In Deut 13.12, you will notice that the Masoretes have placed a metheg (the
vertical stroke) under the initial hireq. This indicates that the hireq
should be read as a long vowel, not a short vowel. If this were written out
fully (plene spelling), it would appear as וייראון. However, it is spelled
defectively in this instance.
How do we know it’s the word for ‘fear’ and not the word for ‘see’? If you
look at Deut 31.12–13, you’ll find that ‘hearing’ and ‘fearing’ seem to go
together in Deuteronomistic parlance, and in that order (hearing leading to
fearing). There are no occasions in Deuteronomy where ‘hearing’ leads to
‘seeing’.
GEORGE ATHAS
Moore Theological College (Sydney, Australia)
www.moore.edu.au