Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Gary A. Staszak" <sowersoftheseed AT verizon.net>]

Thanks for your response and also for your clarification of the  
additional meaning of בַּחֹדֶש BXD$.

Your explanation seems straightforward, but I'd like to offer a  
reflection to be sure I accurately grasp it.

Grammatically, the entire first clause would be subordinate to the  
latter one, and it would serve as the temporal reference for  
בַּיּוֹם הַזֶּה. Hypothetically and exegetically then,  
if the Israelites left Egypt on the 22nd of x month, then the text  
states they came (entered) the wilderness of Sinai on the same day  
three months later, no matter what the month on the Hebrew calendar  
may have been. In other words, the text is directly describing the  
time duration (three months) it took for the Israelites to travel  
from Egypt to Sinai.

Is this an accurate grasp?

Thanks again.

Regards,

Gary A. Staszak
Manassas, VA


On May 28, 2007, at 12:27 PM, Jason Hare wrote:

> 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