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Subject: Biblical Hebrew Forum

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  • From: "Peter Kirk"<peter_kirk AT sil.org>
  • To: <b-hebrew AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Re: Purpose for discussion
  • Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 19:04:26 -0500


Paul, in principle I agree with you. But one reason why I did start to
get involved with this question is one in which history and Hebrew
really do intersect. Some of the theories of Hebrew verb forms which I
have been looking at depend on there being a real distinction between
"Late Biblical Hebrew" and the Hebrew of most of the Hebrew Bible.
Indeed surely there is such a distinction. But this distinction is
ignored and made a mockery of by those who attempt to prove that the
Bible is a product of the Hellenistic age, and is rather difficult to
reconcile with the view that the Pentateuch is from the Persian
period. That was my motivation for getting involved in the discussion.

I accept that Rohl's views are only of marginal relevance to the
Hebrew language. If list members asked me politely to terminate the
thread for that reason, I would comply. But I will not do so when they
ask me to desist because of their prejudices against an author of
whose arguments they are largely ignorant.

Peter Kirk


______________________________ Reply Separator
_________________________________
Subject: Purpose for discussion
Author: <zellmer AT digitelone.com> at Internet
Date: 14/02/2000 07:46


Ian (and NPL, et al.),

There is something else that I would like to understand. What exactly
are we hoping to accomplish with this extended discussion on
historiology? Are you looking for a scholarly discussion of the timing
of events if they occurred as presented in the Hebrew scriptures? If
so, I'm afraid that you are in the wrong forum.

To expand on (and reverse) NPL's previous analogy, you are talking to
"auto mechanics," for I am convinced that most of us joined this list
because we wanted further insight into the language of the Hebrew bible.
We neither have the background nor the inclination to do in-depth
historical studies unless they can teach us something about the text as
we have it. Oh, we do have some understanding about the historical
questions, but so far you have not demonstrated the smallest
significance on the language that is caused by holding that the events
of the Pentateuch actually occurred as written, never occurred, or
occurred in some "kernel of truth" form.

So please, if you will, inform us as to why you see this as a critical
study for this forum. If it is to find a scholarly discussion, I
believe those scholars live en masse on lists like ANE, but,
regretably(?), not here.

Paul

----

Paul and Dee Zellmer, Jimmy Guingab, Geoffrey Beltran
Ibanag Translation Project
Cabagan, Isabela, Rep. of Philippines

zellmer AT digitelone.com





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