Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Yigal Levin" <leviny1 AT mail.biu.ac.il>]

> The word BRCH?  Some say that the word has connotations and links with 'a
> spring of water' (rabbinical source) others propose the idea of 'the bent
> knee' (christian source)?  Are there any comments?
>
I've been trying to figure that one out for some time.


>
> Also I would like to understand the background use (pertaining to its root
> YRH) of the word MoReH as used in Joel chapter 2.  Since GeSHeM is the
most
> frequently used word for rain I am wondering whether or not MoReH is
> specifically Latter rain.  Then of course this is the same word used for
> LATTER and FORMER.  Also would any one have any serious objections if I
was
> to translate this word as:"A teacher'? as has been suggested.
>
> Thankyou, Chris.
>

"Moreh" appears twice in Joel 2:23. The second one is easy: Moreh is the
first rain of the season, Malqo$ is the last. Remember, the rainy season in
Israel is more or less from September to April - much less is a drought, but
much more ruins the summer crops. The point of this whole section is that
nature will come back to normal, which is a precondition for economic
prosperity. A similar promise is given in Deut. 11:14 (there the spelling is
"yoreh").

The root YRH means something like "to target". Look at 1 Sam. 20:20.
Jonathan says, "I three arrows to the side will shoot ("oreh") to hit the
target". The last word, "ma+arah", target, is also used for rain - "ma+ar".
I suppose that the ancients conceived of rain as coming down and "shooting"
at the ground. BTW, my oldest daughter, born in Marheshvan an the beginning
of the rainy season, is named Ma+ar.

The first use if Moreh in 2:23 would also seem simple - For He has given you
the Moreh "rightly" - that is, at he right time, or the right amount.
Translating it "teacher of righteousness" seem like a later, and forced,
eisegesis.

Yigal