Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Alviero Niccacci <alviero.niccacci AT studiumbiblicum.org>]

> Calling all aspectniks:
>
> Standard grammars claim that Biblical Hebrew verbs mark aspect, and
> Mishnaic Hebrew verbs mark time (tense). What then of the Hebrew between
> these two works: the Dead Sea Scrolls? To what extent is the Hebrew of
> the DSS apectual, tense-based, modal, or something else? That is the
> question I will address in my dissertation.
>
> If the above has made your pulse rise (hi vince, Rolf, Randy, Alviero,
> Galia, Bryan, Rodney, Moon-Ryul, and Dave), I would like to hear from
> you. I especially would like to know if I'm missing anything important
> from my bibliography, and which is your favorite method for dealing with
> this question (whether published or not).
>
> If you have the time and interest to comment on it, my working
> classified bibliography can be found at the Yahoo! group I set up for
> the thesis:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PennerThesis/files/biblio.htm
> A short statement of the topic is also at
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PennerThesis/files/subject.htm
>
> Any input is welcomed. Thanks!
>
> Ken Penner, McMaster/DSS
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PennerThesis


You may have a look at my book review of Zevit's _Anterior 
Construction_ and of Hatav's _Semantics of Aspect_ in vol. 49 (1999) 
of _Liber Annuus_ the journal of my institution, pages 507-525 and 
525-546, respectively. The _Liber Annuus_ is online in pdf format 
(address below).--But please don't call me an aspectnik--)
Peace and all good,
--
Alviero Niccacci
Studium Biblicum Franciscanum
PO Box 19424, 91193 Jerusalem (Israel)
Tel. +972-2-6282936; 6264516/7 + extension 250; Fax +972-2-6264519
E-mail: <alviero.niccacci AT studiumbiblicum.org>
Home Page: http://www.custodia.org/sbf
"Liber Annuus" (online, pdf): 
http://198.62.75.5/www1/ofm/sbf/edit/LAindex.html
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Subject: [b-hebrew] Nephesh Mesopotamian myths
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Liz wrote:

"We are also told in Isaiah 8:19 that they "chirp and
mutter" or something, they make noises anyway.
Now, I would like to know from these instances what makes you
think they don't have a physical body, wear clothes, can look old,
and have a mouth, tongue, etc. to chirp and mutter?"

IF, IF memory serves me rightly, I recall that in some Mesopotamian myths
the dead were described as alive in the Underworld possessing FEATHERED
BODIES, flying about, chirpping and twittering. Egyptian myths have the Soul
or "BA," as a bird with a human head that leaves the body and flies about,
always returning to the body.

So, we have in Mesopotamian and Egyptian myths, notions of the dead
possessing feathered bodies, capable of flight. As Israel did not come into
being in "a vaccum" and as "some" scholars allow that Israelite beliefs
evolved from those of the nations who preceeded her and co-existed with her,
I see nothing strange in the Hebrew notion of the dead as twittering as a
means of communication ( did not the Heavenly Spirit or Soul of God descend
upon Christ in the form of a twittering Dove ?).

When Erishkal, the Queen of Hell in the Mesopotamian myths threatened
mankind and the gods, she said if she didn't get her way she would release
the Dead from Hell and they would terrorize the world by EATING the bodies
of the living. Now Physical bodies of the dead arising from Hell EATING the
Living makes sense to me, but NOT spirit beings "metaphysically" eating
Living flesh.

The dead in the underworld eat and drink, now if they were spirits who could
not die, why would they need to eat and drink to sustain their bodies and
life (the same question could be applied to the Resurrected dead in the Book
of Revelation- if they have immortality, why do they need to eat and drink
to sustain their fleshly bodies ? The same goes for God, why does he NEED
sacrifices and drink offerings at the Jerusalem Temple, if he already
possesses immortality and cannot die ? For my "rational" mind this makes no
sense (the feeding of a God, and of the resurrected dead who possess
immortality).

An Assyrian king, upon conquering Elam and its capital, had the graves
opened of the earlier Elamite kings and their bones removed, carrying them
off to Assyria. He did this because the Elamites had scorned Assyria's gods.
He said that these Kings in the underworld would suffer as a result of their
bones being taken away, because drink and food offerings could no longer be
performed before their graves by their descendants. So they would suffer
hunger pangs, I guess, in the underworld.

Regards, Walter
Walter Reinhold Warttig Mattfeld, M.A. Ed.
www.bibleorigins.net


Regards, Walter