Biblical Hebrew Forum

[George Athas <George.Athas AT moore.edu.au>]

Depending on the context it could have a few different functions. One such 
function is highly rhetorical: it expects a significant answer of "yes" to 
the negative question being asked. The corollary of this is that a question 
asked with the interrogative particle HA- but which lacks the negative 
particle LO) expects a negative answer.

In other cases, it simply marks a positive answer to a previously asked 
question. We have idiomatic ways of doing this in English, too. Consider 
possible ways you might answer the question, "Who is that woman?":

- "Why, that's Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam, wife of Uriah."
- "Well, if it isn't Bathsheba, daughter Eliam, wife of Uriah!"

Notice how both these answers employ words which would not normally be 
associated with a straight answer, yet when used idiomatically in the given 
context, they present no problem at all.


Regards,

GEORGE ATHAS
Moore Theological College (Sydney, Australia)
www.moore.edu.au