I view the Torah on two levels: the Pashat and a metaphorical level that
perhaps sometime I will elaborate on. On the Pashat, I see (iYSh TaM
YoShaeBh (oHaLeeM as "a simple man, one dwelling (in) tents" implying not
much more then a contrast to his brother, who was engaging the world, being a
hunter, out in the field. The metaphorical level is beside the point in this
conversation, but let it suffice that I do not believe that it represents
community as Jim states.
Nevertheless, here are the cognates to (oHaeL:
Sabaic - folk, people, community
Akkadian - tribe, confederation
Arabic - take a wife, be familiar, inhabited; enable, qualify, competence,
aptitude
The later 4 in Arabic help to suggest the basic meaning of the word - "extend
outward" as in 1 - tent 2 - extended family, community 3- one's extending /
extent, reach, ability
This is further indicated by the Hiphil in Job (Jb25:5)
"And how can a man be justified with G-d, and how shall one born of a woman
be clean / pure? (From) here unto the moon, and he cannot reach / extend,
and so even the stars are not clear in his sight (eyes)."
The Hiphil meaning "to project / reach / extend over / toward"
Cordially,
David Kolinsky,
Monterey, CA
--- On Mon, 3/21/11, George Athas <George.Athas AT moore.edu.au> wrote:
From: George Athas <George.Athas AT moore.edu.au>
Subject: [b-hebrew] Tents = Community?
To: "B-Hebrew" <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Date: Monday, March 21, 2011, 5:45 PM
Jim,
Could you please provide some evidence for your claim that אהלים ('tents')
has the connotation of 'community' -- that is, larger than a family clan.
There is nothing in the Genesis narrative that I can see which necessitates
your rendition. Is there any actual linguistic or contextual evidence for
your claim?
GEORGE ATHAS
Moore Theological College (Sydney,
Australia)
www.moore.edu.au