An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax

the two uses of w«/wa joining clauses cited by Lambdin, we accordingly add
epexegetical and conjunctive. 10
39.2.2 Conjunctive-sequential Waw
a Most conjunctive-sequential uses of waw have been discussed in connection with
waw-relative constructions with the suffix and prefix conjugations; there is no need to
rehearse or sample that material here. We may recall one important construction:
volitional form (i.e., cohortative, imperative, or jussive) + w« + prefix conjugation (##
1–2). In this use the second clause expresses a purpose or result (‘so that’; 34.6). 11 It
is often difficult to distinguish examples of this construction from cases with two
volitional forms in a row (39.2.5).
1. ה ֶכּאַ ו ְ אנּ ָ ה ָכלְ א֫
ֵ
לא ֵע ָמ ְשִׁי־תאֶ 2. ת ֻמ אָ ו ְ ךָדְּ בְ ַע אנ־ב ָ ָשׁ֫ ָי
ירי ִ ִע ְבּ
Let me go so that I can kill Ishmael.
Jer 40:15
Let your servant return, so that I can die in my own
city.
2 Sam 19:38
39.2.3 Disjunctive Waw
a Interclausal waw before a non-verb constituent has a disjunctive role. There are two
common types of disjunction. One type involves a continuity of scene and
participants, but a change of action, while the other is used where the scene or
participants shift.
[Page 651] b If the disjunctive waw is used in a situation with continuity of setting, the
clause it introduces may contrast with the preceding (## 1–2), 12 specify contemporary
circumstances (usually verbless clauses; ## 3–5) or causes (## 6–7), or provide a
comparison (## 8–9)
1. םי ִק ְשׁ מַּ ה ַ ר ַשׂ־תא ֶ ב ֶשׁ ָיּ֫ וַ
תאֵ וְ
. . . וּהקֵ֫ ְשׁ מ־ל ַ ַע
ה֑ לָ תּ ָ םיפֹא ִ ה ָ ר ַשׂ
2. תוֹצרָ אֲ ה־ל ָ ָכבּ ְ ב ָער ָ יהְי ִ וַ
הָיה ָ֫
םִי ר֫ ַ ְצ ִמ ץרֶ א־ל ֶ֫
ָכבוּ ְ
׃םחֶ ָל֫
He returned the chief butler to his butlership,…but he
hanged the chief baker.
Gen 40:21–22
There was famine in all the (other) lands, but
throughout Egypt there was food.
ָ ְ ֫
3. לדּג ִמוּ רי ִע וּנ ָלּ־ה ֶנ ְב ִנ
Gen 41:54
Let us build a city and a tower, with its top reaching
10 For analyses of extended prose passages, carefully surveying syntactic patterns and
alternations, see Lambdin, Introduction to Biblical Hebrew, 281–82; and E. J. Revell,
“The Battle with Benjamin (Judges xx 29–48) and Hebrew Narrative Techniques,”
Vetus Testamentum 35 (1985) 417–33, which deals with the entire book of Judges.
11 Lambdin, Introduction to Biblical Hebrew, 119.
12 Note also Gen 2:17; cf. v 16.