Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Phil Sumpter" <philsumpter AT hotmail.com>]

Thank you all for your responses:

Harold,

what makes you certain that it is indicative and not a jussive?

I know that on A-F's analysis the clause would be long, but this kind of 
clause does occur. I posted about this here: 
http://narrativeandontology.blogspot.com/2009/06/what-is-syntax-of-ps-243-5.html.

Kirk,

I'm still not sure why the existence of a relative clause in v. 4 means that 
v. 5 does not start a new sentence. Why can't we have two sentences: the 
first consists of a noun phrase followed by two relative clauses, the second 
is a new sentence with clause initial yissa', either as an indicative or a 
jussive?

Isaac,

Just to clarify (based on your private e-mail to me), you are suggesting 
that we amend the text and add hî', right?

Adding the pronoun would certainly ease the syntax, but I think that kind of 
emendation ought to be a last resort. I also think you mean hu' rather than 
hî'', as the subject is masculine.

Philip Sumpter

http://narrativeandontology.blogspot.com/