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b-hebrew - [b-hebrew] Robert Alter's comment on gen 37:32 (Yitzhak)

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  • From: "Chris and Nel" <wattswestmaas AT eircom.net>
  • To: "B-Hebrew" <b-hebrew AT lists.Ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: [b-hebrew] Robert Alter's comment on gen 37:32 (Yitzhak)
  • Date: Wed, 3 Jan 2007 18:55:26 -0000

YITZHAK ASKED:
I don't understand the comment. Could you explain the point he is trying
to make?

"vay$allaxu: )et-kato:net happassi:m" is perfectly fine.
However, "vayy?:vi:)u:" has no object to explain what they brought. This
appears very unusual to me.

Yitzhak Sapir
==================================

Yitzhak, Alter is simply pointing out an example of where English translations have failed to convey the hebrew where there was no excuse whatsoever. Although his book is about the art of biblical narrative and NOT the critiscism of english translations. I interpret his point here in demonstrating that there is no justification for declaring that Jacob's sons brought the coat to their father - IE, directly! but rather that they had the coat brought to their father, this lends the reader a more active insight into their nervousness and fear over their deception and how they manipulate their father which is not clearly brought out in english but is clearly demonstrated by the hebrew syntax, and continued in the following verse.

Best Regards

Chris Ireland.





  • [b-hebrew] Robert Alter's comment on gen 37:32 (Yitzhak), Chris and Nel, 01/03/2007

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