Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Richard" <aaa AT endlyss.com>]

I am wondering what the group thinks about this paper by Nehemiah Gordon
regarding the vowels of The Name refuting the established belief that the
Masoretes substituted the vowels of Adonai. He uses Biblical Hebrew
manuscript evidence.

http://www.karaite-korner.org/yhwh_2.pdf  It's an easy read.

Nehemiah Gordon is a Karaite Jew and has extensive education and experience
with ancient Hebrew.

I just want to know the truth as to the proof of the vowel substitution if
there is any. I hear other rumors as well such as that they changed all the
vowels to avoid "Yah" in names such as Y'hoshua, Y'huda, and such, and even
one rumor that says they purposely changed the vowels to create a word that
would actually cause the speaker to be cursing God.

Adonai substitution--maybe. Rumor 2 I think rather doubtful. Rumor 3 sounds
preposterous because that would be a great sin to purposely cause others to
commit blasphemy in ignorance.

I just want to separate the true knowns from the unknowns, rumors, and
falsehoods. I have no personal agenda, just seeking the truth.

Thanks.

Richard Conaway