FROM THE PUBLISHER

One of the Barriers Involved in Teaching Students of Biblical Hebrew about the Masorah is the lack of introductory literature on the subject. Although a lot of information about the Masorah is available in print, most of it is in technical professional journals or encyclopedia articles. Scattered about in disparate sources, often not in English, this literature is easier to ignore than it is to incorporate into introductory Hebrew classes. As a result, most students of Biblical Hebrew complete their studies without any background on the Masorah. This situation is particularly regrettable since the standard critical edition of the Hebrew Bible. Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (BHS), includes a revised and edited form of the Masorah of the Leningrad Codex.

The Masorah of Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia fills this gap by providing an introduction and glossary to the Masorah of BHS. Although the volume could be used by any student of the Hebrew Bible, it is specifically designed to be helpful for students who are just learning Hebrew. Thus, it can serve as an important parallel text for second semester or second year Hebrew courses. The introductory chapters give an overview of the field of Masoretic studies and explain the mechanics of using the Masorah of BHS. The annotated glossary provides students with definitions and explanations for most of the terms used in BHS, including examples.

FROM THE CRITICS

Hebrew Studies

This volume consists of an introduction and glossary to the Masorah as encountered in its printed form in the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia. While it is principally aimed at helping beginning students of the Hebrew Bible grapple with the complexities and intricacies of the Masorah, its usefulness expands further and can be of benefit to a wider readership. Convinced that the secrets of the Masorah could be unlocked for beginning students of Hebrew if only they had the right introduction, the authors of this attractively presented work have set about meeting this need in a very practical and specifically targeted way.

Catholic Biblical Quarterly

This is indeed a welcome introduction to the complex world of masorah studies. As the extensive bibliography suggests, a full comprehension of the masorah would require a much fuller study, but the very complexity of the masorah discourages too many students of the Hebrew Bible. An introduction such as this one will be for many a first step into that world.... The authors are to be congratulated for making this first approach to masoretic studies available to students and teachers alike.

Themelios

"A necessary resource that has no comparable rival.... An essential guide for all students of this topic."

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