A Workbook for Intermediate Hebrew: Grammar, Exegesis, and Commentary on Jonah and Ruth

Just what I wanted.

This is a superb Intermediate Hebrew text. It works through Jonah and Ruth, and really helps the Hebrew learner develop deeper knowledge of the intricacies of Hebrew and some of the challenges of translation. It's pedagogical approach is excellent - the student translates the text piece by piece, using various lexicons/grammars and then has to answer a series of questions concerning more advanced grammatical concepts. Throughout, the author refers to multiple standard grammars, which is very, very useful. Probably the best ancient language textbook I've worked with.

ヘブライ語は初級を勉強すると、中級のテキストに出会うことが難しいですが、この本はヘブライ語の中級と上級を結ぶ貴重な本です。この本の良い点は、参考にすべき文法書についての言及が事細かに書いてあって、文法書を使いこなすための手掛かりにもなります。また、釈義においても、さまざまな立場の解釈者を吟味しながら公正な態度で釈義しています。ヘブライ語学習の醍醐味を味わえる一冊です。今まで、何冊かヘブライ語の学習書を使いましたが、各書研究的に学びたいのであれば、この本をお勧めします。など、説教の準備にも最適です。

This is an excellent workbook for the intermediate level. The best I've seen. The questions cover a good balance of both parsing and syntax and other issues. It can be used both in classes and also for individual study for Hebrew refreshing or improvement. To make effective use of it, it's helpful to challenge yourself by actually doing all the parsing asked for and answering all the questions -- and also looking up the various references given at each step in the standard grammars, textbooks, and syntax books (all the needed page/section references are cited -- making it easy to find them). A feature of the book that makes it especially valuable for self-study is that the very full answers are given in the back to all the questions -- so you can check yourself if needed. The book From Exegesis to Exposition by this same author also has some helpful sections in it.

Having learned most of my Hebrew by self-teaching (through Page Kelley's book and workbook), I set out to find a good intermediate text. Kelley was beginning to be tedious, since the last ten chapters are all about weak verbs. You start getting the picture after awhile, so I felt that I needed something to supplement or move on to afterwards. Chisholm does an excellent job of providing all the information one needs to continue your study of Hebrew alone. His introduction tells you how to use the book. He provides vocabulary for both Jonah and Ruth so that you don't need a lexicon like the BDB to use it. You also can get around without a grammar for the most part, since he has an answer key to all his questions in the back of the book. Anyone who has worked with Ancient Languages for a long time understands how many resources are often necessary to read a single text (i.e. you lay out your text, your grammar(s), your dictionary(s) and you have your computer open to google or various Bible translations). Chisolm's volume is the ultimate portable intermediate Hebrew text. In addition, Chisholm has been very meticulous in citing a multitude of grammars and syntaxes that allow students with the most-used scholarly resources to find out more about the Hebrew. For instance, I own Jouon-Muraoka's Hebrew Grammar. Chisholm's notes referenced where in J-M I could find information about the concepts that appeared in the Hebrew text.If you want an easy, self-contained, self-explanatory, accessible, well-researched, and enjoyable sequel to beginning Hebrew or just something to help you review your rusty paradigms, I heartily recommend Chisholm.Caveat: One thing to beware of is the fact that Chisholm may give you a false sense of facility with Hebrew because of the glossaries after each text. You will probably want to make a concerted effort to learn the vocabulary of Jonah and Ruth in addition to completing the workbook.