Biblical Hebrew Forum

[John Ronning <ronning AT ilink.nis.za>]

It has been suggested that LAKEM in Ruth 1:9, 11, as well as LAHEN in Exod 
1:21 were
actually originally (in the consonantal text) dual (not plural) common gender 
forms,
whose pronunciation was not preserved by tradition, so they were confused 
with the
masculine plural.

Sorry I don't recall the details; I don't have the article, but here is the
bibliography (I don't have the title): JQR 73 (1982): 38-58.  by Gary 
Rendsburg
 (Also has a discussion of old dual form verbs).

John Ronning


Jonathan Brubaker wrote:

> Some friends and i have been slowly translating our way through Ruth while
> going through a first year grammar.  We have come across a perplexing
> phenomenon to us. The word LAKEM appears to be refering to a femenine
> subject (Naomi's two daughters), yet the form is masculine.  I am sure that
> there is a basic answer to this but at the moment it is beyond our meager
> skills.  This same construction also appears in verse 9.  Please help!!
> Thanks.
>
> Jonathan Brubaker