ABL 304: Advanced Hebrew Exegesis (Torah, Prophets & Psalms)

Full-Scale Seminary Exegesis of Hebrew Narrative, Law, Prophecy, and Wisdom Literature

Course Description

Welcome to ABL 304: Advanced Hebrew Exegesis! This capstone Hebrew seminar integrates textual criticism, lexical semantics, morphological parsing, clause/discourse diagramming, genre analysis, and canonical theology to guide students through full-scale exegesis of foundational texts in the Torah, the Prophets, and the Psalms, culminating in Christ-centered biblical exposition.

Interactive Companion Language Apps

• Hebrew Alphabet & Vowels Trainer — Interactive consonant, niqqud, and syllable practice
• Greek Alphabet & Grammar Trainer — Interactive alphabet, diphthong, and pronunciation practice
• Hebrew Vocabulary Flash Cards — High-frequency Old Testament Hebrew lexical drills
• Greek Vocabulary Flash Cards — High-frequency New Testament Greek lexical drills
• Manuscript Variant Analysis Platform — Compare MT, LXX, DSS, and Greek NT witnesses

Course Structure

This course is composed of an Interactive Syllabus and five comprehensive chapters. Each chapter includes a detailed Chapter Summary, five in-depth lessons with Lesson Check-in Quizzes, and a 10-question Chapter Test. The course culminates in a 30-question Final Course Exam (62 total learning steps).

Course Outline

Chapter 1: Comprehensive Method for Old Testament Hebrew Exegesis

• Lesson 1: Establishing the Limits of the Pericope and Preparing a Working Translation and Text-Critical Apparatus Review
• Lesson 2: Clause-Level Syntactic Diagramming and Discourse Macro-Structure Analysis
• Lesson 3: Advanced Lexical Semantics: Syntagmatic and Paradigmatic Analysis Using HALOT and NIDOTTE
• Lesson 4: Historical-Cultural Background and Comparative Ancient Near Eastern Polemics
• Lesson 5: Redemptive-Historical Trajectory: Tracing Covenantal and Messianic Fulfillment in Christ

Chapter 2: Hebrew Exegesis in the Torah (Genesis 15 & Exodus 34)

• Lesson 1: Genesis 15:1-6: Abram’s Faith and Divine Reckoning (Wehe’emin ba-YHWH wayyachsheveha lo tsedaqah)
• Lesson 2: Genesis 15:7-21: Cutting the Covenant (Karat Berit) and God’s Unilateral Covenant Oath
• Lesson 3: Exodus 34:1-5: Renewal of the Tablets and YHWH Descending in the Cloud
• Lesson 4: Exodus 34:6-7: Exegesis of the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy (‘YHWH, YHWH, El Rachum we-Channun…’)
• Lesson 5: Intertextual Echoes of Exodus 34:6-7 Across the Prophets, Psalms, Jonah, and John 1:14-18

Chapter 3: Hebrew Exegesis in the Messianic Prophets (Isaiah 9 & 52-53)

• Lesson 1: Isaiah 9:1-7 (MT 8:23-9:6): Light in Galilee and the Four Throne Names of the Messianic King
• Lesson 2: Strophic Structure and Poetic Movement of the Fourth Servant Song (Isaiah 52:13-53:12)
• Lesson 3: Isaiah 52:13-53:3: The Exaltation, Astonishment, and Rejection of the Servant of YHWH
• Lesson 4: Isaiah 53:4-9: Vicarious Penal Substitution (Nasa, Saval, Paga) and the Guilt Offering (Asham)
• Lesson 5: Isaiah 53:10-12: The Risen Servant Justifying Many (Yatsdiq Tsaddiq Avdi la-Rabbim)

Chapter 4: Hebrew Exegesis in the Psalter (Psalms 2, 22, and 110)

• Lesson 1: Canonical Shape of the Five Books of the Psalter and the Royal/Messianic Seam Psalms
• Lesson 2: Exegesis of Psalm 2:1-12: The Raging Nations, the Installed King on Zion, and ‘You Are My Son’
• Lesson 3: Exegesis of Psalm 22:1-21: From ‘My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?’ to the Suffering Righteous One
• Lesson 4: Exegesis of Psalm 22:22-31: The Sudden Turn to Praise and the Global Ingathering of the Nations
• Lesson 5: Exegesis of Psalm 110:1-7: The Royal Priest-King After the Order of Melchizedek

Chapter 5: From Hebrew Exegesis to Expository Preaching and Teaching

• Lesson 1: Formulating the Exegetical Idea (Subject + Complement) and the Theological Principle
• Lesson 2: Crafting the Homiletical Outline from the Macro-Syntax of the Hebrew Pericope
• Lesson 3: How (and How Not) to Mention Hebrew Insights in the Pulpit Without Pedantry
• Lesson 4: Preaching Christ from the Old Testament Without Allegorizing or Moralizing
• Lesson 5: Capstone Exegetical Paper & Exposition Workshop

Assessments & Grading

• Lesson Check-in Quizzes: 25 short check-in quizzes following each core lesson to reinforce retention.
• Chapter Tests: Five 10-question Chapter Tests reviewing each chapter’s linguistic and exegetical concepts (80% passing score).
• Final Course Exam: A 30-question comprehensive Final Exam covering all five chapters (80% passing score).