Biblical Hebrew Forum

[peter_kirk AT sil.org]

The phrase BA(AL X"MFH appears in Proverbs 29:22 in parallel with 
)IY$-)AP, whereas BA(AL )FP appears in Proverbs 22:24 in parallel with 
)IY$ X"MOWT. There are several other such phrases with BA(AL, 
especially in the Wisdom Literature - se BDB. I think that makes it 
clear that the meaning in Proverbs is simply "one given to anger". 
That meaning also fits well the context in Nahum, so there is no need 
to bring in the otherwise unattested (?) parallelism of YHWH with the 
god Baal.

On the syntax, surely YHWH is the subject of all of the phrases in 
Nahum 1:2.

Peter Kirk


______________________________ Reply Separator 
_________________________________
Subject: b(l xmh in Nahum 1:2
Author:  <c.s.bartholomew AT worldnet.att.net> at Internet
Date:    01/01/2000 13:35


Greetings,

I have spent the last few months doing a study of cosmic combat motifs 
in the OT and NT. I am currently looking at Nahum 1:2-11. Don't quite 
know  what to do with b(l xmh in Nah. 1:2. Looks like b(l could be taken 
as a name or as a regular noun. If taken as a noun then we have several 
translation options (lord, owner, etc.).

I don't know Hebrew syntax well enough to determine if b(l xmh could be 
taken as a chaistic parallel structure with nqm yhwh. If we were to take 
it as a parallel structure then what impact would that have on our 
understanding of b(l?

Is it possible that our Prophet might have introduced intentional 
polysemy with the word b(l? Given that b(l crops up here in a cosmic 
combat context it is tempting to discover here something more than the 
sense "owner or possessor." Can anyone give me reasons why this 
temptation should be resisted?


--
Clayton Stirling Bartholomew
Three Tree Point
P.O. Box 255 Seahurst WA 98062


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