Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Randall Buth <randallbuth AT gmail.com>]

vayyixtov David
>I still have my doubts, mainly because all of the evidence we have from the 
>period points to
Hebrew as a religious language, not a street language.  Is Barr
correct that I, at least, am
out of touch with Mishnaic scholarship?  Absolutely.  I haven't a clue. >

But "all the evidence" does not point to Hebrew as a religious language.
I suggest reading the texts in Yardeni's volumes "Documentary texts",
and Rahmani's on Ossuaries. Of course, from another perspective
everything in life can
be called religious, even a baker's receipt for dough.
. . .
>I tend to think that, at least in this discussion, we've reached that spot 
>where we need to
agree to disagree.  What do you think?>

Fine for now, but I would have your children or students of a coming 
generation
learn Hebrew
 `al borya
in its depth and breadth if they want to discuss the style of Job,
Qumran, or other texts.

blessings

-- 
Randall Buth, PhD
www.biblicalulpan.org
randallbuth AT gmail.com
Biblical Language Center
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