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Biblical Hebrew. . . Revisited |
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Written by Bert Montgomery, BSK '07
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 November 19, 2008
Our fearless seminary president, Dr. Greg Earwood, won't believe this, but it's the honest truth: I miss Biblical Hebrew.
Two years ago this fall, I was in my final semester as a student at BSK. One of the required courses I had to pass before I could graduate was Biblical Hebrew (which, I understand, is no longer a requirement. Man, you new folks have it SOOOOO easy!).
The other day my seventh grade son told my wife and me how embarrassed he was that he was still being shown flash cards in the third grade. He felt the teacher was treating him like a second grader – he certainly didn't need them to help him in the third grade! Jency and I laughed and assured him that there is nothing wrong with using flash cards, and almost in harmony, we reminded him that I was using flash cards just two years ago . . . at age 38 . . . in seminary!
It was only for one course, though. I didn't even use flash cards to help with Greek (no offense, Dr. Jackson). I took Greek with excitement and anticipation. On the other hand, I walked into Hebrew with great fear and trembling, and so I hung on to my flash cards for dear life. And so, as if to brag of my accomplishments via the assistance of flash cards, I began saying the Hebrew alphabet for my family:
Olaf.
No . . .
Olive.
No . . .
’álĕf . . . yes!
bĂŞt . . . yes! YES!
Drivel . . . Kimmel . . . oh well, some of it is coming back to me.
But the memories . . . There was a solidarity among my fellow prisoners (“fellow prisoners” as used here means “studious pupils”) that I have rarely felt in any other course. Amanda, Charlie, Crystal, Patsey and I were determined to make it through without any casualties (the other four actually carried me across the finish line. Thanks, ya’ll!).
And then there was the aforementioned fearless seminary leader, Dr. Greg Earwood. There ain’t nothing like studying under the seminary president – exposing your poor study habits and how you rely on a sense of humor to compensate for lack of true knowledge to the one man responsible for allowing you into the seminary in the first place (and I speak only for myself – the other four had good study habits, and also possessed true knowledge in addition to their humor).
But those anxieties are now gone. Two years have passed; I have a fancy piece of paper that says I have mastered the divine (though I can’t get anyone to call me “the divine master”); and I’m rocking and rolling down here in Starkville, Mississippi, in a CBF congregation full of fellow church misfits.
Now I look back with almost a tear in my eye. Yes, those were days of great anxiety. And yet . . . they were some of the best memories and experiences of my entire seminary career (which at BSK, had some really great memories and experiences).
You'll excuse me, but I’ve got to get my Hebrew textbook and notes out and relearn the alphabet. What’s the point of passing the course if I can’t even use the little bit I know to annoy my family?! Â
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Oh, and I'm personally going to propose to reinstate the Greek/Hebrew requirements at BSK - it's such a shame these newer folks can't share in our profound experience!
Dagesh lene one and all, and to all a BeGad KeFaT!
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© Bert Montgomery for BSK blog
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(for some perspective, here is a column Bert wrote for Caleb's Cafe about Hebrew two years ago - while he was still in the course:Â http://www.calebscafe.com/articles/show/234)
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