Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Jay Childs" <selectjay AT hotmail.com>]

Dear David,

Not having the text right in front of me at this point, it's hard to compare...but perhaps a more syntactic issue may be involved here.  As we know from Job's wife, a "blessing" might be substituted for a"curse" in the text, particularly if the word "curse" would have appeared next to the tetragram. 

Another possibility is the _expression_ of grace and forgiveness.  God's beloved is acting like a stubborn cow; God forgives and blesses, anyway.  Any married man (or woman) ought to be able to relate.  This is Hosea, after all.

Peace,

Jay

P.S. Next week, I begin a new career as a teacher in an independent school.  I will be teaching sixth grade Geography.  I ask your prayers, if you are so inclined.

>From: "David Stabnow"

>Reply-To: "David Stabnow"

>To: Biblical Hebrew

>Subject: Hos 4:16

>Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2001 13:30:53 -0500

>

>The second half of Hos 4:16 on the surface says that the Lord will bless

>Israel. (I realize that some interpret MRXB "broad place" to be either

>"the plains of Sheol" or "out in the open, vulnerable to attack." That

>aside, ...) In order to avoid the blessing, which would be out of place in

>context, many versions interpret it as a question.

>

> Like a stubborn cow, Israel is stubborn.

> Should the Lord now pasture them like a lamb in a broad place?

>

>However, it is not marked as a question. It could be interpreted as a

>ironic comment or question.

>

> "Israel is stubborn like a cow. Now the Lord is going to bless them.

>Yeah, right."

>

> or, "... and now you're suggesting that the Lord should bless them?

>You must be nuts!" (I picture Billy Crystal saying this.)

>

>My question: Are there other examples of this kind of ironic comment in BH?

>

>Dave Stabnow

>

>

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