Paleo Hebrew

[Homeskillet]

Quick question: I am interested in researching paleo Hebrew works that shed light on the actual raw texts that would have been penned by, say, Moses. I recently came across someone who puts out a lot of supposed paleo Hebrew works—but, after buying a few of his works I got suspicious and began searching for his credentials...only to find out he doesn’t have any !

Thus, I am now searching for bonafide works in this ancient discipline. I took BBH w. the vowel pointings, but, honestly, now I wish I would have learned w.out the vowels. They added a TON of headache to the learning process (I still don’t have all of those vowel rules down—in fact, not even close!). This is where my interest in Paleo Hebrew enters the scenario.

May be several days before I have an opportunity to follow up. Thank you much in advance!

[talmid56]

By "paleo Hebrew works", Roger, do you mean Hebrew Scriptures written in that script, or extrabiblical works such as inscriptions? Or both? If you'll explain which of these interest you, I can point you to some resources.

[Jason Hare]

It's the same language with a different alphabet. There isn't much to learn.

[talmid56]

Roger, if, of course, you mean the paleo Hebrew script, then that takes a little extra effort, but it's worth it. It will help you read inscriptions, which are a fascinating study in themselves. Plus, some Biblical manuscripts use the paleo lettering, at least in part (some Dead Sea Scrolls).

[Jason Hare]

This is what I mean by saying that it's the same language.

paleo-hebrew.jpg

[Homeskillet]

Roger, if, of course, you mean the paleo Hebrew script, then that takes a little extra effort, but it's worth it. It will help you read inscriptions, which are a fascinating study in themselves. Plus, some Biblical manuscripts use the paleo lettering, at least in part (some Dead Sea Scrolls).

I am looking for beginning grammars, text books, articles, etc. on Paleo Hebrew—including inscriptions (which, like yourself, I find to be very intriguing for some reason). I really wish there was a reputable lexicon on Phoenician and/or Paleo-Hebrew.

For myself, the vowels - while helpful w. euphony phonetics - actually seem to hinder me a bit. I really wish I would have learned 1st year Hebrew w.out the vowels. I do own a good text book w.out vowels (in Logos), but didn’t locate it until I had almost completed BBH (Van Pelt).

What’s aggravating is when I see pictures of signs in Israel w.out vowels and I have trouble sounding out the words.

Thank you much!

[Homeskillet]

This is what I mean by saying that it's the same language.

paleo-hebrew.jpg

Yes, I know it’s the same language, but was just wondering if there are any differing rules, pronunciations, etc. I do have this same chart in PDF Jason, but thanks much (I actually like the one you posted here better than the one I have).

Incidentally, I see that you’re in Israel, we’re really hoping to go on a trip there in next few years. A lot of my pastor friends go to Jerusalem yearly. If I get to go my deal has always been that I am not interested in “traditional” sites—I would want to see the real sites where biblical stories actually unfolded (as much as can be legitimately ascertained that is).

I also get emails from Hebrew University often wherein they offer on-line Hebrew courses—which, I would surmise would be a little better than American schools (although I HAVE also read of men from Israel coming to USA for Ph.D. work in Hebrew !).

[kwrandolph]

Quick question: I am interested in researching paleo Hebrew works that shed light on the actual raw texts that would have been penned by, say, Moses. I recently came across someone who puts out a lot of supposed paleo Hebrew works—but, after buying a few of his works I got suspicious and began searching for his credentials...only to find out he doesn’t have any !

Paleo Hebrew is just a different font, no more. You get the same effect when reading Tanakh in modern square characters but with zero Masoretic points. I personally prefer reading Tanakh in paleo Hebrew font, but all I do, and anyone else for that matter, is take a text available elsewhere, such as Leningradensis or Aleppo, and change the font.

Beware of anyone pushing a private theory. While it’s true that most such people have little to no academic background in Biblical Hebrew, we had one such guy temporarily join this forum who has very good academic credentials, only to be shown that he made many mistakes concerning Biblical Hebrew, and the person who demonstrated the mistakes has a total of one year formal academic training in Hebrew. He demonstrated the errors by citing Tanakh.

Yes, I know it’s the same language, but was just wondering if there are any differing rules, pronunciations, etc.

No differences caused by changing the font to paleo Hebrew. None whatsoever.

There are differences between Biblical and Modern Israeli Hebrews. Professors worldwide are debating just what are those differences. I came up with an understanding different from most professors, based on what I learned from the give and take on this forum, only to learn that a professor teaching at a university had come up with basically the same understanding decades earlier. Even though I came to that understanding independently of that professor, he was earlier.

As for pronunciation, the evidence is that Biblical era pronunciation has been irretrievably lost. All we have is medieval to modern pronunciation. There are a few scattered clues indicating what was Biblical era pronunciation, but a few scattered clues are not enough to rebuild a complete Biblical era pronunciation schema. But those few clues are enough to show that Biblical era pronunciation was significantly different from modern pronunciation.

As for the Masoretic points, I don’t trust them. I have seen enough places where the Masoretic points are incorrect as far as meaning is concerned. Therefore, I prefer reading Tanakh without the Masoretic points.

Karl W. Randolph.

[Homeskillet]

Quick question: I am interested in researching paleo Hebrew works that shed light on the actual raw texts that would have been penned by, say, Moses. I recently came across someone who puts out a lot of supposed paleo Hebrew works—but, after buying a few of his works I got suspicious and began searching for his credentials...only to find out he doesn’t have any !

Paleo Hebrew is just a different font, no more. You get the same effect when reading Tanakh in modern square characters but with zero Masoretic points. I personally prefer reading Tanakh in paleo Hebrew font, but all I do, and anyone else for that matter, is take a text available elsewhere, such as Leningradensis or Aleppo, and change the font.

Beware of anyone pushing a private theory. While it’s true that most such people have little to no academic background in Biblical Hebrew, we had one such guy temporarily join this forum who has very good academic credentials, only to be shown that he made many mistakes concerning Biblical Hebrew, and the person who demonstrated the mistakes has a total of one year formal academic training in Hebrew. He demonstrated the errors by citing Tanakh.

Yes, I know it’s the same language, but was just wondering if there are any differing rules, pronunciations, etc.

No differences caused by changing the font to paleo Hebrew. None whatsoever.

There are differences between Biblical and Modern Israeli Hebrews. Professors worldwide are debating just what are those differences. I came up with an understanding different from most professors, based on what I learned from the give and take on this forum, only to learn that a professor teaching at a university had come up with basically the same understanding decades earlier. Even though I came to that understanding independently of that professor, he was earlier.

As for pronunciation, the evidence is that Biblical era pronunciation has been irretrievably lost. All we have is medieval to modern pronunciation. There are a few scattered clues indicating what was Biblical era pronunciation, but a few scattered clues are not enough to rebuild a complete Biblical era pronunciation schema. But those few clues are enough to show that Biblical era pronunciation was significantly different from modern pronunciation.

As for the Masoretic points, I don’t trust them. I have seen enough places where the Masoretic points are incorrect as far as meaning is concerned. Therefore, I prefer reading Tanakh without the Masoretic points.

Karl W. Randolph.

Much appreciated Karl. I am also suspicious of the vowel pointings. But, that’s how I learned to pronounce Hebrew words and I am not yet versed enough to just read non-pointed texts and pronounce them correctly. I am also slowly working my way through a grammar entitled “Hebrew for Reading Comprehension” that also laments the innumerable vowel rules—none of which are inspired! Wish I would have learned Hebrew without the vowels in the first place.

I especially like your point about the person who busted the scholar on here. I have long suspected this as well, but, it also makes me very leery when I read stuff from non-specialists. However, to turn the coin over, I have read quotes from Ivy League professors (e.g., Harvard, Yale Univ.) that was preposterous. Guess it’s an individual deal that has to be weighed independently. But, I think the benefit of a forum like this is that the assertions are essentially peer reviewed, which makes all the diff. in the world IMO.

Thanks again. I will read your post several times to let the info. sink in.