Infinitive Construct + Specific Temporal Reference Followed by
323 was enjoying the good favor of Solomon. The
WE
-
X
-
QATAL
here expresses
ANTERIORITY
relative to the
WAYYIQTOL
which follows.
9.3.2.1.2.1.3 Infinitive Construct +
There are three occurrences of with an infinitive construct and each one
has a slightly different form. These variations will be discussed after the display of the data.
At the time when the flock was mating, I lifted up my eyes and
saw in a dream, and behold, the male goats which were mating
were striped, speckled, and mottled.
Pc-vqw3msXa Pp-ncbs vpc Pa-ncbs Pc-vqw1cs ncfdcX1cs Pc-
vqw1csXa Pp+Pa-ncms Pc-Pi Pa- ncmp Pa-vqPmp Pp-Pa-ncbs amp
amp Pc-amp
J +
K 5E
8 O E E J
Gen 31:10
At the time she was to give birth, behold, there were twins in her
womb. Moreover, it took place while she was giving birth, one
put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on
his hand, saying, “This one came out first.”
Pc-vqw3msXa Pp-ncbs vqcX3fs Pc- Pi ncmp Pp-ncfscX3fs Pc-
vqw3msXa Pp-vqcX3fs Pc- vqw3ms
-ncfs Pc-vqw3fs Pa-vpPfs Pc-vqw3fs Pp-ncfscX3ms ncms Pp-
vqc ams vqp3ms afs
B5 8B 6
+ ,
15 5 B5 8
; 5
Gen 38:27-28
324
Whenever the chest was brought in to the kings officer by the
Levites, and when they saw that there was much money, then the
kings scribe and the chief priests officer would come,
empty the chest, take it, and return it to its place. Thus they
did daily and collected much money. The king and Jehoiada
gave it to those who did the work of the service of the house of the
LORD; Pc-vqw3msXa Pp-ncbs vhi3ms Po-
Pa-ncbs Pp-ncfsc Pa-ncms Pp-ncfsc Pa-np Pc-Pp-vqcX3mp Pp-ams Pa-
ncms Pc-vqp3ms{2} ncms Pa-ncms Pc-ncmsc ncms Pa-ncms Pc-vpi3mp
Po-Pa-ncbs Pc-vqi3mpX3ms Pc- vhi3mpX3ms Pp-ncmscX3ms Pd
vqp3cp Pp-ncms Pp-ncms Pc- vqw3mp
-ncms Pp+Pa-ncms Pc- vqw3msX3ms Pa-ncms Pc-np Pp-
vqPms ncfsc ncfsc ncmsc-np
+ +
4 3 E
4 3 +
9 EK
+ ;
; E
8 ; 9 +
+ F
F+ +
4 3 5 +
2 Chr 24:11-
12a
Gen 31:10
The occurrence of J
in Gen 31:10 is a complex temporal expression in which the infinitive construct gives a less-
anchored temporal reference than a finite verb form would indicate. This is similar to the occurrence of
3 in 2 Sam 11:1 listed in
9.3.2.3.2.1 below, where is a general reference to the customary
time when kings go out to battle. If this were a reference to when a specific king went to battle, then the infinitive construct would not be
used. The difference, however, between and is consistent with
the usage of expressing
APPROXIMATION
and expressing inclusion within the time specified. Presumably, if Gen 31:10 were
, it would express about the time for mating rather than during that time and
likewise, if 2 Sam 11:1 were , the sense would be during the
time when kings go to battle.
Gen 38:27-28
The occurrence of the infinitive construct B5 following
indicates that at the time she was to give birth, it was discovered that she had twins. This contrasts with the temporal expression later in the
verse, B5
, while she was giving birth.
2 Chr 24:11-12a
The occurrence of the
YIQTOL
in the following, +
, is motivated by the aspectual contours of the narrative where the description is of what happened day after day
325 +
+ F
rather than a description of what happened on one particular day. This is a good example of how aspectual distinctions are
contextual, being expressed by linguistic items other than the verbs.