Biblical Hebrew Forum

[David Kolinsky <yishalom AT sbcglobal.net>]

George,

I view the Torah on two levels: the Pashat and a metaphorical level that 
perhaps sometime I will elaborate on.  On the Pashat, I see (iYSh TaM 
YoShaeBh (oHaLeeM as "a simple man, one dwelling (in) tents" implying not 
much more then a contrast to his brother, who was engaging the world, being a 
hunter, out in the field.  The metaphorical level is beside the point in this 
conversation, but let it suffice that I do not believe that it represents 
community as Jim states.  

Nevertheless, here are the cognates to (oHaeL:

Sabaic - folk, people, community
Akkadian - tribe, confederation 
Arabic - take a wife, be familiar, inhabited; enable, qualify, competence, 
aptitude

The later 4 in Arabic help to suggest the basic meaning of the word - "extend
 outward" as in 1 - tent 2 - extended family, community 3- one's extending / 
extent, reach, ability

This is further indicated by the Hiphil in Job (Jb25:5) 
"And how can a man be justified with G-d, and how shall one born of a woman 
be clean / pure?  (From) here unto the moon, and he cannot reach / extend, 
and so even the stars are not clear in his sight (eyes)."

The Hiphil meaning "to project / reach / extend over / toward"


Cordially,

David Kolinsky,
Monterey, CA
 
--- On Mon, 3/21/11, George Athas <George.Athas AT moore.edu.au> wrote:

From: George Athas <George.Athas AT moore.edu.au>
Subject: [b-hebrew] Tents = Community?
To: "B-Hebrew" <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Date: Monday, March 21, 2011, 5:45 PM

Jim,

Could you please provide some evidence for your claim that אהלים ('tents') 
has the connotation of 'community' -- that is, larger than a family clan. 
There is nothing in the Genesis narrative that I can see which necessitates 
your rendition. Is there any actual linguistic or contextual evidence for 
your claim?


GEORGE ATHAS
Moore Theological College (Sydney,
 Australia)
www.moore.edu.au


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