Dear Nir, I would like to add something to my previous post. Whereas you cannot distinguish between the so-called conversive and conjunctive forms in the DSS, a comparison of the WAYYIQTOLs of the MT with the corresponding forms in the DSS, reveal that different verb forms can be used for the same purpose.
I will mention a few examples: Isaiah 3:24 (MT) begins with a WEQATAL of HYH, and DSS has a YIQTOL with prefixed WAW. Isaiah 4:5 (MT) begins with a WEQATAL of BR(, and DSS has a YIQTOL with prefixed WAW of the same verb. Isaiah 5:2 (MT) has six WAYYIQTOLs, including three apocopated forms of BNH, QWH, and (SH. DSS has six YIQTOLs with prefixed WAW, but BNH and (SH are full forms, and only QWH is apocopated. Isaiah 5:4 (MT) has one apocopated WAYYIQTOL of the verb (SH, and DSS has the full form of a YIQTOL with prefixed WAW of the same verb. Isaiah 5:15 (MT) begins with an apocopated WAYYIQTOL of the verb $TH, and continues with a WAYYIQTOL of $PL. DSS begins with a YIQTOL without prefixed WAW of $TH and continues with a WAYYIQTOL of $PL. If you continue your comparison you will detect many differences between MT and Qumran. The use of different forms in the same clauses question the view that Classical Hebrew has four or five different conjugations. It has been argued, though without evidence, that the WAYYIQTOL form was in its decline in the second and first centuries BCE, and that this was the reason for the different uses in MT and QUM. A comparison of the doublettes in the MT text itself argues against this explanation. Psalm 18 and 1 Samuel 22 are doublettes, and the use of verb forms are different indeed, as the following numbers show: 5 examples of YIQTOLs in Psalm 18 where 1 Samuel 22 has WAYYIQTOLs. 3 examples of WAYYIQTOLs in Psalm 18 where 1 Samuel 22 has YIQTOLs. 1 example of WEYIQTOL in Psalm 18 where 1 Samuel 22 has a WAYYIQTOL. 1 example of WAYYIQTOL in Psalm 18 where 1 Samuel 22 has a QATAL. 1 example of a participle in Psalm 18 where 1 Samuel 22 has a noun. 1 example of a WAYYIQTOL in Psalm 18 where 1 Samuel 22 has a participle. When so many YIQTOLs and WAYYIQTOLs (and 1 WEYIQTOL) can be used in two texts that are similar, except for the use and nonuse of prefixed WAW, it suggests that the forms with and without WAW have the same semantic meaning. There are similar differences in other doublettes in the MT Best regards, Rolf Furuli Stavern Norway _______________________________________________ b-hebrew mailing list [email protected] http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/b-hebrew
