Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Naama Zahavi-Ely <nxzaha AT wm.edu>]

Hello!  I always understood the x-qatal phrase in Genesis 22:1 as saying, in 
effect,
"what follows was a TEST" -- that is, notifying the reader in advance and 
with emphasis
that the request from God to Abraham to sacrifice his son was a test, that 
God was not
really interested in getting a human sacrifice but rather in Abraham's 
willingness to
obey.  There is a subtle difference between that and your translation:  your
translation is like putting a descriptive title at the top of a paragraph, my
understanding is rather like a notification that provides a specific viewing 
point from
which to observe a story that might otherwise be read differently.

Best wishes,

Naama



"Lee R. Martin" wrote:

> Dear Friends,
> How would you exegete the clauses in Genesis 22:1?
> I am thinking of the following:
> 1- The verse begins with wayyiqtol of HYH, a discourse marker,
> introducing a new element into the narrative, namely the testing of
> Abram.
> 2- The first clause is temporal, providing a setting for the upcoming
> narrative: "And it happened after these events..."
> 3- The second clause is where I need your help.  It is a x-qatal clause.
> "and God tested Abram."
> 4- The third clause begins with wayyiqtol, which suggests the beginning
> of the narrative proper. "And God said to him, "Abram..."
>
> I am thinking that the second clause is the apodosis (a la Niccacci) to
> the first clause.  The two clauses go together to form the
> introduction/background/setting for the narrative that begins with the
> third clause.  I might paraphrase the interpretation thusly: "After
> these events, the testing of Abraham happened."
>
> Niccacci's discussion of Wayihi (sections 31,32) points to the fact that
> a temporal circumstance may be followed by wayyiqtol or x-qatal, and
> many examples may be given. He does not, however, explain the difference
> between the two constructions.  He says that both structures refer to "a
> single past action."  So what is the difference between them?
>
> --
>
> Lee R. Martin
> Pastor, Prospect Church of God, Cleveland, Tennessee
> Instructor in Hebrew and Old Testament
> Church of God Theological Seminary
> http://earth.vol.com/~lmartin/
>
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