Biblical Hebrew Forum

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

Yaakov:
Do we even know that those others were animals? These words were used only
in this context, have no roots in Hebrew that can be verified and used as a
clue to help understand them, thus are known only through translations (LXX)
and cognate languages. The translations may be wrong because the meanings of
the words had been forgotten, and cognate languages sometimes clarify,
sometimes lead astray. They may be inanimate objects. To try to learn those
meanings today may be impossible.

Karl W. Randolph.

On Wed, Aug 20, 2008 at 10:43 AM, Yaakov Stein <yaakov_s AT rad.com> wrote:

> Karl,
>
>
> > I suspect that tusks are meant here, the most common raw material for
> ivory carvers.
>
> Definitely a strong possibility.
>
> But that leaves open the original question as to the sentence structure.
>
> I know that you don't even rely on the masoretic vocalization, let alone
> the cantillation,
> but even the use of the conjuntive vav specifically groups the shenhavim
> with the animals
> and not with the expensive raw materials.
>
> Yaakov (J) Stein