Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Dave Washburn" <dwashbur AT nyx.net>]

Paul wrote:
> The first has to do with the very common collocation of (&H and
> (M with XSD.  In Ruth, it is found in 1:8.  Just because it is
> used frequently does not necessarily mean that the construction
> is completely understood.  The English and Tagalog versions to
> which this group referred when they got stuck with the
> construction all handle this as a description of God's dealings
> with the young widows as compared with their dealings with their
> husbands and with Naomi.  Based on that, the group took the
> phrase as equivalent to, "May YHWH treat you with XSD."  However,
> the question came up if this phrase could not come close to
> meaning, "May YHWH make XSD accompany you."  The implication here
> is that XSD has YHWH as its source, but it may be actually seen
> in the dealings with others beside YHWH.  IOW, XSD plays a bit
> more active role, almost like a catalyst.

I can see how this idea could develop, but since the phrase is 
explicitly compared to the way the daughters-in-law dealt with their 
late husbands and with Naomi, I'm not sure the context will sustain 
it.  I would lean toward the first option.

Dave Washburn
http://www.nyx.net/~dwashbur
A Bible that's falling apart means a life that isn't.