Abstract
This study presents an empirical collection of Biblical Hebrew verbal forms, arguing that at one stage of the Hebrew language syntax was based on a combination of sequences and taxis (the chronological relations between two “actions”). The suffix conjugation and the prefix conjugation had different functions in a past/anterior sequence and in a non-past/non-anterior sequence. In a past/anterior sequence, the suffix conjugation denoted a co-ordinate element, while the prefix conjugation denoted a sub-ordinate element. In a non-past/non-anterior sequence, on the other hand, the prefix conjugation denoted a co-ordinate element, whereas the suffix conjugation denoted a sub-ordinate element. This syntax was identical in direct speech, subordinate clauses, narration and poetry.
Highlights
Verbal syntax is undoubtedly a major issue in the study of the grammar of Biblical Hebrew (BH)
I combine the concept of taxis with that of sequences and examine sequences involving Suffix Conjugation (SC) and Prefix Conjugation (PC) in prose and poetry, but I do not follow the sequential approach in several respects: (1) I do not assign to the introductory verb the role of determining the function of the following verbal forms
I have trodden the wine press alone, and from the peoples no one was with me; I trod them in my anger and trampled them in my wrath; their juice spattered on my garments, and stained all my robes (NRSV)
Summary
Verbal syntax is undoubtedly a major issue in the study of the grammar of Biblical Hebrew (BH). This aspect of BH has long been considered an enigma and, as a result, many potential explanations have been proposed. New and more sophisticated theories based on modern linguistic models have been elaborated (for detailed presentations, see McFall 1982; Cook 2012: 77–175, 273–75). After briefly presenting the most important approaches to this issue (§ 1.2), I will put forward my own theory (§ 2). I will present supporting data, first regarding past/anterior sequences (§ 3) and for non-past/non-anterior sequences
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