Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Bryan Rocine" <596547 AT ican.net>]

Hi Rolf,

you wrote:
>suggests a future/modal setting for both 2 Kings 20:7 and Isaiah 38:21.
The
>versions tend to agree with this setting. Regarding the last verb xyh,
>according to my notes which I cannot check at the moment, we find the
>following renderings:
>2 Kings 20:7; LXX: future, Peshitta: waw + participle, Vulgate:  perfect,
>Targum: waw + perfect, Ge'ez: waw + subjunctive
>Isaiah 38:21; adjective + future, Peshitta: waw + participle, Vulgate,
>present passive; Targum: waw + imperfect, Ge'ez: waw + subjunctive.
>The problems of differentiating between weyiqtol and wayyiqtol in
unpointed
>texts is also adequately illustrated by these two verses. Just delete the
>vowels, and try to find the time setting without them.
>
>To the TAM-niks on the list: would you argue for a similar time setting,
or
>that Isaiah uses a future/modal setting and that 2 Kings uses a past
>setting?

Taken as is in the MT, I would say the two passages display a different
arrangement of narrator's text and character's text (or direct speech).  In
2 Ki 20:7, the character's text ends after one clause containing an
imperative.  The wayyiqtol's are narrator's text.  In contrast, I would say
the Isa 38:21 is all character's text (except for the initial speech intro
formula).  As you have pointed out, several translations seem to cast doubt
onthe pointing of the 2 Ki text.  2 Ki 20:8 also, logically seems to put
the wayyiqtols in some doubt.  I would not be inclined to use this
"doublet" to make conclusions about the verbal system, would you?  I don't
really see your point.

I can understand the draw to the Masoretes to point weyiqtols in 2 Ki 20:7
as wayyiqtols.  All weyiqtols would signify all character's text.  The
actualization of the healing would therefore go unrecorded in the narration
portion of the text, a prospect that would leave the reader in a bit in the
lurch.

In defense of the MT as is, I can suggest the possibility that v. 8 is a
back-loop in the narration.

Shalom,
Bryan


B. M. Rocine
Associate Pastor
Living Word Church
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