RELI / JWST 211: Classical Hebrew I
Joseph Lam, BN/WB, MWF 10:10am
This course offers an introduction to the history and culture of ancient Israel in the
time of the Hebrew Bible (approx. 1000-200 BCE) through exploring the language
of Classical (Biblical) Hebrew. The course consists of both a language and a culture
component. On the language side, students will acquire the essentials for
engagement with Biblical Hebrew (the alphabet, vowels, some basic grammar)
while gaining an appreciation of what “Classical Hebrew” represents, including its
relationship to later forms of Hebrew. Then, using the language topics as an
organizing framework, the course will delve deeper into questions related to the
emergence of the Hebrew Bible and the culture of ancient Israel in the biblical
period. No previous background in Hebrew is assumed.
