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b-hebrew - Re: [b-hebrew] 1 Sam 5:6 ; devastation

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  • From: CS Bartholomew <jacksonpollock AT earthlink.net>
  • To: Brian & Laureen Powell <PowellBrian AT omf.net>
  • Cc: hebrew <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] 1 Sam 5:6 ; devastation
  • Date: Mon, 26 Apr 2004 02:03:21 -0700

On 4/25/04 11:18 PM, "Brian & Laureen Powell" <PowellBrian AT omf.net> wrote:

> I'm currently translating 1 Samuel into one of the minority languages of
> the Philippines and have reached the above verse.
>
> I am wondering if the word translated in the NIV as 'devastation',
> shamem in the Hebrew, refers to a destruction of crops (which would be
> quite likely if there were a plague of rats which is mentioned in
> chapter 6) or whether this is some other form of destruction, such as
> death by plague.
>
> I should be grateful if anyone could shed some light on the meaning of
> this word.

Brian & Laureen,

The notion of a plague brought by mice is an addition of the LXX (also
Josephus). Robert Alter (David Story, p.28) notes that the Philistines
complain that they are dying and this suggests a lethal plague not
"hemroids" which are not a plague and not lethal. Alter notes Rashi's
reading that this was bubonic plauge spread by rats. This seems to be a
logical deduction from the exetended context more than a philological
judgement.

Not sure you will solve this one with by focusing on #MM (shamem) which has
a wide semantic range. Someone else will certainly fill you in on the
philological issues.


greetings,
Clay Bartholomew







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