257 also requires exploring the different contexts of use and the factors which motivate and
govern the use of the different temporal expressions. The motivation to explore the functions of, for example, the prepositions and with the infinitive construct is the
analytical principle of choice 5.2.4.4. Choice implies that there is some functional difference that motivates the use of or in certain contexts. This indicates, then, that
both and cannot mean exactly the same when. Any description of these prepositions, even in introductory grammars, should reflect the different nuances of meaning and
usage—or at least alert the student to their context-sensitive nature. The following brief review of GKC, Davidson, Williams, Joüon-Muraoka,
Lambdin, Waltke and O’Connor, Pratico and Van Pelt, and van der Merwe, reveals that very little attention has been given to the variety of temporal expressions in biblical
Hebrew. Most of the discussion in these grammars is dedicated to the lexical level, with some attention given to the basic syntax, for example, of the combination of prepositions
with infinitive constructs to form temporal expressions.
9.2.1.2 GKC, Gesenius’ Hebrew Grammar
GKC’s treatment of temporal clauses §164 has two main sections, dealing with relations of time “simply by juxtaposition” GKC 1910, 501 of, for example, a series of
WAYYIQTOL
verb forms. and the “conjunctions used to introduce temporal clauses” GKC 1910, 502, such as and
. In addition, other conjunctions such as , , and are presented.
The use of prepositions with the infinitive construct, however, is only included as one of three additional, secondary remarks. According to GKC’s section on infinitive
258 constructs, these constructions are equivalent to temporal clauses, stating that “[t]his use
of the infinitive construct is especially frequent in connexion with or to express time- determinations, especially after
” GKC 1910, 347. Later on, the following statement is also made: “The infinitive with may usually be rendered by when, as, or whilst; the
infinitive with by when, as soon as.” GKC 1910, 503 Examples are given, but there is no further discussion of any difference in usage between and with the infinitive
construct. The use of and with infinitive constructs is indeed a frequent means employed
in biblical Hebrew to express temporal relations. The numerous occurrences of the prepositions and with the infinitive construct following
are displayed in later sections of this chapter. The display of all the data is the focus of this chapter, but
comments and observations are included to guide the reader through the extensive sections of examples. Also, GKC’s claim regarding the temporal role of juxtaposition
will also be discussed, but this is postponed until Chapter 10.
9.2.1.3 Davidson, Introductory Hebrew Grammar ~ Syntax
Davidson states, first of all, that “[m]any temporal statements are formed with a prep. and infin” Gibson 1994, 157 and further that “[t]emporal clauses or phrases are
commonly preceded by or
, punctuating a narrative or discourse time-wise” Gibson 1994, 157. The reference to the function of “punctuating a narrative timewise”
seems significant, but unfortunately it is not explained.
259 Regarding the use of prepositions with the infinitive constructs, Davidson states
that “[w]hen is expressed by , with infin., or by , with finite verb or nominal
cl.” Gibson 1994, 157, but there is no discussion of the parameters that govern the choice of or with the infinitive. To state that , , , and
are all used to mean “when” helps separate these items from the others that are considered
, , , , and Gibson 1994, 157-58, but it obscures the fact that , , , and
are not all the same in usage and meaning. As discussed in 9.2.1.1, certain decisions have to
be made to restrict the amount of information given in an introductory grammar, but proper distinctions in meaning and usage should be made.
9.2.1.4 Williams, Hebrew Syntax: An Outline
