Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Lee R. Martin" <lmartin AT vol.com>]

Dear Paul,
It is my opinion that the "let themselves" is not part of the semantics of 
the verb,
but is drawn from the context.  The text simply reads "Joshua and all Israel 
were
defeated before them and fled by way of the wilderness."
Lee R. Martin

Paul Zellmer wrote:

> Doug Kasten asked me for my opinion about the translation of
> WaYYiNNfG`U in Josh 8:15.  He listed several translations, all of
> which translated this niphal form as "let themselves be driven
> back."  This is the only occurrence in the Tanakh of this word in
> the niphal.  His question had to do with the "let themselves."  The
> lexicons I looked in had this self-volition included in the niphal
> meaning of the stem, either explicitly (as does Holladay) or
> implicitly (as does BDB).
>
> I realize the niphal is often used to bring out the tolerative
> concept.  I also realize that the story at least implies that
> concept.  But is there really any basis to make this concept part of
> the lexical meaning of the root in the niphal?  What, other than
> this isolated instance which could be only context driven, is the
> justification for the lexicographers' decision in this case?
>
> Paul
>
> --
> Paul and Dee Zellmer, Jimmy Guingab, Geoffrey Beltran
> Ibanag Translation Project
> Cabagan, Philippines
>
> zellmer AT faith.edu.ph
>
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