Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Stephen C. Carlson" <scarlson AT mindspring.com>]

At 07:49 AM 12/4/99 +0100, Ian Hutchesson wrote:
>>This is an unwarrented inference from the text.  The text never says
>>that Adar is non-Hebrew, only that it is the name in Aramaic (SURIAKHi).
>>In order to draw your inference, you must first establish the linguistic
>>compentence of the author of 2 Macc (e.g., did he know the difference
>>between Aramaic and Hebrew?).
>
>I think you'd have to establish why the writer uses "Syrian" rather than
>"Hebrew" which would be the expected term, even if he didn't know the
>difference between Hebrew and Aramaic. The fact that he used "Syrian" here
>when he doesn't seem to be using the term "Hebrew" indescriminately in
>other places, requires one to show that the writer didn't intend "Syrian"
>instead of "Hebrew".

I don't think I have to establish anything at this point.  You are
the one who is offering a thesis.  I have merely pointed out one
leap in your reasoning that needs further substantiation.  The fact
that you are unwilling to substantiate your reasoning is your problem,
not mine.

Stephen Carlson
--
Stephen C. Carlson                        mailto:scarlson AT mindspring.com
Synoptic Problem Home Page   http://www.mindspring.com/~scarlson/synopt/
"Poetry speaks of aspirations, and songs chant the words."  Shujing 2.35