Biblical Hebrew Forum

[peter_kirk AT SIL.ORG]

Interesting statistics. But I don't think they back up Rolf's case. 
Let us look at how many of the cases show a fundamental semantic 
difference between the parallel sentences, according to Rolf's theory 
and an alternative.

Rolf's theory, if I understand correctly, makes an essential division 
between qatal/weqatal on one side and yiqtol/weyiqtol/wayyiqtol on the 
other. On this theory 24+4+6+5+11 = 50 doublets show a semantic 
distinction and only 7+2 = 9 do not. This does not seem to tie up well 
with Rolf's assumption that most of the doublets have the same 
meaning; rather it suggests that in the great majority of doublets the 
change of verb form was made in order to change the meaning of the 
text. That seems unlikely!

On the other hand, if we follow a four-component model, we can very 
approximately identify wayyiqtol with qatal, and weqatal and weyiqtol 
with yiqtol. Perhaps the Chronicler preferred qatal to wayyiqtol and 
that is the source of many of the differences. On this theory 
24+4+some of 11 = between 29 and 38 show no great semantic difference 
and 6+7+2+5+some of 11 = between 21 and 30 show significant semantic 
difference. This is at least less inconsistent with Rolf's assumption. 
A refined model taking into account word order might well reduce the 
number of doublets where there is a real difference in meaning to a 
very small number including the particular case in question, where the 
difference may go back to misunderstanding of the unpointed text and 
perhaps other matters such as textual corruption.

Peter Kirk


______________________________ Reply Separator 
_________________________________
Subject: Re: 2Ki 20:7 and Isa 38:21
Author:  furuli AT online.no at internet
Date:    08/03/1999 04:44

<long snip>

 For instance, in the 470 verses in BH which are doublettes, I found the
following differences:
24 examples of wayyiqtol in one verse and qatal in the doublette. 
4 examples of yiqtol  in one verse and weqatal in the doublette. 
6 examples of yiqtol in one verse and qatal in the doublette.
7 examples of wayyiqtol in one verse and yiqtol in the doublette.
2 examples of wayyiqtol in one verse and weyiqtol in the doublette (one is 
our example).
5 examples of wayyiqtol in one verse and a participle or an infinitive in 
the doublette.
11 examples of yiqtol in one verse and a weqatal, infinitive or participle 
in the doublette.

In none of these situations is it evident that a change of time setting is 
the reason for the choice of different verbs.

<snip>