Language:
English
Year of publication:
2021
Titel der Quelle:
Journal for the Study of the Old Testament
Angaben zur Quelle:
45,4 (2021) 493-514
Keywords:
Bible. Criticism, Form
;
Hebrew language, Biblical Verb
;
Rhetoric in the Bible
Abstract:
The rhetorical movement throughout Lamentations 3 is difficult to describe and scholars disagree on how to characterize the acrostic poem. Much hinges on how we interpret the sequence of qatal verbs throughout 3.56-61. Most scholars understand this section as a Danklied, and so translate the qatal forms in the past tense. Another option is to understand the qatal verbs as precatives, expressing a wish or command. However, this is a contested form in the linguistic study of classical Hebrew. Many Lamentations scholars cite this uncertainty in arguments against a precative reading of Lam. 3.56-61. This article builds a fresh case for understanding the precative qatal as rhetorically and linguistically plausible. After working through the rhetorical arguments that support this reading, special attention is given to a recent argument in favor of the precative hypothesis from linguist Alexander Andrason. Brief comments are also offered on the oral-performative dimension of this interpretation.
DOI:
10.1177/0309089220963423
DOI:
10.1177%2F0309089220963423
URL:
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