Did Solomon Spaulding Know Hebrew?

[Hamilton Porter]

I could only gather that he went to Dartmouth.

[Glenn101]

I have been able to find no record of the courses that he took. It has been assumed by some that he did take Hebrew there but I have not been able to determine that for a fact. As far as I know, no one alive today really knows.

Glenn

Edited March 13, 2013 by Glenn101

[wenglund]

The Brief Biographical Sketch of Solomon Spalding, by Dale Broadhurst, doesn't go into much more detail other than to say that he studied law for a couple of years prior to attending Dartmouth, and that he graduated with an A. B. (Bachelors of Arts) and an A. M. (Masters of Arts), preparatory for entering the ministry for a few years. It is uncertain whether his collegiate training included Hebrew (I doubt it), though it may have involved some Latin and/or Greek.

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

[wenglund]

Here is a General Catalogue for Dartmouth College--1890. There is mention of Latin and Greek languages, though not Hebrew.

Latin and Greek were first taught by the Rev. John Smith, D.D., from 1878 (the year Spalding graduated with his M.A.) to 1809. So, at best Spalding may have had one year of classes in those languages.

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

Edited March 13, 2013 by wenglund

[wenglund]

According to this Dartmouth web page. Jewish studies didn't start at Dartmouth until the 1960's.

However, this Dartmouth College Bulletin states: "In the College's early days, the study of Hebrew, along with Latin and Greek, was a regular part of the curriculum, and on at least seven occasions brief orations in Hebrew were given at commencement by students. Dartmouth's own Professor John Smith, who taught the subject from 1777 to 1803, authored a Hebrew textbook that was printed in Boston."

This conflicts somewhat with what is found in the General Catalog, so who knows? I suppose it is possible that Spalding may have learned some Hebrew from professor Smith in the last two years before graduating.

Interestingly enough there was this mentioned in a Modern Judaism article on, The Beginnings of Judaic Studies in America: "These include a Mr. Horowitz, who taught Hebrew as well as French at Dartmouth College in 1811. Twenty years later, Joshua Seixas, son of New York's renowned Gershom Mendes Seixas,"

Joshua Seixas was the instructor who taught Hebrew to Joseph Smith and other members of the Church, from January to April of 1836.

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

[rongo]

There isn't much (or any) Hebrew in the names Spalding used in "Manuscript Story - Conneaut Creek." I included a list of anachronistic words and phrases and proper names from his story that aren't found in the Book of Mormon in a fireside handout for my stake (pages 19-20).

http://www.fillthenet.com/BoM_fireside_handout.pdf

I can't find a single name common to both.

[Hamilton Porter]

According to this Dartmouth web page. Jewish studies didn't start at Dartmouth until the 1960's.

However, this Dartmouth College Bulletin states: "In the College's early days, the study of Hebrew, along with Latin and Greek, was a regular part of the curriculum, and on at least seven occasions brief orations in Hebrew were given at commencement by students. Dartmouth's own Professor John Smith, who taught the subject from 1777 to 1803, authored a Hebrew textbook that was printed in Boston."

This conflicts somewhat with what is found in the General Catalog, so who knows? I suppose it is possible that Spalding may have learned some Hebrew from professor Smith in the last two years before graduating.

Interestingly enough there was this mentioned in a Modern Judaism article on, The Beginnings of Judaic Studies in America: "These include a Mr. Horowitz, who taught Hebrew as well as French at Dartmouth College in 1811. Twenty years later, Joshua Seixas, son of New York's renowned Gershom Mendes Seixas,"

Joshua Seixas was the instructor who taught Hebrew to Joseph Smith and other members of the Church, from January to April of 1836.

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

Thanks for all the information Wade.

[Programmer]

Don't waste your time on Spaulding.... The Book of Mormon had nothing to do with it.