Johann Georg Herbst
Encyclopedia
Johann Georg Herbst was a German Orientalist
.
Herbst was born in Rottweil
, in Württemberg
. His college course, begun in the Gymnasium
of his native city, was pursued in the Benedictine
monastery of St. Peter in the Black Forest
and in 1806 Herbst registered at the University of Freiburg
. After some time spent in completing his mathematical and philosophical studies, he devoted his talents to mastering Oriental languages and Biblical science under the tutorship of Johann Leonard Hug. From the university Herbst went, in 1811, to the seminary
of Meersburg
, to prepare himself for Holy orders
, and was ordained to the priesthood in March, 1812. Called at once to the seminary of Ellwangen
to discharge the office of repentant, he at the same time accepted the chair of Hebrew and Arabic at the newly-erected University of Ellwangen, and, two years later, was promoted to the professorship of Oriental languages and Old Testament
exegesis
. In 1817 the theological faculty of Ellwangen was transferred to Tübingen
, and there, in addition to the courses already entrusted to him, Herbst taught introduction to the Holy Scriptures and Biblical archæology; he also occasionally was prevailed upon to lecture on New Testament
exegesis, church history, and pastoral theology. The new faculty of theology, which, with such men as Johann Sebastian Drey, J. B. Hirscher
, and Johann Adam Möhler
on its staff, and pupils of the stamp of J. C. Hefele, was winning a conspicuous place in the realm of scholarship.
His first publication was a volume entitled: Observationes quædam de Pentateuchi quatuor librorum posteriorum auctore et editore (Gmünd, 1817). From the foundation, in 1819, of the Tübingen Theol. Quartalschrift, he was a steady contributor thereto; but his principal work, left unfinished, is an introduction to the Old Testament, which was completed and edited by his pupil Benedict Welte
(1841–44). In 1832 Herbst was appointed head librarian of the Royal University; but perhaps through overwork his health soon failed, and he died after a short sickness.
Oriental studies
Oriental studies is the academic field of study that embraces Near Eastern and Far Eastern societies and cultures, languages, peoples, history and archaeology; in recent years the subject has often been turned into the newer terms of Asian studies and Middle Eastern studies...
.
Herbst was born in Rottweil
Rottweil
Rottweil is a town in the south west of Germany and is the oldest town in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg.Located between the Black Forest and the Swabian Alb hills, Rottweil has about 25,000 inhabitants...
, in Württemberg
Württemberg
Württemberg , formerly known as Wirtemberg or Wurtemberg, is an area and a former state in southwestern Germany, including parts of the regions Swabia and Franconia....
. His college course, begun in the Gymnasium
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
of his native city, was pursued in the Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
monastery of St. Peter in the Black Forest
St. Peter's Abbey in the Black Forest
St Peter's Abbey in the Black Forest or St. Peter's Abbey, Schwarzwald is a former Benedictine monastery in the village of St. Peter im Schwarzwald, in the district of Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.-History:...
and in 1806 Herbst registered at the University of Freiburg
University of Freiburg
The University of Freiburg , sometimes referred to in English as the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, is a public research university located in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.The university was founded in 1457 by the Habsburg dynasty as the...
. After some time spent in completing his mathematical and philosophical studies, he devoted his talents to mastering Oriental languages and Biblical science under the tutorship of Johann Leonard Hug. From the university Herbst went, in 1811, to the seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
of Meersburg
Meersburg
Meersburg is a town of Baden-Württemberg in the southwest of Germany at Lake Constance.It is famous for its charming medieval city. The lower town and upper town are reserved for pedestrians only and connected by two stairways and a steep street .-History:The name of the town means "Burg on the...
, to prepare himself for Holy orders
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
, and was ordained to the priesthood in March, 1812. Called at once to the seminary of Ellwangen
Ellwangen
Ellwangen an der Jagst, officially Ellwangen , in common use simply Ellwangen is a town in the district of Ostalbkreis in the east of Baden-Württemberg in Germany...
to discharge the office of repentant, he at the same time accepted the chair of Hebrew and Arabic at the newly-erected University of Ellwangen, and, two years later, was promoted to the professorship of Oriental languages and Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
exegesis
Exegesis
Exegesis is a critical explanation or interpretation of a text, especially a religious text. Traditionally the term was used primarily for exegesis of the Bible; however, in contemporary usage it has broadened to mean a critical explanation of any text, and the term "Biblical exegesis" is used...
. In 1817 the theological faculty of Ellwangen was transferred to Tübingen
Tübingen
Tübingen is a traditional university town in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated south of the state capital, Stuttgart, on a ridge between the Neckar and Ammer rivers.-Geography:...
, and there, in addition to the courses already entrusted to him, Herbst taught introduction to the Holy Scriptures and Biblical archæology; he also occasionally was prevailed upon to lecture on New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
exegesis, church history, and pastoral theology. The new faculty of theology, which, with such men as Johann Sebastian Drey, J. B. Hirscher
Johann Baptist von Hirscher
Johann Baptist von Hirscher was a German Catholic theologian.-Life:He was born in Alt-Ergarten, Bodnegg and studied at Weissenau monastery school, the lyceum of Constance, and the University of Freiburg...
, and Johann Adam Möhler
Johann Adam Möhler
Johann Adam Möhler was a German Roman Catholic theologian.He was born at Igersheim in Württemberg, and after studying philosophy and theology in the lyceum at Ellwangen, entered the University of Tübingen in 1817. Ordained to the priesthood in 1819, he was appointed to a curacy...
on its staff, and pupils of the stamp of J. C. Hefele, was winning a conspicuous place in the realm of scholarship.
His first publication was a volume entitled: Observationes quædam de Pentateuchi quatuor librorum posteriorum auctore et editore (Gmünd, 1817). From the foundation, in 1819, of the Tübingen Theol. Quartalschrift, he was a steady contributor thereto; but his principal work, left unfinished, is an introduction to the Old Testament, which was completed and edited by his pupil Benedict Welte
Benedict Welte
Benedict Welte was a German Catholic exegete.After studying at Tübingen and Bonn, where he made special studies in the exegesis of the Old Testament and in Oriental languages, he was ordained priest when twenty-eight years old...
(1841–44). In 1832 Herbst was appointed head librarian of the Royal University; but perhaps through overwork his health soon failed, and he died after a short sickness.