An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax

explains, “Basically it serves to convey the impression on the part of the speaker or
author that the subject establishes his own identity, recovering or finding his own
place by determinedly dissociating himself from his familiar surrounding.” 76 Perhaps
reflexive and centripetal notions should be separated; the former rendered by’-self,’
and the latter, with its notions of isolation and seclusion and its use with imperatives
and in negative contexts, left untranslated. 77 The centripetal use is found with verbs of
motion (## 34–35) and in expressions denoting attitude of mind (## 36–37).
34.
ם ֶכי ֵלהֳ אָ ְל ם ֶכל ָ וּכ ְ
35. ן ָבל־ל ָ א ֶ ךָ ְל־חרַ ְבּ םוּקוְ יחִ אָ
36. ם ֶכל ָ וּחטְ ְ
[Page
209]
37.
בתּ־ל ִ אַ
רקֶ ֶשּׁ ֫ ה ַ ירֵ ְבדּ־ל ִ אֶ
ישׁ֑ ִ פְ ַנ הּ ָלּ־הּ ָנ ְכשׁ ֽ ָ ת ַבּר ַ
׃םוֹל ָשׁ אנוֹשׂ ֵ ם ִע
לוּ Get (you) to your tents. 78
Josh 22:4
Go flee to my brother, Laban.
Gen 27:43
Do not trust in deceptive words.
Jer 7:4
Too long I have lived among those who hate peace. 79
Ps 120:6
The “indirect object” lamed marks the so-called datival goal, while another sort of
goal is marked by the lamed of purpose. The goals here include a thing made (with
˓śy, ntn, śym, etc.; ## 38–41) or used (# 42), or a person altered in status or even form
(## 43–45, cf. # 38).
38. לוֹדגּ ָ יוֹג ְל ךָ ְשׂ ֶעאֶ וְ
I will make you (into) a great nation.
39. םִי ַל֫ ָשׁוּרְי־תא ֶ יתִּ תַ ָנוְ םי ִלּגַ ְל
40. י ִע ְל ןוֹר ְמֹשׁ יתִּ ְמ ַשׂ וְ
הדֶ ָשּׂ הַ
41. בוֹט ערַ ָל םירִ ְמֹא ה ָ יוֹה
רוֹא ְל ךְ ֶשׁ ֹח ֫ םימִ ָשׂ . . .
Gen 12:2
I will make Jerusalem (into) a stone heap.
Jer 9:10
I will make Samaria (into) a ruin in the fields.
Mic 1:6
Woe to those who declare good evil…who set (i.e.,
value?) darkness as light…who set the bitter as sweet.
76
Muraoka, “Dativus Ethicus,” 497.
77
Cf. LHS 295.
78
The second l is terminative. Cf. Num 22:34; Deut 1:6–7, 5:27–28; 1 Sam 26:11–12;
2 Sam 2:22; Isa 2:22, 40:9; Hos 8:9; Cant 2:10, 13; 2 Chr 25:16.
79
Cf. Ezek 37:11, Ps 123:4.