Biblical Hebrew Forum

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

Shalom David,

Thank you very much for your clear and well-documented treatment of 
aspect in the recent thread!

If I remember correctly, you said somewhere during the long thread that 
strings of qatals are sometimes used to narrate a story (forgive me if I 
do not quote you).  If I am wrong, and I would be happy to drop the 
issue.  Otherwise  I confess that I am not familiar with this type of 
string in a narrative.  I do realize that narratives in direct speech 
often begin with a qatal, but I am under the impression that they then 
continue with wayyiqtol.

If I am remembering your statement correctly, can you point out a couple 
of these strings in "first Temple" texts? 

I have found, for example, 1 Sam 4:17 a string of four qatals in direct 
speech, but I don't think the speaker is telling a story.  I think he is 
describing the state of affairs to Eli.  Describing a state of affairs 
is essentially expository rather than narrative.  In expository 
discourse I would expect to find noun sentences and X-qatal sentences 
(which are a kind of noun sentence, I think).

I see that David uses a string of qatals (or weqatals) in 1 Sam 
17:34-36.  Traditionally, the string is considered to be repetitive 
action in the past for which weqatal is a conventional choice.  However, 
In my book, I suggest that David is indeed telling a story (see 
_Learning BH_ pp. 345-347).  However, I suggest he is telling a story in 
an unconventional way in a very special circumstance.  Essentially, he 
is telling a story using the conventions of expository discourse in 
order to apply for a job.  He is basically giving Saul his resume.  I am 
not ashamed for bringing such a literary consideration into a linguistic 
discussion.

Anyway, can you point out a string or two?  Thanks!

Regards,
Bryan

--
B.M. Rocine
Living Word Church
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