130 organization of a text is a representation of the event world, not an exact synchronized
match. The following sequences of
WAYYIQTOL
s are examples of this mismatch.
6.4.1 Time and
WAYYIQTOL
Sequences
One of the main problems with an aspect-based approach to the biblical Hebrew verbal system is that a
certain aspectual tendency of a verb form becomes the definitive feature of that form. This is one of the main
liabilities with the waw-consecutive view since
CONSECUTION
or
SEQUENTIALITY
take over as the characteristic aspectual feature of the
WAYYIQTOL
. The following functions of
WAYYIQTOL
sequences demonstrate that
SEQUENTIALITY
is certainly not the only use of the
WAYYIQTOL
. 6.4.1.1
PROGRESSION
: “normal” narrative succession
the LORD called Samuel; he said, “Here I am.”
He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.”
He said, “I did not call, lie down again.”
He went and lay down.
8 ;
, ;
? ;
4 8
1 Sam 3:4- 5
All the
WAYYIQTOL
verbs move the narrative along in temporal progression. The events are depicted as if they were a series of points along the same line.
Figure 14: Temporal Progression
in the Hebrew Bible ;
108 4
3 11
total 126
Figure 13: in the Hebrew Bible
131
6.4.1.2
EXPANSION
: essentially simultaneous events
Isaac replied to Esau
F ;
Gen 27:37
The speech event to which and
; refer is one and the same, thereby making the relationship between the two
WAYYIQTOL
s non-
SEQUENTIAL
. One of the questions that emerges from this example is whether this is merely a case of hendiadys
lit., one through two or whether there is some function that would not be realized with just
or ; , but not both verbs together. As a first step toward answering this
question, it is instructive to consider the frequency of occurrence of . This is an
example of how frequency of occurrence is a point of entry into other areas of analysis which are more qualitative and pragmatically oriented.
Out of 126 third person occurrences of , only 11 occur without an
accompanying verb. In certain occurrences, for example 1 Chr 21:26, the verb is
used for a non-verbal response, in this case with fire. In other cases, the response is not reported speech like the other 115 cases. This is just a preliminary glance at the data, but
these are examples of the types of contextual factors that need to be considered. This analysis indicates, however, that the majority of occurrences are indeed two
WAYYIQTOL
s used non-sequentially to refer to one event.
132
6.4.1.3
COMPRESSION
: events of long duration or events separated by a long period of time
a man from the house of Levi went he married a daughter of Levi
the woman conceived she bore a son
she saw that he was beautiful she hid him for three months
4 8
1 -
5 5
+6 ;
5 8
? 5
Exod 2:1-2
Just the pregnancy and the three months of hiding would have taken a year, without considering the amount of time leading up to their marriage and the possible
length of time prior to her conception. This is another example of how the narrative depiction does not match the event world. In the text, the events are depicted as normal
progression, which does not reflect the temporal diversity of the event world.
6.4.1.4
RAPID SUCCESSION
: unusual, uninterrupted sequences of
WAYYIQTOL
s representing a series of events
Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and rose
and went on his way. Esau despised his birthright.
F F 4 5
; 8
Gen 25:34
This goes beyond the more common sequence of two
WAYYIQTOL
s considered above as
EXPANSION
. These sequences depict a series of actions, creating an effect of rapid succession. Even
though narrative time is typically less than
event time, these
Figure 15: Depiction of Events in Narrative
textual depiction: event world:
133 sequences are even more tightly compressed.
The following chart shows the types of sequences attested in the Hebrew Bible:
Sequence of 3
WAYYIQTOL
s Sequence of 4
WAYYIQTOL
s Sequence of 5
WAYYIQTOL
s
Gen 25:17; Exod 1:7; 2:16; Josh 8:14; 9:4; Judg 6:29;
9:27; 18:21; 19:4, 10, 14; Ruth 2:14; 1 Sam 15:12;
18:25; 2 Sam 1:12; 17:23; 1 Kgs 19:21; 2 Kgs 7:8;
10:9; Jer 26:21; Ezek 16:7 Gen 43:31; 1 Kgs 19:8;
2 Kgs 6:23; Neh 9:25 Gen 25:34
These sequences have a distinct aural impact because of the repetition of the – prefix of the
WAYYIQTOL
form.
6.4.1.5
INCLUSION
: movement on the main timeline is suspended
INCLUSION
is another instance of non-
SEQUENTIALITY
in series of
WAYYIQTOL
s.
All flesh that moved on the earth perished, birds and cattle and
beasts and every swarming thing that swarms upon the earth, and
all mankind; of all that was on the dry land, all in whose
nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, died. Thus He
blotted out every living thing that was upon the face of the
land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of
the sky, and they were blotted out from the earth; and only
Noah was left, together with those that were with him in the
ark.
0 F ; F C
0 - 0 - 9+
8 8
- 9+ F 3
8 5 ;5
; 4 -
Gen 7:21-23
What is the relationship between the
WAYYIQTOL
s here? In 7:21-22 the first
WAYYIQTOL
, C , is the main verb. But when the next
WAYYIQTOL
, , at the
beginning of 7:23 is read, the expectation of
SEQUENTIALITY
is not fulfilled. Upon closer
Figure 16:
WAYYIQTOL
Sequences
134 examination, it becomes evident that
is included within the event frame set up by C .
6.4.1.6
REGRESSION
: going back in time
This example, discussed above in 6.2.1, differs from
INCLUSION
since there is an intermediate
WAYYIQTOL
, , that moves the narrative along the timeline. The
second occurrence of 5 , then, goes back in time.
Now in the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand
of Uriah. He wrote in the letter: “Place Uriah in the front line of the
fiercest battle and withdraw from him, so that he may be struck down
and die.”
+ 5
8 I
5 3
8 5
2 Sam 11:14-15
See the discussion of this example in 6.2.1.
6.4.1.7
CONCLUSION
: summary of the preceding narrative
In certain
WAYYIQTOL
series, the final occurrence concludes and summarizes the series. Consider the following example from 1 Sam 31:4b-6:
So Saul took his sword and fell on it. His armor bearer saw that
Saul was dead, and also fell on his sword and died with him.
Thus Saul died with his three sons, his armor bearer, and all
his men on that day together.
8 1
F ; 8 ;3
; G ?
8 +
G F ;
1 Sam 31: 4b-6
In 1 Sam 31:6, is non-sequential, concluding and summarizing the preceding
events. In 31:5 makes it clear that, in the narration, Saul was already dead
before occurs in 31:6. Rigid
SEQUENTIALITY
would not permit the use of in
31:6 after Saul’s death has already been narrated. In form, is just another “simple”
135
WAYYIQTOL
, but the function is not to indicate the typical
SEQUENTIALITY
associated with the
WAYYIQTOL
.
6.4.2 Summary
