Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Yigal Levin <leviny1 AT mail.biu.ac.il>]

Isaac,

Gen. 21:28-31 gives not one but two perfectly reasonable explanations for 
the name Beer-Sheva, both based on the meaning(s) of the word Sheva ( 
$eba( ). While both reasons could be and very likely are etiological, what 
reason could you have to propose a third meaning, for which you have to 
assume that "sheva" is "really" "shefa". Even if (and that's a big "IF") 
there is some connection between the words $B( "oath" or "seven" and $P( 
"plenty" (and how about "decline"?), this does not mean that every time 
someone says "seven", he really means "plenty".


Yigal Levin

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Isaac Fried" <if AT math.bu.edu>
To: <JimStinehart AT aol.com>
Cc: <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 11, 2007 6:43 AM
Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Genesis 20: 1


> Jim,
>
> Indeed, biblical geography is uncertain because of the generic nature
> of the biblical place names. Every significant place of worship could
> be QADE$ [AL-QUDS]. It appears to me that Beersheba is BEER-$EBA(,
> with $EBA( meaning 'plentiful, abundant', as $EPA( of Deuteronomy
> 33:19 is. Possibly other plentiful wells supplying generously were so
> called.
>
> Isaac Fried, Boston University