Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Alviero Niccacci <sbfnet AT netvision.net.il>]

Title: Re: Genesis 1:1: independent clause or subordinate phr

On  06/12/99 (Genesis 1:1: independent clause or subordinate phrase?) Peter Kirk wrote:

> Dear Prof. Niccacci,

        < snip >

> Are there other instances of
> time phrases beginning with B-<time
> word> which are separated from the
> main clause to which they refer by waw? This structure would seem
> very
> odd, as the waw is usually a clause divider but in such a case it
> would not be, or else the time phrase would be left on its own with
> no
> sentence to be linked to. <
> ...>
> There are no other cases of the
> structure B-<time phrase> W-<main clause>.

        Some relevant examples and authorities were only quoted in order to show the legitimacy of the construct <nomen regens> + <finite verb as nomen rectum>.

        As for the structure B (or any preposition)-<time phrase> W-<main clauses> note the following examples:
- bi$nat mot hammelek `uzziyyahu   -- wa'er'eh 'et-'adonay (Isa 6:1)

- bi$nat mot hammelek 'aHaz        -- hayâ hammaSSa' hazzeh (Isa 14:28)

A comparison of the two examples shows that the Waw is optional; wayyiqtol and first-place qatal play the same function in this kind of construct having a circumstance of time (or the like) before the main clause. In traditional terminology, that Waw is called Waw apodoseos (Waw of apodosis)--actually the <time phrase> (or circumstance of time) functions as the protasis and the <main clause> functions as the apodosis of a conditional clause.

        < snip>

> PK: To put this another way, the
> examples you quote are all consistent
> with an analysis of Genesis 1:1 including a null complementiser
> (e.g.
> perhaps a missing 'ASHER) as follows:
>
> {time phrase {preposition B-}
>              {noun phrase {construct noun RE'SHIT}
>                           {noun phrase {complementiser
> 0}
>                                        {sentence
> {verb BARA'}
>                                                  {...}}}}}
>
> where {...} is 'ELOHIM 'ET-HASHSHAMAYIM WE'ET HA'ARETS. On this
> analysis, the whole verse is a time phrase, and so there should be
> no
> waw separating it from the following clause. Also the
> embedded
> sentence is QATAL first, not X-QATAL,
> for BERE'SHIT is not part of it.

        The following examples may answer your problem:

- beyôm bero' 'elohîm 'adam         -- bidmût 'elohîm `aSâ 'otô (Gen 5:1)

- bayyom ha$$eli$i                  -- wayyiSSa'  'abraham 'et-`enayw (Gen 22:4)

- `ereb                             -- wîda`tem ...

   ûboqer                           -- ûre'îtem ... (Exod 16:6-7)

- beyôm qwnôteka haSSadeh ...       -- ûme'et rût hammô'abiyyâ ... qanîta (qere) ... (Ruth 4:5)

        The construct <time phrase> - <main clause> is also attested with a preceding wayehî:

-wayehî le$ib`at hayyamîm           -- ûmê hammabbûl hayû `al-ha'aretz (Gen 7:10)

- wayehii 'aHar haddebarîm ha'elleh -- weha'elohîm nissa' 'et-'abraham (Gen 22:1)

- wayehî babboqer                   -- wayyiqqaH balaq 'et-bil`am (Num22:41)

        < snip >

> I wonder if you can comment on whether
> in general pairs of X-QATAL
> clauses joined by waw should be taken as
> simultaneous, sequential or
> what?  < ... >

        Pairs of X-QATAL (i.e. X-QATAL both in the protasis and in the apodosis) are attested. As far as I know, they signal simultaneity but I did not make a complete search. See the following examples:

- habboqer 'ôr                      -- weha'ana$îm $ulleHû ...

  hem yaTSe'û 'et-ha`îr, lo' hirHîqû-- weyôsep 'amar ... (Gen 44:3-4)

- habboqer hayâ                     -- werûaH haqqadîm naSa' 'et-ha'arbeh (Exod 10:13).

        If you are interested in a more or less complete typology of the very interesting and rich construct <time phrase> - <main clause> you may consult my _Syntax_ Chap. 8, which is completely devoted to its typology and evaluation.

Peace and all good.

Alviero Niccacci

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