Biblical Hebrew Forum

[<moon AT sogang.ac.kr>]

Hi,

I find it interesting that in Ezra 1:7-8, QATAL and VAYYIQTOL forms of the 
verb 
YCHA (bring out) occur in sequence. Is there any theory that can explain this
sequence?

According to Niccatti,  in narratives, VAYYIQTOL moves the main storyline, 
whereas
QATAL describes background information for the storyline. I found this theory 
quite helpful
when I read the Scriptures. But I have never found cases where the same verb 
appears
next to each other in QATAL and VAYYIQTOL forms, as in Ezra 1:7-8.

If I stick to Niccatti model, I may explain this sequence as follows:

(1) 1:5 starts a narrative sequence.
(2) 1:6-7 describes background information by using two QATAL; 1:7 describes
the fact that Cyrus brough temple-things.
(3) 1:8 recounts in more detail how Cyrus brought the temple-things by means 
of 
a narrative sequence: (a) Cyrus brought them by Mithredath the treasurer and 
                                (b) he counted them.

The point is that VAYYIQTOL of YCHA occurs in 1:8 simply because it 
occurs in a narrative sequence, whereas QATAL form occurs in 1:7 because
it describes background information. 

Does this explanation make sense? 

Sincerely 

Moon Jung
Sogang Univ, Seoul, Korea
>From brocine AT twcny.rr.com  Fri Mar 31 07:43:16 2006
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Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2006 07:43:14 -0500
From: "B. M. Rocine" <brocine AT twcny.rr.com>
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Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] QATAl vs. VAYYIQTOL: Can we make sense of
        this    construction?
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Hi Moon,

Niccacci does not make any references to Ezra in his work that I know 
of.  We may be on the lookout for a "different Hebrew" in this late 
book, that may different conventions for narration.  We can see, for 
instance, that clauses tend to be much longer and 
elaborative/descriptive material to be more plentiful.

At first blush, it looks to me like the X-qatal clause of v. 7 is to 
contrast Cyrus' part in the project with the other helpers of v. 6. 
Then v. 8 inserts that same information into the plot-line of a narrative.

I might tranlsate like so:

v. 6 "...while their neighbors strengthened their hands...
v. 7 Cyrus brought out...
v. 8 So Cyrus brought out..."

This interpretation would be mostly in accord with Niccacci's model.

Shalom,
Bryan

moon AT sogang.ac.kr wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> I find it interesting that in Ezra 1:7-8, QATAL and VAYYIQTOL forms of the 
> verb 
> YCHA (bring out) occur in sequence. Is there any theory that can explain 
> this
> sequence?
> 
> According to Niccatti,  in narratives, VAYYIQTOL moves the main storyline, 
> whereas
> QATAL describes background information for the storyline. I found this 
> theory quite helpful
> when I read the Scriptures. But I have never found cases where the same 
> verb appears
> next to each other in QATAL and VAYYIQTOL forms, as in Ezra 1:7-8.
> 
> If I stick to Niccatti model, I may explain this sequence as follows:
> 
> (1) 1:5 starts a narrative sequence.
> (2) 1:6-7 describes background information by using two QATAL; 1:7 describes
> the fact that Cyrus brough temple-things.
> (3) 1:8 recounts in more detail how Cyrus brought the temple-things by 
> means of 
> a narrative sequence: (a) Cyrus brought them by Mithredath the treasurer 
> and 
>                                 (b) he counted them.
> 
> The point is that VAYYIQTOL of YCHA occurs in 1:8 simply because it 
> occurs in a narrative sequence, whereas QATAL form occurs in 1:7 because
> it describes background information. 
> 
> Does this explanation make sense? 
> 
> Sincerely 
> 
> Moon Jung
> Sogang Univ, Seoul, Korea


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