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Re: Vowels... Was "why isn't bereshit in Jer 26:1 in the construct state?"

From: "George Athas" <gathas AT hotkey.net.au>
To: "'Biblical Hebrew'" <b-hebrew AT franklin.metalab.unc.edu>
Subject: Re: Vowels... Was "why isn't bereshit in Jer 26:1 in the construct state?"
Date: Mon, 12 Aug 2002 13:56:37 +1000

Bill,

Yes, the vowels are a late addition to the manuscripts. However, the vowel
points do reflect older
traditions of pronunciation. In a consonantal text, we would have to say that
the first word of Jer
26.1, taken on its own without context, was ambiguous as to whether it was a
construct or not.
Context, however, would lead you to say that it makes far more sense with a
construct than without.
The LXX seems to have understood that there was no definite article within
the first word of this
verse. Thus, evidence points us to concluding that the first word really is a
construct.

Best regards,

Dr GEORGE ATHAS
Lecturer of Biblical Languages
Southern Cross College
Sydney, Australia

RE: Vowels... Was "why isn't bereshit in Jer 26:1 in the construct state?", Bill Ross, 08/11/2002
- Re: Vowels... Was "why isn't bereshit in Jer 26:1 in the construct state?", George Athas, 08/11/2002
- <Possible follow-up(s)>
- RE: Vowels... Was "why isn't bereshit in Jer 26:1 in the construct state?", Peter Kirk, 08/12/2002