Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Yigal Levin <Yigal.Levin AT biu.ac.il>]

Dear Sid,

1. First of all, you have been asked several times to sign your posts with
your full name. "Sign" means the signature that you put at the end of each
post. Having your full name at the top does not fulfill that requirement.

2. There is absolutely no evidence that there ever was a "Council of
Yamnia/Yavne" in the late first century CE. This is a myth, apparently
invented in 1871 by the historian Heinrich Graetz. The canonization of the
Hebrew Bible was a long a complex process. 

3. But let's assume that the consonantal, unpointed text was finalized at
that time. What evidence do you have that the Leningrad codex reflects that
text exactly, besides "I believe"?

4. You are correct that the vowel points were added in a process ending in
the tenth century - by the same people who produced the Leningrad codex. So
why do you trust their transmission of the consonantal text and not of the
grammar and vocalization which the vowel points are meant to reproduce? 

5. You are correct that it is possible to read Hebrew without the vowel
points. Native speakers did so for centuries. We have at least one member
who takes pride in doing so himself. The reason that the people we call the
Masoretes invented the vowel points was because there were no more native
speakers, and different pronunciations led to (or were caused by) different
interpretations. So yes, to a certain extent, the Masoretes' work was
"interpretive" as well as descriptive. And various aspects of that work are
routinely examined and questioned in scholarship, and on this forum. On the
other hand, we do not really have any useful guide to pre-masoretic
vocalization (the information that can be gleaned from the Septuagint is
limited). So, in order for scholars to have a common ground for discussion,
the Masoretic vocalization and the grammar that it represents, must be used
as a base. Otherwise, there is no common base for discourse. 

6. That is exactly what you are doing. By totally disregarding the Masoretic
vocalization and grammar, you are basically inventing your own Hebrew, which
you are the only one who has the key to understanding. You do so openly.
Your motives for doing so are irrelevant. But what this means is that you
have very little common ground for discussion with any-one else on this
list. And since this list is meant for discussion and you have been warned
that you will not be allowed to use it as a forum for the publication of
your own views, I suggest that you consider whether this is the right place
for you.


Yigal Levin

Co-moderator, B-Hebrew




-----Original Message-----
From: b-hebrew-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:b-hebrew-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Sidney
Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2011 3:16 AM
To: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: [b-hebrew] Fake Words

Sidney Williams

6. Re: [b-hebrew] Fake words on the Fotum
(6) BHL and BHS are not "manuscripts" at all. They are scholarly editions
based on the Leningrad codex, which is a manuscript of the Masoretic text,
including the vowels that you so much dislike.

BHL means Leningrad codex.  You do not seem to be familiar with the
manuscript names.

I have posted before that I believe BHL and BHS (with the vowels removed;
which were added from AD 750 to AD 950 according to the editor, Aaron Dotan)
are the canonized Hebrew text from the Council of Yamina, of AD 95.

The Hebrew is easily translated without vowel points, as I demonstrated in
Genesis 1.1 and Genesis 2.4 and Isaiah 9.6.

The Jews have 5 word #s for DBR (#1697) and 80 definitions, which I have
reduced to one definition, "speaking" - exposing 2,243 errors.

The Bible makes much more sense without the vowels.  AND - this is why I am,
The Very First Bible Translator - because I am not deceived by the Jews'
fake vowels.

I am also the very first lexicographer for the same reason.  And I am a
historian of English alleged" Bible translations, and they have all banned
the names of the Gods:
(1) Genesis 2.4: "He Is Gods" (YHWH ALHYM), and:
(2) Matthew 1.1: "of Iesous Anointed" - and no NT version has these two
names of the Lamb of God.

"Iesous" taught, "By your traditions, you have made the word of God of no
effect."
So then, you must be an independent [of men] thinker, and possess the Spirit
of the Living God (First Corinthians 2.14, Romans 9.8; and others).

Simplicity is the key to knowledge.  But you and your forum know not the
alphabets.
They are both in all encyclopedias, but no religious college student or
graduate knows them.

Sid

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