DailyHebrew.com

If you missed the following posts, do take the time to browse them. 

Tyler Williams of Codex fame explains the Strange New World of the Bible.

Jerome’s prologues are continued by Kevin at biblicalia (see especially Genesis).

The most recent Jimbo/Joe Bob debate drones on…

You can see where you fall in the grand political spectrum here.  I apparently am between the Joe & Jim extreme; somewhat close to Tyler and Gandhi it seems: Economic Left/Right: -2.63;Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -0.21 [HT: Jeff the Baptist].

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וַֽיְהִי־ה֗וּא טֶרֶם֮ כִּלָּ֣ה לְדַבֵּר֒ וְהִנֵּ֧ה רִבְקָ֣ה יֹצֵ֗את אֲשֶׁ֤ר יֻלְּדָה֙ לִבְתוּאֵ֣ל בֶּן־מִלְכָּ֔ה אֵ֥שֶׁת נָח֖וֹר אֲחִ֣י אַבְרָהָ֑ם וְכַדָּ֖הּ עַל־שִׁכְמָֽהּ׃ 16 וְהַֽנַּעֲרָ֗ טֹבַ֤ת מַרְאֶה֙ מְאֹ֔ד בְּתוּלָ֕ה וְאִ֖ישׁ לֹ֣א יְדָעָ֑הּ וַתֵּ֣רֶד הָעַ֔יְנָה וַתְּמַלֵּ֥א כַדָּ֖הּ וַתָּֽעַל׃

Vocabulary

Verse 15

            טרם  “not yet, before” (BDB, 382)

            כלה  verb (Piel perfect 3ms): “finish”

            רבקה  name: “Rebekah”

            בתואל  name: “Bethuel”

            מלכה  name: “Milkah”

            נחור  name: “Nahor”

            כד  “jar” (BDB, 461)

            שׁכם  “shoulder” (BDB, 1014)

Verse 16

            מראה  noun: “sight”

            בתולה  “virgin’ (BDD, 143)

            כד  “jar” (BDB, 461)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 15

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַֽיְהִי־ה֗וּא): P
• This verbal auxiliary serves as an independent temporal clause—“and it happed that” (GKC 111g).
• Sentence Typology 2 (טֶרֶם֮ כִּלָּ֣ה לְדַבֵּר֒): M-V-M
• A perfect after the adverb טרם has the sense of an imperfect (cf. 1 Samuel 3:7; GKC 107c).
• This clause serves as an apodosis connected by והנה to complete the circumstantial sentence (GKC 164c).
• Sentence Typology 3 (וְהִנֵּ֧ה רִבְקָ֣ה יֹצֵ֗את אֲשֶׁ֤ר יֻלְּדָה֙ לִבְתוּאֵ֣ל בֶּן־מִלְכָּ֔ה אֵ֥שֶׁת נָח֖וֹר אֲחִ֣י אַבְרָהָ֑ם וְכַדָּ֖הּ עַל־שִׁכְמָֽהּ): S-V-M
• The verb/participle construction is periphrastic with an implied היה verb.
• The relative clause modifies רבקה “Rebekah.”
• The final phrase, וכדה על־שׁכמה, is joined by waw as attendant circumstances—“with her [water] jar upon her shoulder.”
• Embedded Typology A (יֻלְּדָה֙ לִבְתוּאֵ֣ל בֶּן־מִלְכָּ֔ה אֵ֥שֶׁת נָח֖וֹר אֲחִ֣י אַבְרָהָ֑ם): V-M
• Each of the noun clauses, אשׁת נחור and אחי אברהם, modifies the preceding proper name.

Verse 16

• Sentence Typology 1 (וְהַֽנַּעֲרָ֗ טֹבַ֤ת מַרְאֶה֙ מְאֹ֔ד בְּתוּלָ֕ה): S-P
• The clause begins with a disjunctive waw.
• The noun, הנער, is pointed as a feminine singular referring to the women (cf. verse 14).
• The noun, בתולה, is in apposition to מראה.
• Sentence Typology 2 (וְאִ֖ישׁ לֹ֣א יְדָעָ֑הּ): S-V-O
• The waw introduces an explicative (or possibly emphatic) clause.
• ידע is connected here with sexual relations.
• The final suffix refers back to Rebekah.
• Sentence Typology 3 (וַתֵּ֣רֶד הָעַ֔יְנָה): V-M
• The העינה is the “spring of water” (cf. verse 13 עֵין הַמָּיִם).
• The final he suffix is a directive he—“she went down to the spring.”
• Sentence Typology 4 (וַתְּמַלֵּ֥א כַדָּ֖הּ): V-O
• The final he is a 3fs pronominal suffix.
• Sentence Typology 5 (וַתָּֽעַל): V

My undergraduate Greek professor, Dr. Laura Gibbs, has posted some excellent thoughts on the need (even requirement!) for faculty blogging.  Be sure to check it out along with her excellent posts on Latin aphorism.

וַיִּקַּ֣ח הָ֠עֶבֶד עֲשָׂרָ֨ה גְמַלִּ֜ים מִגְּמַלֵּ֤י אֲדֹנָיו֙ וַיֵּ֔לֶךְ וְכָל־ט֥וּב אֲדֹנָ֖יו בְּיָד֑וֹ וַיָּ֗קָם וַיֵּ֛לֶךְ אֶל־אֲרַ֥ם נַֽהֲרַ֖יִם אֶל־עִ֥יר נָחֽוֹר׃ 11 וַיַּבְרֵ֧ךְ הַגְּמַלִּ֛ים מִח֥וּץ לָעִ֖יר אֶל־בְּאֵ֣ר הַמָּ֑יִם לְעֵ֣ת עֶ֔רֶב לְעֵ֖ת צֵ֥את הַשֹּׁאֲבֹֽת׃ 12 וַיֹּאמַ֓ר ׀ יְהוָ֗ה אֱלֹהֵי֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י אַבְרָהָ֔ם הַקְרֵה־נָ֥א לְפָנַ֖י הַיּ֑וֹם וַעֲשֵׂה־חֶ֕סֶד עִ֖ם אֲדֹנִ֥י אַבְרָהָֽם׃ 13 הִנֵּ֛ה אָנֹכִ֥י נִצָּ֖ב עַל־עֵ֣ין הַמָּ֑יִם וּבְנוֹת֙ אַנְשֵׁ֣י הָעִ֔יר יֹצְאֹ֖ת לִשְׁאֹ֥ב מָֽיִם׃ 14 וְהָיָ֣ה הַֽנַּעֲרָ֗ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אֹמַ֤ר אֵלֶ֙יהָ֙ הַטִּי־נָ֤א כַדֵּךְ֙ וְאֶשְׁתֶּ֔ה וְאָמְרָ֣ה שְׁתֵ֔ה וְגַם־גְּמַלֶּ֖יךָ אַשְׁקֶ֑ה אֹתָ֤הּ הֹכַ֙חְתָּ֙ לְעַבְדְּךָ֣ לְיִצְחָ֔ק וּבָ֣הּ אֵדַ֔ע כִּי־עָשִׂ֥יתָ חֶ֖סֶד עִם־אֲדֹנִֽי׃

Vocabulary

Verse 10

            עשֹר  cardinal number: “ten”

            גמל  “camel”

            טוב  noun: “goods” (BDB, 375)

            ארם נהרים  name (of place): “Aram-nahoraim (lit. Aram of the two rivers)”

            נחור  name (of place): “Nahor”

Verse 11

            ברך  verb (Hiphil waw-consecutive imperfect 3ms): “cause to kneel” (BDB, 138)

            חוץ  “outside”

            באר  “well” (BDB, 91)

            עת  “time”

            ערב  “evening”

            שׁאב  substantive (Qal participle fpl) “water drawer” (BDB, 980)

Verse 12

            קרה  verb (Hiphil imperative ms): “cause to occur, grant success” (BDB, 899)

Verse 13

            נצב  verb: “station oneself, take a stand”

            שׁאב  verb: “draw” (BDB, 980)

Verse 14

            נערה  “girl, young woman”

            נטה  verb (Hiphil imperative fs): “stretch out”

            כד  “jar” (BDB, 461)

            גמל  “camel”

            שׁקה  verb (Hiphil waw-consecutive imperfect 1cs): “cause to drink”

            יכח  verb (Hiphil perfect 2ms): “appointed”

            יצחק  name: “Isaac”

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 10

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיִּקַּ֣ח הָ֠עֶבֶד עֲשָׂרָ֨ה גְמַלִּ֜ים מִגְּמַלֵּ֤י אֲדֹנָיו֙): V-S-O-M
• The verb, לקח, “assimilates” the first root radical with prefix forms much like a R-1 nun verb.
• The cardinal numbers, שׁלשׁ “three” throughעשֹר “ten,” are substantives and may modify other nouns in a construct relationship or in apposition.  Unlike the number שׁנים “two,” however, the feminine forms of these numbers modify masculine nouns and the masculine forms modify feminine nouns.
• Sentence Typology 2 (וַיֵּ֔לֶךְ וְכָל־ט֥וּב אֲדֹנָ֖יו בְּיָד֑וֹ): V-M
• The nominal clause modifies the preceding verb.  The clause connector may best be interpreted as “with.”
• The relationship of כָל with the construct clause is distributive—“each, every kind of” (GKC 127b).
• Sentence Typology 3 (וַיָּ֗קָם): V
• Sentence Typology 4 (וַיֵּ֛לֶךְ אֶל־אֲרַ֥ם נַֽהֲרַ֖יִם אֶל־עִ֥יר נָחֽוֹר): V-M
• The second prepositional clause is appositional to the first.
• The region of ארם נהרים is mentioned five times in the MT, cf. Deuteronomy 23:5 (Balaam’s hometown); Judges 3:8 (dominion of King Cushan-rishathaim); 1Ch 19:6 (purveyor of horsemen and chariots along with ארם מעכה Aram-maacah and צובה Zobah); Ps 60:2 (fought in battle with ארם צובה Aram-zobah).

Verse 11

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיַּבְרֵ֧ךְ הַגְּמַלִּ֛ים מִח֥וּץ לָעִ֖יר אֶל־בְּאֵ֣ר הַמָּ֑יִם לְעֵ֣ת עֶ֔רֶב לְעֵ֖ת צֵ֥את הַשֹּׁאֲבֹֽת): V-O-M
• The subject is Abraham’s servant.
• The Hiphil verb is causative—“he caused the camels to kneel down.”
• The final phrase is in apposition to the previous temporal phrase, לעת ערב.
• Embedded Typology A (לְעֵ֖ת צֵ֥את הַשֹּׁאֲבֹֽת): M-V-S
• This clause explicates the evening as the time for drawing water from the well.

Verse 12

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיֹּאמַ֓ר ׀ יְהוָ֗ה אֱלֹהֵי֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י אַבְרָהָ֔ם הַקְרֵה־נָ֥א לְפָנַ֖י הַיּ֑וֹם וַעֲשֵׂה־חֶ֕סֶד עִ֖ם אֲדֹנִ֥י אַבְרָהָֽם): V-O
• The object is direct speech.
• Embedded Typology A (יְהוָ֗ה אֱלֹהֵי֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י אַבְרָהָ֔ם הַקְרֵה־נָ֥א לְפָנַ֖י הַיּ֑וֹם): S-V-M
• The initial apposition and construct phrase is a vocative of address.
• The article with יום is understood as “this day” or “today.”
• Embedded Typology B (וַעֲשֵׂה־חֶ֕סֶד עִ֖ם אֲדֹנִ֥י אַבְרָהָֽם): V-O-M
• The term, חסד, implies “faithful love” or “covenantal fidelity.”
• The preposition, עִם, can show the direction of the action—“to my lord, Abraham.”

Verse 13

• Sentence Typology 1 (הִנֵּ֛ה אָנֹכִ֥י נִצָּ֖ב עַל־עֵ֣ין הַמָּ֑יִם): S-V-M
• The Niphal participle is used periphrastically as a finite verb.
• The verb is used sequence with עַל meaning “by, on.”
• Sentence Typology 1 (וּבְנוֹת֙ אַנְשֵׁ֣י הָעִ֔יר יֹצְאֹ֖ת לִשְׁאֹ֥ב מָֽיִם): S-V-M
• The subject is a three-member construct phrase, בנות אנשׁי העיר.
• Embedded Typology A (לִשְׁאֹ֥ב מָֽיִם): V-O

Verse 14

• Sentence Typology 1 (וְהָיָ֣ה הַֽנַּעֲרָ֗ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אֹמַ֤ר אֵלֶ֙יהָ֙ הַטִּי־נָ֤א כַדֵּךְ֙): V
• The introductory clause is והיה “now may it be that.”
• Embedded Typology A (אֹמַ֤ר אֵלֶ֙יהָ֙): V-IO-O
• The object is direct speech.
• Embedded Typology i (הַטִּי־נָ֤א כַדֵּךְ֙): V-O
• Only the middle radical of the root is extant as the R-1 nun has assimilated and the final he elided.
• Sentence Typology 2 (וְאֶשְׁתֶּ֔ה): V
• Sentence Typology 3 (וְאָמְרָ֣ה שְׁתֵ֔ה וְגַם־גְּמַלֶּ֖יךָ): V-O
• The waw-consecutive perfect here represents a simple future (GKC 112p).
• The object is direct speech.
• Embedded Typology A (שְׁתֵ֔ה): V
• Embedded Typology B (וְגַם־גְּמַלֶּ֖יךָ אַשְׁקֶ֑ה): O-V
• Sentence Typology 4 (אֹתָ֤הּ הֹכַ֙חְתָּ֙ לְעַבְדְּךָ֣ לְיִצְחָ֔ק): S-V-[O]-M
• The implied object is הנער from the beginning of the verse.
• Sentence Typology 5 (וּבָ֣הּ אֵדַ֔ע כִּי־עָשִׂ֥יתָ חֶ֖סֶד עִם־אֲדֹנִֽי): M-V-O
• The clause initial phrase, בָהּ “by this,” refers to the previous situation, i.e. verbal clause (GKC 135p).
• The object is the following כִּי clause.
• Embedded Typology A (כִּי־עָשִׂ֥יתָ חֶ֖סֶד עִם־אֲדֹנִֽי): V-O-M

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ הָעֶ֔בֶד אוּלַי֙ לֹא־תֹאבֶ֣ה הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה לָלֶ֥כֶת אַחֲרַ֖י אֶל־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֑את הֶֽהָשֵׁ֤ב אָשִׁיב֙ אֶת־בִּנְךָ֔ אֶל־הָאָ֖רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יָצָ֥אתָ מִשָּֽׁם׃ 6 וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו אַבְרָהָ֑ם הִשָּׁ֣מֶר לְךָ֔ פֶּן־תָּשִׁ֥יב אֶת־בְּנִ֖י שָֽׁמָּה׃ 7 יְהוָ֣ה ׀ אֱלֹהֵ֣י הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם אֲשֶׁ֨ר לְקָחַ֜נִי מִבֵּ֣ית אָבִי֮ וּמֵאֶ֣רֶץ מֽוֹלַדְתִּי֒ וַאֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּר־לִ֜י וַאֲשֶׁ֤ר נִֽשְׁבַּֽע־לִי֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לְזַ֨רְעֲךָ֔ אֶתֵּ֖ן אֶת־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֑את ה֗וּא יִשְׁלַ֤ח מַלְאָכוֹ֙ לְפָנֶ֔יךָ וְלָקַחְתָּ֥ אִשָּׁ֛ה לִבְנִ֖י מִשָּֽׁם׃ 8 וְאִם־לֹ֨א תֹאבֶ֤ה הָֽאִשָּׁה֙ לָלֶ֣כֶת אַחֲרֶ֔יךָ וְנִקִּ֕יתָ מִשְּׁבֻעָתִ֖י זֹ֑את רַ֣ק אֶת־בְּנִ֔י לֹ֥א תָשֵׁ֖ב שָֽׁמָּה׃ 9 וַיָּ֤שֶׂם הָעֶ֙בֶד֙ אֶת־יָד֔וֹ תַּ֛חַת יֶ֥רֶךְ אַבְרָהָ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֑יו וַיִּשָּׁ֣בַֽע ל֔וֹ עַל־הַדָּבָ֖ר הַזֶּֽה׃

Vocabulary

Verse 5

            אולי  “perhaps” (BDB, 19)

            אבה  verb: “want”

Verse 7

            מולדת  “kindred” (BDB, 409)

Verse 8

            אבה  verb: “want”

            נקה  verb: “be free” (BDB, 667)

            שׁבועה  noun: “oath” (BDB, 989)

Verse 9

            ירך  “thigh, loins” (BDB, 437)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 5

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ הָעֶ֔בֶד אוּלַי֙ לֹא־תֹאבֶ֣ה הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה לָלֶ֥כֶת אַחֲרַ֖י אֶל־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֑את הֶֽהָשֵׁ֤ב אָשִׁיב֙ אֶת־בִּנְךָ֔ אֶל־הָאָ֖רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יָצָ֥אתָ מִשָּֽׁם): V-IO-S-O
• The object is direct speech.
• Embedded Typology A (אוּלַי֙ לֹא־תֹאבֶ֣ה הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה לָלֶ֥כֶת אַחֲרַ֖י אֶל־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֑את): V-S-M
• Embedded Typology i (לָלֶ֥כֶת אַחֲרַ֖י אֶל־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֑את): V-O-M
• The sequencing of הלך and the preposition אחר “go after” may be understood as “follow.”
• The feminine demonstrative, הזאת, agrees in gender, number and definiteness with הארץ.
• Embedded Typology B (הֶֽהָשֵׁ֤ב אָשִׁיב֙ אֶת־בִּנְךָ֔ אֶל־הָאָ֖רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יָצָ֥אתָ מִשָּֽׁם): M-V-O-M
• This clause begins with an interrogative he (GKC 100n); the question is strengthened by the sequencing of same root infinitive absolute and finite verbs (GKC 113q).
• The Hiphil verb אשׁיב is functioning as a causative, “bring back.”
• Embedded Typology i (יָצָ֥אתָ מִשָּֽׁם): V-M

Verse 6

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו אַבְרָהָ֑ם הִשָּׁ֣מֶר לְךָ֔ פֶּן־תָּשִׁ֥יב אֶת־בְּנִ֖י שָֽׁמָּה): V-IO-S-O
• The object is direct speech.
• Embedded Typology A (הִשָּׁ֣מֶר לְךָ֔):
• The Niphal verb, השׁמר, is reflexive with לך—“be on your guard.”
• Half of the 24 uses of the Niphal imperative, השׁמר, are sequenced with לְךָ and more than 11 times with פֶּן “lest” (cf. GKC 152w).
• Embedded Typology B (פֶּן־תָּשִׁ֥יב אֶת־בְּנִ֖י שָֽׁמָּה): V-O-M
• The final he of שׁמה is a directive he.

Verse 7

• Embedded Typology C (יְהוָ֣ה ׀ אֱלֹהֵ֣י הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם אֲשֶׁ֨ר … ה֗וּא יִשְׁלַ֤ח מַלְאָכוֹ֙ לְפָנֶ֔יךָ): S-M-S-V-O-M
• The referent of the resumptive pronoun, הוא, is the introductory noun phrase, יהיה אלהי השׁמים (GKC 135c & 138a).
• The contruct phrase, אלהי השׁמים, is in apposition to the divine name.
• Embedded Typology i (לְקָחַ֜נִי מִבֵּ֣ית אָבִי֮ וּמֵאֶ֣רֶץ מֽוֹלַדְתִּי֒): V-O-M
• The 1cs suffix attached to the verb, לקחני, is the direct object.
• Embedded Typology ii (דִּבֶּר־לִ֜י): V-IO
• Embedded Typology iii (נִֽשְׁבַּֽע־לִי֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לְזַ֨רְעֲךָ֔ אֶתֵּ֖ן אֶת־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֑את): V-IO-O
• The object is direct speech marked by לאמר.
• Embedded Typology α (לְזַ֨רְעֲךָ֔ אֶתֵּ֖ן אֶת־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֑את): IO-V-O
• This is a direct quote inside of a direct quotation.
• Embedded Typology D (וְלָקַחְתָּ֥ אִשָּׁ֛ה לִבְנִ֖י מִשָּֽׁם): V-O-M
• The lamed preposition, לבני, marks purpose—“for my son.”

Verse 8

• Embedded Typology E (וְאִם־לֹ֨א תֹאבֶ֤ה הָֽאִשָּׁה֙ לָלֶ֣כֶת אַחֲרֶ֔יךָ): M-V-S
• This is the protasis (marked by אִם) of a circumstancial sentence.
• Embedded Typology i (לָלֶ֣כֶת אַחֲרֶ֔יךָ): V-M
• This embedded clause is infinitival.
• Embedded Typology F (וְנִקִּ֕יתָ מִשְּׁבֻעָתִ֖י זֹ֑את): V-M
• The waw marks the second clause, or apodosis, of the circumstantial sentence (GKC 112f).
• The Niphal verb is passive voice.  The agent is the original speaker, Abraham.
• In place of the R-III radical ה, the ֵי infix, rarely ִי, is used in the perfect, 2^nd person singular conjugation (GKC 75x).
• Embedded Typology G (רַ֣ק אֶת־בְּנִ֔י לֹ֥א תָשֵׁ֖ב שָֽׁמָּה): M-O-V-M
• The particle, רק “only,” is used restrictively (GKC 153).
• The final he suffix is directive.
• Verses 5-8 all end with שׁם.

Verse 9

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיָּ֤שֶׂם הָעֶ֙בֶד֙ אֶת־יָד֔וֹ תַּ֛חַת יֶ֥רֶךְ אַבְרָהָ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֑יו): V-S-O-M
• The designation, אדניו, is in apposition to the proper name, אברהם.
• The oath is confirmed with this act.
• Sentence Typology 2 (וַיִּשָּׁ֣בַֽע ל֔וֹ עַל־הַדָּבָ֖ר הַזֶּֽה): V-IO-M.
• The Niphal verb is passive.