Biblical Hebrew Forum

["B. M. Rocine" <brocine AT twcny.rr.com>]

Hi Yitzhak,

thanks for responding!

Your response sent me on a search with interesting results, I think.  In 
 BH narrative there seems to be a consistent formula for introducing 
named people and things that I may represent as follows:

a.  There was _an_ X
b.  And the name of _the_ X was...

Examples:
Gen 2:10-11 (a.) venahar yotse' me`eden...(b.) shem ha'exad...
Gen 4:17 (a.) vayehi boneh `ir (b.) vayyiqra' shem ha`ir...
Num 11:26 (a.) vayyishsha'eru shney 'anashim... (b.) shem ha'exad...

The (a.) clause introduces a person or thing to the narrative.  It 
introduces the person or place with grammatical indefiniteness (_an_ X). 
 Then a subsequent (b.) clause gives the person or thing a name.  In 
the (b.) clause, the person or thing is referred to with grammatical 
definiteness (eg. _the_ X).  The pattern is extremely consistent, so I 
may call it a "rule" for BH narrative.  In fact, I could not find a 
clear counter example when a person or thing is named at the start of a 
narrative.  The only possible counter example I know of is Exo 1:15.

(a.) vayyo'mer melek mistrayim lamyalldot ha`ibriyyot
(b.) 'asher shem ha'axat...

I wonder if the "rule" I have sketched here has any impact on whether we 
should read lamyalldot or limyalldot in v. 15.  I think it does by 
ruling out lamyalldot!

I still have reservations, however, because even limyalldot is 
grammatically definite by virtue of its place in an alledged definite 
construct chain.  Hmmmmmmmmmm.

Shalom,
Bryan


Yitzhak Sapir wrote:
> On 10/30/05, B. M. Rocine wrote:
>
> > B-Haverim,
> >
> > What do you all think of the possibility that the
> > midwives of Exo 1:15 were Egyptians rather that
> > Hebrews?
>
>
> Shalom,
>
> While a construct phrase is possible here, I don't
> think it is legitimate to read it that way.  First, two
> midwives are involved and the verse clearly states
> their names.  So it seems very likely that the
> "myaldot" are used with the definite article.  

<noted and snipped>

--
B. M. Rocine
Living Word Church
6101 Court St. Rd.
Syracuse, NY 13026
(W): 315.437.6744