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b-hebrew - Re: [b-hebrew] "about" Josh. 7:4-5

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  • From: "Karl Randolph" <kwrandolph AT email.com>
  • To: Hebrew <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] "about" Josh. 7:4-5
  • Date: Wed, 15 Dec 2004 13:13:32 -0500

Yigal:

Going from memory off the top of my head, the prefix K- is often used for
meanings other than "about", as a result, it often does not translate well
into English. In this case, it is pointing to the fact that 36 men died as a
result of Aachen's disobediance, to emphasize both the importance of obeying
God, and the justification why Aachen deserved death.

Karl W. Randolph.

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

>
> According to Joshua 7:4, Joshua's first attempt at capturing Ai was
> made with ke$lo$et alapim i$, "about three thousand men". In the
> next verse, the men of Ai smote of them ke$lo$im ve$iSah i$, "about
> thirty six men".
>
> The prefix kaph is usually translated "like", "about" and so on.
> However in this context, "about 36" does not make sense. 36 is an
> exact number. I know that the Greek gives "eis", "into", but that
> doesn't explain anything. I've seen theories ranging from scribal
> error (dittography due to the preceding "ke$lo$et" - but with no
> textual evidence) through a theory of a 6-based system of counting,
> to the midrash that only Jair ben Manasseh was killed, but he was
> "like 36 men". I know that "eleph" is often thought to be a
> military or clan unit, so "about three elephs" makes sense. I also
> know that "$elo$im" may also be a military unit (as in 2 Sam. 23),
> so that "about a $elo$im" would also work, but then what about the
> extra 6? "about a $elo$im and six" does not.
>
> And before anyone asks, the only known Qumran version (4QJosh a and
> b) is missing this particular column.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> Yigal Levin
> (and please excuse the cross-posting)
--
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