Handbook of Biblical Hebrew: An Inductive Approach Based on the Hebrew Text of Esther

544 Pages·1989·24.249 MB·English

by  William Sanford Lasor

Now in One Volume
HEBREW
an inductive
approach
based on the
Hebrew text of Esther
William Sanford LaSor

HANDBOOK OF BIBLICAL HEBREW
This One
1M ATAU

HANDBOOK
of
BIBLICAL HEBREW
An Inductive Approach Based on the Hebrew Text of Esther
by
WILLIAM SANFORD LaSOR
WILLIAM B. EERDMANS PUBLISHING COMPANY
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Part 1 copyright © 1978 by William Sanford LaSor
Parts 2, 3, and 4 copyright © 1979 by William Sanford LaSor
The special edition of the Book of Esther copyright © 1978 by William Sanford LaSor
First published 1979 in three volumes by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
This one-volume paperback edition published 1988 by
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 255 Jefferson Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America
ISBN 0-8028-0444.6
Reprinted, January 1989
TO
MY STUDENTS
AND ESPECIALLY TO
THOSE WHO SERVED AS
MY TEACHING ASSISTANTS
WHO HAVE TAUGHT ME MORE THAN I TAUGHT THEM
THIS WORK IS
GRATEFULLY AND LOVINGLY
DEDICATED
Acknowledgements
Fig. 3 is reproduced from M. Burrows, ed., The Dead Sea Scrolls of St. Mark’s Monastery, Voi. |
(New Haven: American Schools of Oriental Research, 1961).
Fig. 6 is reproduced from {fR. Kittel et al., eds., Biblia Hebraica (3d ed., Stuttgart: Privilegierte
Wirttembergische Bibelanstalt, 1937).
Fig. 7 is reproduced from Biblical Archaeology Review, Sept.-Oct., 1978.
Fig. 8 is reproduced from K. Elliger and W. Rudolph, eds., Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (Stuttgart:
Deutsche Bibelstiftung, 1977).
This work was set in Times Roman and LaSor Hebrew 11 point on 13 and 10 point
on 12, on the Photon Pacesetter. Layout design and typography by the author.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface to Volume [wo ehh
@ eo 6 eo @ ® ®@
Additions and Corrections
Part 1, Lessons e e e ee
To the Teacher
Lesson | The Handbook and the Method
Lesson 2 Esther 1:1, Alphabet, pointing
Lesson 3 Esther 1:2, Orthography
Lesson 4 Esther 1:3, Syllabification and Vowel Quantity
Lesson 5 Esther 1:4, Introduction to Morphology
Lesson 6 Esther 1:5, The Short-Vowels
Lesson 7 Esther 1:6, The Segolates
Lesson 8 Esther 1:7-8, The Short-Vowel Chart
lesson 9 Esther 1:9-10, The Definite Article
eS
Lesson 10 Esther 1:11, Introducing Noun Morphology
Lesson 11 Esther 1:12, Feminine Noun Morphology
Lesson 12 Esther 1:1-12, Review
t @
Lesson 13 Esther 1:1-12, Examination
ia
Lesson 14 Esther 1:1-12, Introducing the Verb
Lesson 15 Esther 1:13-14, The Verbal G-Stem
Lesson 16 Esther 1:15-16, More on the G-Stem
Lesson 17 Esther 1:17-18, Introducing the Derived Stems
Lesson 18 Esther 1:19-20, Continuing Study of the Verb
Lesson 19 Esther 1:21-22, Analysis of the Hebrew Verb
Lesson 20 Learning to Use the Verb Diagnosis Chart
The Verb Diagnosis Chart, Tables 1-6
@
The Verb Diagnosis Chart, Tables 7-11!
Lesson 21 Esther 2:1-3a, The D-Stem
Lesson 22 Esther 2:3b-4. The G-Stem
Lesson 23 Esther 2:5-6, The H-Stem
Lesson 24 Esther 2:7-8, The N-Stem
Lesson 25 Esther 2:9-10, Review
Lesson 26 Esther 1:1—2:10, Examination
Lesson 27 Esther 2:11-13, The Numerals
Lesson 28 Esther 2:14-15, The Participle
©
Lesson 29 Esther 2:16-18, The Wdadw-Conversive
Lesson 30 Esther 2:19-21, Translating Infinitives and Participles
Lesson 31 Esther 2:22-23, The Imperfect of the Verb
Lesson 32 Esther 3:1-3, The HtS-Stem
i oS
Lesson 33 Esther 3:4-6, Introducing ‘““Weak”’ Verbs
Lesson 34 Esther 3:7-8, Adjectival Usages
Lesson 35 Esther 3:9-12a, The Numerals
Lesson 36 Esther 3:12b-13, Review
Lesson 37 Esther 3:14-15, Review
Lesson 38 Esther 4:1-3, Review
Table of Contents
Lesson 39 Esther 4:4-6, Review . 84
Lesson 40 Esther 2:11-3:15, Mid-Year Examination * 86
Lesson 41 Esther 4:7-10, The Infinitive Construct . 88
Lesson 42 Esther 4:11-13, A Review of the Verb-Stems
Lesson 43 Esther 4:14-16, A Review of Verb “Tenses” _ 92
Lesson 44 Esther 4:17-5:2, Working on the Verb O04
Lesson 45 Genesis 1:1-5, Introduction to Exegesis 06
Lesson 46 Esther 5:3-6, Review of Afformatives 98
100
Lesson 47 Esther 5:7-10, Review of Morphemes
Lesson 48 Esther 5:11-13, Review of Morphemes 102
Lesson 49 Esther 5:14—6:2, Review of Morphemes 104
*
Lesson 50 Amos 7:10-15, Grammatico-Historical Exegesis 106
Lesson 51. Esther 6:3-6, Direct and Indirect Discourse 108
Lesson 52 Esther 6:7-10, The Use of Prepositions 110
Lesson 53 Esther 4:1— 6:10, Examination 112
@ * 114
Lesson 54 Esther 6:11-14, Various Types of Clauses
116
Lesson 55 Micah 6:6-8, Exegesis of Hebrew Poetry
Lesson 56 Esther 7:1-4, Conditional Clauses 118
© 120
Lesson 57 Esther 7:5-8, The Use of the Converted Imperfect
Lesson 58 Esther 7:9-8:2, Relative Clauses 122
6
Lesson 59 Esther 8:3-6, Phrases and Clauses 124
Lesson 60 Psalm 136:10-22, Exegesis of Liturgical Poetry , 126
Lesson 61 Esther 8:7-9, Phrases and Clauses 128
@
Lesson 62 Esther 8:10-13, More on the Infinitives 4130
132
Lesson 63 Esther 8:14-17, More on the Participles
Lesson 64 Esther 9:1-4, More on Phrases and Clauses . 134
Lesson 65 Genesis 12:1-3; 15:4-7, Continuing the Study of Exegesis . 136
138
Lesson 66 Esther 9:5-11, Reading with Understanding
140
Lesson 6/7 Esther 6:1-9:4, Examination
&
Lesson 68 Esther 9:12-15, Reading with Understanding . 142
144
Supplementary Reading 1 Esther 9:16-19
14§
Supplementary Reading 2 Esther 9:20-25
Supplementary Reading 3 Esther 9:26-28 . 146
&
148
Lesson 69 Esther 9:29-32, Reading with Understanding
Lesson 70 Esther 10:1-3 and Final Masorah 150
* a 152
Lesson 71 Hosea 1:2-5, Continuing the Study of Exegesis
154
Lesson 72 Hosea 1:6-9, Continuing the Study of Exegesis
156
Lesson 73 Genesis 37:5-9, Reading with Understanding
158
Lesson 74 Genesis 37:10-14, Reading with Understanding
160
Lesson 75 Genesis 37:15-19, Reading with Understanding
162
Lesson 76 Genesis 37:20-24, Reading with Understanding
164
Lesson 77 Genesis 37:25-30, Reading with Understanding
Lesson 78 Genesis 37:31-36, Reading with Understanding . 166
Lesson 79 Genesis 45:4-10, Reading with Understanding . 168
6 170°
Lesson 80 Esther 4:1-—9:15: Genesis 37:5-36, Final Examination
174
Basic Vocabulary Groups
eo @e @ @ 6 @
Rules lt 194
Table of Contents
Part 2, Grammar ]
Introduction
$01. Hebrew, definition
§03. Semitic languages
Elements of grammar
§05.
Numbering system of Handbook
Division One. Phonology
§10. Phonology
$10.1 Phonetics
o
$10.11 Phonetic transcription
§10.2
ie
$10.21 / / indication of phonemes
$10.22 Phonetically similar phonemes
§10.23 Allophones
$10.3 Orthography
oe
$10.31 Alphabets and phonemes
$10.4 Speech
o
Consonants and yowels
$10.41
$10.42 The vowel
$10.43 The consonant
§10.44 The syllable
@
Sil. Orthography of Hebrew
Hebrew consonants
§] 1.1
Phonetic equivalents
$11.12 Phoenician origin of alphabet
$11.13 Letters with final and nonfinal forms
$11.14 Letters were hung from the line
$11.15 Ldmed with upward extender
ie
$11.16 Other forms of Hebrew alphabet
Si1.17 Word-division
eo
$11.2 Introduction of vowel-letters
The vowel-letters hagg‘rf’a"io)
$11.21
$11.3 Introduction of Masoretic pointing |
$11.31 The Masoretes
=
$11.32 The vowel-points in the Tiberian system
$11.4 Other Masoretic points and marks
§11.41 Point distinguishing and &
$11.42 Mappig in 1 at word-end
$11.43 Strong ddgés to indicate gemination
Weak dagéf in
$11.44
$11.45
§11.46 Sp pdstd
Table of Contents
$11.5 Masoretic accents 21
$11.51 The system in Psalms, Job, Proverbs 22
§11.52 Conjunctive and disjunctive accents 22
611.53 The principal disjunctive accents 22
$11.54 The principal conjunctive accents 23
$11.55 Pause
*
§11.56 Homographs distinguished by accent 23
§11.57 Accent-mark usually on stressed syllable 23
$11.58 Meteg and its importance 24
§11.59 Dual accent traditions in Decalogue, etc. 25
$11.6 Masoretic marks of traditional reading
$11.61 K“tiod and O*ré 25
§11.62 K‘tib w‘lé’ q‘ré 25
$11.63 Perpetual q‘ré
§11.7 Marginal m‘sérot 25
$11.71 Final m‘sérét
§12. The consonant 26
©
$12.1 Description of consonants 26
§12.2 Voiced and surd consonants 26
$12.21 Voiced consonants 26
§12.22 Surd consonants 26
§12.3 The point of articulation 26
$12.31 Labials and labiodentals 26
@
§12.32 Alveolars, dentals, laterals, and sibilants 26
§12.33 Velars or alveopalatals 27
$12.34 Uvulars
§12.35 Pharyngeals and glottals 27
$12.36 The “‘emphatics”’
§12.4 Stops and spirants 28
§12.41 Definition of “stop* (plosive) 28
§12.42 Definition of “‘spirant’’ (fricative)
§12.43 Phonetic nature of 8 problematic 29
§12.5 Phonetic description of each Hebrew consonant 29
Semivowels 29
§12.51
6
§12.6 The 29 parent (Proto-Semitic) phonemes 3Q
§12.61 The parent phonemes of * 30
§12.62 The parent phonemes of fi 30
30
§12.63 The parent phonemes of ¥
§12.64 The parent phonemes of ¥ 30)
§12.65 The parent phonemes of U@ and @ 30
§12.66 Initial /w/ > y 3]
@ =
$13. Phonetic shifts (consonantal) 3]
Assimilation 3]
$13.1
$13.11 Contiguous progressive total assimilation 3]
§13.12 Contiguous progressive partial assimilation 32
§13.13 Contiguous regressive total assimilation 32
§13.2 (arbitrarily omitted) 32
§13.3 Lengthening (gemination) of a consonant 32
Not heard in Modern Hebrew 32
§13.31
Vill