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  • From: "Steve Miller" <smille10 AT sbcglobal.net>
  • To: <ps2866 AT bingo-ev.de>, <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Subject in Jer 31,2 ?
  • Date: Sat, 14 Jul 2012 09:07:39 -0400


> -----Original Message-----
> From: b-hebrew-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:b-hebrew-
> bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of ps2866 AT bingo-ev.de
> Sent: Friday, July 13, 2012 8:16 PM
> To: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
> Subject: [b-hebrew] Subject in Jer 31,2 ?
>
> Dear Friends,
>
> >[Steve Miller:] JHWH and HLK are common during the Exodus.
> Ok, you're right. I should have based that on a computer search not on my
> brain.
>
> Thanks for all comments. Another (minor) point that could strenghten the
> argument is that Jahwe as possible subject would be too far away. There is
> too much in between. Israel is nearer, nothing is in between, and fits
> contextually.

[Steve Miller:] Yes. Also, Jahwe is in this verse only as the speaker of it,
"Thus says Jahwe, .....", not in the content of what He spoke. There is no
1st person pronoun in the verse for the infinitive הלוך to take as a subject.
You have to go back to v1 for a 1st person pronoun, and that is from a
different "thus says the Jahwe".

> I'm surprised that only one out of about 40 German translations treats it
> this
> way (old Zuercher Translation). I haven't checked the English ones.

[Steve Miller:]As Steven S has said, many English translate it with Israel as
subject: HCSB, RSV, NRSV, Lamsa, Leeser, ESV, NET, NAS, NAB, but more the
other way. ASV (1901) translated it with Jahwe as subject with a note that
it could be the other way. RSV (revised ASV) went with Jahwe as subject. Of
the pre-1900 English translations, only Leeser, that I have seen, translates
it with Israel as subject. The Peshitta apparently also translated it that
way according to Lamsa's translation.

The 3rd person pronoun suffix on hiphil רגע "to give him rest" made me think
at 1st that the subject should be Jahwe - but then what to do with "Israel"
at the end. It required agonizing over it until I reached the point where I
could be satisfied which way was right.

>
> Any further comments are welcome !
> Yours
> Peter M. Streitenberger
>
>
>
>
>
> > Peter,
> > Thanks for sharing. Comments below.
> >
> > Sincerely yours,
> > Steve Miller
> > Detroit
> > www.voiceInWilderness.info
> > And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and
> > remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye
> > seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to
> > go a
> > whoring: That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be
> holy
> > unto your God. (Num 15:39-40)
> >
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: b-hebrew-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:b-hebrew-
> >> bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of ps2866 AT bingo-ev.de
> >> Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2012 8:12 AM
> >> To: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
> >> Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Subject in Jer 31,2 ?
> >>
> >> Dear Karl,
> >>
> >> thank you for your response.
> >>
> >> - there is no object marker "et" in front of "Israel"(conf. Jerm
> >> 50,35), so that it is not necessarily the Object of "RG)" (to bring
> >> Israel to rest). To regard Isreal as Subject is possible.
> >> - The Word HaLoKH (walking) is infinite. It's possible to see this
> >> verb as indicating circumstantial information on the people having
> >> found grace mentioned already.
> >> - HalaKH is better refered to the people of Israel, while they were
> >> wandering in the desert.
> >
> > [Steve Miller:] Yes, it does make more sense that way
> >
> >> - At the first glance I found no other reference that JHWH and HLK
> >> are combined.
> >
> > [Steve Miller:] JHWH and HLK are common during the Exodus. Ex 13:21;
> > Num 14:14; Deu 1:30; 20:4;23:14;31:6,8.
> >
> >> I'd suggest therefore: "when Isreal wandered in order to come to its
> >> rest".
> >
> > [Steve Miller:] The 1st 1/2 of the verse has the subject, "the people
> > remaining of the sword" last. So, it reads more poetic to me to have
> > the subject be last in the 2nd 1/2 of the verse also.
> >
> > Thus says the Lord,
> > They found grace in the wilderness, did the people remaining from the
> > sword.
> > Then he was journeying to find his rest, was Israel.
> >
> > The passage describes the Lord's viewing Israel with love. After
> > almost the entire older generation were killed off in the wilderness,
> > they found grace. They were then journeying with a purpose to come
> > into their promised rest, which found grace in the Lord's eyes and
> > also was a result of the Lord's grace.
> >
> >>
> >> Thank you for further help !
> >> Yours
> >> Peter Streitenberger, Germany
> >>
> >> > Peter:
> >> >
> >> > Look at the context, this is quoting YHWH with a couple of
> >> > interjections by Jeremiah at the beginning of the first two verses.
> >> > At least that’s how I read it.
> >> >
> >> > Why would you prefer Israel as the subject?
> >> >
> >> > Karl W. Randolph.
> >> >
> >> > On Wed, Jul 11, 2012 at 11:18 AM, <ps2866 AT bingo-ev.de> wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> Dear Hebrew-Friends,
> >> >>
> >> >> what is the subject of the last clause in Jerem 31,2:
> >> >>
> >> >> "HaLoKH LeHaRGi)o JiSRa(eL"
> >> >>
> >> >> Many German translation treat "Jahwe" as Subject. He will go to
> >> >> bring Israel to its rest. But this rendering isn't clear to me.
> >> >> I'd rather treat Israel as Subject: "when Israel walked to come to its
> rest".
> >> >>
> >> >> I'd be glad if you could help me !
> >> >>
> >> >> Yours
> >> >> Peter M. Streitenberger, Germany





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