Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Alviero Niccacci <sbfnet AT netvision.net.il>]

On  05/05/00 (wehayah-1Sa 1:12) you/Lee R. Martin wrote:


> Dear Prof. Niccacci,
> What is the function of wehayah in 1 Sam 1:12?  Does it suggestion
> continuation of the actions that follow?


Dear Lee R. Martin,

the function of weqatal in historical narrative is to indicate 
offline and frequentative information, i.e. repetition, habit or 
description. Usually it comes together with x-yiqtol, which indicates 
similar information but indicates an offline with reference to 
weqatal. Both weqatal and x-yiqtol are offline verbforms with 
reference to wayyiqtol. Wayyiqtol conveys mainline and perfective 
information; its offline form for perfective information is x-qatal.

In 1 Sam 1:12 wehayâ introduces a double sentence composed of a 
circumstantial clause or protasis (kî + qatal) and the main sentence 
or apodosis (we`elî $omer, a nonverbal sentence with participle). The 
function of wehayâ as weqatal is to place the double sentence in the 
offline for description.

I would translate 1 Sam 1:12-13 as follow: "(12) Now it was happening 
[wehayâ] that because she increased [qatal] praying before the Lord, 
Eli was observing [nonverbal sentence with participle] her mouth. 
(13) Now Hannah was speaking [nonverbal sentence with participle] in 
her heart; only her lips were moving [nonverbal sentence with 
participle] while her voice was not being heard [negated x-yiqtol]. 
Therefore Eli took her [wayyiqtol] to be a drunken woman."

There is a tension in the whole text (1 Sam 1:1-13, and again in 2:11 
ff.) between mainline, perfective wayyiqtol and offline, 
frequentative weqatal. The former narrates what happened one specific 
day,the latter what was customary.

Peace and all good.
Alviero Niccacci


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