Biblical Hebrew Forum

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

There is a frequent device in BH where a heading or title with _ZH_, _Z(T_,
or _(LH_ precedes and also follows a list or a set of instructions. Without
much creative thought I have called this device "begin-title/end-title." An
example on a large scale is Lev 14. The begin-title in verse 2 reads, "This
shall be the law of the leper," and the end-title in v. 54 reads, "This is
the law for any mark of leprosy." Between vv. 2 and 54 the Lord recites to
Moses the law concerning leprosy.

     2.   This shall be the law of the leper.
3-53.      [The specifics of the law are given.]
   54.   This is the law for any mark of leprosy ...

Num 34:2-12 has an example on a smaller scale, but with an embedded list.
In Num 34:2 there is a begin-title for a list, literally, "This is the land
with regard to its borders." This title has its end-title counterpart in v.
12. Verse 7 has a begin-title for a sub-list, "This is your northern
border," and v. 9 has its counterpart.

       2.   This is the land with regard to its borders.
    3-8.      [The southern and western borders are described.]
       7.   This is your northern border.
       8.      [The northern border is described.]
       9.   This is your northern border.
10-11.      [The eastern border is described.]
     12.   This is the land with regard to its borders all around.

Does anyone know of any research that has been done on this device?

I am struggling to come up with a good English translation. Or should we
ignore the Hebrew device since English does not have a corresponding
device?

Dave Stabnow