An Introduction to Classical Hebrew

by Donald R. Vance

This grammar introduces undergraduate and graduate students to the essentials of classical Hebrew. It begins with the simple and regular elements of the language and proceeds to the complex and irregular, frequently referencing the historical development of Hebrew. Extensive explanations of elements in English prepare students for the discussion of the corresponding Hebrew element. Through the course of the text, the reader will translate the book of Ruth as well as other biblical and nonbiblical texts, learning particular skills in reading both the entire Hebrew Bible and the later sixth-century Hebrew material, such as the Lachish Letter. Accomplished students of this text will be prepared to progress to advanced study of Hebrew grammar and exegesis of the Hebrew Bible.

426 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Adam Balshan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars [Grammar]
The best beginning Hebrew grammar for the serious student.

Writing: 3.5 and 2; Use: 4 and 2; Truth: 4.5.
Vance aids the modern student, who is increasingly ignorant of grammar, by providing English definitions of grammatical concepts at the beginning of his chapters. Vance's mastery of morphology is evident in the book, though often his grammar sections are little more than protracted explanations of the paradigm's morphology with no other comment.

One thing which would raise this a half-star would be morphological precedents from Proto-Semitic, to provide convenient contrast to other Semitic languages. Vance does this a little, but not systematically.

This is an authoritative textbook, but it is beyond the ken of most language students. It nevertheless merits a higher rating than Pratico and van Pelt's standard grammar, in my admittedly stringent rating system.