Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Bill Rea <cctr114 AT its.canterbury.ac.nz>]

Rolf wrote:-

>Dear list-members,
>
>In the mentioned verses I count 12 QATALs, 1 WEQATAL  and 3 WAYYIQTOLs. I
>cannot find any clue in the context suggesting that the events mantioned by
>the prophet is past; i.e. that reference time comes before speech time.
>However, I find many clues that they are future; i. e. reference time comes
>after speech time. How would the particular model for Hebrew verbs that you
>believe in, direct you in the translation of these verses? In other words,
>how would you translate the verses?

I translated this passage a few years ago. Here is that effort,
I haven't been back to check this:-

6 It is you who have abandoned me 
  - declares YHWH 
  You walk backwards 
  I will stretch out my hand against you 
  And I will destroy you 
  I am weary with relenting 
7 I will scatter them with a winnowing fork 
  In the gates of the land 
  I will cause bereavement, I will destroy my people 
  They have not turned from their way 
8 Their widows will be more numerous to me 
  Than the sands of the seas 
  I shall bring against them 
  Upon mother and young man 
  A destroyer at noon 
  I will bring upon them, suddenly 
  Fear and terror 
9 She who has given birth to seven languishes
  Her inner being sighs 
  Her sun sets while it is still day 
  She is shamed and humiliated 
  Their remnant I will give to the sword 
  Before their enemies - declares YHWH 

Bill Rea, Information Technology Services, University of Canterbury  \_ 
E-Mail b dot rea at its dot canterbury dot ac dot nz                 </   New 
Phone   64-3-364-2331, Fax     64-3-364-2332                        /)  
Zealand 
Unix Systems Administrator                                         (/'