DailyHebrew.com

The Preliminary Program Book is available here. 

*My presentation is presently scheduled for Monday morning.

23-107

Aramaic Studies
11/23/2009
9:00 AM to 11:30 AM

Christian M. Brady, Pennsylvania State University University Park, Presiding

Daniel Machiela, McMaster University
Reevaluating the Language of the Genesis Apocryphon in Light of Qumran Aramaic (30 min)

Dr. Alejandro F. Botta, Boston University
To Hate your Spouse or to Divorce Him/Her: A Reassessment of the Use ??? in Elephantine. (30 min)

David Rensberger, Interdenominational Theological Center
A First-century C.E. Syriac Text: The Letter of Mara bar Serapion (30 min)

Humphrey H. Hardy II, The University of Chicago
THE TELL FEKHERIYEH STELE: DIALECT, WORD ORDER, AND SCRIBAL SYMBIOSIS (30 min)

Paul Flesher, University of Wyoming
Oral Translating and Written Targum: The Role of Translation according to Rabbinic Literature (30 min)

וַיַּעֲנ֨וּ בְנֵֽי־יַעֲקֹ֜ב אֶת־שְׁכֶ֨ם וְאֶת־חֲמ֥וֹר אָבִ֛יו בְּמִרְמָ֖ה וַיְדַבֵּ֑רוּ אֲשֶׁ֣ר טִמֵּ֔א אֵ֖ת דִּינָ֥ה אֲחֹתָֽם׃ 14 וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם לֹ֤א נוּכַל֙ לַעֲשׂוֹת֙ הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֔ה לָתֵת֙ אֶת־אֲחֹתֵ֔נוּ לְאִ֖ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־ל֣וֹ עָרְלָ֑ה כִּֽי־חֶרְפָּ֥ה הִ֖וא לָֽנוּ׃ 15 אַךְ־בְּזֹ֖את נֵא֣וֹת לָכֶ֑ם אִ֚ם תִּהְי֣וּ כָמֹ֔נוּ לְהִמֹּ֥ל לָכֶ֖ם כָּל־זָכָֽר׃ 16 וְנָתַ֤נּוּ אֶת־בְּנֹתֵ֙ינוּ֙ לָכֶ֔ם וְאֶת־בְּנֹתֵיכֶ֖ם נִֽקַּֽח־לָ֑נוּ וְיָשַׁ֣בְנוּ אִתְּכֶ֔ם וְהָיִ֖ינוּ לְעַ֥ם אֶחָֽד׃ 17 וְאִם־לֹ֧א תִשְׁמְע֛וּ אֵלֵ֖ינוּ לְהִמּ֑וֹל וְלָקַ֥חְנוּ אֶת־בִּתֵּ֖נוּ וְהָלָֽכְנוּ׃

Vocabulary

Verse 13

            שׁכם name: “Shechem” (BDB, 1014)

            חמור name: “Hamor” (BDB, 331)

            מרמה noun: “deceit; treachery” (BDB, 941)

            טמא verb (Piel perfect 3ms): “defile”

            דינה name: “Dinah” (BDB, 192)

            אחות noun: “sister”

Verse 14

            יכל verb (Qal imperfect 1cpl): “be able”

            אחות noun: “sister”

            ערלה “foreskin” (BDB, 790)

            חרפה noun: “reproach” (BDB, 357)

Verse 15

            אות verb (Niphal imperfect 1cpl): “consent; agree” (BDB, 22)

            מול verb (Niphal infinitive construct): “be circumcise” (BDB, 557)

Verse 16

Verse 17

            מול verb (Niphal infinitive construct): “circumcise” (BDB, 557)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 13

• Clause Structure 1 (וַיַּעֲנ֨וּ בְנֵֽי־יַעֲקֹ֜ב אֶת־שְׁכֶ֨ם וְאֶת־חֲמ֥וֹר אָבִ֛יו בְּמִרְמָ֖ה): V-S-O-M
• Clause Structure 2 (וַיְדַבֵּ֑רוּ אֲשֶׁ֣ר טִמֵּ֔א אֵ֖ת דִּינָ֥ה אֲחֹתָֽם): V-O
• Embedded Structure A (טִמֵּ֔א אֵ֖ת דִּינָ֥ה אֲחֹתָֽם): V-O
• This clause introduced by a “weak” causal אשׁר (J-M 170e) represents indirect speech—notice the 3mpl suffix on אחות if this was direct speech it would need to be 1cpl, “our sister” not “their sister”

Verse 14

• Clause Structure 1 (וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם לֹ֤א נוּכַל֙ לַעֲשׂוֹת֙ הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֔ה לָתֵת֙ אֶת־אֲחֹתֵ֔נוּ לְאִ֖ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־ל֣וֹ עָרְלָ֑ה כִּֽי־חֶרְפָּ֥ה הִ֖וא לָֽנוּ): V-M-O
• Embedded Structure A (לֹ֤א נוּכַל֙ לַעֲשׂוֹת֙ הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֔ה לָתֵת֙ אֶת־אֲחֹתֵ֔נוּ לְאִ֖ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־ל֣וֹ עָרְלָ֑ה): V-M
• Each of the two modifying clauses begin with the combination of lamed and the infinitive.
• Embedded Structure i (ל֣וֹ עָרְלָ֑ה): P-S
• Embedded Structure B (כִּֽי־חֶרְפָּ֥ה הִ֖וא לָֽנוּ): P-S
• The independent personal pronoun may be understood as the subject or alternatively as a copula.

Verse 15

• Embedded Structure C (אַךְ־בְּזֹ֖את נֵא֣וֹת לָכֶ֑ם): M-V-M
• The limiting condition (זאת) on which the consent relies is described in the following clause (MNK 41.4.2.1a; GKC 119p).
• Embedded Structure D (אִ֚ם תִּהְי֣וּ כָמֹ֔נוּ לְהִמֹּ֥ל לָכֶ֖ם כָּל־זָכָֽר): V-M
• The phrase, כל זכר, serves as the subject of the Niphal infinitive.
• Similar functions of lamed with the infinitive, see J-M 130g.

Verse 16

• Embedded Structure E (וְנָתַ֤נּוּ אֶת־בְּנֹתֵ֙ינוּ֙ לָכֶ֔ם): V-O-M
• The final nun of the perfect verbal form is assimilated to the suffix (GKC 44o; J-M 42e).
• This clause begins a compound apodosis of the conditional that begins in the previous clause with the particle אם “if” (W-O 38.2d).
• Embedded Structure F (וְאֶת־בְּנֹתֵיכֶ֖ם נִֽקַּֽח־לָ֑נוּ): O-V-M
• Embedded Structure G (וְיָשַׁ֣בְנוּ אִתְּכֶ֔ם): V-O
• Embedded Structure H (וְהָיִ֖ינוּ לְעַ֥ם אֶחָֽד): V-M
• The formula with היה and the preposition lamed is understood as “become” instead of a simple equative clause.

Verse 17

• Embedded Structure I (וְאִם־לֹ֧א תִשְׁמְע֛וּ אֵלֵ֖ינוּ לְהִמּ֑וֹל): V-M
• This clause begins a subsequent conditional sentence; the following clause begins with the waw of apodosis.
• Embedded Structure J (וְלָקַ֥חְנוּ אֶת־בִּתֵּ֖נוּ): V-O
• Embedded Structure K (וְהָלָֽכְנוּ): V

וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר חֲמ֖וֹר אִתָּ֣ם לֵאמֹ֑ר שְׁכֶ֣ם בְּנִ֗י חָֽשְׁקָ֤ה נַפְשׁוֹ֙ בְּבִתְּכֶ֔ם תְּנ֨וּ נָ֥א אֹתָ֛הּ ל֖וֹ לְאִשָּֽׁה׃ 9 וְהִֽתְחַתְּנ֖וּ אֹתָ֑נוּ בְּנֹֽתֵיכֶם֙ תִּתְּנוּ־לָ֔נוּ וְאֶת־בְּנֹתֵ֖ינוּ תִּקְח֥וּ לָכֶֽם׃ 10 וְאִתָּ֖נוּ תֵּשֵׁ֑בוּ וְהָאָ֙רֶץ֙ תִּהְיֶ֣ה לִפְנֵיכֶ֔ם שְׁבוּ֙ וּסְחָר֔וּהָ וְהֵֽאָחֲז֖וּ בָּֽהּ׃ 11 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר שְׁכֶם֙ אֶל־אָבִ֣יה וְאֶל־אַחֶ֔יהָ אֶמְצָא־חֵ֖ן בְּעֵינֵיכֶ֑ם וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר תֹּאמְר֛וּ אֵלַ֖י אֶתֵּֽן׃ 12 הַרְבּ֨וּ עָלַ֤י מְאֹד֙ מֹ֣הַר וּמַתָּ֔ן וְאֶ֨תְּנָ֔ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר תֹּאמְר֖וּ אֵלָ֑י וּתְנוּ־לִ֥י אֶת־הַֽנַּעֲרָ֖ לְאִשָּֽׁה׃

Vocabulary

Verse 8

            חמור name: “Hamor” (BDB, 331)

            שׁכם name: “Shechem” (BDB, 1014)

            חשׁק verb (Qal perfect 3fs): “be attracted to; desire” (BDB, 365)

Verse 9

            חתן verb (Hithpael imperative mpl): “to intermarry” (BDB, 368)

Verse 10

סחר verb (Qal imperative mpl w/ 3fs suffix): “to travel about (to do business)” (BDB, 695)

אחז verb (Niphal imperative mpl): “grasp; take possession” (BDB, 28)

Verse 11

            שׁכם name: “Shechem” (BDB, 1014)

            חן noun: “grace; favor” (BDB, 336)

Verse 12

            רבה verb (Hiphil imperative mpl): “increase, multiply”

            מהר noun: “dowry; bride-price” (BDB, 555)

            מתן noun: “gift(s)” (BDB, 682)

            נער noun: “girl” (BDB, 655)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 8

• Clause Structure 1 (וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר חֲמ֖וֹר אִתָּ֣ם לֵאמֹ֑ר שְׁכֶ֣ם בְּנִ֗י חָֽשְׁקָ֤ה נַפְשׁוֹ֙ בְּבִתְּכֶ֔ם תְּנ֨וּ נָ֥א אֹתָ֛הּ ל֖וֹ לְאִשָּֽׁה): V-S-M-O
• Embedded Structure A (שְׁכֶ֣ם בְּנִ֗י חָֽשְׁקָ֤ה נַפְשׁוֹ֙ בְּבִתְּכֶ֔ם): M-V-S-M
• The clause begins with a dislocated phrase which is coreferential to the pronominal suffix, נפשׂו (J-M 156b; W-O 4.7c).
• Embedded Structure B (תְּנ֨וּ נָ֥א אֹתָ֛הּ ל֖וֹ לְאִשָּֽׁה): V-O-M

Verse 9

• Embedded Structure C (וְהִֽתְחַתְּנ֖וּ אֹתָ֑נוּ): V-O
• The use of a direct object with a Hithpael verbal form is unexpected; elsewhere this verb takes complementation with a preposition, usually beth, hence the suggestion found in GKC 117w that the vocalization be emended to אִתָּנוּ (see 1 Kings 3:1).
• Embedded Structure D (בְּנֹֽתֵיכֶם֙ תִּתְּנוּ־לָ֔נוּ): O-V-M
• Embedded Structure E (וְאֶת־בְּנֹתֵ֖ינוּ תִּקְח֥וּ לָכֶֽם): O-V-M

Verse 10

• Embedded Structure F (וְאִתָּ֖נוּ תֵּשֵׁ֑בוּ): M-V
• Embedded Structure G (וְהָאָ֙רֶץ֙ תִּהְיֶ֣ה לִפְנֵיכֶ֔ם): S-V-M
• Embedded Structure H (שְׁבוּ֙): V
• Embedded Structure I (וּסְחָר֔וּהָ): V-O
• Embedded Structure J (וְהֵֽאָחֲז֖וּ בָּֽהּ): V-M

Verse 11

• Clause Structure 1 (וַיֹּ֤אמֶר שְׁכֶם֙ אֶל־אָבִ֣יה וְאֶל־אַחֶ֔יהָ אֶמְצָא־חֵ֖ן בְּעֵינֵיכֶ֑ם וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר תֹּאמְר֛וּ אֵלַ֖י אֶתֵּֽן): V-S-M-O
• The 3fs suffixes, אביה and אחיה, refer to דינה (and not ארץ from the preceding verse).
• Embedded Structure A (אֶמְצָא־חֵ֖ן בְּעֵינֵיכֶ֑ם): V-O-M
• This and the follow clause should be understood as a conditional sentence (cf. J-M 163a), wherein the first verbal form may be considered a cohortative (J-M 114b n. 1; W-O 34.1 n. 3).
• Embedded Structure B (וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר תֹּאמְר֛וּ אֵלַ֖י אֶתֵּֽן): V-M-O
• The linking word, ואשׁר, serves to mark the apodosis clause of the conditional.
• Embedded Structure i (אֶתֵּֽן): V
• The object is gapped.

Verse 12

• Embedded Structure C (הַרְבּ֨וּ עָלַ֤י מְאֹד֙ מֹ֣הַר וּמַתָּ֔ן): V-M-O
• Embedded Structure D (וְאֶ֨תְּנָ֔ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר תֹּאמְר֖וּ אֵלָ֑י): V-M
• The compound particle כאשׁר is understood as “according to what” (cf. J-M 174a).
• Embedded Structure i (תֹּאמְר֖וּ אֵלָ֑י): V-M
• Embedded Structure E (וּתְנוּ־לִ֥י אֶת־הַֽנַּעֲרָ֖ לְאִשָּֽׁה): V-M-O-M

The Jerusalem Post (Jpost.com) is reporting that a stone vessel bearing a 10-line Aramaic inscription was recently uncovered from the excavations at Mount Zion.

The six-week excavation is being carried out within the Gan Sobev Homot Yerushalayim national park, close to the Zion Gate of the Old City.

The 10-line Aramaic script, which is clear but cryptic, is being deciphered by a team of epigraphic experts in an effort to determine the meaning of the text, said Prof. Shimon Gibson, of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, who is co-directing the excavation.

"This is a difficult script, not one that is worn or graded, which demands research," Gibson said.

Notes:

 -For more information about Shimon Gibson and the Mount Zion dig, see here.

 -An low-resolution image of what appears to be the end of two lines is provided with the article.

(HT: Jim Davila)

וְיַעֲקֹ֣ב שָׁמַ֗ע כִּ֤י טִמֵּא֙ אֶת־דִּינָ֣ה בִתּ֔וֹ וּבָנָ֛יו הָי֥וּ אֶת־מִקְנֵ֖הוּ בַּשָּׂדֶ֑ה וְהֶחֱרִ֥שׁ יַעֲקֹ֖ב עַד־בֹּאָֽם׃ 6 וַיֵּצֵ֛א חֲמ֥וֹר אֲבִֽי־שְׁכֶ֖ם אֶֽל־יַעֲקֹ֑ב לְדַבֵּ֖ר אִתּֽוֹ׃ 7 וּבְנֵ֨י יַעֲקֹ֜ב בָּ֤אוּ מִן־הַשָּׂדֶה֙ כְּשָׁמְעָ֔ם וַיִּֽתְעַצְּבוּ֙ הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים וַיִּ֥חַר לָהֶ֖ם מְאֹ֑ד כִּֽי־נְבָלָ֞ה עָשָׂ֣ה בְיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל לִשְׁכַּב֙ אֶת־בַּֽת־יַעֲקֹ֔ב וְכֵ֖ן לֹ֥א יֵעָשֶֽׂה׃

Vocabulary

Verse 5

            טמא verb: “be unclean; defile”

            דינה name: “Dinah” (BDB, 192)

            מקנה noun: “cattle” (BDB, 889)

            חרשׁ verb (Hiphil perfect 3ms) “be/make silent” (BDB, 361)

Verse 6

            חמור name: “Hamor” (BDB, 331)

            שׁכם name: “Shechem” (BDB, 1014)

Verse 7

            עצב verb (Hithpael waw-consecutive imperfect 3mpl): “be vexed” (BDB, 780)

            חרה verb: “burn; be angry” (BDB, 354)

            נבלה noun: “senselessness; disgrace” (BDB, 615)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 5

• Clause Structure 1 (וְיַעֲקֹ֣ב שָׁמַ֗ע כִּ֤י טִמֵּא֙ אֶת־דִּינָ֣ה בִתּ֔וֹ): S-V-O
• The waw+non-verb marks a narrative disjunction.
• The particle כי may serve to subordinate a clause, similar to אשׁר.
• Embedded Structure A (טִמֵּא֙ אֶת־דִּינָ֣ה בִתּ֔וֹ): V-O
• The suffixed form of  bat (< *bant) “daughter” is bitt-.
• Clause Structure 2 (וּבָנָ֛יו הָי֥וּ אֶת־מִקְנֵ֖הוּ בַּשָּׂדֶ֑ה): S-V-M
• The את in this clause is the preposition.
• Clause Structure 3 (וְהֶחֱרִ֥שׁ יַעֲקֹ֖ב עַד־בֹּאָֽם): V-S-M
• The 3mpl suffix, referring to בניו of the previous clause, is the subject of the infinitive, באם.

Verse 6

• Clause Structure 1 (וַיֵּצֵ֛א חֲמ֥וֹר אֲבִֽי־שְׁכֶ֖ם אֶֽל־יַעֲקֹ֑ב לְדַבֵּ֖ר אִתּֽוֹ): V-S-M
• The construct singular form of “father” is אֲבִי not to be confused with the suffixed form, אָבִי “my father”.

Verse 7

• Clause Structure 1 (וּבְנֵ֨י יַעֲקֹ֜ב בָּ֤אוּ מִן־הַשָּׂדֶה֙ כְּשָׁמְעָ֔ם): S-V-M
• The suffix on the infinitive, שׁמעם, serves as the subject, while the object is gapped.
• Clause Structure 2 (וַיִּֽתְעַצְּבוּ֙ הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים): V-S
• Clause Structure 3 (וַיִּ֥חַר לָהֶ֖ם מְאֹ֑ד): V-M
• Clause Structure 4 (כִּֽי־נְבָלָ֞ה עָשָׂ֣ה בְיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל לִשְׁכַּב֙ אֶת־בַּֽת־יַעֲקֹ֔ב): O-V-M
• Clause Structure 5 (וְכֵ֖ן לֹ֥א יֵעָשֶֽׂה): M-V