Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Paul Zellmer <zellmer AT cag.pworld.net.ph>]

George Athas wrote:
> If REŠIYT was in construct, then we would not expect
> a finite verb to follow it. We would expect perhaps an infinitive of some
> sort. This is not what we have in the MT. We have a finite verb with a
> subject and two direct objects. As such, REŠIYT must be either a conjunction
> or circumstance. Since it is prefixed with a preposition (B), which has
> not subsumed a definite article, we must understand the first word of Genesis
> as simply meaning, "At first".
Lloyd Barre and I have been discussing this off-list, and there apparently
is a possibility, albeit extremely rare, for a construct with no
prepositional force to stand before a non-relative clause.  [W&O,
9.6e]  A case in point is Hosea 1:2.  In their footnote on page
156, W&O state, "This construction is sometimes associated with Gen.
1:1."

I have a couple of favors to request of you.  They make reference to Waltke's article in Bibliotheca Sacra 132 (1975) 216-28, which is concerning the this passage.  But I have no access to this journal here in the Philippines.  Could one of you with a page-scanner get a copy and send it to me as an attachment?  I certainly would appreciate it.  Also, do any of you know of other occurrences of this BH grammatical construction?

Thanks in advance,

Paul
--
Paul and Dee Zellmer, Jimmy Guingab, Geoffrey Beltran
Ibanag Translation Project
Cabagan, Philippines

zellmer AT faith.edu.ph