Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Jason Hare" <jaihare AT gmail.com>]

Gary,

The text reads:

בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁלִישִׁי לְצֵאת בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם
בַּיּוֹם הַזֶּה בָּאוּ מִדְבַּר סִינָי
BXD$ H$LY$Y LC)T BNY-Y&R)L M)RC MCRYM BYWM HZH B)W MDBR SYNY

"In the third month of the Israelites' coming out of Egypt, on that
very day, they came unto the wilderness of Sinai."

It is the exact day that completed three months since their leaving
Egypt. It has nothing to do with a new moon. Remember that חודש XWD$
can mean "new moon" or "month." In this context is just means that it
was the exact day that completed three months. It has nothing to do
with the phase of the moon.

Yours,

Jason Hare
Joplin, MO > Ra'anana (Israel)

On 5/28/07, Gary A. Staszak <sowersoftheseed AT verizon.net> wrote:
> Greetings,
>
> This is my first post to b-hebrew. I have just finished my first year
> of Biblical Hebrew and have a grammatical question on Exod. 19:1 (my
> feet are barely wet). The text reads in English (according to the RSV/
> Owens Analytical):
>
> On the third new moon after the children of Israel had gone forth
> from the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of
> Sinai.
>
> My question is how ought one to hold the second clause temporally in
> relation to the rest of the passage? Stated another way, what is the
> reference point for "that day" (the day of the new moon, the same day
> the Israelites came out of Egypt, or what)?
>
> I understand there are various theological interpretations, but my
> concern is more grammatical in nature.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Gary A. Staszak
> Manassas, VA
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