Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Peter_Kirk AT SIL.ORG]

Dear John,

Thank you for your comments. Your example of watering the camels is 
telling, but I think would be explained in terms of two sides of one 
event being described as if one event, just like the naming of Ephraim 
and Manasseh (whether or not they were actually twins). Where did the 
97% figure come from, anyway?

But I must disagree with your: "the view that wayyiqtol is unmarked 
for sequence explains 100% of the data!". On the contrary, it explains 
nothing at all! Or have I explained 100% of biblical Hebrew if I 
assert that no words or grammatical forms mean anything at all, 
everything was pragmatics? It is safe to say "I don't know what this 
means" as no-one can contradict you; but it is not an alternative 
explanatory hypothesis.

Would you accept Dave's "I forgot my checkbook" example in South 
Africa too? What is the English language coming to? ;-(

Peter