To: Biblical Hebrew <b-hebrew AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
Subject: Re: Jerusalem, definitions
Date: Wed, 08 Sep 1999 12:37:28 -0700
It appears that the reasoning is in this way: Yerushalayim is a dual form of
Yerushalem, a compound form possibly meaning "foundation of peace," i.e.,
yeru +
shalem. "-shalayim," then, would be the dual form of shalem. What is the
problem
with this scenario?
> Just in case there is any confusion, this case is quite different from
> that of Jerusalem. MICRAYIM is a dual form derived from a well-known
> root MCR which is attested even today in the Arabic name for Egypt,
> which is Misir. As someone pointed out, there is no singular root or
> stem form like YERUSHAL of which YERUSHALAYIM can be the dual.
>
> Peter Kirk
>