The Distinction Between Classical and Late Biblical Hebrew as Reflected in Syntax

Abstract

A strong tendency in recent historical-critical treatments of biblical literature is to date more and more books, including most of the Pentateuch, to the exilic or post-exilic periods. This development is problematic, not least for linguistic reasons. Hebraists widely agree in distinguishing Classical Biblical Hebrew from Late Biblical Hebrew, the former being roughly the language of Genesis-2 Kings, the latter being found most clearly in Ezra-Nehemiah, Chronicles, Ecclesiastes, Daniel, and Esther. Classical Biblical Hebrew is usually associated with the pre-exilic period, Late Biblical Hebrew with the Persian period. The present paper contributes to the debate by showing, firstly, that the verbal system used in Late Biblical Hebrew is systematically different and typologically later than the Classical Biblical Hebrew system, and, secondly, that Classical Biblical Hebrew syntax is very close to the syntax found in pre-exilic Hebrew inscriptions. Although the attestation of early Hebrew is too scanty to attain certainty, the facts brought to light strongly indicate that a terminus ad quem of about 500 B.C.E. should be maintained for texts written in Classical Biblical Hebrew.