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  • From: Trevor Peterson <abuian AT access4less.net>
  • Cc: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Reading the Hebrew Bible.
  • Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2005 05:40:29 -0400

emmanuel.le4 wrote:
Hello everybody!

Having taken Hebrew for 2 years in seminary, I am now trying to keep it, and
hoping to improve in my knowledge of the language. Some people on this list
have already mentionned that the best way to learn and get familiar with the
language is to read, read read. Now my question is this: Where should I start?
Should I take the books in order, from Genesis onwards?
Would anybody have any suggestion of a reading list, from the easiest book
for example to the most difficult?

I don't have a precise list, but I'd recommend starting with Classical Biblical Hebrew Prose--basically, the Former Prophets (Joshua-2Kings) and Deuteronomy. The dialect is fairly consistent throughout, so it will give you a chance to get familiar with the standard. Also, like Clay said, the narrative material tends to be a bit easier to read. From there you could move into other narrative material--the rest of the Pentateuch, Ezra, Nehemiah, Chronicles, etc. Much of this is thought to represent a later or more locally flavored dialect, so you'll probably notice some differences from the CBHP material. I would save poetry for last, if you want to move from easier to more difficult. There tends to be a wider range of vocabulary and grammatical form, and the poetic structure of Hebrew is not fully agreed upon. Hope that's of some help.

Trevor Peterson
CUA/Semitics




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