An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax

םלָּ ֻכּ םיחי ִ רִ ָב fugitives.
Isa 43:14
d In some contexts, especially in legal literature, relative wqtl with a consecutive
notion takes on a subordinate volitional force. This force may also characterize the
nonperfective conjugation, the non-subordinate equivalent of wəqataltí (31.5).
18. ו ַשׁ ח ָ ךָיתֹב ֶ֫
אֲ ַבּ קרַ םתוֹא ֑ ָ ה ָבהֲ אַ ְל הוהי
׃הזֶּ ה ַ םוֹיּ ַכּ . . . רחַ ְבִ יּוַ תלַ רְ ָע תא ֵ םתֶּ לְ ַמוּ
אֹ ל ם ֶכ ְפּר ְ ָעו ְ ם֑ כֶ בְ ַב לְ
׃דוֹע וּשׁ ְק תַ
Yet on your forebears YHWH set his affections and he
chose…as it is today. So circumcise the foreskins of
your hearts, and do not be stiff-necked any longer.
Deut 10:15–16
According to the theology of Deuteronomy, Israel should offer God future
obedience on the basis of past gracious acts to them, and here as elsewhere wəqataltí
represents the entreaty form (םתלמו), and qtl + wayyqtl the past acts ( . . . קשׁח
רחביו) 31
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20.
19. ךְ ֵלוֹאוָ . . . ךָיני ֑ ֶ֫
ֵע וּארָ םתֶּ רְ ַמ ְשׁוּ . . .
יתִּ תַ
֫ ָנ תוֶ ָמּ ֫ הַ ו ְ םי ִיּחַ הַ
תָּ ֫ רְ חַ ָבוּ . . . ךָינֶ֫ ָפל ְ
םי ִיּחַ ַבּ
Your eyes have seen…and I led you…so carefully
follow…
Deut 29:2, 4, 8
Life and death I set before you…so choose life.
Deut 30:19
This use is not confined to Deuteronomy.
21. . . ךָתְּ א ִ ינִ תַּ ֫ רְ ַכ ְז־םא ִ י ִכּ
ידִ מָּ ִע אנּ־ ָ תי ָ ִשׂ ֫ ָעוְ .
ינִ תַּ ֫ רְ ַכּזְ הִ ו ְ דסֶ ח֑
ָ֫
22. ךָי ֶל֫ א ֵ וּנ ְב ַשׁ ֫ התָּ ַע
וּנ ָמּ ֫ ִע תָּ ֫ ְכלַ הָ וְ
8
But if you remember me…then show mercy to
me…and remember me. 32
Gen 40:14
Now we have turned to you. So come with us.
Judg 11:8
31 Sometimes it is not clear whether an imperative sense is intended; consider
hwṣy˒…wyd˓t in Deut 7:8–9: is it ‘He brought you…so that you might know’ or
‘…(so) know!”?
32 Note the particle of entreaty nā˒/nnā˒, usually used with modal forms (40.2.5c).