Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Jonathan D. Safren" <yonsaf AT beitberl.ac.il>]

Niels Peter Lemche wrote:

> Dear Jonathan,
>
> Where, Gen 31 speaks like gen 28 about Laban the Aramean, but it does not
> prevent Laban and God from speaking standard biblical Hebrew in chapter 31.
> The distinction is an ethnic one, not a linguistic. Arer you referring to
> 31:47: Jegar shahaduta?

Yes I am. I most definitely agree that the writer wishes to stress the ethnic 
(and
linguistic) distinction by having each party name Gilead in his own language. 
Again,
I'm not at all claiming that this is historical.
--
Jonathan D. Safren
Dept. of Biblical Studies
Beit Berl College
44905 Beit Berl Post Office
Israel