In 1 Sam 2:15 the weqatal verb implies that the acolyte *would* customarily
come and say, "Give raw meat!" In 2:16 the wayyiqtol implies that the
sacrificer *said*, once, "Burn the fat first, then take whatever." In 2:17
the weqatal resumes the customary force: the acolyte *would* say, "Give it
up, now, or else!"
Similarly, in 2:22 the weqatal suggests that Eli *would* customarily hear
about his sons' wickedness. In 2:23 the wayyiqtol implies that he *said*,
once, "What's all this then? Stop it!" In 2:25b the return to we-X-yiqtol
(a negative clause) implies the return to customary action: they *wouldn't*
hear him.
Can anyone help me with the meaning of the wayyiqtol in these structures?
Is it some kind of emphatic device: that they certainly rebuked them? Or
does it imply that these were the *exact* words that were used in the
rebukes, as opposed to the *kinds of words* that were customarily thrown
around in the other speeches? Has anyone seen similar structures elsewhere?
«(13) Now, as for the custom of the priests with the people, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant would come (WeQATAL) as soon as the meat was boiled, with a three-pronged fork in his hand, (14) and he would hit (WeQATAL) in the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fork would bring up (x-YIQTOL), the priest would take (YIQTOL) it for himself. So they would do (x-YIQTOL) to all the Israelites who came there at Shiloh. (15) Precisely before people would burn (x-YIQTOL) the fat, the priest's servant would come (WeQATAL) and say (WeQATAL) to the man who was sacrificing, "Give meat for the priest to roast; for he will not accept (Waw-negative YIQTOL = positive WeQATAL) boiled meat from you, but raw." (16) Once the man said (WAYYIQTOL) to him, "Let them burn the fat first (jussive x-YIQTOL), and then take (IMPERATIVE) as much as you may wish (x-YIQTOL)." He would answer (as usual, WeQATAL), "No, you must give (x-YQTOL) it now; and if not, I hereby take (QATAL) it by force."»
«(4) And it happened (WAYYIQTOL) one day that Elkanah sacrificed (WAYYIQTOL). He would give (as usual, WeQATAL) portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters, (5) while he would give (Waw-x-YIQTOL) Hannah one portion because he loved (kî + x-QATAL) Hannah but the Lord had closed (Waw-x-QATAL) her womb. (6) And her rival used to provoke her (WeQATAL) sorely, to irritate her, because the LORD had closed (kî + QATAL) her womb. (7) Thus he would do (Waw-x-YIQTOL) year by year as often as she went up to the house of the Lord; thus she used to provoke her (x-YIQTOL). Therefore (on that day) Hannah wept (WAYYIQTOL) while she was not eating (Waw-negative YIQTOL = positive WeQATAL)».
«(12) Now it was happening (WeQATAL) that because she increased (kî + QATAL) praying before the Lord, Eli was observing (Non-verbal sentence with participle) her mouth. (13) Now Hannah was speaking (Non-verbal sentence with participle) in her heart; only her lips were moving (Non-verbal sentence with participle) while her voice was not being heard (Waw-negative x-YIQTOL). Therefore Eli took her (WAYYIQTOL) to be a drunken woman.»
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