blakley. The Qal Imperfect paradigm is available on online, as an mp3 with or without, and in two pdf files, Qal Perfect and Imperfect and Qal Perfect and Imperfect — Detailed

Chapter 17 — Waw Conversive (i.e., Vav Consecutive) Homework Index

Reading:	Basics Grammar • 17. Waw Conversive, all
Exercises:	Basics Workbook • 17. Waw Conversive, all — odd then even

Quizzes 5 — 14 August 2007 Homework Index
	Grammar Quiz #5. This week the grammar quiz will cover Chapter 15 from Basics. Your homework exercises and practices should give you a good idea of what to expect. I will not expect you to provide English to Hebrew translations. Vocabulary Quiz #4. This vocabulary quiz covers the vocabulary words at the end of chapters 3 thru 13, 15, 17 (remember it is cumulative). Final Exam — The Shema. Be able to recite aloud and to write out fully, with correct spelling and vocalization, the Shema (Deut 6:4–5)