379
When they had heard all the words, they turned in fear one to
another and said to Baruch, “We will surely report all these
words to the king.” Pc-vqw3msXa Pp-vqcX3mp Po-
ncmsc-Pa-ncmp vqp3cp ncms Pp- ncmscX3ms Pc-vqw3mp Pp-np vha
vhi1cp Pp+Pa-ncms Po ncmsc-Pa- ncmp Pa-acp
G 4 ;
8 , 4 3 G
Jer 36:16
When the kingdom of Rehoboam was established and strong, he
and all Israel with him forsook the law of the LORD.
Pc-vqw3msXa Pp-vhc ncfsc np Pc- Pp-ncfscX3ms vqp3ms Po-ncfsc np
Pc-ncmsc-np PpX3ms
; 8 ;3
F +5
2 Chr 12:1
9.3.2.2.1.4 Infinitive Construct Followed by
YIQTOL
The following example is an unusual occurrence of a verb in the
YIQTOL
form following the Infinitive Construct.
When Jehudi read three or four columns, the king cut it with a
scribes knife and threw it into the fire that was in the brazier,
until all the scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the
brazier. Pc-vqw3msXa Pp-vqc np afs ncfp
Pc-ams vqi3msX3fs Pp-ncmsc Pa- ncms Pc-vha Pp-Pa-ncbs Pr Pp-Pa-
ncms Pp-vqc ncmsc-Pa-ncfs Pp-Pa- ncbs Pr Pp-Pa-ncms
+ ?
+ 4
I 5
8 ,C3
Jer 36:23
Attention to the syntactic context of this occurrence is important. The main contextual support for the use of the
YIQTOL
is 5 . The temporal expression does not
govern the form of the verb to follow, rather the form of the verb is sensitive to the situational context. The typical future use of the
YIQTOL
is related to the
IMPERFECTIVE
which comes through in this example. is used in the context of an event that did
380 not take place one time, but rather each time three or four columns were read, the king
would cut the scroll. It is the peculiar narrative depiction of these events that motivates the use of the
YIQTOL
.
9.3.2.2.1.5 Summary of Infinitive Constructs Used with
The verbs occurring with – are:
, ,
, , , , , ,
, ,
, , , , ,
, ,
C, ,
, and . As stated
previously, the verbs occurring with and will be compared here. The following chart lists the verbs to facilitate comparison. It is important to keep in mind that this chart only
lists the occurrences attested with ; there are other occurrences without
which are not contemplated here.
Only Both and
Only B
F C
P C
Figure 29: Infinitive Constructs Used with and
Regarding the occurrences of and with infinitive constructs, Lambdin states that
[b]oth prepositions are common in this usage, but with certain verbs, especially
and , is by far the preferred preposition. There are reasons, founded in the aspectual nature of these verbs, which govern this
choice, but a catalog of uses would serve no purpose in an elementary grammar of this sort. Lambdin 1971, 129
381 This is an important claim to test. To state that the choice between these
prepositions is motivated by the “aspectual nature” of the verbs, assumes that the verbs have an inherent aspect. Even though there are only six verbs listed above that occur
with both and , this is sufficient evidence to question the claim by Lambdin. Also, to state that is “by far the preferred preposition” over is not decisive. An important
principle with a limited corpus like that of biblical Hebrew is that what is attested does not define what is possible or grammatical. The most decisive situation is if a certain
verb always occurs with only one preposition, but if two different prepositions can potentially occur with the same verb, then the factors which motivate the choice of
preposition are not aspectual features inherent to the verb, but rather are part of the textual context. As Bybee comments:
…the function of aspect is to allow the temporal dimensions of a situation to be described from different points of view depending on how the
situation is intended to fit into the discourse. Bybee 1985, 142
This is based on a definition of aspect as the “internal temporal shape of states or events” Payne 1997, 238, with the most basic distinction being between perfective and
imperfective. There are other semantic features of certain verbs, such as verbs of sensation or mental perception which can also influence their usage. For example, Givón
claims that four major groups of verbs exist: compact, accomplishment, activity, and stative Givón 2001, 287-88. According to Givón, compact verbs “depict temporally
compact events of extremely short duration” and are “at one extreme of the perfectivity scale” Givón 2001, 287-88, but this does not necessarily prevent all compact verbs from
being used in imperfective situations in narrative. For example, Lambdin’s claim that
382 occurs more frequently than with
, may seem to fit a presumed notion of hearing being a “compact event.”
when he heard in 1 Kgs 5:21 is an example of in what seems like a compact event. The sense of as temporal succession seems more
appropriate than the temporal overlap indicated by .
When Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly
and said, “Blessed be the LORD today, who has given to David a
wise son over this great people.” Pc-vqw3msXa Pp-vqc np Po-ncmpc
np Pc-vqw3ms Pd Pc-vqw3ms vqsms np Pa-ncms Pr vqp3ms Pp-np
ncms ams Pp-Pa-ncms Pa-ams Pa- ams
? +
4 ; F
8 .
1 Kgs 5:21
5:7
There are examples, however, of with , as in 1 Sam 11:6.
The Spirit of God came upon Saul mightily as he was hearing
these words, and he became very angry.
Pc-vqw3fs ncbs-ncmp Pp-np Pp- vqcX3ms Pp-vqcX3ms Po-Pa-ncmp
Pa-acp Pc-vqw3msXa ncmscX3ms Pd
? : 5 ,
; 8
;
1 Sam 11:6
The challenge here is how to deal with ; . Based on the present analysis of
and , occurrences like this in 1 Sam 11:6 need to be translated while, so that it reflects ’s sense of temporal overlap. Otherwise, if this is translated as “when he heard,” an
explanation needs to be given for why the apparently distinct senses of and elsewhere would be neutralized in some contexts. From the perspective of the current analysis, the
preference is to state that even though a temporally compact verb like may typically
be used in perfective situations, it can also be used in narrative situations of longer duration. As Bybee stated, it depends “on how the situation is intended to fit into the
383 discourse” Bybee 1985, 142. The aspectual nuance of the verb and the choice of
preposition to accompany it are both context sensitive. Therefore, rather than claim that a particular preposition is used because of what seems to be the aspectual nature of the
verb, it is preferable to describe the context-sensitive features of the verb within the temporal and aspectual dimensions of the narrative.
It is not possible in this study to analyze every occurrence of these prepositions with the infinitive constructs, but comprehensive analysis of the temporal organization of
the biblical Hebrew text would require close attention to these details.
9.3.2.2.2 Occurrences of
