Dickdook leshon gnebreet. A grammar of the Hebrew tongue : being an essay to bring the Hebrew grammar into English, to facilitate the instruction of all those who are desireous of acquiring a clear idea of this primitive tongue by their own studies ; in order to their more distinct acquaintance with the sacred oracles of the Old Testament, according to the original. : And published more especially for the use of the students of Harvard-College at Cambridge, in New-England
Dickdook leshon gnebreet. A grammar of the Hebrew tongue : being an essay to bring the Hebrew grammar into English, to facilitate the instruction of all those who are desireous of acquiring a clear idea of this primitive tongue by their own studies ; in order to their more distinct acquaintance with the sacred oracles of the Old Testament, according to the original. : And published more especially for the use of the students of Harvard-College at Cambridge, in New-England
By: Judah Monis
PBK.003395
Printed Book
1735
Boston, Massachusetts (United States)
Hebrew, English
Printed on Paper
9.25 × 7.5 × 0.75 in. (22.5 × 19 × 1.5 cm)
Not on View
This is the first book containing significant Hebrew text printed in America, it was printed with type specially imported from London. Judah Monis (1683–1764), the book’s author, was a Jew who received his Master of Arts from Harvard College in 1720. He converted to Christianity in 1722, which then enabled him to join the Harvard faculty as an instructor of Hebrew. The book was printed by Jonas Green (1712–1767). Monis was not well accepted in either the Christian or Jewish communities of his time, since the Christians mistrusted the sincerity of his conversion and the Jews felt betrayed by it.
Printed in 1735 by Jonas Green, Boston, Massachusetts. Acquired by John Hancock.[1] Acquired by Samuel West in 1754.[2] Acquired by Ted Steinbock, private collector, Louisville, Kentucky; Privately purchased in 2020 by Museum of the Bible, Washington, DC.
Notes: [1] “John Hancock his book” is written and scratched out on the title page. Based on the signature, this is unlikely to be the well-known signatory of the Declaration of Independence and is probably either his father or grandfather, both of whom were Harvard ordained pastors in Massachusetts in the eighteenth century. [2] “Samuel West eius libes 1754” written inside front board.
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