Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Trevor & Julie Peterson" <speederson AT erols.com>]

Stoney Breyer wrote:

> But surely the fact that the designation is never used again
> suggests very
> strongly that we should NOT take seriously the implication that
> His name is
> 'ehyeh?  . . . I say "implication" because in fact the Deity does NOT
> "assert" His name to be 'ehyeh.  He only tells Moses to tell the sons of
> Israel that that's who sent him.  I'm suggesting He doesn't mean
> it seriously.

Actually, a number of names for God in the Hebrew Bible are specific to the
occasion, and in this case obviously it would be highly context-driven.
Apart from that issue, though, I don't know that it would make much of a
retort.  See below.
>
[snipped]
>
> DEITY:          (exploding)  I'll be who I'll be!  (sarcastic) Tell the
> sons of Israel I'll be sent you!  (calming down)  Tell the sons of Israel
> that YHWH, god of their fathers ... sent you; (laboring his point to make
> sure there's no misunderstanding) *this* is my name, *this* my
> memorial age
> after age.

Wouldn't such a response merely confuse Moses?  He never asked for a
nonsensical name, nor does it seem to me that, if 14a is to be understood
the way you're suggesting, he has been given any reason to expect a name
like "I'll be."  It would be something like responding, "Knock off the
stupid questions!  Tell the sons of Israel Knock-off sent you!"  Honestly, I
don't think you were at all unclear in your earlier point.  I just don't
agree with it, and in this case, I'm not looking for multiplied examples or
restatements--just an explanation of how 14b under your reading makes the
same sort of intuitive sense you're suggesting for your reading of 14a.

Trevor Peterson
CUA/Semitics