Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Peter Kirk"<peter_kirk AT sil.org>]

The difference here is simple: (:A&OWT is an infinitive construct and 
not a finite verb. This removes the ambiguity. If the author of 
Genesis 1:1 had wanted to convey the interpretation "In the beginning 
of God's creating...", he could perfectly well have written B.:R")$IYT 
B.:RO) ):ELOHIYM as in 5:1 (which is actually a closer parallel than 
2:4b). But s/he didn't, or the Masoretes didn't point it like that. 
And LXX suggests that this was not an invention of the Masoretes. No, 
to me the intention of the Masoretic text is clear: "In the beginning 
God created..."

Peter Kirk


______________________________ Reply Separator 
_________________________________
Subject: Re: Genesis 1:1
Author:  <yonsaf AT beitberl.beitberl.ac.il> at Internet
Date:    20/01/2000 08:43


Have you looked at Gen. 2:4b, which parallels 1:1 in content and 
syntactical structure? Rashi could have used it as another example for 
his interpretation of 1:1 had he understood it as the incipit of the 
second Creation narrative.
Sincerely,

--
Jonathan D. Safren
Dept. of Biblical Studies
Beit Berl College
Beit Berl Post Office 44905
Israel



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