Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Harold R. Holmyard III" <hholmyard AT ont.com>]

Dear Clay,

> The passage is confusing. What happens if we drop the second brzl following
> the LXX -- not following the LXX all the way but just to omit the second
> brzl. Note the second $rytyK in 15:11 which the LXX omits. Before someone
> jumps to the conclusion I am using this as **evidence** for dropping the
> second brzl in 15:12 let me assure you I am not doing this, just asking you
> to notice it.
>
> I am not sure the omission of the second brzl suggests any attractive
> alternatives, but if we want to explore all the options ...

HH: There are not two instances of $RYTYK in Jer 15:11. Are you 
thinking of the Kethiv-Qere readings of the word? The LXX treatment 
of 15:12 suggests a poor text and misinterpretation; I have no 
confidence in following it.

By the way, it may be that there is an ironic play on words with Jer 
6:28. Christopher noted that similarity of wording. Because Israel is 
iron and bronze, rather than precious metal, God will send iron and 
bronze against them. The clarification that the iron is from the 
north identifies it as the Babylonian foe that would come from the 
north.

                                Yours,
                                Harold Holmyard