Biblical Hebrew Forum

[FPutnam AT biblical.edu]

Hi, Vince.

In general, I read a line of biblical poetry per clause : topic + comment 
(which may include modifiers).

Artificial? Yes, indeed, but it encourages consistency of analysis, though 
not of line length. I have generally found that this approach often points 
up line length as one of the "boundary functions" in biblical poetry. I 
have not yet figured out what to do with consecutive asyndetic [i.e., 
paratactic] verbs, which could be identified as "clauses" (and therefore 
separate lines, given my rubric), but they are not extremely common.

Best wishes.

Fred


Frederic Clarke Putnam, Ph.D.
Professor of Old Testament
Biblical Theological Seminary
Hatfield, Pennsylvania
215.368.5000x150
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Date: Thu, 24 Jun 2004 15:57:17 -0500
To: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
From: "Harold R. Holmyard III" <hholmyard AT ont.com>
Subject: RE: [b-hebrew] Offend/dealt corruptly - chet bet lamed (nehemiah 1:7)
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Dear Karl,

>In the references that you listed, foxes are a=20
>threat only to the ripe fruit, not to the=20
>blossoms and vines. However, they are a threat=20
>to other destroyers of vines, such as=20
>grasshoppers, mice, birds, and so forth. So one=20
>question is, did the ancient Israeli vitners see=20
>foxes as a lesser of two evils, or were they the=20
>greater?
>
>Secondly, the mention of foxes connected with=20
>vineyards is of vineyards in blossom, not at the=20
>time of fruit. In other words, precisely at the=20
>time that foxes are more a danger to vineyard=20
>pests than to the vines themselves.

HH: You would have to do more research, but one=20
thought that occurs to me is that spring might be=20
a time of year when foxes come out into the open=20
from their winter hideaways. So they might be=20
more easy to catch at that time of year. People=20
would want to catch them before they were eating=20
the grapes.

HH: Another thought is that they might chew on=20
grape embryos. Here is a statement from an=20
American vineyard:

As spring growth is about to begin, the sap=20
starts to flow through the dormant grapevines.=20
Once the buds emerge it will take about eight=20
weeks for the foliage and flowers to appear. All=20
of the pollinated and fertilized flowers will=20
become grapes. Once those little embryo grapes=20
appear the fertilizing and vineyard maintenance=20
will go into full swing right through harvest.=20
The grapes will gradually change color as they=20
ripen. Sometimes the foliage around the ripening=20
fruit is plucked to expose the grapes to more=20
warmth, light and air. Since grape varieties bud=20
at different times, there really is no specific=20
time when the vineyards are all popping out.

HH: The following description of a grape harvest=20
shows that a lot has happened by the time that=20
the flowers appear, and it seems that grapes=20
appear well before flowers do. In this American=20
vineyard the flowers come in June, and there is=20
also a "green harvest" of unripe grapes in that=20
month:
http://www.terroirs-b.com/english/wine/dicovery/thevines.htm

The life of a vine starts at the end of winter,=20
when the sun starts to get a little warmer. At=20
the end of the shoots, that have been cut down by=20
clippers, glistening droplets of sap start to=20
appear. These droplets are like tears of joy shed=20
by the vine awakened by the flow of new sap. The=20
buds swell and, with the help of the heat and=20
humidity, they open up and cover the vineyard=20
with their little green leaves, in the centre of=20
which, tiny bunches of grapes appear. More and=20
more leaves appear as the ground heats up and the=20
young buds develop quickly. It's this sudden=20
growth that can sometimes make the vine fall=20
victim to spring frosts. With the heat, the=20
branches grow long and start to become invasive=20
and unruly. The vine flowers (mid-June) when the=20
temperature hits the 20=B0C. The vine now needs=20
long days in the sunshine. The berry forms and=20
grows quickly. Once it is completely formed, it=20
changes from green to a transparent yellow or a=20
deep purple according to the grape varieties.=20
This is the v=E9raison: by the roots and leaves, it=20
fills with sugar until it cannot absorb anymore.=20
Thus, the fruit has matured, it is time to=20
harvest it.

The end of the harvest marks the beginning of a=20
new cycle in the vine's work. The old vines are=20
pulled out. Then , the fruit-bearing cane is cut=20
off with long clippers, and the useless shoots=20
are removed and burned. The vine stock is ready=20
for spring pruning. In December, there is a=20
repetition of this except if the temperatures=20
drop below freezing. Then, peace and quiet until=20
the 22nd of January, St Vincent's Day, which is=20
also the winegrower's day, when pruning takes=20
place. This help to guide, to regulate, and to=20
improve the vine's vegetation and the fruit=20
production. It is a matter of "taming" the vine.=20
The pruning is completed in March, then=20
fertilisers are distributed. This is also the=20
month for grafting on the new plants. In April,=20
the soil of the vine is cleaned, then in May,=20
treatments against parasites, insects, fungus,=20
mildew and oidium are applied. In June, treatment=20
continues and a certain number of grapes with an=20
excessive production are cut. This is called the=20
green harvest. It is a repetition of these=20
activities in July and August. September is the=20
month to thin out the leaves, where the leaves at=20
the grape's level are burnt mechanically, so that=20
grapes are better aired and exposed to sunlight.=20
The end of September and beginning of October, it=20
is harvest-time, the crowning achievement of the=20
viticultural year.

                                Yours,
                                Harold Holmyard