Biblical Hebrew Forum

["K Randolph" <kwrandolph AT gmail.com>]

Yaakov:
This is a word whose only other use is found in Deuteronomy 18:3 where it
apparently refers to the ribcage of a sacrificial animal.

In Numbers 25:8, the context indicates the first use is that of a place,
such as a chamber, a portion of a tent or building, and the second use has
the feminine genitive suffix that could refer either to her chamber, or that
Pinhas stabbed her in her rib cage. I think the context may indicate the
former.

Words used so seldom sometimes give difficulties.

Karl W. Randolph.

On Sat, Aug 16, 2008 at 8:50 PM, Yaakov Stein <yaakov_s AT rad.com> wrote:

> The word QBH appears twice in one sentence,
> yet the classical commentaries relate to them as two completely unlrealted
> words.
>
> Rashi says that the first "HQBH" means "the tent"
> while the second "QBTH" (of the woman) is some bodily organ,
> probably the stomach (relating the word to QYBH).
>
> Most of the commentaries and translations don't seem to notice
> that this is the same word, used once for the man and once for the woman.
>
> The only exceptions are those that hint at miracles,
> implying that Pinhas somehow managed to strike
> the genitals of both Zimri and Cozby.
>
> Another possibility is that HQBH means the man's "room" or "chamber"
> and the same word is used for stomach
> (similar to the modern usage of chamber for various internal organs).
>
> Does anyone know of other possibilities ?
>
> Yaakov (J) Stein