Biblical Hebrew Forum

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

Hi Martin,

Perhaps a third translation possibility is the best choice, one that we 
may find as ambiguous as the Hebrew:

"Saul spoke ...about killing David."

If pressed to make a choice between your two alternatives, I would 
prefer the idea that Saul was telling Jonathan and his servants to kill 
David because the Hebrew infinitive often expresses a purpose.

Shalom,
Bryan

Martin Arhelger wrote:
> 1st Samuel 19:1 has literally: "And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son, and to
> all his servants, to kill David."
>
> The infinitive construct "to kill" (or: to bring to death) is translated by
> many Bibles as "that they should kill" whereas others translate "that he
> would kill David".
>
> Is there a possibility to decide which understanding is more in agreement
> with Hebrew usage?

--
B. M. Rocine
Living Word Church
6101 Court St. Rd.
Syracuse, NY 13026
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