Syntactic Patterns for Linking Participial Conditional Clauses with the Main Clause in the Biblical Hebrew and the Exegesis of Exodus 33.7
Abstract
The paper distinguishes three syntactic patterns in Biblical Hebrew for linking participial conditional clauses (PCC) with the main clause: (A) PCC is a member of the main clause; (B) PCC supplies a referent for an anaphoric pronoun in the main clause; (C) the link between PCC and the main clause can be established only at the level of meaning (a kind of absolute participial construction). In Exod. 33.7 we read (NRSV): ‘Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp… he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the LORD would go out to the tent of meeting…' The last sentence consists of a participial conditional clause (literally: ‘everyone-seeking the-LORD') and the main clause (literally: ‘he-would-go-out to-the-tent of-meeting').The paper presents arguments for parsing this sentence according to pattern (C), which results in a reading different from the commonly accepted, namely: ‘And whoever sought the LORD, Moses would go out to the tent of meeting'. It is argued that this interpretation renders the pericope much more coherent and logical.
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Библиография:
Gesenius’ Hebrew Grammar as edited and enlarged by E. Kautzsch / A.E. Cowley (rev.)./ G. W. Collins (trans.). Oxford: Clarendon, 1898. xvi. 598 p.
Davidson’s Introductory Hebrew Grammar: Syntax / J. C. L. Gibson (rev.) Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1994. xi. 229 p.
Cassuto U. A commentary on the book of Exodus. Jerusalem: Magnes Press, 1967. 509 p. — (Publications of the Perry Foundation for Biblical Research in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem)
Childs B. Exodus: a commentary. London: SCM, 1974. xxv. 695 p. — (The Old Testament library)
Dozeman T. Commentary on Exodus. Grand Rapids, Mich.; Cambridge: William B. Eerdmans, 2009. xix. 868 p. — (The Eerdmans critical commentary)
Haran M. The Nature of the "’Ohel Mo‘edh" in Pentateuchal Sources //Journal of Semitic Studies. 1960. Vol. 5 (1). P. 50-65.
Haran M. Temples and temple-service in ancient Israel: an inquiry into the character of cult phenomena and the historical setting of the priestly school. Oxford: Clarendon, 1978. xviii. 394 p.
Houtman C. Exodus. Volume 3: Chapters 20–40. Leuven: Peeters, 2000. xiii. 737 S. — (Historical Commentary on the Old Testament)
Jouon P., Muraoka T. A Grammar of Biblical Hebrew. Syntax. Vol. 2. Roma: Editrice Pontifico Istituto Biblico, 2003. xxxxxv. 779 p.
Keil C. F. Genesis und Exodus. Biblischer Commentar über den Pentateuch von C. F. Keil und F. Delitzsch. Biblischer Commentar über die Bücher Mose's; Bd. I. 3, verbesserte Auflage. Leipzig: Dörffling und Franke, 1878. 623 S.
Propp W. Exodus 19–40. New York: Doubleday, 2006. xxx. 865 p. — (Anchor Bible; 2A)
Rogland M. Moses Used to Take a Tent'? Reconsidering the Function and Significance of the Verb Forms in Exodus 33:7-11 //The Journal of Theological Studies. 2012. No. 63. P. 449-466.
Sarna N. Exodus: The traditional Hebrew text with the new JPS translation. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1991. xxv. 287 p. — (The JPS Torah commentary)
Seleznev M. Exodus 33.7 and different syntactic patterns for linking participial conditional clauses with the main clause //Babel und Bibel: Annual of Ancient Near Eastern, Old Testament, and Semitic Studies. 2012. No. 6. P. 495–498.
Wellhausen J. Die Composition des Hexateuchs. 3 auf. Berlin, 1899. 373 S.
Williams R. J. Hebrew Syntax: An Outline. Toronto: Univ. of Toronto, 1976. xii. 122 p.
Bibliography:
Gibson, J. C. L. (rev.) Davidson’s Introductory Hebrew Grammar: Syntax. Edinburgh, T&T Clark Publ.,1994. xi. 229 p.
Cassuto, U. A commentary on the book of Exodus. Jerusalem, Magnes Press Publ.,1967. 509 p. — (Publications of the Perry Foundation for Biblical Research in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem)
Childs, B. Exodus: a commentary. London, SCM Publ.,1974. xxv. 695 p. — (The Old Testament library)
Dozeman, T. Commentary on Exodus. Grand Rapids, Mich.; Cambridge, William B. Eerdmans Publ.,2009. xix. 868 p. — (The Eerdmans critical commentary)
Haran, M. The Nature of the "’Ohel Mo‘edh" in Pentateuchal Sources. In: Journal of Semitic Studies, 1960, vol. 5 (1), pp. 50-65.
Haran, M. Temples and temple-service in ancient Israel: an inquiry into the character of cult phenomena and the historical setting of the priestly school. Oxford, Clarendon Publ.,1978. xviii. 394 p.
Houtman, C. Exodus Volume 3: Chapters 20–40. Leuven, Peeters Publ.,2000. xiii. 737 S. p. — (Historical Commentary on the Old Testament)
Jouon, P., Muraoka, T. A Grammar of Biblical Hebrew. Syntax.Vol. 2. Roma, Editrice Pontifico Istituto Biblico Publ.,2003. xxxxxv. 779 p.
Keil, C. F. Genesis und Exodus. Biblischer Commentar über den Pentateuch von C. F. Keil und F. Delitzsch. Biblischer Commentar über die Bücher Mose's; Bd. I. Leipzig, Dörffling und Franke Publ.,1878. 623 S.
Propp, W. Exodus 19–40. New York, Doubleday Publ.,2006. xxx. 865 p. — (Anchor Bible; 2A)
Rogland, M. Moses Used to Take a Tent'? Reconsidering the Function and Significance of the Verb Forms in Exodus 33:7-11. In: The Journal of Theological Studies, 2012, no. 63, pp. 449-466.
Sarna, N. Exodus: The traditional Hebrew text with the new JPS translation. Philadelphia, Jewish Publication Society Publ.,1991. xxv. 287 p. — (The JPS Torah commentary)
Seleznev, M. Exodus 33.7 and different syntactic patterns for linking participial conditional clauses with the main clause. In: Babel und Bibel: Annual of Ancient Near Eastern, Old Testament, and Semitic Studies, 2012, no. 6, pp. 495–498.
Wellhausen, J. Die Composition des Hexateuchs. Berlin, 1899. 373 S.
Williams, R. J. Hebrew Syntax: An Outline. Toronto, Univ. of Toronto Publ.,1976. xii. 122 p.
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