Biblical Hebrew Forum

["David Taylor" <dave201 AT mail.com>]

----- Original Message -----
From: Randall Buth <ButhFam AT compuserve.com>
Date: Sun, 7 Apr 2002 03:37:41 -0400
To: Biblical Hebrew <b-hebrew AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
Subject: Re: Verb trial thesis

> 
> On 1 Sam 17.34-35. The verbs are talking about open-ended, 
> multiple actions, i.e. the veqatal verbs. The vayyiqtol pulls out one 
> incidence and uses it as an example of what would happen in a 
> particular case. You may translate with "if a lion would stand up 
> against me", though the structure is not a standard conditional 
> clause, it is an exemplary clause within a string of habituals. 
> 
> blessings
> 
> Randall Buth
> Jerusalem
> 

Shalom Randall,

I would like to differ with your proposed translation, since the setting of 
the story clearly indicates that the incident did occur. David is using it to 
prove to Saul his courage and valor and that he is capable of fighting the 
Philistines. There is no point in stating what he would do, i.e if a lion did 
this I would do that, since David has already claimed that he is capable of 
fighting the Philistines. It is when Saul said: "You are not able to go 
against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth while he 
has been a warrior from his youth." that David wanted to represent his proven 
capability (i.e the incident of the lion).

The interchange between the the veqatal verbs and vayyiqtol verbs in 1 Saul 
17:34-35, I believe, is to indicate that the action represented by the 
veqatal verb is immediately followed by the action represented by the 
vayyiqtol. Hence the translation could be like this: " As soon as the lion 
took the lamb from the flock, I went out after him" and " as soon as I 
rescued it from his mouth he rose up against me".

Regards,

Dave.
-- 

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