Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Herman Meester" <crazymulgogi AT gmail.com>]

2006/4/17, Steve Miller <smille10 AT sbcglobal.net>:
As already said by others, verse 2 does begin with "and".
The reason the "and" is significant is because it disallows an understanding
like: "In the beginning, when God was creating the heavens and the earth,
the earth was without form and void."

Dear Steve,
This really is incorrect. The "and" does not disallow that
understanding at all. In fact, the way Hebrew normally uses the
circumstantial clause entirely fits this use. If we disagree on
whether one could translate Gen. 1,1-3 this or that way, it will have
to be on better grounds than this.
best regards,
Herman, Rotterdam