Van der Merwe et al, A Biblical Hebrew Reference Grammar,

50 Hatav’s thought-provoking analysis is significant in its implementation of theoretical concepts used in general Linguistics. Further discussion of these claims regarding is postponed, however, until Chapter 10.

3.4.13 Van der Merwe et al, A Biblical Hebrew Reference Grammar,

1999 Van der Merwe’s study entitled “The Elusive Biblical Hebrew Term : A Perspective in Terms of Its Syntax, Semantics, and Pragmatics in 1 Samuel” van der Merwe 1999. is considered in greater detail in the next chapter. This section reviews the comments concerning the use of in A Biblical Hebrew Reference Grammar van der Merwe, Naudé, Kroeze 1999. This grammar has several comments about that indicate further development in research. The authors comment that anchors an event, state of affairs, scene, episode or narrative to the time line. namely signals that the event, state of affairs, scene, episode or narrative follows in time on a particular preceding event, state of affairs, scene, episode or narrative. van der Merwe, Naudé, Kroeze 1999, 331 This reflects the function that others have identified for of signaling a connection with the preceding narrative. Other comments refer more to the effect of on the narrative that follows. For example, they observe, concerning the use of + temporal constructions, that [i]n cases where the temporal frame of a new scene or episode is specified, signals that a new scene or episode is subsequent to a previously mentioned scene, and that this scene is part of the mainstream of a larger episode or narrative. van der Merwe, Naudé, Kroeze 1999, 332 51 Many of these comments will be considered in the analysis in Chapter 10. The syntactic distinctions made in this grammar are a significant contribution to the ongoing study of , and the function assigned to of keeping things in the mainstream of the narration will be considered in greater detail. As examples of the categories used in BHRG, consider the following: a. introduces the setting of a new scene or episode. signals that the new scene or episode needs to be link [sic] to a preceding one on which this new scene or episode follows in time. van der Merwe, Naudé, Kroeze 1999, 332 b. occurs in the setting of a new episode seldom. precedes reference to a state of affairs that apparently plays a pivotal role in the subsequent episode. c. occurs in the course of a scene. signals that a state of affairs needs to be treated on a par with the mainstream events of the narration, and that is not mere background information. d. occurs at the conclusion of a scene. signals that a state of affairs is the outcome of a preceding series of events. van der Merwe, Naudé, Kroeze 1999, 333 The attention to context is an important part of this grammar’s analysis. Similar to previous remarks, is assigned a role in distinguishing the mainstream from the background. The role of in setting is of particular relevance to the claim that marks “a state of affairs that may play a pivotal role in the subsequent episode.” These claims will be dealt with in greater detail in Chapter 10. 52

3.4.14 Rocine, Learning Biblical Hebrew: A New Approach Using