Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Yigal Levin <Yigal-Levin AT utc.edu>]

Martin Shields wrote:
>Although this would seem to be the usual form, there is at least one
>unequivocal instance of a collective reference "sending." In Judg 11:17 we
>read that "Israel sent..." (wayyi$laX yi&rF"l), so I guess that could be
>construed as evidence that Zech 7:2 could be read as Liz suggested.
>
>
True, Martin. We find the same in Num. 21:21 "Wayyi$laX Yi&rael", and even
in Num. 21:2 ""Wayyidar Yi&rael" "and Israel vowed" in the singular. But
this is because "Israel", as a nation-collective, can be seen as a single
voice. I cannot recall any case where the inhabitants of a city are treated
the same way. 

By the way, might the not object of Gen. 14:11 "they took the property of
Sodom and Gomorrah" be "the property of [the kings of] Sodom and Gomorrah"?
Just a thought.

Lisbeth S. Fried wrote:
>But the verb is singular.
>Don't you need a single subject?
>Liz

No Liz, you don't. There are hundreds of examples of a singular verb
referring to multiple subjects, usually indicating that the first is the
more important. Look at Num. 1:17: "Vayyiqqax Mo$eh V:aharon".

>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Yigal Levin [mailto:Yigal-Levin AT utc.edu]
>> Sent: Mon, October 21, 2002 4:46 PM
>> To: lizfried AT umich.edu; Biblical Hebrew
>> Subject: RE: [b-hebrew] Re: Zech 7:2
>>
>>
>> Because then it would be "Vayyishlekhu anshei Beth-el".
>>
>> yigal
>>
>> At 04:39 PM 10/21/2002 -0400, Lisbeth S. Fried wrote:
>> >Why not the town Beth-el sent?
>> >liz
>> >
>> >> -----Original Message-----
>> >> From: Yigal Levin [mailto:Yigal-Levin AT utc.edu]
>> >> Sent: Mon, October 21, 2002 4:29 PM
>> >> To: Biblical Hebrew
>> >> Subject: [b-hebrew] Re: Zech 7:2
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> At 03:02 PM 10/21/2002 -0400, Lisbeth S. Fried wrote:
>> >> >How should Zech 7:2 be translated?
>> >> >thanks,
>> >> >Liz
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> Hi Liz,
>> >>
>> >> I would go with the JPS in this case: "When Bethelsharezer
>> >> and Regem-melech
>> >> and his men sent to entreat the favor of the Lord." I realize that
>> >> "Bethelsharezer" is a strange name, but "Beth-el" as either
>> >> referring to
>> >> the town of Beth-el or to the Jerusalem Temple (which is
>> >> called "Beth YHWH"
>> >> in the next verse) does not make sense. Any other
>> >> understanding would mean
>> >> ammending the text, for which there's no evidence.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Dr. Yigal Levin
>> >> Dept. of Philosophy and Religion
>> >> University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
>> >> 615 McCallie Avenue
>> >> Chattanooga TN 37403-2598
>> >> U.S.A.
>> >>
>> >> ---
>> >> You are currently subscribed to b-hebrew as: [lizfried AT umich.edu]
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>> >
>> >
>> Dr. Yigal Levin
>> Dept. of Philosophy and Religion
>> University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
>> 615 McCallie Avenue
>> Chattanooga TN 37403-2598
>> U.S.A.
>
>
>
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Dr. Yigal Levin
Dept. of Philosophy and Religion
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
615 McCallie Avenue
Chattanooga TN 37403-2598
U.S.A.