Biblical Hebrew Forum

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

Dear Bryan,

>  > HH: The fact this it is said of them twice that they feared God helps
> >  convince me that they were Hebrews, who had knowledge of the living
> >  God.
>
> The funny thing is, to me, the double reference to these midwives
> fearing God is all the more reason to think they were *not* Hebrews.  I
> ask myself why the narrator would "over-mention" their fearing God if
> they were Hebrews (for whom it would be less remarkable to fear God).
> On the other hand it would be particularly relevant to over-mention
> their fearing God if it *is* especially remarkable for some reason like
> that they are Egyptians.
>
> Other non-Hebrews feared God such as the mariners in Jonah or Abrahm's
> friend Abimelek in Gen.  You might also consider Ruth or even Cornelius.
>
> Don't think I am determined to make these women Egyptians.  I am merely
> more vigorously defending the less-proposed idea.

HH: Then let's go back to the gentilic. The same word (BRY that 
modifies Shiprah and Puah in verse 15 describes the women who are 
giving birth in verse 16. If it refers to the Hebrew women in verse 
16, why wouldn't it refer to Hebrew women in verse 15?

                                Yours,
                                Harold Holmyard