Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Trevor Peterson <06PETERSON AT cua.edu>]

>===== Original Message From "Paul W. Traub" <ptraub AT juno.com> =====
>Two questions:
>
>1.  The KIY begining verses 3 and 7 seen best translated "for" meaning
>"because" and providing a reason for the preceeding acts of worship.
>VanGemeren suggests "truly!" making the verses exclamatory hymns (EBC
>p.618).  Enns sticks with the "for" but needs each to connect with his
>creation/re-creation theme ahead of cultic function.  This may be minor
>but it seems to effect the interpretation for the original reader/hearer.

I don't see any reason to suggest some other meaning than the normal 
connective. The pattern of praise and explanation seems reasonable to me.
>
>2.  ':A$ER at the begining of verse 9; "where" or "when"???  If "when" is
>reasonable, is it also reasonable to begin the voice of God here and end
>the voice of the psalmist at 8?  Or, does the connective nature of the
>word demand linking it with the antecedent clause in 8?

I'm not sure what difference the meaning "where" or "when" would give. It 
seems like mostly a translational choice, not really having much to do with 
understanding the passage as it stands. I would expect that voice of God to 
begin in v. 8, since I don't see how asher could do anything here but link 
the 
verses together.

Trevor Peterson
CUA/Semitics