Biblical Hebrew Forum

[peter_kirk AT sil.org]

I would hope that no such study would assume any particular number of 
conjugations, but would allow that to be a result of the study - and 
allow for the possibility that the number of conjugations changed 
between pre-exilic and post-exilic times. Well, maybe that is 
idealistic. But if other studies are flawed by assuming four 
conjugations, surely Rolf's studies are at least as much flawed in 
that they seem to assume two conjugations.

The methodology of looking at doublets may also be suspect. Although 
there are changes between Samuel and Chronicles for example, we should 
not assume that the result of these changes is good natural Hebrew of 
the period of the Chronicler. Just ask someone to quickly update a 
passage of the King James Bible into modern English (or the Norwegian 
etc equivalent), and see how natural and perfect the result is. I 
think you will spot the difference unless a lot of care has been 
taken. No, much better analyse the Chronicler's own new compositions, 
or such works as the memoirs of Nehemiah.

Peter Kirk


______________________________ Reply Separator 
_________________________________
Subject: Re: Diachronic Hebrew (was <wayyiqtol> again)
Author:  <furuli AT online.no> at Internet
Date:    03/01/2000 20:46


Dear Galia,

<snip>

RF
Before such a study is undertaken one should figure out how different 
assumptions will influence one's interpretation of the data. Most important 
is the number of conjugations that are assumed. In most studies four 
conjugations are assumed, and on this basis a few data is compatible with a 
change of verb meaning. If just two conjugations are assumed, even this 
limited number of data has no bearing on verb meaning.

<snip>

I have made a detailed comparison of all the 470 verses which are dublettes 
or triplets. The results do not suggest a change in verbal meaning at the 
time of Ezra/Nehemjah because the differences go back and forth without any 
pattern. Just look at a list of paralells with Samuel/Kings (1) versus 
Chronicles (2).

<snip>