Biblical Hebrew Forum

[peter_kirk AT sil.org]

There is another imperatival aspect to this which is that Judah is 
acting as spokesman and leader of the brothers, in their presence (see 
v.7). So perhaps he is turning to his brothers and saying, "in this 
case, let's go!"

Peter Kirk


______________________________ Reply Separator 
_________________________________
Subject: Re: N"R:DFH in Gen 43:4
Author:  zellmer AT cag.pworld.net.ph at internet
Date:    15/05/1999 15:53


Lee,

Thanks for the quick response.

I do realize the imperatival nature of cohortatives, and normally would 
translat
e
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 
commo
n
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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