Biblical Hebrew Forum

["K Randolph" <kwrandolph AT gmail.com>]

Chris:

On 1/2/07, Chris and Nel <wattswestmaas AT eircom.net> wrote:
> Genesis 37:32 (and they sent the coat of many colours and brought it to
> their Father....)
>
> Although Robert Alter does not specify the EXACT hebrew syntax I am assuming
> by his comments on this verse when he remarks that --
>
> "...they had the tunic brought to their Father, note the indirection of
> their approach to Jacob, even more marked in the hebrew syntax..."
>
> that the hebrew syntax that he is referring to is the ...vayishalchu
> et-c'tonet....?
> since there is nothing unique in the verb - vayaviu/To Bring - to give him
> reason to suggest this?
>
> Am I right?
>
> Thankyou
> Chris Watts.

Um...

Actually there is. The first phrase is pretty straight forward that
they sent it, i.e. that they did not bring it themselves. That reading
is strengthened by the use of the hiphil of "to come" meaning that
they caused it to come to their father. This could very well have been
sent with one of their slaves, the syntax does not require that one of
them bring it personally. Evidently none of them had the balls to come
and lie to their father's face, and the text indicates that
indirection. Genesis mentions that Jacob was very wealthy owning
slaves as well as having 12 sons, and while the text does not mention
a slave in this verse, the syntax implies it, or at least someone
other than one of the remaining sons.

I had noticed this earlier, but thought the text was so obvious that I
didn't comment on it.

Karl W. Randolph.