Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Camille Bessette" <carmel.de.lisieux AT wanadoo.fr>]

Bonjour Bryan !

Ba(al se(ar  = is it a hairy man, with the word garment implied, as Vg and
LXX understood ?
The garment of Elijah is referred to by Roland de Vaux (Elie le prophete, R.
de Vaux et alii) as an animal skin with fur. A floating coat, he adds, not
fastened with a belt, completed by a loin-cloth as undergarment.  This
outfit is not the one usually worn by prophets because it allows Ochozias to
recognize Elijah, but it was adopted later by other prophets - Zechariah
13:4 = )deret se(ar -  and the *new* Elijah John the Baptist (Mt 3:4 and Mc
1:6).
Notwithstanding fabric, de Vaux compares it to the garment ihram put on by
Mecca pilgrims when they reach the sacred precints : a white piece of cloth
used as a loin-cloth called  )izar and another one over the shoulders :
rida.

The ironic link you suggest with the messengers on their way to meet
Ba(al-zebub is very interesting. I have not seen a discussion of this
reference in Mulder article on
ba(al...  Is there an association somewhere  in the Ugaritic material
between flies (cf. "lord of the flies") and se(ar ?

Another thing : it is difficult to precise the exact sense of the preceding
question in verse 7 :  me   mi$pa+   hf)i$.  There is a similar expression
in the mouth of Samson' father Manoah, Judges 13:12.  French translations
are turning around: how was he, how was his tenue, his aspect, his look, his
style.
What do you think ?

Camille Bessette
<carmel.de.lisieux AT wanadoo.fr>