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b-hebrew - Re: N"R:DFH in Gen 43:4

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  • From: Paul Zellmer <zellmer AT cag.pworld.net.ph>
  • To: list b-hebrew <b-hebrew AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Re: N"R:DFH in Gen 43:4
  • Date: Sun, 16 May 1999 04:53:39 +0800


Lee,

Thanks for the quick response.

I do realize the imperatival nature of cohortatives, and normally would
translate it
that way. But in this case, why was cohortative chosen? Since Jacob had
just commanded
the sons to return to Egypt, then they could not be demanding to go, which is
roughly as
I see the imperatival form. If they were simply acknowledging their father's
demand/request, would they not use, say, an X-yiqtol, with perhaps the 1st
common plural
pronoun as the X element (in casus pendens) or Egypt with a directive (either
preposition or -heh) as the X element, or the like? If we are looking at one
of the
"normal" usages of cohortative here, then "strong determination" would seem
the most
likely element of meaning.

I wonder if cohortative might have been used because it *can* stand at the
head of the
clause without conjunction or X-element, and using a yiqtol would have
[nearly] required
such a "distracting" element?

Just my further musings,

Paul

Lee R. Martin wrote:

> Dear Paul,
> Yes, it is cohortative.
> Cohortatives do not necessarily indicate"strong determination" as you put
> it.
> "Let us go down..."
>
> Paul Zellmer wrote:
>
> > Just a quick request for your ideas: Gen 43:4 reads:
> >
> > )IM-YE$:KF M:$AL."XA )ET-)FXIYNW. )IT.FNW. N"R:DFH W:NI$:B.:RFH L:KF
> > )OKEL
> >
> > Would you consider N"R:DFH as yiqtol with a paragogic heh, or as
> > cohortative?

<remainder of original post snipped>
--
Paul and Dee Zellmer, Jimmy Guingab, Geoffrey Beltran
Ibanag Translation Project
Cabagan, Isabela, Rep. of Philippines

zellmer AT cag.pworld.net.ph








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