To: "Biblical Hebrew" <b-hebrew AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
Subject: Re: cantillation makes a difference
Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2000 20:01:44 +0200
Vincent DeCaen wrote:
> prepositional phrases in hebrew as in english are notoriously ambiguous
as
> to syntax. in this case, bammidbar "in the desert", could go both ways.
> but the cantillation forces the reading,"A voice crying, "In the
> desert make way...."". However, this is a case where the other reading
has
> come down to us through the Christian scriptures: "A voice crying out in
> the desert, "Make way...."". Both are possible without context.
In general, you're right. In this case, however, we also have the parallel
"ba`aravah" to contend with, which forces the same reading as the
cantellation.