Biblical Hebrew Forum

[fred burlingame <tensorpath AT gmail.com>]

Hello Isaac:

Thanks for your responsive remarks.

Please allow me to reply in inverse order.

a. It seems to me that a fair reading of the tense and tenor of jeremiah
17:4, and chapter 17 (your paragraph 2), ... yields the
reasonable conclusion that these events will happen; not might; not maybe;
not supposedly; not hypothetically ... happen.

b. Taking the "forever" out of עד עולם here, appears to me anyhow, as
theology arriving; and facts departing. No factual (versus theological)
basis exists for dramatically changing the meaning of עד עולם in genesis
13:15; and jeremiah 17:4.

b. As for jeremiah 18:16 (your paragraph1), I would respond with

והיתה הקשת בענן וראיתיה לזכר ברית עולם בין אלהים ובן כל נפש חיה בכל בשר
אשר על הארץ

genesis 9:16

Does this covenant become a "world class" covenant or a "long term"
convenant (versus a "forever covenant"), given the missing little עד ?

I look forward to hearing from you, on your understanding of the meaning of
עולם in genesis 9:16? Does it mean "forever?" or simply "world class?" or
"long term?"

regards,

fred burlingame
On Sun, Dec 12, 2010 at 3:36 PM, Isaac Fried <if AT math.bu.edu> wrote:

> 1. SHRIYQOT OLAM could be 'world class hissing' or 'hissing for a long
> time'. The prophet is certainly not saying LA-SUM ARCAM LE-SHAMAH AD OLAM.
> Otherwise, the hissing against this land is, indeed, without end.
>
> 2. The AD OLAM in Jer. 17:4 is only for the anger that is supposedly
> forever, the promise given to ABRAHAM is not claimed to be revoked, because
> the prophet knows that it is irrevocable.
>
> Isaac Fried, Boston University
>
>
>