Don, you're right. Historically, that's how we've understood the Qatal and
Wayyiqtol forms. I'm not convinced that it's right for the Wayyiqtol, though.
The two are not interchangeable. They serve different functions. Where the
syntax is otherwise identical, the use of the two verb forms has different
implications.
GEORGE ATHAS
Director of Postgraduate Studies,
Moore Theological College (moore.edu.au)
Sydney, Australia