Biblical Hebrew Forum

["George F. Somsel" <gfsomsel AT juno.com>]

On Sun, 08 Aug 2004 23:27:45 -0700 "C. Stirling Bartholomew"
<jacksonpollock AT earthlink.net> writes:
> On 8/8/04 9:46 PM, "C. Stirling Bartholomew" 
> <jacksonpollock AT earthlink.net>
> wrote:
> 
> > RE: Eccl 12:1
> > 
> > BR) shows up as a participle in the following places:
> > 
> > Is. 40:28 Is. 42:5 Is. 43:1 Is. 43:15 Is. 45:7 Is. 45:18 Is. 57:19 
> Is. 65:17
> > Is. 65:18 Amos 4:13 Psa. 102:19 Eccl. 12:1
> > 
> > Only in Eccl 12:1 is it a plural.
> 
> BR) as a finite verb shows up as a plural only in Nifal (passive).
> 
> Ex. 34:10 Is. 48:7 Psa. 148:5 Psa. 104:30
> 
> I could find no infinitives of BR) with a plural agent.
> 
> I am no expert on ANE cosmology but searching my memory on pagan 
> creation
> myths I could not remember any with multiple creators. Perhaps 
> someone else
> can provide an example.
> 
> 
> greetings,
> Clay Bartholomew 
> _______________________________________________

Clay,

I don't think one needs to resort to "multiple creators" here simply
because a pl. part. is used.  If you recall (as I'm sure you do), BR) is
used in conjunction with )LHYM in Gen 1.1 (admittedly in the sg. there). 
It is likely that in using the same verb our author had that passage in
mind and was somewhat more scrupulous regarding concord -- a difference
of style possibly indicating a difference in the period of writing as
well.

george
gfsomsel