About the Book
Advances in the Study of Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic by Benjamin J. Noonan is an introduction to issues of interest in the current world of Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic scholarship. A growing knowledge of the Semitic languages and the field of linguistics continues to enhance understanding of biblical Hebrew and Aramaic. Comprehension of these items directly affects the way we read the Hebrew Bible and is therefore invaluable for those interested in the Old Testament. This book fills a gap in the field of Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic linguistics and provides an accessible, comprehensive, up-to-date, and linguistically-informed investigation of the language.
Topics addressed include:
- Linguistic theories
- Lexical semantics and lexicography
- Verbal stems
- Tense, mood, and aspect in the verbal system
- Register, dialect, and code-switching
- Dating of Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic texts
- Discourse analysis
- Teaching and learning Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic
Advances in the Study of Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic provides an accessible introduction for students, pastors, professors, and commentators to understand these important issues.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Chapter 1: A Short History of Biblical Hebrew Studies
The first chapter will summarize the history of Biblical Hebrew scholarship, beginning with the ancient period but focusing primarily on the nineteenth century to the present day. Attention will be given to important key figures (e.g., Wilhelm Gesenius) and publications (e.g., Brill’s Encyclopedia of Hebrew Language and Linguistics) from the modern period.
Chapter 2: Linguistic Theories
The second chapter will overview the field of linguistics, presenting its different branches (e.g., historical linguistics, theoretical linguistics, applied linguistics), as well as the different linguistic schools of thought (e.g., functional vs. generative, synchronic vs. diachronic). The relevance of these categories for understanding the different approaches to Biblical Hebrew will be noted throughout.
Chapter 3: Lexical Semantics and Lexicography
This chapter will introduce the basic theory of lexical semantics (lexicology) and its relevance for Biblical Hebrew scholarship. Attention will be given to important issues such as lexical choice and the difference between diachronic and synchronic approaches to lexicology. The contributions of major scholars (e.g., James Barr) and published lexica (e.g., Ludwig Köhler and Walter Baumgartner’s The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament and David Clines’ Dictionary of Classical Hebrew) will be presented and assessed.
Chapter 4: The Verbal Stems in Biblical Hebrew
This chapter will survey scholarship on the verbal stems (binyanim) of Biblical Hebrew, particularly as they relate to modern advances in our understanding of voice and lexical aspect. Special discussion will be devoted to scholarship on the Niphal, Piel, Hiphil, and Hithpael (e.g., the works of Ernst Jenni and N.J.C. Kouwenberg) because these stems exhibit complexities and have received unique attention in the secondary literature.
Chapter 5: Tense, Mood, and Aspect in the Biblical Hebrew Verbal System
The fifth chapter will begin with an analysis of tense, mood, and aspect within the context of modern linguistics. Discussion will then present and analyze the work of significant scholars in this area (e.g., John A. Cook, Jan Joosten, Elizabeth Robar, and Alexander Andrason), providing practical examples of how one’s understanding of tense, mood, and aspect affects our understanding of Biblical Hebrew.
Chapter 6: Register, Dialect, and Code-Switching
The sixth chapter will investigate the application of sociolinguistics to Biblical Hebrew, a relatively recent development in scholarship. Attention will be given to the role that register, dialect, and code-switching play in the Hebrew Bible. Key contributions of scholars to this topic (e.g., the work of Gary Rendsburg) will be assessed along the way.
Chapter 7: Dating of Biblical Hebrew Texts
The seventh chapter will overview the present debate over diachrony in Biblical Hebrew. The traditional approach, which views the Hebrew Bible’s linguistic heterogeneity in chronological terms (e.g., the work of Avi Hurvitz), will be presented alongside of the more recent approach that understands this heterogeneity in terms of scribal stylistics (e.g., the work of Ian Young, Robert Rezetko, and Martin Ehrensvärd). Both views will be assessed, and their relevance for understanding Biblical Hebrew will be discussed.
Chapter 8: Discourse Analysis
This chapter will survey scholarship on discourse analysis as it relates to the Hebrew Bible. Within the context of broader approaches to discourse analysis (e.g., the work of the Summer Institute of Linguistics), attention will be given to the Hebrew Bible’s different types of discourse and the unique challenges of conducting discourse analysis on the Hebrew Bible. The contributions of key scholars in the field (e.g., Robert E. Longacre and Roy L. Heller) and related publications (e.g., Zondervan’s Exegetical Commentary on the Old Testament series) will be presented and
About the Author :
Benjamin J. Noonan received his PhD from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. He is associate professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at Columbia International University. Noonan is the author of the forthcoming volume, Foreign Word in the Hebrew Bible Linguistic Evidence for Foreign Contact in Ancient Israel.
Review :
'Advances in the Study of Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic is a helpful and succinct guide to the complex landscape of recent study of Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic grammar. Noonan provides a brief orientation to the linguistic theories that have animated many of these recent studies but also hinder easy access to them. Noonan's surveys of key advances and debates in the fields provides the 'lay of the land' and key resources for further study. This book is a useful initiation to the recent study of Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic grammar for students and biblical scholars alike.'
'Advances in the Study of Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic is just that, another advance! The author is to be commended for his collation and analysis of modern scholarship in a single, accessible volume. From philology to pedagogy, readers will encounter the origins, major contributors, and analyses of some of the more significant topics in Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic research. We are guided through the controversies and debates, shown how far we have come, and pointed in the right direction for further study. Readers may not agree at every point, but that is half the fun. Anyone interested in the academic study of Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic will certainly appreciate and even enjoy this work.'
'Anyone interested in delving into the riches of the Old Testament in the original languages will welcome this impressive volume. The author succeeds admirably in his attempt to introduce the sometimes dizzying world of Hebrew and Aramaic scholarship to the intermediate student. In light of advances being made in current investigations of these ancient languages, this volume will find a wide readership among students and teachers alike for many years to come.'
'Ben Noonan has provided a remarkable service in providing a survey of not only the theoretical discussions in Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic but most especially elucidating the relationships between theories, scholars, and publications. For a field that has become so fragmented and specialised in which no scholar can master all the literature, this book provides an outstanding resource. The student will acquire an awareness of the field and find a well curated yet manageable bibliography. The scholar will find an overarching network of relationships that bring both coherence and cohesion where they have been much needed.'
'The last century and a half witnessed numerous seismic shifts in the study of language. Most students find understanding these changes challenging, others fail to understand the importance of different linguistic theories, and even biblical scholars have a difficult time keeping up with the everchanging nuances of the various discussions. Noonan provides an indispensable resource to help navigate the current state of linguistics for biblical studies. Advances in the Study of Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic balances accessible, informed descriptions of the major linguistic movements with helpful evaluations of recent language-specific developments in Hebrew and Aramaic. Students at every level will find this work both enlightening and valuable.'
'Trying to keep up with the volume and pace of new developments in the linguistic study of Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic can be overwhelming. Thanks to Benjamin Noonan, we now have an up-to-date volume that orients students to these advances. Noonan concisely describes the methods and terminology being used and insight- fully assesses the bewildering array of conclusions being proposed. In addition to his helpful summaries and evaluations, Noonan provides ample, up-to-date bibliographies for those who want to pursue specific subjects. The book is an ideal supplemental text for advanced master's level courses.'
'This book will help intermediate students, pastors, and even scholars to keep abreast of current linguistic research. Noonan makes the material easy to grasp and provides helpful summaries. I heartily recommend this work.'
