[b-hebrew] QATAl vs. VAYYIQTOL: Can we make sense of this construction?
moon at sogang.ac.kr
moon at sogang.ac.kr
Fri Mar 31 06:06:35 EST 2006
Hi,
I find it interesting that in Ezra 1:7-8, QATAL and VAYYIQTOL forms of the verb
YCHA (bring out) occur in sequence. Is there any theory that can explain this
sequence?
According to Niccatti, in narratives, VAYYIQTOL moves the main storyline, whereas
QATAL describes background information for the storyline. I found this theory quite helpful
when I read the Scriptures. But I have never found cases where the same verb appears
next to each other in QATAL and VAYYIQTOL forms, as in Ezra 1:7-8.
If I stick to Niccatti model, I may explain this sequence as follows:
(1) 1:5 starts a narrative sequence.
(2) 1:6-7 describes background information by using two QATAL; 1:7 describes
the fact that Cyrus brough temple-things.
(3) 1:8 recounts in more detail how Cyrus brought the temple-things by means of
a narrative sequence: (a) Cyrus brought them by Mithredath the treasurer and
(b) he counted them.
The point is that VAYYIQTOL of YCHA occurs in 1:8 simply because it
occurs in a narrative sequence, whereas QATAL form occurs in 1:7 because
it describes background information.
Does this explanation make sense?
Sincerely
Moon Jung
Sogang Univ, Seoul, Korea
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