Biblical Hebrew Forum

[John Ronning <ronning AT xsinet.co.za>]

Raymond de Hoop wrote:
> 
> 
> John,
> 
> In your interpretation I've found no explanation of to
> what <Hebr> WZ)T <endH> in verse 19c refers. This seems
> crucial to me, because we find this word also in verse
> 19a. There <Hebr> Z)T <endH>(v. 19a) refers to the
> preceding words in verse 18bc:
> 

Raymond,

I take the first *zo't* in v. 19 ("this was small in your
sight, O Lord GOD") as referring to what God has already
done for David (agreeing with the end of v. 18).  I take the
second *zo't* as referring to what God has spoken concerning
what he will do for David into the distant future.  Thus far
we are probably in agreement.

I interpret *zo't torat ha'adam* to mean that the content of
the revelation of the future is along the pattern of the
commission given to Adam and Eve in the past, the
fulfillment of which was put off into the future by their
fall into sin.  David recognizes that its fulfillment is now
connected to him, so we can see why he was in such amazement
at the promise given to him - he is basically being elevated
to the status of the patriarchs.

I think the difficulty I would have with your interpretation
is that you have to explain how David takes the revelation
as something applicable to *ha'adam* i.e. mankind in
general, as opposed to just Israel.

Regards,

John


> He said: Who am I, Lord Y-H, and what is my house
>    that you have brought me thus far?
> 



> It seems reasonable that <Hebr> WZ)T <endH> also refers to
> the preceding verse (v. 19b):  <Hebr> WTDBR GM )L-BYT-(BDK
> LMRXWQ <endH> "and you spoke also concerning your
> servant's house of its far future". IMO we find in this
> phrase what <Hebr> TWRT H)DM <endH> is. There are two
> possibilities, which are closely related:
> 
> First: <Hebr> WTDBR .... LMRXWQ <endH>  "[G-d] speaking
> .... of the far future", that is the direction/instruction
> of man(kind). So, what G-d has to say concerning the
> future is an instruction for man.
> 
> Secondly, more specific:  <Hebr> WTDBR ... )L-BYT-(BDK
> LMRXWQ <endH> "and you spoke concerning your servant's
> house of its far future". So, what G-d has said concerning
> the far future _of Davids house_ is a
> direction/instruction of/for man. So, whether mankind
> likes it or not, they have to follow it.
> 
> Of course this does not say anything of 1 Chron. 17, but
> that has its own problems.
> 
> Regards,
> Raymond
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