Biblical Hebrew Forum

["David Stabnow" <dstabno AT lifeway.com>]

On 12/14/00 Alviero Niccacci wrote:

     4) The case of Num 18:26 is different because the
waw-x-yiqtol construction is found at the BEGINNING of a direct
speech. The evidence shows that weqatal, which indicates main line in
the axis of the future, is not usually found at the BEGINNING of
direct speech. The waw-x-yiqtol form found at the BEGINNING of a
direct speech is usually a main-line construction, coordinated to
weqatal that follows, as in Num 18:26: "(The Lord said to Moses) You
shall talk to the Levites [INITIAL waw-x-yiqtol] and shall say
[CONTINUATION, MAIN LINE weqatal] to them . . ."


DKS: Thank you for your excellent reply. Your point that weqatal is not
usually used at the beginning of direct speech is well taken. You and David
Dawson pointed out that wayyiqtol is *never* used at the beginning of
direct speech. However the inclusion of "usually" with regard to weqatal is
correct. Num 14:13 is one contrary example.

Dave