The Son of a Handmaid in Northwest Semitic

Abstract

If we want to investigate a concept like bn 'mt, we either have the choice to study it only in Ugaritic (bn amt) or Biblical Hebrew (ben'dmdh), or to study it in both languages. It is, however, amazing when one compares this concept in both languages, how conservatively it was used. It seems as if with certain concepts, especially in the legal and social fields, a tendency toward preservation of a basic meaning occurred. It does not mean, however, that a certain concept has kept its basic meaning through many centuries without any variations. By studying a concept in its grammatical context or situation important conclusions on its change of meaning, however slight it might be, can be made. Even if we have the same concept in different languages or dialects a diachronical or synchronical study can teach us much about its meaning in a certain context. In this study we are only interested in occurrences of bn 'mh in Northwest Semitic in a period up to the Sixth Century B.C. We have three instances in Ugaritic, not without uncertainties, and six in Biblical Hebrew. The question might be asked: Is it worthwhile to investigate this expression while it is so seldom used? A close look at the occurrences of bn 'mh shows that an understanding of its meaning is basic for the interpretation of the texts in which it occurs. In a few cases it has a sphere of meaning which extends beyond the border of its original legal and social connotations. Because, to my knowledge nowhere a complete and specific study is made of this concept, it seems worthwhile to investigate it. If we only are able to clarify a few problems in connection with its sphere of meaning and may propose a different translation from the usual one, we have succeeded in our task. 1)