Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Studium Biblicum Franciscanum <sbfnet AT netvision.net.il>]

Title: Re[2]: WEQATAL NONVOLITIVE

Dear Peter Kirk,

Thanks for your comment.

I have tried to show that predictions (as the announcements of the plagues) as well as instructions (as Exod. 26:1 ff.) use non-volitive x-yiqtol, continued by weqatal. Weqatal usually appears in a chain. A chain of weqatal's represents the mainline in direct speech when the time reference is the future.
The direct-speech chain of weqatal corresponds to the narrative chain of wayyiqtol. One could compare Exod. 26:1 ff. (God's instructions) with Exod. 36:8 ff. (execution of those instructions). You might have a look at my _Syntax_ ##58, where I compared those texts.
This is how I see the situation. I think BH distinguish weqatal from weyiqtol, and the difference is: simple, non-volitive future, also including modalities (can, may), versus volitive (comprising promise).

I do not quite understand what do you mean by "matrix of the priestly blessing" and "the blessing itself"?
Blessing is invoking or wishing God's mercy on someone. It is not the same as benediction--like, "You are blessed, o Lord..." *barukh 'attâ...*--which is indicative (non volitive). The versions translate Num.  6:24-26 with volitive forms-- LXX *eulogêsai*; Vulg. *benedicat*; RSV "The Lord bless you".
Have you different ideas?

Peace.
Alviero Niccacci

On  02/26/99 (Re[2]: WEQATAL NONVOLITIVE) Peter Kirk wrote:


> Dear Prof. Niccacci,
>
> Thank you for your helpful and clear explanations on this list.
>
> I was rather surprised by your explanation of weqatal as non-volitive.
> I have recently worked through the instructional and legal material in
> Exodus-Deuteronomy. There there are many x-yiqtol followed by weqatal
> sequences, e.g. Exodus 26:1ff with its repeated t.a(:a&eh and
> w:(f&iytf. I had assumed that these sequences were in some sense
> volitional, i.e. instructions, rather than simply predictions. But
> according to your theory these are non-volitive. How do you account
> for this?
>
> Surely also the matrix for the priestly blessing, Numbers 6:23,27, as
> well as the blessing itself, is volitive?
>
> Peter Kirk

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