Biblical Hebrew Forum

[K Randolph <kwrandolph AT gmail.com>]

B Chan:

On Fri, Feb 11, 2011 at 11:29 PM, B Chan <bh-chan AT hotmail.com> wrote:

>
> The entry for "Yado bakol" at
> http://www.learnhebrew.org.il/print/2010/july5.htm is strangely ironic.
>
> It claims that the etymology comes from Genesis 16:12 which (it asserts)
> was a "definitely negative" meaning.
>
> Then it goes on to say that "in recent years it has turned semi-positive".
>
> Alas, what did the Genesis original communicate to Hagar!
>
> The promise starts in verse 10: she will have many descendants, a blessing
especially in those days. Then in verse 11: she will have a son. In many
societies, having a son is preferable to having a daughter, even today. Both
of these promises are very positive, especially in those days.

But when I look at the phrase YD B-, it is found over 20 times, and it
refers to attacking and warfare, and often, though not always, victory over
the enemies. So in the total context, we have a person who will be very
fruitful, multiple descendants, untamable, involved in warfare with all
around him. Yet there is indication that personal relations between him and
Isaac remained amicable.

So it looks as if the traditional interpretation is correct after all.

Karl W. Randolph.