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b-hebrew - Re: [b-hebrew] Isaiah 53:8

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  • From: "Karl Randolph" <kwrandolph AT email.com>
  • To: Hebrew <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Isaiah 53:8
  • Date: Wed, 15 Dec 2004 12:53:45 -0500

Yigal:

Let's look at the context as it is written, the interpretation should be a
separate subject.

This "cursing of Canaan" takes place shortly after the flood, most likely
less than a decade afterwards. Canaan, who was born after the flood, was just
a small boy at the time. Noah's words are prophetic, as they refer to the
later life of the individuals involved. As a sub-teen, Canaan could not
fulfill his later role as a slave to his uncles, that would have to come in
the future. Within the context, as written, this is a historical event
involving the individuals named, hence LMW in this context is singular.

Now to the interpretations: is this a myth that is not true intended to serve
as a metaphore to explain later events (e.g. Israel's invasion and
subjugation of Canaan) as many people believe, or is it a record of actual
historical events involving the individuals named, as I believe? Does it make
a difference as far as analysing the linguistic form of the story itself? I
don't think differing interpretations of the meaning of the story should
affect a grammatical and linguistic analysis of the story itself. What do you
say?

Karl W. Randolph.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Yigal Levin" <leviny1 AT mail.biu.ac.il>

>
> Karl,
>
> I personally have no well-defined opinion about whether LMW must be plural,
> and I'm perfectly willing to accept the idea that even in this case (Gen.
> 9:26) it is singular. However, Noah's words are quite obviously prophetic -
> he speaks about the future. Moreover, the "characters" of Noah's sons and
> descendants are quite obviously representative figures, who reflect what the
> biblical authors thought about their "progeny".
>
> Yigal
--
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