Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Karl Randolph" <kwrandolph AT email.com>]

I have two questions from Exodus 32.

The first one concerns the term MSKH in verses 4, 8 and 
other references to the "calf". Usually that is reckoned 
to stem from the root NSK with this as a cast statue of a 
bull. But I noticed that grammatically it can be derived 
from SKK as in overlaying, meaning that the gold was 
just an overlay over another material, in this case very 
likely wood. I find that idea strengthened in verse 18 in 
that Moses had the statue burned; gold does not burn, 
just melts, then Moses ground and mixed the gold 
flecked ashes in water. Again gold, even gold dust, 
does not mix with water well, but ashes...?

It is my understanding that many large idols in ANE 
were made of wood covered with gold or other 
materials, so why not this one too? I don't see any 
grammatical argument against this understanding.

The second comes from verse 17 where it mentions 
that Joshua heard )T QWL H(M BR(H. From the context, 
should not BR(H be from the root RWH with the idea of 
sounding forth, as in shouting, trumpet blasts and song?

Any thoughts?

Karl W. Randolph.

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