A Comparative Dialectical Study of Genitive Constructions in Aramaic Translations of Exodus 9781611430028, 161143002X

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A Comparative Dialectical Study of Genitive Constructions in Aramaic Translations of Exodus

Perspectives on Linguistics and Ancient Languages

2 Series Editor Terry Falla

Editorial Board Aaron Michael Butts J. K. Aitken Terry Falla Wido van Peursen Daniel King

The series Perspectives on Linguistics and Ancient Languages (PLAL) focuses on the theory and practice of ancient-language lexicography and subjects relating to it. Contemporary approaches to ancient-language lexicography in an age of digital technologies are linked to the study of modern linguistics and to virtually every aspect of ancient-language endeavour, including socio-cultural inquiry. Accordingly, the series contains collections of peer-reviewed essays, monographs, and reference works that have relevance to the ever-increasing reaches of ancient-language lexicography and that allow a better view of the linguistic universe in which every particle and galaxy are interrelated. PLAL supersedes the series Perspectives on Syriac Linguistics (PoSL), expanding the scope of the latter to include other ancient languages.

A Comparative Dialectical Study of Genitive Constructions in Aramaic Translations of Exodus

Mark Meyer

9

34 2012

Gorgias Press LLC, 954 River Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA www.gorgiaspress.com Copyright © 2012 by Gorgias Press LLC

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise without the prior written permission of Gorgias Press LLC.

2012

‫ܝ‬

ISBN 978-1-61143-002-8

9 ISSN 2165-2600

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data A Cataloging-in-Publication Record is Available from the Library of Congress. Printed in the United States of America

TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgments .......................................................................................................... xi Chapter One: Introduction ............................................................................................. 1 A. Purpose ............................................................................................................... 1 B. Methodology ....................................................................................................... 1 C. Selection of Categories of Syntactic Relationship between the First and Second Member ........................................................... 2 D. The Phases of Aramaic ....................................................................................... 2 E. The Dialects of Aramaic ...................................................................................... 4 E1. Syriac Peshitta ............................................................................................. 4 E2. Targum Onkelos .......................................................................................... 6 E3. Jewish Palestinian Aramaic ....................................................................... 10

E4. Samaritan Aramaic .................................................................................... 13 E5. Christian Palestinian Aramaic ................................................................... 15

F. History of Research ........................................................................................... 16 F1. Early Aramaic ............................................................................................ 16

F2. Syriac ......................................................................................................... 22 F3. Other Aramaic ........................................................................................... 26

G. Summary of Research ....................................................................................... 26

Chapter Two: The Use of Genitive Constructions in Syriac Peshitta............................ 29 A. Introduction ...................................................................................................... 29 B. Classification by Combinations ......................................................................... 29 B1. Classification of Combinations Used in the Cataphoric Genitive

Construction by the Syntactic Relationship between Members .............. 30

B2. Classification of Combinations Used in the Construct Genitive

Construction by the Syntactic Relationship between Members .............. 33

B3. Combinations Used in the Adjunct Genitive Construction ........................ 37

C. Analysis by First Members ................................................................................ 37 C1. First Members That Occur in Each Construction ...................................... 37 C2. First Members That Only Occur in One Construction ............................... 39 C3. First Members That Occur in Two Constructions ...................................... 40

C4. First Members That Occur in All Three Constructions .............................. 48

D. Analysis by Second Members ........................................................................... 50 D1. Second Members That Occur in Each Construction .................................. 51

D2. Second Members That Only Occur in One Construction .......................... 52 D3. Second Members That Occur in Two Constructions ................................. 53 v

vi

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC D4. Second Members That Occur in All Three Constructions ......................... 60

E. Combinations Where Both Members Are the Same but a Different Construction Is Used ............................................................. 63 E1. Constructions a and b ................................................................................ 63 E2. Constructions a and c ................................................................................ 63 E3. Constructions b and c ................................................................................ 63

E4. Constructions a, b, and c ........................................................................... 63

F. Conclusions ....................................................................................................... 63 G. A Survey of the Use of Genitive Constructions in Early and Later Syriac Texts ..................................................................... 65 G1. The Use of Genitive Constructions in OS .................................................. 65 G2. The Use of Genitive Constructions in Classical Syriac .............................. 69 Chapter Three: The Use of Genitive Constructions in Targum Onkelos ....................... 71 A. Introduction ...................................................................................................... 71 B. Classification by Combinations ......................................................................... 71 B1. Classification of Combinations Used in the Cataphoric Genitive

Construction by the Syntactic Relationship between Members .............. 72

B2. Classification of Combinations Used in the Construct Genitive

Construction by the Syntactic Relationship between Members .............. 73

B3. Classification of Combinations Used in the Adjunct Genitive

Construction by the Syntactic Relationship between Members .............. 83

C. Analysis by First Members ................................................................................ 85 C1. First Members That Occur in Each Construction ...................................... 85 C2. First Members That Only Occur in One Construction ............................... 86 C3. First Members That Occur in Two Constructions ...................................... 89

C4. First Members That Occur in All Three Constructions .............................. 96

D. Analysis by Second Members ........................................................................... 96 D1. Second Members That Occur in Each Construction .................................. 96

D2. Second Members That Only Occur in One Construction .......................... 97

D3. Second Members That Occur in Two Constructions ................................. 99 D4. Second Members That Occur in All Three Constructions ....................... 109

E. Conclusions ..................................................................................................... 111 F. A Comparison of the Use of Genitive Constructions in Imperial Aramaic with Their Use in TO Exodus ..................................... 112 Chapter Four: The Use of Genitive Constructions in Targum Neofiti I ...................... 117 A. Introduction .................................................................................................... 117 B. Classification by Combinations ....................................................................... 117 B1. Classification of Combinations Used in the Cataphoric Genitive Construction by the Syntactic Relationship between Members ............ 118

TABLE OF CONTENTS

vii

B2. Classification of Combinations Used in the Construct Genitive

Construction by the Syntactic Relationship between Members ............ 122

B3. Classification of Combinations Used in the Adjunct Genitive

Construction by the Syntactic Relationship between Members ............ 128

C. Analysis by First Members .............................................................................. 130 C1. First Members That Occur in Each Construction .................................... 130 C2. First Members That Only Occur in One Construction ............................. 131

C3. First Members That Occur in Two Constructions .................................... 132 C4. First Members That Occur in All Three Constructions ............................ 143

D. Analysis by Second Members ......................................................................... 146 D1. Second Members That Occur in Each Construction ................................ 147 D2. Second Members That Only Occur in One Construction ........................ 147

D3. Second Members That Occur in Two Constructions ............................... 149 D4. Second Members That Occur in All Three Constructions ....................... 156

E. Conclusions ..................................................................................................... 160

Chapter Five: The Use of Genitive Constructions in the Fragments of the Palestinian Targumim ................................................... 161 A. Introduction .................................................................................................... 161 B. Differences Between TN and the Geniza Mss and Fragment Targums ............................................................................... 162 B1. Differences when TN Uses the Cataphoric Genitive Construction ................................................... 162

B2. Differences when TN Uses

the Construct Genitive Construction ..................................................... 163

B3. Differences when TN Uses

the Adjunct Genitive Construction ........................................................ 165

C. Conclusions .................................................................................................... 167

Chapter Six: The Use of Genitive Constructions in Christian Palestinian Aramaic......................................................................... 169 A. Introduction .................................................................................................... 169 B. Classification by Combinations ....................................................................... 169 B1. Classification of Combinations Used in the Cataphoric Genitive Construction by the Syntactic Relationship between Members ............ 170

B2. Classification of Combinations Used in the Construct Genitive

Construction by the Syntactic Relationship between Members ............ 171

B3. Classification of Combinations Used in the Adjunct Genitive

Construction by the Syntactic Relationship between Members ............ 171

C. Complete Agreement between CPA, P, and LXX ............................................ 173 C1. CPA and P Both Use the Construct Genitive Construction ...................... 173

viii

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC C2. CPA and P Both Use the Adjunct Genitive Construction ......................... 173

C3. CPA and P Both Use the Cataphoric Genitive Construction .................... 174

D. Disagreement between CPA and LXX ............................................................. 174 D1. One Word in LXX Rendered by a Genitive Construction in CPA ............ 174 D2. Different First Member............................................................................ 175

E. Disagreement between CPA and P .................................................................. 175 E1. Differences in Genitive Construction ....................................................... 175 E2. Differences in Form ................................................................................. 176 E3. Differences in Number............................................................................. 176 E4. Differences in Words Used ...................................................................... 177

F. Conclusions ..................................................................................................... 178 Chapter Seven: The Use of Genitive Constructions in the Samaritan Targum ........... 179 A. Introduction .................................................................................................... 179 B. Classification by Combinations ....................................................................... 180 B1. The Construct Genitive Construction ...................................................... 180 B2. Classification of Combinations Used in the Cataphoric Genitive

Construction by the Syntactic Relationship between Members ............ 180

B3. Classification of Combinations Used

in the Adjunct Genitive Construction by the Syntactic

Relationship between Members — MSS J and A ................................... 181 B4. Classification of Combinations Used in the Adjunct Genitive Construction by the Syntactic Relationship between Members — MS A Only ...................................... 182

C. Conclusions ..................................................................................................... 183 Chapter Eight: Conclusion ........................................................................................... 185 A. Major Determinative Criteria ......................................................................... 185 A1. Material Composition .............................................................................. 185 A2. Divine Name ........................................................................................... 185 A3. Body Part ................................................................................................ 187

A4. Kinship .................................................................................................... 187 A5. ‘Sons’ as First Member ............................................................................ 188 A6. Fixed Phrases .......................................................................................... 189 A7. Avoidance of Two Contiguous Cataphoric Genitive

Constructions ......................................................................................... 189

A8. ‘House’ as a First Member with a Nonliteral, Extended Sense ................ 190

B. Spectrum of Dialects ....................................................................................... 190

Bibliography ................................................................................................................ 197 Editions ............................................................................................................... 197 Other Studies ...................................................................................................... 197

This book is dedicated to George J. Meyer and Ailleen K. Meyer, my dearly loved father and mother. Thank you for all of your love and support you have lavished on me my entire life. I love you both beyond measure. MARK R. MEYER

ix

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank Douglas M. Gropp for teaching me Aramaic and for providing invaluable insight and guidance in laying the foundation of this book when it was in dissertation form. I also wish to thank Edward M. Cook who served as dissertation advisor when the project was completed and provided a wealth of wise counsel and encouragement.

xi

CHAPTER ONE:

INTRODUCTION

Aramaic offers some of the richest sources of dialectal variation within the Semitic language family. Yet there are relatively few comparative dialectal studies of Aramaic (e.g., Talshir, 1982). Studies in Aramaic syntax are relatively rare, and comparative dialectal studies in Aramaic syntax are virtually non-existent. Multiple ancient Aramaic translations of biblical books provide opportunities for comparative dialectical studies in Aramaic. All of these translations are now available in workable editions for the biblical book of Exodus. For this reason and because of its foundational importance to the rest of Scripture, Exodus has been selected as the corpus for this research.

A. PURPOSE The purpose of this study is to exploit the fact of multiple Aramaic translations of the biblical book of Exodus to explore the similarities and differences between five Aramaic dialects in their rendering of the genitive construction. There are three primary Aramaic genitive constructions that translate the construct phrase in Hebrew: the construct phrase, the genitive adjunct phrase with d-, and the genitive phrase with danticipated by a possessive suffix on the head noun. These will be referred to as constructions a, b, and c, respectively. Construction c will also be called the cataphoric genitive construction. The nomen regens will also be called the first member. The nomen rectum will be referred to as the second member. (1) Targum Onkelos represents the endpoint of the Jewish literary Aramaic ultimately descended from the Official Aramaic of the Persian period. (2) The Syriac Peshitta represents the Aramaic language of Edessa and is intermediate between Eastern and Western Aramaic in the late period. The other Aramaic translations included are all examples of Late Western Aramaic, albeit derived from distinct religio-ethnic communities. (3) Three corpora of the Palestinian Targum (Cairo Geniza fragments, Targum Neofiti I, and the Fragment Targums) exemplify the Jewish Palestinian Aramaic of the Amoraic period. (4) The Samaritan Targum represents the Aramaic spoken and used by the Samaritan community in roughly the same period. (5) Newly published fragments of a Christian Palestinian Aramaic translation of Exodus represent Late Western Aramaic in a Christian community in the pre-Islamic period.

B. METHODOLOGY The genitive construction will be studied in each of the Aramaic dialects. Each is preserved in at least one workable edition of the biblical book of Exodus, given in parentheses. Targum Onkelos (mainly ed. Sperber, 1959); Peshitta (Peshitta Institute, Leiden, 1977); Palestinian Targum (Díez Macho, 1970; Klein, 1980; Klein, 1986); 1

2

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

Samaritan Targum (Tal, 1980); and Christian Palestinian Aramaic (ed. Müller-Kessler and Sokoloff, 1997). First, the genitive constructions will be analyzed based upon the syntactic relationship between the first member and the second member. The data will be studied to determine whether or not the relationship class was a significant factor in the selection of the genitive construction type. Second, the genitive constructions will be analyzed by first members. This will reveal whether or not the first member used is a significant factor in the selection of genitive construction. First members that occur in two different constructions will be analyzed to determine the reason why one construction is selected over the other. Contextual and discourse factors will be considered. Next, first members that occur in all three genitive constructions will be evaluated to determine the factors that caused one construction to be selected over the other two. Third, the genitive syntagms will be assessed by their use of second members following the same method that will be applied to the first members. This analysis will reveal what role the second member plays in the selection of genitive construction. An analysis of the use of these three genitive constructions in a particular corpus will reveal which one or two are more restricted lexically and syntactically. This construction, or two, will be regarded as the ‘marked’ member of the three. The other construction(s) will be considered ‘unmarked.’

C. SELECTION OF CATEGORIES OF SYNTACTIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND MEMBER

Waltke and O’Connor1 and Kroeze2 formulated different species of genitive constructions in Biblical Hebrew. Muraoka and Porten did the same for genitive syntagms in Egyptian Aramaic.3 Since it seems that the syntactic relationship between the first member and second member may be a significant criterion for selecting a particular genitive construction, categories were determined based upon what seemed to be significant in influencing the selection of genitive construction. These same categories are used for each dialect so that dialectical variation could be detected.

D. THE PHASES OF ARAMAIC Before attempting to place each Aramaic translation of Exodus in its proper historical context, it is important to establish a framework of the development of the Aramaic language throughout time. The five phases of the Aramaic language proposed by Joseph

Bruce K. Waltke and Michael O’Connor, An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax (Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns, 1990), 143–54. 2 Jan H. Kroeze, “Semantic Relations in Construct Phrases in Biblical Hebrew: A Functional Approach,” ZAH 10 (1997): 27–41. 3 Takamitsu Muraoka and Bezalel Porten, A Grammar of Egyptian Aramaic (Handbuch der Orientalistik 1.32; Leiden, 1998), 218–234. 1

INTRODUCTION

3

Fitzmyer in 19664 and developed more fully in 19795 have been broadly accepted. The five phases are as follows: (1) Old Aramaic (925 to 700 B.C.E.). This phase includes inscriptions on stone and various materials from Northern Syria, Upper Mesopotamia, and Northern Palestine. These texts are written in the Phoenician alphabet. Fitzmyer observes that the language during this phase was “sufficiently homogeneous.”6 (2) Official Aramaic (700 to 200 B.C.E.). This is the language of the chancelleries of the Persian empire. Other names given to the Aramaic of this period are Reichsaramäisch, Imperial, and Standard Aramaic. The language of this phase exhibits “striking homogeneity”7 even though it was used throughout a vast geographical extent. Official Aramaic is attested throughout the Achaemenid Empire—in Egypt, Arabia, Palestine, Syria, Asia Minor, Assyria, Babylonia, Armenia, and in the Indus Valley. 8 Fitzmyer assigns to this phase the Aramaic of Ezra and Daniel. 9 Stephen A. Kaufman and others would date Daniel’s Aramaic later than 200 B.C.E.10 (3) Middle Aramaic (200 B.C.E. to 200 C.E.). Not only does Official Aramaic develop during this phase, but local dialects emerge.11 Fitzmyer identifies two dialects: (1) Palestine and Arabia and (2) Syria and Mesopotamia. To the first dialect belongs Nabatean, Qumran, Murabbaʼat, inscriptions on ossuaries and tombstones in Palestine, words in the Greek writings of Josephus and the NT, and early Palestinian rabbinic literature.12 To the latter dialect belong Palmyra, Edessa, and Hatra.13 It is the recognition of the coexistence of these local dialects that caused Fitzmyer to distinguish Middle Aramaic from Official Aramaic. He asserted that the Aramaic of Palestine was the closest to Official Aramaic.14 This is the most heavily debated phase with the dating of the targums from elsewhere than Qumran the “biggest problem.” 15 Edward M. Cook assigns the Aramaic texts from Qumran more precisely to the Hasmonean Period (165– 63 B.C.E.).16 Jonas C. Greenfield placed Biblical Aramaic, Qumran Aramaic, and the Joseph A. Fitzmyer, The Genesis Apocryphon of Qumran Cave 1: A Commentary (Rome, Italy: Pontifical Biblical Institute, 1966). 5 Joseph A. Fitzmyer, A Wandering Aramean: Collected Aramaic Essays (Missoula, Montana: Scholars, 1979). 6 Ibid., 61. 7 Ibid. 8 Ibid. 9 Ibid. 10 Stephen A. Kaufman, “Aramaic,” in vol. 4 of The Anchor Bible Dictionary (ed. David Noel Freedman; New York: Doubleday, 1992), 175. 11 Ibid. 12 Fitzmyer, A Wandering Aramean, 61. 13 Ibid. 14 Ibid., 72. 15 Ibid., 74. 16 Edward Cook, “Aramaic,” in The Eerdmans Dictionary of Early Judaism (ed. John J. Collins and Daniel C. Harlow; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2010), 361. 4

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GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

Aramaic of Targums Onkelos and Jonathan in this period under the banner of Standard Literary Aramaic.17 Moshe H. Goshen-Gottstein called Standard Literary Aramaic the “natural heir of Official Aramaic.”18 (4) Late Aramaic (200 to 700 C.E.). A clear distinction between Western and Eastern Aramaic emerges in this phase. Western dialects include Jewish Palestinian Aramaic, Samaritan Aramaic, and Christian Palestinian Aramaic.19 Syriac, Babylonian Talmudic Aramaic, and Mandaic are Eastern dialects. This phase is distinguished by an increase of Greek words. The end corresponds roughly to the Mohammadan Conquest. (5) Modern Aramaic (700 C.E. to the present). This phase includes Syriac writers such as Bar ‘Ebroyo (Arabic, Abū’l Faraj Ibn al-‘Ibrī; Latin, Bar Hebraeus) and his contemporaries.20 Aramaic is still spoken in Ma‘lūla, Baḫ‘a, Jubb‘adîn, and Ṭūr ‘Abdîn, among other places.21

E. THE DIALECTS OF ARAMAIC Each of the Aramaic dialects used in this research has been discussed in published literature. A brief synopsis of each with a discussion of the date and place of origin of the editions of Exodus used in this study are presented below. E1. Syriac Peshitta The Syriac version of Exodus used in this study is the Peshitta (P). “Peshiṭta” is a Syriac word, ‫ܦܫܝܛܬܐ‬, meaning “straightforward, simple.”22 Peshiṭta will be spelled “Peshitta” in this volume for simplicity. The Peshitta is the “simple” translation of the Hebrew Old Testament and Greek New Testament into Syriac, the Aramaic dialect of Edessa (modern Urfu in Turkey) of the second century C.E. The name Peshitta refers to the Syriac Old and New Testaments and is distinguished from the Syrohexapla and the Harclean version. The Syrohexapla is Paul of Tella’s translation of the revised LXX column in Origen’s Hexapla composed in the early third century. The Harclean version is a translation of the New Testament by Thomas of Harkel in 616 C.E. There are two other early Syriac translations based upon the Greek LXX. The earliest was a fragment of Isaiah. This seems to have been a translation initiated by Philoxenos (d. 523 C.E.) the bishop of Mabbugh. The last translation of this period was a revision of P made by

Jonas C. Greenfield, "Standard Literary Aramaic," in Actes du premier congrès international de linguistique sémitique et chamito-sémitique, Paris 16–19 juillet 1969 (ed. A. Caquot and D. Cohen; The Hague and Paris: Mouton, 1974), 280–89. 18 Moshe H. Goshen-Gottstein, “The Language of Targum Onqelos and the Model of Literary Diglossia in Aramaic,” JNES 37 (1978): 178. 19 Fitzmyer, Wandering Aramean, 62. 20 Ibid. 21 Ibid. 22 Michael Sokokoff, A Syriac Lexicon (Winona Lake, Indiana: Eisenbrauns, and Piscataway, New Jersey: Gorgias Press, 2009), 1259. 17

INTRODUCTION

5

Jacob of Edessa with some Greek manuscripts of the LXX. Jacob made this translation near the end of his life (705 C.E.) and it covered several books of the OT. P is the Syriac version used in Syriac Churches since its inception. Mushe bar Kipho, a ninth century writer, was the first to use the term “Peshitta”. The precise origin of the Peshitta was not documented. A study of the Peshitta itself yields the following conclusions regarding its origin. The P OT seems to have been the work of several different translators working over a long period of time. All translators translated from a Hebrew donor. The Hebrew text from which P was translated was either a predecessor to the Masoretic Text (MT) or a something very close to it. Since the consonantal text that gave rise to the MT became standardized in the first century C.E., it is likely that those who rendered P translated after it had become widespread, toward the end of the second century. M. P. Weitzman notes that P must predate by many years the writings of Ephrem and Aphrahat in the fourth century C.E. because they cite it extensively, but P employs a marker ‫ ܬܝ‬which Ephrem no longer understood.23 There are similarities between the Aramaic Targums and P in Genesis and Deuteronomy. This observation gives rise to the conclusion that P was produced by Jews or Jewish converts to Christianity. This would also explain the translators’ knowledge of Hebrew, since Gentile Christians would probably not have known Hebrew. It also appears that the translators of P employed the Septuagint (LXX) for difficult passages in the Prophets and the Writings. The oldest Syriac biblical manuscript is a fragment of Isaiah dated 771 C.E. “according to the Greeks” (i.e. 459/460 C.E.). It is located in the British Library (Add. 14512). Another manuscript containing Genesis and Exodus (Add. 14425) is dated 463/464 C.E. The earliest Syriac manuscript containing both the Old and New Testaments is codex Ambrosianus of the Ambrosian Library in Milan, Italy. This is manuscript 7a1 in the Leiden edition of Peshitta Old Testament. It dates to the seventh century C.E. The critical edition of P Exodus used in this research is the Leiden edition. Genesis and Exodus were edited by T. Jansma and M. D. Koster and published in 1977. The base manuscript used in the Leiden edition is the Ambrosian manuscript, 7a1. The book of Psalms was the first part of the Syriac OT to be printed. In 1610, the Maronite printing press at Quzhaya published the Psalms in both Syriac and Garshuni. In 1999, M. P. Weitzman advanced his thesis that P originated from a small Jewish community estranged from Rabbinic Judaism. This small group gradually became Christian. He maintains that P was written in the second half of the second century C.E., likely at Edessa. Weitzman traced the historical development of the community through several books in P. Weitzman studied P to ascertain its relationship to the LXX. He concluded that some books used the LXX heavily: Ezekiel, the Minor Prophets, Proverbs, Song of Songs, and Ecclesiastes. Other books he believed employed the LXX to a lesser degree: Genesis, Joshua, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Psalms, and Esther. Other books

Michael P. Weitzman, The Syriac Version of the Old Testament, An Introduction (Cambridge: Cambridge University, 1999), 2. 23

6

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

he deemed to be decoupled from LXX usage: Samuel, Kings, Job, Lamentations, and Chronicles. It does not appear that P depends directly on any Aramaic targum. Weitzman and others have asserted that in instances in which P and Targum Onkelos are similar, this similarity arose because of common Jewish traditions of exegesis and translation between them.24 Weitzman argues that manuscript 5b1 is the earliest text of P Genesis and Exodus. E2. Targum Onkelos A targum is a translation of the Hebrew Scriptures into Aramaic. The name Onkelos is thought to be a corruption of the name Aquila, a convert to Judaism who translated the Hebrew Bible into Greek with hyper literalness. It was believed that Aquila’s intent was to replace the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, used by Christians. Further study has shown this not to be the case. Targum Onkelos (TO) was the authoritative Targum of the Torah used by Babylonian Jews. The Mishnah and other rabbinic texts specify that the mĕtûrgĕmān would follow a reading of each verse of the Torah with a translation into Aramaic without the aid of a written translation.25 After three verses of the prophets were read, the mĕtûrgĕmān would translate the reading into Aramaic. The voice of the mĕtûrgĕmān was not to be as loud as the reader of the Hebrew text. In this way, the Mishnah ascribed authority to the Hebrew Bible. Alexander Sperber used seven manuscripts and nine printed editions to make his critical edition of TO in 1959. Four of the manuscripts employed Babylonian vocalization: 1. 2. 3. 4.

Ms. Or. 2363 of the British Museum (serves as the basic text) Ms. Or. 1467 of the British Museum Mss. Or. 2228, 2229, and 2230 of the British Museum (these comprise one ms. in three volumes) Ms. Socin N° 84 of the Library of the Deutsche Morgenländische Gesellschaft in Halle, Germany

Sperber also used three manuscripts with Tiberian vocalization: 1. 2. 3.

Ms. N° 282 of the library of Mr. S. D. Sassoon Ms. Or. 9400 of the British Museum Ms. Solger N° 2 of the Stadtbibliothek in Nuremberg, Germany

Nine printed editions (three incunabula and six rare books) were also used by Sperber. There are three primary views concerning the provenance of TO and the targum to the Prophets, Jonathan. The majority of scholars believe that targums Onkelos and Jonathan have the same provenance. For that reason, TO will be the focus of this discussion since the corpus studied in this volume is the book of Exodus. Some believe TO was translated by Jews in Babylonia where it became the authoritative targum. This position became known as the Eastern view. Others maintain that TO was translated in 24 25

Paul V. M. Flesher, ed., Targum and Peshitta (Tampa: University of South Florida, 1998). M. Meg. 4.4–10; t. Meg. 4.20–41; b. Meg. 23b.

INTRODUCTION

7

Palestine by Palestinian Jews, but was later redacted in Babylonia. This is the Western view. In 1994, Edward M. Cook asserted a Central view.26 He argued that TO did not originate in either Babylonia or Palestine, but somewhere in between—in a triangular region bounded by Damascus, Edessa, and Assur. M. H. Goshen-Gottstein summarized the basis for and historical development of the Eastern and Western theories up to 1978. 27 He organized the history of categorizing the language of TO into three periods. The first he called the Geiger-Nöldeke period. Geiger classified the language of TO as “Babylonian” based on his belief that Judaism was renewed by Babylonian rabbis with TO playing a significant role. Goshen-Gottstein opined that Geiger had no linguistic rationale for his belief. The great Aramaist Theodor Nöldeke laid a foundation for the Western view. Goshen-Gottstein called Nöldeke the “first great master of Aramaic dialectology.”28 Nöldeke believed that TO was translated in Palestine but was later influenced and revised as it was used in the East. Nöldeke’s seminal statement was: “Man bewahrte allerdings leidlich den älteren palästinischen Dialekt, aber der in manchen Stücken abweichende babylonische wirkte dochents tellend ein.”29 Goshen-Gottstein notes that this basic view was maintained by Berliner and Dalman near the century’s turn and later by Kutscher, Greenfield, and Tal. The second period began with Gustaf Dalman (who published Grammatik des juedisch-palaestinischen Aramaeisch in 1905) and extended to the 1950s. Dalman sought to uncover the language spoken by Jesus and the Apostles. He was the first to articulate the notion of diglossia. He observed that since there was both a literary and spoken Arabic, the same must be true for Aramaic around the time of Jesus. Goshen-Gottstein believed this view is seminal to the development of the concept of a “Standard Literary Aramaic.”30 After Dalman, the theory of a supradialectical Aramaic called “Imperial” or “Official” enabled scholars to think of TO as written in a Standard Literary Aramaic without focusing on features of the TO’s language as Western or Eastern. Meanwhile, the Babylonian theory of the origin of TO was being advanced by Ginsberg, Rosenthal, and Epstein in the 1930s. Also in the 1930s, Paul Kahle, the eminent German Hebraist of his day, advanced the idea espoused by Geiger—that TO had a Babylonian origin. Goshen-Gottstein regarded Kahle’s arguments for the Eastern view as nonlinguistic. 31 Kutscher attacked Kahle’s position based on the language of the Qumran scrolls.32 The third phase began with the Aramaic texts discovered at Khirbet Qumran. During this period, the majority of Aramaic scholars assumed a Proto-Onkelos birthed Edward M. Cook, “A New Perspective on the Language of Onqelos and Jonathan,” in Studies in Qumran Aramaic, Supplements to Abr-Nahrain (ed. D. R. G. Beattie and M. J. McNamara; Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1994), 144–158. 27 Goshen-Gottstein, “The Language of Targum Onkelos,” 169–79. 28 Ibid., 170. 29 Theodor Nöldeke, Die semitischen Sprachen (Leipzig: Weigel, 1887), 32. 30 Goshen-Gottstein, “The Language of Targum Onkelos,” 170–71. 31 Ibid., 172. 32 Edward Y. Kutscher, “Das zur Zeit Jesu gesprochene Aramäisch,” ZNW 51 (1960): 45–54. 26

8

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

in Palestine written in a Standard Literary Aramaic but redacted in Babylonia. The Eastern theory was also advanced during this period most notably by Klaus Beyer who was influenced by Syriac. Beyer labeled TO’s language as Ost-Reichsaramäisch.33 Beyer later changed to the Western view. Goshen-Gottstein stated that both those who hold to a Western and Eastern view would agree on two foundational points: that TO was written in some standardized Literary Aramaic and that it owes its final form to Jewish scribes in Babylonia around 400 C.E.34 In 1986, Edward Cook argued convincingly for an origin of TO in the Tannaitic Period (70–135 C.E.).35 Eight years later he asserted that the composition of TO precedes 200 C.E. based on the fact its masora has variant reading traditions of the Babylonian academy of Nehardea which Persia destroyed in 256 C.E.36 After summarizing the historical development of the Eastern and Western views, Goshen-Gottstein asserted his position on the matter: “My feeling is that the model that assumes a Babylonian rewrite of Proto-Onkelos in a non-Eastern standardized literary idiom is basically correct, whether it is a rewrite, a correction, or a patch-up.”37 In recent times, the Palestinian origin of TO in the Middle Aramaic period has been maintained by S. A. Kaufman of Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati.38 In 2001, Christa Müller-Kessler identified a few “linguistic morphemes and syntagms” that distinguish Classical Syriac (S) from TO. 39 She delineates four differences:40 1. 2. 3. 4.

TO uses ‫ ית‬to mark the direct object while S uses ‫ܠ‬. TO employs ‫דנא‬,‫דין‬, and ‫ הדין‬are demonstrative pronouns for the neardeixis while S uses ‫ܗܐܢ‬. TO prefixes the imperfect verb third person masculine with ‫ י‬while S uses ‫ܢ‬. For the infinitive of the D form TO employs ‫( קטלא‬qaṭṭālā) and for the C infinitive TO uses ‫( אקטלא‬aqṭālā), while S uses ‫( ܡܩܛܠܘ‬mqaṭṭālū) and ‫( ܡܩܛܠܘ‬maqṭālū), respectively. As Müller-Kessler points out, the form of the infinitive for the derived forms is useful in distinguishing Aramaic

Klaus Beyer, “Der reichsaramäische Einschlag in der ältesten syrischen Literatur,” ZDMG 116 (1966): 242–54. 34 Goshen-Gottstein, “The Language of Targum Onkelos,” 173. 35 Edward M. Cook, “Rewriting the Bible: The Text and Language of the Pseudo-Jonathan Targum” (Ph.D. diss., University of California, Los Angeles, 1986), 7–14. 36 Cook, “A New Perspective,” 152. 37 Goshen-Gottstein, “The Language of Targum Onkelos,” 174. 38 Kaufman, “Aramaic,” 175. 39 Christa Müller-Kessler, “The Earliest Evidence for Targum Onqelos from Babylonia and the Question of Its Dialect and Origin,” Journal for the Aramaic Bible 3 (2001): 185. 40 Ibid. 33

INTRODUCTION

9

dialects.41 Müller-Kessler agrees with Cook that the different infinitive forms indicate that TO and Syriac do not have a close connection.42 One difference in syntax noted by Müller-Kessler is that Syriac uses the passive construction qṭyl l-, while TO does not. Müller-Kessler concludes that Targums Onkelos and Jonathan were translated in Babylonia because they share linguistic features with the magic bowl texts composed in the same script and what she deems an “artificial Rabbinic idiom, defined here as Standard Literary Babylonian Aramaic from the same geographical area.”43 She observes that both TO and Jonathan and the magic bowl texts lack Greek and Latin loanwords that characterize Late Western Aramaic dialects. 44 She believes that this idiom may have moved to Babylonia shortly after 70 C.E., when the Second Temple was destroyed.45 With the publication of his glossary of Targum Onkelos in 2008, Edward Cook gave a compelling rationale for the Western provenance of TO based upon its lexicon. He provided a long list of words used in TO that are most commonly used in Western dialects.46 He concluded that “the idea that the provenance of Onkelos is Western finds significant support in a survey of its lexicon.”47 Cook also gave a much smaller list of Eastern lexemes.48 He mentioned several phenomena typical of Western texts that are absent in TO. Western Aramaic uses ‫ענה ואמר‬, “answered and said,” while TO employs ‫אתיב ואמר‬.49 TO also lacks ‫כלקבל‬, “facing,” which is common in Aramaic from Palestine.50 Cook cited the observation made by Christa Müller-Kessler that the infinitive form used in the West is not used in TO.51 He then listed ten Syriac words or phrases that TO also uses and nine words found only or primarily on Targums Onkelos and Jonathan.52 Cook gave a summary statement on the provenance of TO based upon its lexicon: Any account of the targum’s origin in the West must explain the appearance of these unique or non-Western lexemes and the absence of expected Western elements in the lexicon. It may be, as the prevailing view has it, that originally “Proto-Onkelos” was more purely Western and that in the course of transmission other lexemes were gradually introduced into the text as we now have it. It is also Ibid. Ibid. 43 Ibid., 197. 44 Ibid. 45 Ibid. 46 Edward M. Cook, A Glossary of Targum Onkelos (Leiden: Brill, 2008), xii–xiii. 47 Ibid., xiii. 48 Ibid. 49 Ibid., xiv. 50 Ibid. 51 Müller-Kessler, “The Earliest Evidence,” 185 n. 17. 52 Cook, Glossary, xiv. 41 42

10

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC possible that the literary Aramaic of Onkelos (and Jonathan) was intentionally deregionalized, either in its origin or in its evolution, in an effort to appeal to audiences across, or above, dialect boundaries.53

E3. Jewish Palestinian Aramaic Jewish Palestinian Aramaic (JPA) along with Samaritan Aramaic (SA) and Christian Palestinian Aramaic (CPA) are dialects of Late Western Aramaic. The Palestinian Targum consists of the Fragment Targums (FT), the Cairo Geniza fragments (CG), and Targum Neofiti I (TN).54 These documents have similar linguistic and exegetical characteristics. 1. Fragment Targums The FT of the Pentateuch were known as Targum Yerushalmi II. Targum PseudoJonathan was known as Targum Yerushalmi I. The FT were first published in the Bomberg Rabbinic Bible (1517–1518 C. E.). Michael Klein produced a modern edition of the FT with translation in 1980. 55 The FT contain translations of some, but not all, verses of the Hebrew Bible. They are selective, not fragmentary. Some of the FT were originally used in the liturgy of the synagogue. The FT are witnessed by seven manuscripts and one printed version. The seven manuscripts are: Ms. Or. 10794 of the British Museum Ms. 264 of the Sassoon Library in London Ms. Leipzig, Universität, B.H. fol. 1 Ms. Moscow 3 of the Günzburg Collection Ms. Nürnberg, Stadtbibliotheck, Solger 2.2 (N) Ms. Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale 110 (P) Ms. Vatican Ebr. 440 (V) The first printed edition is the Bomberg Rabbinic Bible. N is the vorlage of Bomberg’s edition and Ms. Moscow 3. Bomberg’s text is the vorlage of Ms. 264 in the Sassoon Library. P and Ms. Or. 10794 are a part of different textual families. V has been regarded by some as the best manuscript of its family. 56 2. Cairo Geniza Fragments Seven manuscripts from the Cairo Geniza were published by Paul Kahle in 1930. Kahle believed the CG were written between the seventh and tenth centuries C.E.

Ibid. I agree with Cook, Kaufman (p. 175), Flesher, et. al., that Targum Pseudo-Jonathan should be considered Late Jewish Literary Aramaic—a different dialect than the Palestinian Targum. 55 Michael L. Klein, The Fragment-Targums of the Pentateuch according to Their Extant Sources (Rome: Biblical Institute, 1980). 56 Cook, “Rewriting the Bible,” 15. 53 54

INTRODUCTION

11

A workable edition of CG was published by Michael Klein in 1986. 57 Steven E. Fassberg published a grammar on CG in 1990.58 He comments that the Cairo Geniza manuscripts are “regarded as the most reliable representation of the dialect in which the Fragment Targum and Targum Neophiti were written.”59 Julia Foster, in her dissertation published in 1969, states her belief that FT, CG, and TN are the result of a single text. She maintains that CG MS E “is the model for orthography and morphology” and “is an excellent example of ‘Palestinian’ usage.”60 Regarding the Palestinian Targum as a whole, Foster concludes, “An original single translation underlies the texts of Neofiti text and margin, the Vatican 440 group, Paris 110, and all the Cairo Geniza texts.”61 Twenty-eight manuscripts of CG are presented by Klein: No.

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

Ms. Klein A B C D E F G H I J K M Q R S T U V W X Y Z AA

Michael L. Klein, Genizah Manuscripts of Palestinian Targum to the Pentateuch (Cincinnati: Hebrew Union College, 1986). 58 Steven E. Fassberg, A Grammar of the Palestinian Targum Fragments from the Cairo Geniza (Harvard Semitic Studies 38; Atlanta: Scholars, 1990). 59 Ibid., 3. 60 Julia A. Foster, “The Language and Text of Codex Neofiti 1 in Light of other Palestinian Aramaic Sources” (Ph.D. diss., Boston University, 1969), 128. 61 Ibid., 87. 57

12

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

24 25 26 27 28

BB CC DD HH NN

The CG are fragments of the biblical text. Kahle considered the CG to be accurate representations of Palestinian Aramaic. He regarded them to have the authentic pronunciation of PA, without encrustations by medieval scribes. E. Y. Kutscher believed the CG texts to be an accurate example of a dialect of northern Palestine, Galilean Aramaic. 3. Targum Neofiti Targum Neofiti I (TN) was discovered in 1949 by Alejandro Diez Macho of the University of Barcelona. He found it in the Vatican Library. Although it had “Targum Onkelos” written on its spine, the title page identified it as a Jerusalem Targum. It wasn’t until 1956 that Diez Macho announced to the public the discovery of Targum Neofiti. The colophon of TN preserves its completion date to be 1504 C.E. Diez Macho published the editio princeps of TN Genesis in 1968. TN Exodus was published in 1970 followed by Leviticus in 1971, Numbers in 1974, and Deuteronomy in 1978. TN is the only complete Palestinian Targum. TN has marginal critical apparatus which can be considered a second Palestinian Targum. David Golomb notes that at least three hands copied TN.62 The beginning (Gen 1:1–34) and the end (Deut 29:17–34:12) of TN are different. The beginning is similar to FT(P) and the end to FT(V). Some have theorized that the vorlage of TN may have been damaged at its periphery and that damage compensated for with readings from other targums.63 In 1974 Abraham Tal observed that TN contained many mistakes and did not follow regular patterns of language.64 He believed the translator of TN was “most unfamiliar with the Aramaic language.”65 Tal further asserted that the scribe “possessed no knowledge whatsoever of the pronunciation of Aramaic.” 66 He does maintain, however, that TN has much material that is linguistically reliable. 67 Diez Macho believed that the Aramaic of TN was the Aramaic spoken in Galilee in the first century. In 1973 Diez Macho argued that Qumran Aramaic was influenced by the Aramaic

David M. Golomb, A Grammar of Targum Neofiti (Harvard Semitic Monographs 34; Chico, CA: Scholars, 1985), 1. 63 Cf. Cook, Rewriting the Bible, 17. 64 Abraham Tal, “MS Neophyti I: The Palestinian Targum to the Pentateuch. Observations on the Artistry of a Scribe,” IOS 4 (1974): 38. 65 Ibid. 66 Ibid. 67 Ibid., 42. 62

INTRODUCTION

13

spoken by the scribes.68 This spoken Aramaic, he asserted, was the language of TN. One of the arguments he used involves the topic of this book, the genitive construction. Diez Macho noted the genitive construction used most often in Qumran Aramaic was the construct genitive construction, whereas in TN it was one of the two constructions formed with dy/d-. He believed the d- genitive constructions are characteristic of spoken Aramaic.69 The construct genitive construction, however, is used sparingly in all dialects of late Aramaic, as this book will demonstrate. Diez Macho also argued that the language of the TN was earlier than that of the Palestinian Talmud and midrashim.70 Abraham Tal wrote four articles (in 1979, 1980, and 1983[2]) which supported Diez Macho’s assertion. He argued convincingly that the Aramaic of TN was later than the Standard Literary Aramaic of the Dead Sea Scrolls, but older than the Aramaic of the Palestinian Talmud and midrashim. If Tal is correct, which I believe he is, TN seems to have been composed in the second or third century C.E., the Amoraic period. In 1974, Anthony York wrote an article in which he refuted the non-linguistic arguments used by Diez Macho, Le Déaut, and McNamara to support a first century date for TN.71 E4. Samaritan Aramaic The Samaritan Targum (ST) is a word for word translation of the Hebrew Torah. The ST was written in Samaritan Aramaic (SA), one of three dialects of Late Western Aramaic emanating from Palestine. The other two dialects of Late Western Aramaic are Jewish Palestinian Aramaic (JPA) and Christian Palestinian Aramaic (CPA). Jonas C. Greenfield discusses three main areas of difference between Eastern Aramaic and Western Aramaic: vocabulary, phonology, and syntax and morphology. 72 In addition to the ST, SA is represented by liturgical hymns and other works such as Memar Marqa and Asaṭir. SA is written in a script regarded by some as “a continuation of the paleo-Hebrew”73 script. Of the three Late Western Aramaic dialects, SA “has the laxest orthographic practices.”74 As SA was commonly pronounced, each of the guttural consonants has no phonetic value.75 Final ā is represented by the mater heh, never ʼaleph. The literature of the Samaritans during the fourth to tenth centuries was composed primarily in Aramaic.76 There were three main types of literature written during the

Alejandro Diez Macho, “Le targum palestinien,” in Exégèse biblique et judaique (ed. J. E. Ménard; Strassbourg: Faculté de théologie catholique, 1973), 27–34. 69 Ibid., 28. 70 Ibid., 31–34. 71 Anthony York, “The Dating of Targumic Literature,” JSJ 5 (1974): 49–62. 72 Jonas C. Greenfield, “Aramaic and Its Dialects,” in Jewish Languages: Themes and Variations (ed. H. H. Paper; Cambridge: Association for Jewish Studies, 1978), 38–40. 73 Ibid., 37. 74 Ibid. 75 Ibid., 39. 76 Alan D. Crown, Samaritan Scribes and Manuscripts (Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2001), 17. 68

14

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

Aramaic period: a translation of Torah into Aramaic (the ST), a philosophical commentary on the Pentateuch, and liturgical texts.77 Abraham Tal published a critical edition of the ST in 1980 and 1983. 78 The ST has three primary texts. The oldest text of the ST is manuscript B.L. Or. MS 7562. This is version J in Tal’s edition. Crown calls this “the most important of the triglot manuscripts which presents a Hebrew, Arabic and Aramaic text.” 79 Crown writes that this text may be a product of Baba Rabba and his sages during a phase of independent literary activity.80 This would have been the same period in which the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) was canonized. Abraham Tal believes that SP was written around the time that Targum Onkelos was written. This could coincide with the finalizing of SP and make it a product of the school that produced SP.81 Tal, Pummer, and Crown maintain that the Aramaic of MS 7562 has much in common with Onkelos and the Dead Sea Scrolls. Tal asserts that the oldest form of ST is “linguistically close to the socalled Palestinian Targumim.”82 The next text type is represented by MS Nablus 6. Its Aramaic is that used in Palestine when the Palestinian Talmud was produced—the fourth century and beyond.83 MS Nablus 6 was composed before the Moslem conquest and Arabic was adopted by the Samaritans. The youngest text type is represented by MS Nablus 3 (Tal’s A). Tal and Crown believe it was produced by those who did not understand Aramaic. Its language is a mixture of Hebrew, Aramaic, and Arabic. Tal describes the language in these terms: “A new language emerged, a hybrid Samaritan, based on Pentateuchal Hebrew, with heavy influences of liturgical Aramaic and spoken Arabic.”84 Rudolf Macuch maintains that the ST was a “living” Targum during the thousand years or so when SA was spoken.85 Tal asserts that ST was “subject to a continuous metamorphosis.”86 He illustrates this dynamic by highlighting the tendency of younger manuscripts to avoid anthropomorphic depictions of God. An example of this change is found in Exod 8:15. Older manuscripts have ‫“ אצבע אלהים‬the finger of God” while later texts have ‫“ יכלות אלהים‬the ability of God.”

Ibid. Abraham Tal, The Samaritan Targum of the Pentateuch: A Critical Edition (3 vols.; TelAviv: Tel Aviv University, 1980, 1983). 79 Alan D. Crown, ”Samaritan Literature and Its Manuscripts,” BJRL 76 (1994): 31. 80 Crown, Samaritan Scribes, 18. 81 Ibid. 82 Abraham Tal, “The Hebrew Pentateuch in the Eyes of the Samaritan Translator,” in The Interpretation of the Bible: The International Symposium in Slovenia (ed. Jože Krašovec; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1998), 348. 83 Ibid. 84 Ibid., 349. 85 Rudolf Macuch, “Samaritan Languages: Samaritan Hebrew, Samaritan Aramaic,” in The Samaritans (ed. Alan D. Crown; Tübingen: Morh Siebeck, 1989), 539. 86 Tal, “Samaritan Translator,” 349. 77 78

INTRODUCTION

15

Tal’s understanding of the development of targums in both Judaism and Samaritanism has merit.87 He maintains that Judaism produced an Aramaic Targum (likely TO) with the motive of preventing the translation of the ancient Hebrew text into modern Hebrew. TO was written for those who spoke both Mishnaic Hebrew and Aramaic. Tal describes the Aramaic of TO as Literary Aramaic used at the end of the pre-Christian age. Concurrently, the Samaritans translated the Torah into the Hebrew they used at the time, yielding the SP. Since the Samaritans had a Bible in their modern dialect, they felt no need for an Aramaic translation. It was later, in the third century C.E., when Hebrew was no longer used in Shechem, that the Torah was translated into Aramaic, the ST. E5. Christian Palestinian Aramaic Christian Palestinian Aramaic (CPA) is a Late Western Aramaic dialect, along with Jewish Palestinian Aramaic (JPA) and Samaritan Aramaic (SA), that employs a script similar to the Estrangelo script used by Syriac. Therefore, it is sometimes referred to as Palestinian Syriac. CPA is, however, different than Syriac. Because CPA was used by the Melkite Church, some have proposed that it be called Melkite Aramaic. 88 The CPA texts contain no vowels. Aleph is consistently used to indicate the final long a vowel—the same convention used by Syriac. CPA is the most conservative of the Late Western Aramaic dialects and may have been affected by Standard Literary Aramaic. 89 The normal word order of prose in Western Aramaic dialects is verb-subject-object.90 The absolute and determined forms of nouns are distinguished in Western Aramaic while this distinction is lost in Eastern dialects.91 There are two periods in which CPA texts were written. The early period is from the fifth to the eighth centuries C.E. when CPA was spoken in Palestine. CPA seems to have been spoken by Jewish converts living in Palestine. Jonas Greenfield believed that CPA was influenced by Mishnaic Hebrew. 92 The late period is the tenth through the thirteenth century when CPA was no longer spoken. The late CPA texts were the product of the Melkite church in Palestine. The first CPA text that was studied by scholars in Europe was a lectionary of the Gospels, Vatican syr. 19, dated C. E. 1030. S. E. and J. S. Assemani provided a description of the text in 1758. Theodor Nöldeke wrote an article on the grammar of Vatican syr. 19 in 1868.93 Friedrich Schulthess edited a set of fragments dating from the fifth to the eighth centuries and then published a lexicon in 1903 94 and a grammar,

Ibid., 341–52. Alain Desreumaux, “Ephraim in Christian Palestinian Aramaic,” Hugoye: Journal of Syriac Studies 2 (1998). 89 Greenfield, “Aramaic and Its Dialects,” 37. 90 Ibid., 39. 91 Ibid. 92 Ibid., 37. 93 Theodor Nöldeke, “Über den christlich-palästinischen Dialekt.” ZDMG 22 (1868): 443–527. 94 Friedrich Schulthess, Lexicon Syropalaestinum (Berlin: G. Reimer, 1903). 87 88

16

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

posthumously, in 1924.95 The grammar does not distinguish between the earlier and later texts. This is unfortunate because the language of the earlier and later texts is quite different.96 Christa Müller-Kessler wrote a grammar97 on the older texts of CPA and with Michael Sokoloff edited and published98 the older texts of the Old Testament and Apocrypha (volume I) and the Gospels, Acts of the Apostles, and Epistles (volumes IIA and B). Müller-Kessler is currently writing a new lexicon to replace the one by Schultess published in 1903. Christa Müller-Kessler estimates that approximately ten percent of the CPA OT has been found.99 The research in this volume is based on the CPA OT from the early period (5th–8th centuries C.E.) edited by Müller-Kessler and Sokoloff (1997). The CPA texts from the later period, edited by Goshen-Gottstein and Shirun (1973) are not included in this research. The rationale for this decision is that the language of the two periods may differ significantly and that the texts from the earlier period are more directly related to the Septuagint (LXX). Müller-Kessler and Sokoloff agree with the conclusion of Goshen-Gottstein and Shirun that the CPA OT was translated from the LXX.100 Sebastian Brock also asserted that all extant texts in CPA are translations of Greek texts.101 Goshen-Gottstein believed that the Peshitta and the Targums may have also influenced the CPA texts.

F. HISTORY OF RESEARCH The history of research of use of genitive constructions in Aramaic will now be discussed. Research in early Aramaic, Syriac, and other Aramaic will be surveyed. F1. Early Aramaic 1. Kaddari The use of the three main genitive constructions in Imperial Aramaic (IA) was discussed by M. Z. Kaddari in his paper delivered in 1965.102 Kaddari observes that the construct Friedrich Schulthess, Grammatik des christlich-palästinischen Aramäisch (Tübingen: J. C. B. Mohr, 1924). 96 Sebastian P. Brock, review of Christa Müller-Kessler, Grammatik des Christlich-PalästinischAramäischen. Teil 1. Schrift, Lautlehre, Formenlehre. BSOAS 58 (1995): 434. 97 Christa Müller-Kessler, Grammatik des Christlich-Palästinisch-Aramäischen. Teil 1. Schrift, Lautlehre, Formenlehre (York/Zürich/Hildesheim: Georg Olms, 1991). 98 Christa Müller-Kessler and Michael Sokoloff, The Christian Palestinian Aramaic Old Testament and Apocrypha Version from the Early Period (Corpus of Christian Palestinian Aramaic 1; Groningen: Styx, 1997). 99 Müller-Kessler, Grammatik, 1–8. 100 Müller-Kessler and Sokoloff, Christian Palestinian Aramaic Old Testament, 3. 101 Sebastian P. Brock. An Introduction to Syriac Studies (rev. sec. ed.; Piscataway: Gorgias, 2006), 39. 102 Menahem Z. Kaddari, “Construct State and Dī-Phrases in Imperial Aramaic,” Preceedings of the International Conference on Semitic Studies, Held in Jerusalem, 19–23 July 1965 (Jerusalem: The Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, 1969): 102–15. 95

INTRODUCTION

17

genitive construction is the predominant genitive construction in IA. 103 He gives the following statistics regarding the ratio of the construct genitive to “zī (dī)-phrases” (the adjunct genitive construction and the cataphoric genitive construction): Aḥīqar’s proverbs 17.33, Genesis Apocryphon 12.00, Elephantine Papyri 7.85, Ezdras 7.35, Aḥīqar’s tale 5.00, Daniel 4.52.104

Kaddari concludes that there are two factors that determine this ratio. First, the later the writing, the lower the ratio of construct to dī-phrases.105 Second, the closer the writing is to IA, the greater the number of dī-phrases.106 He substantiates the first factor by asserting that in Aramaic inscriptions from the ninth-eighth centuries, the construct genitive predominates and the dī-phrases are few, if any.107 There are far more dīphrases in Middle Aramaic (MA). Kaddari cites statistics from MA documents to show that during this period, closeness to official style will determine the ratio of construct genitives to dī-phrases.108 He finds a ratio of 18.00 in the Ta‘anīt Scroll and 23 construct genitives to zero dī-phrases in the Bar-Kosba Letters.109 Kaddari attributes this paucity of dī-phrases to the documents’ non-formal style.110 He cites the letters of Rabban Gamlī’el as an example of MA in official style with a 2.60 ratio of construct to dī-phrases: 13 constructs and 5 dī-phrases.111 Kaddari attributes the rise in dī-phrases in later Aramaic and in IA to the influence of Babylonian on Aramaic syntax. 112 He asserts that the Babylonian ša corresponds to the Aramaic dī in its use in genitive constructions. 113 Kaddari maintains that Babylonian had more influence on MA than on IA and that its influence was more pronounced in IA than in vernacular Aramaic. 114 He asserts that vernacular Aramaic adopted the Babylonian ša gradually.115 Kaddari also observes that the overwhelming majority of dī-phrases in IA have a “determinated” second member.116 He postulates that this reality “may have been developed through loan-translation from their Babylonian counterpart ša-phrases.”117

Ibid., 103. Ibid. 105 Ibid. 106 Ibid. 107 Ibid., 104. 108 Ibid. 109 Ibid. 110 Ibid. 111 Ibid. 112 Ibid. 113 Ibid., 104–105. 114 Ibid., 105. 115 Ibid. 116 Ibid., 105–106. 117 Ibid., 107. 103 104

18

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

Kaddari also asserts that the dī-phrases with a second member that is not determinated “may have been developed from nominal predications of identity.”118 The first member of dī-phrases is discussed next. Kaddari concludes that it is normal for dī-phrases with determinated first members to have determinated second members.119 Likewise, he asserts that it is regular for dī-phrases with undeterminated first members to have undeterminated second members.120 Kaddari states that “a harmony exists in IA and in Onqelos alike between A and B respecting their determination.”121 He further notes, “To facilitate the distribution of determinated B, a syntagmatic structure was needed in one of the members of the zī (dī)-phrase, but it was not so in the case of the undeterminated B.”122 2. Garr The use of genitive constructions in Biblical Aramaic (BA) is discussed by W. Randall Garr in a 1990 article.123 He maintains that the cataphoric genitive construction expresses “inalienable possession” 124 when both members are definite.125 The adjunct genitive construction is employed when the second member denotes the material of the first member.126 Nonliteral, idiomatic genitive relationships are found in the construct genitive construction.127 Garr also notes that “successive construct phrases are rare in BA.”128 These are expressed through the adjunct genitive construction. 129 He cautions that genitive constructions in BA “do not always respond to these syntactic and semantic factors.”130 Garr observes that construct genitive construction may also be used to express material composition.131 Likewise, inalienable possession may be expressed through the construct genitive construction. Garr endeavors to show that discourse factors affect the selection of construction a or construction b, and construction a or construction c.132 He cites the use of ‫ֲע ִב ְיד ָּתא ִדי‬ Ibid. Ibid., 113. 120 Ibid. 121 Ibid. 122 Ibid., 115. 123 W. Randall Garr, “On the Alternation between Construct and Dī Phrases in Biblical Aramaic,” JSS 35/2 (1990): 213–231. 124 “Inalienable possession” is normally used to describe a relationship in which one member intrinsically belongs to another member. For a theoretical discussion of this idea see Werner Diem’s, “Alienable und inalienable Possession im Semitischen,” ZDMG 136 (1986): 227–91. 125 Ibid., 214. 126 Ibid., 216. 127 Ibid. 128 Ibid. 129 Ibid. 130 Ibid. 131 Ibid., 216–17. 132 Ibid., 217. 118 119

INTRODUCTION

19

‫ ְמ ִדינַ ת ָּב ֶבל‬in Dan 2:49 and ‫ ֲע ִב ַידת ְמ ִדינַ ת ָּב ֶבל‬in Dan 3:12 to show that the adjunct

genitive construction is selected when the head noun is important and contrastive, as in 2:49, but not in 3:12.133 Garr states the selection criterion this way: “The construct phrase conveys incidental, subordinate information. The dī phrase expresses contrastive or important, verse-internal information.”134 He finds another example of this general principle in Ezra 5:14 and 6:5 where he concludes: “In Ezra 6:5, the construct phrase incorporates a demoted, less important head noun. In Ezra 5:14, the dī phrase contains a promoted, more important head noun.”135 Garr states that in the adjunct genitive construction, the second member may be concrete.136 Elements which are distinctive or important are cast in this construction. 137 The phrases in construction b may be tracked in several ways or “may act as the pivot between two subcontexts.”138 The use of the adjunct genitive construction may communicate that one of its members is “referential and identifiable.”139 The construct genitive construction has other functions, Garr surmises. The second member of construction a may be abstract or nonconcrete. This genitive syntagm may have “subordinate, backgrounded, or relatively incidental items, which may be coupled with the absence of explicit tracking devices.”140 Garr maintains that the members of constructions b and c “tend to be more individuated,” while those in the construct genitive construction “tend to be nonindividuated.”141 Garr concludes his discussion of the difference between the construct and dī phrases in BA as follows: Discourse-level salience may also govern the alternation between construct and dī phrases in BA. Nouns in dī phrases are not only more individuated and categorical, but tend to be more prominent in the specific context as well. This prominence may take the form of contrast, drawing distinctions, tracking, highlighting participants, or other types of foregrounding. At least one term of the dī phrase is particularly salient in context. Nouns constituting the BA construct phrase are less individuated, categorical, and salient. Such nouns are often incidental to the narrative and serve a subordinate role. They are backgrounded and, therefore, less important and prominent in context. They tend to be props.142

Ibid., 217–18. Ibid., 218. 135 Ibid., 220. 136 Ibid., 228. 137 Ibid. 138 Ibid. 139 Ibid. 140 Ibid., 229. 141 Ibid. 142 Ibid., 231. 133 134

20

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

3. Folmer M. L. Folmer dedicates a section of her book on Aramaic in the Achaemenid period to the three main genitive constructions.143 She analyzed the “texts that were written or copied in the period of Achaemenid dominion of the ancient Near East (538–333) B.C.E.”144 Folmer refers to the adjunct genitive construction and the cataphoric genitive construction as “zy-phrases” and to the construct genitive construction as construct noun phrases.145 She observes that the construct genitive construction is the most common of the three during the Achaemenid period.146 Folmer asserts that all three constructions can express the relationship between a possessor and a possession. 147 While the construct and adjunct genitive constructions can express other relationships, such as material composition, Folmer maintains that the cataphoric genitive construction can only communicate a possessive relationship.148 Folmer opines that Kaddari’s study on these constructions is deficient because he does not consider “the effect of semantic value of the nouns involved.”149 She concludes that for all cataphoric genitive constructions in the Aramaic of the Achaemenid period, the second member is always definite (a proper noun, noun, or toponym).150 Folmer also finds that kinship relationships and relationships of inalienable possession are often cast in the cataphoric genitive construction.151 The construct noun phrase, Folmer asserts, is the most frequent genitive syntagm selected in this period to communicate inalienable possession. 152 The cataphoric genitive construction is most frequently used to express inalienable possession. 153 Folmer observes that construction c is found especially in combinations whose second member refers to a slave or real-estate property.154 She summarizes the use of the cataphoric genitive this way: The more solid the possessive relation is, the more likely it is that a proleptic pron. sf. is used and vice versa: the presence of a proleptic pron. sf. indicates that the relation is viewed by the scribe as one which cannot be terminated. 155

Margaretha L. Folmer, The Aramaic Language in the Achaemenid Period: A Study in Linguistic Variation (Leuven: Peeters, 1995), 259–325. 144 Ibid., 259. 145 Ibid. 146 Ibid. 147 Ibid. 148 Ibid. 149 Ibid., 259–260. 150 Ibid., 303. 151 Ibid., 310. 152 Ibid., 311. 153 Ibid., 312. 154 Ibid. 155 Ibid. 143

INTRODUCTION

21

Regarding the genitive of material (genitivus materiae), Folmer asserts that the second member usually is in the absolute state. 156 She further observes that the first member also is usually in the absolute form.157 Folmer attributes this to the fact that the genitive of material is often followed by a number—a scenario requiring an absolute state form in Aramaic from the Achaemenid period.158 The genitive of species, a relationship in which the class is represented by the first member and the subclass or species by the second member, is always expressed by the construct noun phrase.159 4. Muraoka & Porten Takamitsu Muraoka and Bezalel Porten discuss the use of the genitive constructions in Egyptian Aramaic (EA) in their book, A Grammar of Egyptian Aramaic.160 They assert that the “close semantic cohesion” between the first member and second member of the construct genitive construction is reflected by their being a single word in some instances.161 The nomen regens is “defined and delimited” by the nomen rectum in a variety of ways.162 Muraoka and Porten classify these ways in 18 different categories plus a miscellaneous category for those combinations whose relationship is unclear. 163 The adjunct genitive construction is called ‘periphrasis’ by these authors, which in Egyptian Aramaic (EA) is noun ‫ זי‬noun.164 They assert that it is “difficult to establish clear functional oppositions between the analytic structure with ‫ זי‬and the synthetic one.”165 They do advance, however, that “there appear to be some semantic constraints on the choice of either of the two.”166 For example, they observed that when the first member is a body part, the adjunct genitive construction is never employed. 167 They note that this agrees with Folmer’s assertion that “inalienable possession is expressed more frequently by the construct noun phrase.”168 Eleven conclusions regarding the criteria used to select either construction a or b in EA are drawn.169 First, certain collections, such as ‘the royal weights,’ only occur in

Ibid. Ibid. 158 Ibid., 313. 159 Ibid., 317. 160 Takamitsu Muraoka and Bezalel Porten, A Grammar of Egyptian Aramaic (Leiden: Brill, 1998), 218–34. 161 Ibid., 218. 162 Ibid., 219. 163 Ibid., 219–26. 164 Ibid., 228. 165 Ibid., 229. 166 Ibid. 167 Ibid. 168 Ibid. 169 Ibid., 229–33. 156 157

22

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

construction b.170 Second, words such as ‫‘( ספר‬document’) are always in construction a with a second member denoting the subject matter of the document. Third, the adjunct genitive construction is used when the first member “is an indeclinable proper noun.” 171 Fourth, a noun phrase consisting of 4 nouns in construct is “extremely rare,” so the adjunct genitive construction is normally employed to bind the first member to the second member and the third member to the fourth member.172 One other observation is particularly noteworthy. Muraoka and Porten agree with Kaddari that genre is an important factor in determining which construction is selected.173 They observe that the adjunct genitive construction is “more than three times as frequent in the narrative framework of Ahiqar as in the proverbs.”174 Regarding the cataphoric genitive construction, which they call ‘prolepsis,’ Muraoka and Porten state that the second member “always refers to a person, mostly a personal name, thus determinate,” with only one exception.175 F2. Syriac 1. Nöldeke Theodor Nöldeke asserts that the construct genitive construction is used in particularly close combinations, while constructions b and c are not permitted in such cases.176 He also maintains that construction a “prevails” when the first member is an adjective.177 This grammar also notes that adjectives are often in the construct state preceding prepositions.178 Only short words such as postpositive particles may interrupt a construct genitive construction.179 Additional words may interrupt constructions b and c.180 When the criteria for the construct genitive construction are not met, the adjunct genitive construction “predominates throughout.”181 The cataphoric genitive construction is commonly used when the members “are determined in pure Genitive relation.”182

Ibid., 229. Ibid., 230. 172 Ibid. 173 Ibid., 232. 174 Ibid. 175 Ibid., 233. 176 Theodor Nöldeke, Compendious Syriac Grammar (Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns, 2001), 162; repr. of Compendious Syriac Grammar (trans. James A. Crichton; London: Williams & Norgate, 1904); trans. of Kurzgefasste syrische Grammatik (2d ed.; Leipzig: Weigel, 1898). 177 Ibid. 178 Ibid. 179 Ibid. 180 Ibid., 165–66. 181 Ibid. 182 Ibid., 163. 170 171

INTRODUCTION

23

2. Joosten Jan Joosten discusses the use of genitive constructions in the Peshitta and Old Syriac Versions of the Gospel of Matthew. 183 He asserts that the adjunct genitive construction is used to express quality, that is, when the second member describes the first.184 Construction b is also employed to render a composite Greek word or a single Greek word.185 Joosten also advances that the adjunct genitive construction is used to express belonging, that is, when the second member refers to someone or something to which the first member belongs.186 The cataphoric genitive construction, Joosten states, is “only used to express that the referent of the first member belongs in some way to the second.” 187 Unlike the adjunct genitive construction, it is “never used when the second member describes the first.”188 He asserts that the cataphoric genitive construction is normally used when “the first member is of the class of ‘inalienable’ words: parts of the body, members of the family, etc.”189 Joosten advances that the construct genitive construction shares some uses with constructions b and c.190 Those functions include: when the second member describes the first; to express belonging, inalienable possession; and to express belonging when the second member is a known individual.191 Joosten identifies the following as functions limited to the construct genitive construction: to express composite words; to express relationships in which the first member is an “adjective, participle or abstract noun;” and to express “composite prepositions in which the second member is a substantive.”192 3. Muraoka Takamitsu Muraoka, in his basic grammar on Classical Syriac, says that the adjunct genitive construction and the cataphoric genitive construction are more common than the construct genitive construction, which he calls “the synthetic structure.”193 He advances that the synthetic structure is “confined to standing phrases verging on

Jan Joosten, The Syriac Language of the Peshitta & Old Syriac Versions of Matthew (Leiden: Brill, 1996), 47–57. 184 Ibid., 47. 185 Ibid., 48. 186 Ibid., 49. 187 Ibid., 50. 188 Ibid. 189 Ibid. 190 Ibid., 51. 191 Ibid. 192 Ibid., 53–55. 193 Takamitsu Muraoka, Classical Syriac: A Basic Grammar with a Chrestomathy (Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 1997), 61. 183

24

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

compound nouns.”194 He draws no difference in meaning or usage between the adjunct genitive construction and the cataphoric genitive construction, both of which he calls an “analytic structure.”195 4. Thackston In his introductory grammar, Wheeler M. Thackston mentions what he perceives to be the difference between the construct genitive construction and the other two primary constructions.196 Thackston asserts that the construct genitive construction is not “free” in Syriac, but “generally occurs in set phrases and idiomatic expressions.” 197 He states that the adjunct genitive construction and the cataphoric genitive construction are “quite free” in how they are formed, but he does not articulate a difference in usage or meaning between the two.198 5. Williams Peter J. Williams includes a chapter on the genitive in his book, Studies in the Syntax of the Peshitta of 1 Kings.199 One of his primary assertions relates to a conclusion reached by I. Avinery in his unpublished doctoral thesis in 1973, Syntaxe de la Peshitta sur le Pentateuque. Avinery concluded that the cataphoric genitive construction was the most determined of the three main genitive constructions.200 He further maintained that the adjunct genitive construction is less determined than the cataphoric genitive construction while the construct genitive construction is the least determined of the three.201 Williams concludes that there seem to be various factors that led the translator of Peshitta to select one construction over the others, and, therefore, Avinery’s conclusion that the three different genitive constructions have different degrees of determination is to be rejected.202 His analysis of P 1 Kings reveals that only a small number of nouns occur in the construct genitive construction, but some of those that do, occur many times.203 There are few, perhaps no, second members that prefer the construct genitive construction.204

Ibid. Ibid., 62. 196 Wheeler M. Thackston, Introduction to Syriac (Bethesda, MD: IBEX Publishers, 1999), 53. 197 Ibid. 198 Ibid. 199 Peter J. Williams, Studies in the Syntax of the Peshitta of 1 Kings (Leiden: Brill, 2001), 7–37. 200 Iddo Avinery, “Syntaxe de la Peshitta sur le Pentateuque” (Ph.D. diss., Hebrew University, 1973), 100. 201 Ibid. 202 Ibid., 36. 203 Ibid. 204 Ibid. 194 195

INTRODUCTION

25

The adjunct genitive construction, Williams concludes, is used to express material composition.205 This construction takes the largest number of nouns as first members. 206 Many first and second members are employed solely in this construction. 207 The cataphoric genitive construction is used most frequently when the first and second members are masculine singular. Williams observes that very often the second member is a personal proper noun.208 There appear to be no nouns that are limited to this construction.209 Definite animates, including proper names, may appear as second members in both constructions a and c. Williams notes that when the same combination occurs in both the construct genitive construction and the cataphoric genitive construction, construction a is used “in an appellative in apposition after another appellative, whereas a free-standing appellative would be in construction c.”210 The adjunct genitive construction and the cataphoric genitive construction have the most first members in common.211 When the same combination is used in both construction b and c, the former “may mark the first member as indefinite,” while the latter “may mark the first member as definite.”212 6. Brock Sebastian P. Brock wrote on the use of the construct genitive in Classical Syriac through the nineteen centuries of literary Syriac.213 Although he does not analyze the relationship between the three major genitive constructions, he draws some conclusions regarding the use of the construct genitive construction throughout the history of Syriac. Notably, Brock submits that writers during the fourth and fifth centuries used construct phrases whose second members normally qualify the first, but later it was more common for the first member to qualify the second.214 Brock also observes that along with this shift, participles were used less frequently as head nouns after the fifth century, while abstract nouns were used more frequently as first members. 215

Ibid. Ibid. 207 Ibid. 208 Ibid., 37. 209 Ibid. 210 Ibid. 211 Ibid. 212 Ibid. 213 Sebastian P. Brock, “Some Remarks on the Use of the Construct in Classical Syriac,” in Built on Solid Rock: Studies in Honour of Professor Ebbe Egede Knudsen on the Occasion of his 65 th Birthday, April 11th 1997 (ed. Elie Wardini; Oslo: Instituttet for sammenlignende kulturforskning, 1997), 44–60. 214 Ibid., 59. 215 Ibid. 205 206

26

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

F3. Other Aramaic 1. Golomb David M. Golomb discusses the use of genitive constructions in Targum Neofiti I (TN) in his book, A Grammar of Targum Neofiti.216 His corpus-based study uses the biblical Book of Genesis. He asserts that inalienable possession is expressed through the cataphoric genitive construction.217 This includes kinship terms and other terms such as ‘house,’ ‘hand,’ and ‘day.’218 The adjunct genitive construction, according to Golomb, is employed for common idioms including those with the first members ‘god,’ ‘land,’ and ‘king.’219 Golomb observes that the adjunct genitive construction is an acceptable form when the divine name is the second member. 220 The cataphoric genitive construction, he asserts, is used for “anthropomorphic avoidances.”221 “Expansions of Masoretic place names” appear in the adjunct genitive construction. 2. Fassberg There are two pages on the use of the genitive relationship in the Targum Fragments from the Cairo Geniza in the book, A Grammar of the Palestinian Targum Fragments from the Cairo Genizah, by Steven E. Fassberg.222 He observes that the cataphoric genitive construction is used for all 22 pointed instances of the phrase ‘the Word of the Lord.’ 223 The syntagm, ‘the children of Israel,’ takes the construct genitive construction with only one exception, Fassberg notes.224

G. SUMMARY OF RESEARCH Research on the genitive construction in early Aramaic, Syriac, and other Aramaic has three primary areas of agreement. First, the construct genitive construction is usually used for compound words. Second, noun phrases expressing material composition regularly employ the adjunct genitive construction. Third, when the second member is a personal proper noun, the cataphoric genitive construction is preferred. Further research is needed, however, to explore how genitive constructions in a book in the MT are rendered by a variety of Aramaic dialects. The effect of the syntactic

Golomb, A Grammar of Targum Neofiti, 218–228. A longer version of this section is “Nominal Syntax in the Language of Codex Vatican Neofiti 1: The Genitive Relationship,”JAOS 102.2 (1982): 297– 308. 217 Ibid., 218. 218 Ibid. 219 Ibid. 220 Ibid. 221 Ibid. 222 Fassberg, A Grammar of the Palestinian Targum Fragments from the Cairo Genizah, 251–52. 223 Ibid., 251. 224 Ibid. 216

INTRODUCTION

27

relationship between members of a genitive construction on the selection of the type of genitive construction also needs additional study. The impact of the first member and second member used on the selection of genitive construction needs further research. Finally, a thorough analysis of which construction is the most restricted lexically and syntactically, and thus ‘marked,’ will augment the body of research published today.

CHAPTER TWO:

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN SYRIAC PESHITTA

A. INTRODUCTION This chapter discusses the use of the genitive syntagm in Peshitta Exodus. The Syriac Peshitta represents the Aramaic language of Edessa and is intermediate between Eastern and Western Aramaic in the late period. The three primary Aramaic genitive constructions will be studied for their distribution in translating the construct phrase in Hebrew: the construct phrase, the genitive adjunct phrase with d-, and the genitive phrase with d- anticipated by a possessive suffix on the head noun. These will be referred to as constructions a, b, and c, respectively. The two marked members a and c will be analyzed according to the syntactic relationship between the two members of the genitive syntagm. The cataphoric genitive construction will be discussed first because its selection criteria seem to be more restricted and clearer than the criteria for the construct phrase. A detailed analysis according to first members and then second members will follow. Finally, conclusions will be drawn concerning the criteria used by Peshitta Exodus for selecting one genitive construction over another.

B. CLASSIFICATION BY COMBINATIONS This section will analyze the use of the genitive syntagm in Peshitta Exodus based upon the use of combinations, first member and second member pairs, in the various constructions. This analysis regards number to be determinative when distinguishing members. That is, a singular form of a noun is counted as a separate member from the plural form. The state of the noun, be it construct, absolute, or determined, will not, however, distinguish members. A member in the absolute state will be regarded as the same member as the noun in the determined state. Gender will be used to differentiate members in this analysis. For example, the feminine adjective ‫ ܚܟܝܡܬ‬will be considered a different member than the masculine form ‫ܚܟܝܡ‬. The number of combinations occurring in a construct phrase, construction a, is 109. The cataphoric genitive construction has 126 combinations, while 356 combinations are used in construction b, the first member bound to the second by the relativizer. The construct phrase and the cataphoric genitive construction are the marked members with construction b unmarked.

29

30

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

B1. Classification of Combinations Used in the Cataphoric Genitive Construction by the Syntactic Relationship between Members

The 126 combinations used in the cataphoric genitive construction fall into 10 different classes described below. 1. Divine Name There are 21 combinations in which ‫‘( ܡܪܝܐ‬the Lord’) or ‫‘( ܠܐܗܐ‬God’) is used as a second member. ‫ ܡܪܝܐ‬is used as the second member in 18 different combinations in Peshitta Exodus. It is only found in the cataphoric genitive construction. ‫ ܡܪܝܐ‬is used with the following first members: ‘angel’ (3:2; 14:19), ‘anger’ (4:14), ‘cloud’ (40:38), ‘commandments’ (18:16), ‘glory’ (‫ ܐܝܩܪܐ‬40:34, 35), ‘glory’ (‫ ܫܘܒܚܐ‬16:7, 10; 24:16), ‘hand’ (9:3; 16:3), ‘hosts’ (12:41), ‘house’ (23:19; 34:26), ‘law’ ( ‫ ܢܡܘܣܐ‬13:9), ‘mouth’ (17:1), ‘name’ (20:7), ‘oath’ ̈ (22:10), ‘salvation’ (14:13), ‘sound’ (15:26), ‘word’ ( ‫ܡܠܬܐ‬ 02:9, 21), ‘words’ (‫ ܦܬܓܡܐ‬4.28; 24:3, 4), and ‘work’ (34:10). ‫ ܠܐܗܐ‬is used as a second member in construction c in 3 different combinations. The following first members are found in Peshitta Exodus: ‘finger’ (8:15; 31:18), ‘sounds/thunder’ (9:28), and ‘mountain’ (3:1; 4:27; 18:5; 24:13). Since ‫ ܡܪܝܐ‬is only used as a second member in construction c, one might expect that the same would be true for ‫ ܠܐܗܐ‬.‫ܠܐܗܐ‬, however, occurs 4 times in the adjunct genitive construction. The phrase ‫‘( ܪܘܚܐ ܕܠܐܗܐ‬a divine spirit’) occurs twice (31:3 and 35:31) as does ‫ܚܘܛܪܐ ܕܠܐܗܐ‬ (‘a divine staff,’ 4:20; 17:9). Construction b seems to be used to express the attribute ‘divine.’ 2. Kinship There are 13 combinations which express a kinship relationship. Every second member is the name of an individual with the exception of ‫‘( ܠܛܝܐ‬child,’ 2:8). This exception may be explained by its use with the first member ‘mother’ which is only found as a first member in the cataphoric genitive construction. Certain kinship relationships are only expressed in construction c. ‘Father-in-law’ only occurs as a first member in construction c. It occurs 7 times to describe Jethro as ‫‘( ܚܡܘܗܝ ܕܡܘܫܐ‬the father-in-law of Moses,’ 18:1, 2, 5, 12[2], 14, 17). ‘Sister’ as a first member is restricted to construction c in Exodus. It is used with the second members ‘Aaron’ (15:30) and ‘Nahshon’ (6:23). ‘Daughters’ is only found as a first member in ̈ construction c. ‫‘( ܒܢܬܗ ܕܦܢܛܝܠ‬the daughters of Puntiel,’ 6:25) is its only occurrence in Peshitta Exodus. Although ‘firstborn’ in the singular and plural is found as a first member in the adjunct genitive construction, it is only found as a first member in construction c when the second member is the name of a person. ‫‘( ܒܘܟܪܗ ܕܦܪܥܘܢ‬the firstborn of Pharaoh’) occurs twice (11:5; 12:29) in Peshitta Exodus. ‫‘( ܒܪܗ ܕܐܗܪܘܢ‬the son of Aaron’) is used once in Peshitta Exodus (38:21). The same combination is also found in the construct genitive construction in 6:25. The difference seems to be that in 6:25 Eleazar is simply identified as an Aaronite, whereas in 38:21, Aaron is viewed as the individual progenitor of priests, so construction c is employed. Peshitta seems to be obligated to view Aaron as a particular individual because the MT has ‫‘( ַהכ ֵֹּהן‬the priest’) in apposition to ‫ן־א ֲהר ֹּן‬ ַ ‫‘( ֶב‬the son of Aaron’). This same distinction can be made between the use of ‘sons’ as a first member in construction c

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN SYRIAC PESHITTA

31

and in construction a when the second member is the name of a person. ‘Sons’ is used as a first member in the cataphoric genitive construction when the following second members are employed: ‘Gershon’ (6:17), ‘Izhar’ (6:21), ‘Kohath’ (6:18), ‘Levi’ (32:26), ‘Merari’ (6:19), and ‘Uzziel’ (6:22). In each instance, the person is viewed by Peshitta as ̈ a particular individual. These instances are different than the term ‫‘( ܒܢ ܝ ܐܝܣܪܝܠ‬the sons of Israel’), which is a fixed phrase to denote an Israelite. ‫ ܐܝܣܪܝܠ‬appears to be viewed as a group and not as a particular individual. 3. Body Part Twenty-two combinations express a body part relationship in the cataphoric genitive construction. Each time a personal name is used as the second member, a literal body part seems to be intended. By contrast, there are only two instances of a body part ̈ relationship with a personal name as the second member found in construction a: ‫ܒܥܝܢ ܝ‬ ‫‘( ܦܪܥܘܢ‬the eyes of Pharaoh,’ 5:21) and ‫‘( ܠܥܝܢ ܦܪܥܘܢ‬the eye of Pharaoh,’ 7:20). It may be that Peshitta views these two instances as a more nonliteral use of a body part than those found in construction c. The following 13 combinations of a first member body part with a second member personal name in construction c are found in Peshitta ̈ Exodus: ‫‘( ܐܕܢܗ ܕܐܗܪܘܢ‬the ear of Aaron,’ 29:20), ‫‘( ܒܬܝ ܥܝܢܘܗܝ ܕܐܗܪܘܢ‬the forehead of ̈ Aaron,’ 28:38), ‫‘( ܐܝܕܗ ܕܐܗܪܘܢ‬the hand of Aaron,’ 29:9), ‫‘( ܥܝܢ ܝܗܘܢ ܕܡܨ̈ܪܝܐ‬the eyes of the Egyptians,’ 3:21; 11:3; 12:36), ‫‘( ܠܒܗܘܢ ܕܡܨ̈ܪܝܐ‬the heart of the Egyptians,’ 14:17), ‫̈ܚܨܗ‬ ‫‘( ܕܝܥܩܘܒ‬the loin of Jacob,’ 1:5), ‫‘( ̈ܓ̈ܪܡܘܗܝ ܕܝܘܣܦ‬the bones of Joseph,’ 13:19), ‫ܐܦܘܗܝ‬ ‫‘( ܕܡܘܫܐ‬the face of Moses,’ 34:35), ‫‘( ܐܝܕܘܗܝ ܕܡܘܫܐ‬the hands of Moses,’ 17:12), ‫ܦܘܡܗ‬ ‫‘( ܕܡܘܫܐ‬the mouth of Moses,’ 38:21), ‫‘( ܥܢ̈ܘܗܝ ܕܦܪܥܘܢ‬the eyes of Pharaoh,’ 9:8), ‫ܐܝܕܗ‬ ‫‘( ܕܦܪܥܘܢ‬the hand of Pharaoh,’ 18:9, 10), and ‫‘( ܠܒܗ ܕܦܪܥܘܢ‬the heart of Pharaoh,’ 7:3, 13, 14, 22; 18:15; 9:7, 12, 35; 10:20, 27; 11:10; 14:4, 8). For each instance, it can be argued that a literal body part of a particular individual or group is intended. Of the remaining 9 combinations, three of them denote the literal body ̈ part of a particular creature: ‫‘( ܪܫܗ ܕܬܘܪܐ‬the head of the bull,’ 29:10), ‫‘( ܐܦܝܗܘܢ ܕܟ̈ܪܘܒܐ‬the faces of the cherubs,’ 25:20; 37:9), and ‫‘( ܪܫܗ ܕܕܟܪܐ‬the head of the ram,’ 29:15, 19). Six of the 22 combinations involve a non-literal use of a body part as the first member and a geographical feature or material object as the second member: ‫‘( ܦܘܡܗ ܕܪܫܗ‬the mouth ̇ ‫ܪܫܗ‬ ̇ (‘the head of the hill,’ 17:9), ‫ܥܝܢܗ ܕܐܪܥܐ‬ ̇ (‘the surface of of its top,’ 28:32), ‫ܕܪܡܬܐ‬ the earth,’ 10:5), ‫‘( ܪܝܫܗ ܕܛܘܪܐ‬the head of the mountain,’ 19:20[2]; 24:17), ‫ܦܘܡܗ‬ ‫‘( ܕܦܪܙܘܡܐ‬the mouth/opening of the robe,’ 39:23), and ‫‘( ܠܒܗ ܕܝܡܐ‬the heart of the sea,’ 15:8). 4. Nominalized Predicate In a nominalized predicate, the second member is the subject of the verb that has been nominalized in the first member. There are 8 combinations in the cataphoric genitive construction in Peshitta Exodus that function as nominalized predicates. The 8 combinations occurring in construction c are: ‫‘( ܩܠܗ ܕܚܡܘܗܝ‬the voice of his father-inlaw,’ 18:24), ‫‘( ܪܘܓܙܗ ܕܡܪܝ‬the anger of my lord,’ 32:22), ‫‘( ܡܠܬܗ ܕܡܘܫܐ‬the word of Moses,’ 8:9, 27; 12:35; 32:28), ‫‘( ܫܘܥܒܕܗ ܕܥܡܝ‬the servitude of my people,’ 3:7), ‫ܩܠܗ‬ ̈ ‫‘( ܕܥܡܐ‬the sound of the people,’ 32:17), ‫‘( ܦܬܓܡܘܗܝ ܕܥܡܐ‬the words of the people,’ ̈ ̈ ̇ 19:8, 9), ‫‘( ܡܠܝܗܘܢ ܕܙܟܝܐ‬the words of righteous ones,’ 23:8), and ‫ܡܦܩܗ ܕܫܢܬܐ‬ (‘the turning of the year,’ 34:22). These predicate nominatives appear to have more of a

32

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

̇ (‘the verbal idea than the three found in the construct genitive construction: ‫ܥܒܕ ܢܓܪ‬ ̇ (‘the work of a perfumer,’ 30:25), and ‫ܟܪܝܘܬ‬ work of a carpenter,’ 35:35), ‫ܡܒܣܡ‬ ݂ ‫ܥܒܕ‬ ‫‘( ܪܘܚܐ‬shortness of spirit,’ 6:9). 5. First Member Is an Abstract Noun of Quality There are 6 combinations in construction c in Peshitta Exodus in which the first member is an abstract noun of quality. This compares to only one such combination found in construction a. The 6 in construction c are: ‫‘( ܦܬܝܗ ܕܕܦܐ‬the breadth of the ̇ board,’ 26:16; 36:21), ‫‘( ܐܘܪܟܗ ܕܕܦܐ‬the length of the board,’ 26:16; 36:21), ‫ܦܬܝܗ ܕܕܪܬܐ‬ ̇ (‘the breadth of the court,’ 27:12, 13), ‫ܐܘܪܟܗ ܕܕܪܬܐ‬ (‘the length of the court,’ 27:18), ̈ ‫ܦܬܝܗ ܐ̈ܪܒܥ‬ ̇ ̇ ‫ܐܡܝܢ ܕܝܪܝܥܬܐ‬ (‘the breadth of the curtain, four cubits’ 36:15), and ‫ܐܘܪܟܗ‬ ‫‘( ܕܝܪܝܥܬܐ‬the length of the curtain,’ 26:2, 8; 36:9, 15). The lone occurrence of an ̈ abstract noun of quality as the first member in construction a is ‫ܐܪܕܠܟܘܬ ܟܐܦܐ‬ (‘architecture of stones,’ 35:33). 6. Definitional Attribute, First This class is defined by the first member functioning as an attribute that in some way defines the second member. There are two combinations in construction c in which the first member is an attribute that in some way defines the second member. Construction a has 3 such combinations. The two combinations in construction c are both found once ̇ (‘the name of the one’) and ‫ܫܡܗ ܕܐܚܪܬܝܐ‬ ̇ (‘the name of the other’). in 1:15: ‫ܫܡܗ ܕܚܕܐ‬ 7. Basic Possession Basic possession describes the relationship in which it is assumed that the second member inherently possesses the first member. There are 7 such combinations in construction c while there are only 3 in construction a. The 7 found in the cataphoric ̇ genitive construction are: ‫ܠܠܬܗ ܕܐܪܥܟ‬ ‫‘( ̈ܥ‬the harvests of your land,’ 23:19; 34:26), ‫‘( ܠܒܫܗ ܕܚܒܪܟ‬the garment of your neighbor,’ 22:25), ‫‘( ܒܬܝܗ ܕܚܒܪܟ‬the house of your neighbor,’ 20:17), ‫‘( ܚ ܝܠܗ ܕܦܪܥܘܢ‬the army of Pharaoh,’ 14:28), ‫ܡ̈ܪܟܒܬܗ ܕܦܪܥܘܢ‬ (‘the chariots of Pharaoh,’ 15:4), ‫‘( ̈ܪܟܫܗ ܕܦܪܥܘܢ‬the horses of Pharaoh,’ 14:23; 15:19), and ‫‘( ܚܪܒܗ ܕܦܪܥܘܢ‬the sword of Pharaoh,’ 18:4). The second members ‘your land’ and ‘your neighbor’ are only found in construction c in Peshitta Exodus. Construction c is used to express basic possession in laws (e.g. 20:17; 22:25). 8. Objective Genitive When the second member of a genitive construction functions as the object of the first member, it may be called an objective genitive. There is only one objective genitive in construction c, ‫‘( ܕܘܟܪܙܗ ܕܥܡܠܝܩ‬the memory of Amalek,’ 17:14), whereas there are 5 objective genitive combinations in the construct genitive construction. The cataphoric genitive construction is called for with ‫ ܕܘܟܪܙܗ ܕܥܡܠܝܩ‬because the second member is a personal name, which is almost always found in construction c. 9. Part-Whole The class that has the most combinations, 33, in the cataphoric genitive construction is the part-whole relationship. The first member is a part of the whole represented by the

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN SYRIAC PESHITTA

33

second member. All but 5 of the second members are physical items related to the ̇ tabernacle and its worship. The 5 exceptions are: ‫ܠܣܘܦܗ ܕܐܪܥܐ ܕܟܙܥܢ‬ (‘the end of the ̈ ̇ land of Canaan,’ 16:35), ‫ܓܘܗ ܕܐܪܥܐ‬ (‘the midst of the earth,’ 8:18), ‫ܫܦܘܠܘܗܝ ܕܛܘܪܐ‬ (‘the lower parts of the mountain,’ 19:17), ‫‘( ܦܠܓܗ ܕܠܠܝܐ‬half of the night,’ 11:4; 12:29), and ‫‘( ܣܦܬܗ ܕܙܗܪܐ‬the edge of the river,’ 2:3; 7:15). Each of the 5 second members appears to be viewed as a particular item. 10. Special Relationship A special relationship is defined as a first member having an accepted societal role in relation to the second member. Thirteen combinations used in the cataphoric genitive construction in Peshitta Exodus fall into this class. Five of the combinations have a ̇ second member that is a personal name: ‫ܕܐܒܪܗܡ‬ ‫‘( ܠܐܗܗ‬the God of Abraham,’ 3:6, 15, ̈ 16), ‫‘( ܕܚܠܬܗܘܢ ܕܡܨ̈ܪܝܐ‬the deities of the Egyptians,’ 12:12), ‫‘( ܠܐܗܗ ܕܐܝܣܚܩ‬the God of ݂̈ Isaac,’ 3:6, 15; 4:5), ‫‘( ܠܐܗܗ ܕܝܥܩܘܒ‬the God of Jacob,’ 3:6, 15; 4:5), and ‫ܥܒܕܘܗܝ‬ ‫‘( ܕܦܪܥܘܢ‬the servants of Pharaoh,’ 11:3). Two other combinations have ‫ ܠܐܗܐ‬as the first member: ‫‘( ܠܐܗܗ ܕܐܒܝ‬the God of my father,’ 15:2) and ‫‘( ܠܐܗܗ ܕܐܒܘܟ‬the God of your father,’ 3:6). Three combinations have ‘owner’ as the first member: ‫‘( ܡܪܗ ܕܬܘܪܐ‬the owner of the bull,’ 21:28), ‫‘( ܡܪܗ ܕܒܬܝܐ‬the owner of the house,’ 22:7), and ‫‘( ܡܪܗ ܕܓܘܒܐ‬the owner of the pit,’ 21:34). Each of these is used in a stipulation. Two other combinations are used in laws: ‫‘( ܐܢܬܬܗ ܕܚܒܪܟ‬the wife of your neighbor,’ 20:17) and ‫‘( ܒܥܠ ̇ܗ ܕܐܢܬܬܐ‬the husband of the woman,’ 21:22). The final combination is also found in constructions b and c: ‫‘( ܒܘܟܪܗ ܕܐܝܣܪܝܠ‬the firstborn of Israel,’ 6:14). B2. Classification of Combinations Used in the Construct Genitive Construction by the Syntactic Relationship between Members

The 109 combinations used in the construct genitive construction fall into 13 different classes described below. 1. Kinship Nine combinations involve a kinship relationship. Six of these have ‫‘( ܒܪܐ‬son’) as the head noun while the remaining 3 have ‫‘( ܒܪܬܐ‬daughter’) as the first member. Second members used with ‫‘( ܒܪܐ‬son’) as the head noun are: ‫‘( ܐܗܪܘܢ‬Aaron,’ 6:25), ‫ܐܚ ܝܣܡܟ‬ (‘Ahisamach,’ 31:6; 35:34; 38:23), ‫‘( ܟܢܥܢ ܬܝܐ‬Canaanite,’ 6:15), ‫‘( ܚܘܪ‬Hur,’ 31:2; 35:30; 38:22), ‫‘( ܢܘܢ‬Nun,’ 33:11), and ‫‘( ܐܘܪܝ‬Uri,’ 31:2; 35:30; 38:22). In each case, the personal name seems to represent a lineage rather than focusing on the person as an individual. ‫ ܒܪܐ‬serves as a first member for a kinship relationship in construction c only once, ‫ܒܪܗ‬ ‫‘( ܕܐܗܪܘܢ‬the son of Aaron,’ 38:21). ‫‘( ܒܪܬܐ‬daughter’) is used as a first member in construction a with the following second members: ‫‘( ܥܡܝܢܕܒ‬Amminadab,’ 6:23), ‫‘( ܠܘܝ‬Levi,’ 2:1), and ‫‘( ܦܪܥܘܢ‬Pharaoh,’ 2:5). ‫‘( ܒܪܬܐ‬daughter’) is only used as a first member in construction a in Peshitta Exodus, while the plural is limited to construction c.

34

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

2. Fixed Phrase Twenty combinations are employed in the construct genitive construction which appear to have become “fixed phrases” through frequent use. These fixed phrases are similar to compound words in English. The construct genitive construction seems to be the favored construction to codify these phrases for there appear to be no fixed phrases used in the cataphoric genitive construction. Fixed phrases used in the construct genitive construction in Peshitta Exodus are ̈ the following: ‫‘( ܒܢ ܝ ܐܗܪܘܢ‬the sons of Aaron,’ 28:1, 40), ‫ܡܫܟܒܟ‬ ‫‘( ܒܬܝ‬the house of ̇ your bed,’ that is, ‘your bedroom,’ 7:28), ‫‘( ܒܪ ܒܩܪܐ‬the son of cattle,’ ̈ that is, ‘a young bull,’ 29:1), ‫‘( ܒܬܝ ܐܒܘܗܝ‬the house of his fathers,’ 12:3), ‫‘( ܒܬܝ ܐܒܗܝܗܘܢ‬the house of ̈ their fathers,’ 6:14), ‫‘( ܚ ܝܘܬ ܒܪܐ‬the beast of the field,’ 23:29), ‫‘( ܒܢ ܝ ܐܝܣܪܝܠ‬the sons of Israel,’ 1:1, 7, 9, 12, 13, etc.), ‫‘( ܒܬܝ ܝܥܩܘܒ‬the house of Jacob,’ 19:3), ‫ܩܘܪܚ‬ ‫ܒܢ̈ ܝ‬ ̇ ̈ (‘the sons of Korah,’ 6:24), ‫ܠܘܝ‬ ̇ ‫‘( ܒܬܝ‬the house of Levi,’ 2:1), ‫‘( ܒܢ ܝ ܠܘܝ‬the sons of Levi,’ 6:16; 32:28), ‫‘( ܒܬܝ ܓܒܪܐ‬the house of the man,’ 22:6), ‫‘( ܡܫܟܢ ܙܒܢܐ‬the tent of meeting,’ 27:21; 28:43; thirteen other times), ‫‘( ܒܬܝ ܦܪܥܘܢ‬the house of Pharaoh,’ 8:20), ‫ܪܘܒܝܠ‬ ‫‘( ̈ܒܢ ܝ‬the sons of Reuben,’ 6:14), ‫‘( ̈ܒܢ ܝ ܫܡܥܘܢ‬the sons of Simeon,’ 6:15), ‫̈ܒܢ ܝ‬ ̈ ‫‘( ܒܢ ܝܐ‬sons of sons,’ 34:7), ‫‘( ܒܪ ܫܢܬܐ‬son of a year,’ that is, ‘a year old,’ 12:5), and ‫ܒܢ̈ ܝ‬ ‫‘( ܫܢܬܐ‬sons of a year,’ that is, ‘year-olds,’ 29:38). When ‫‘( ܒܬܝܐ‬house’) is used as a first member in a nonliteral sense, the construct genitive construction is employed. When ‫ ܒܬܝܐ‬is used literally as a first member, the cataphoric genitive construction is used. ‘Sons’ is used as a first member in construction a to denote the group identified by the second member. The cataphoric genitive construction is normally used to express ‘sons of’ a specific person. 3. Body Part Twenty-five combinations, used in construction a have a body part as the first member used in a nonliteral, extended ̈ way. The following are some of the combinations found in Peshitta Exodus: ‫‘( ܐܦܝ ܐܪܥܐ‬the face/surface of the earth,’ 32:12; 33:16), ‫ܥܣ̈ܪܐ‬ ̈ ‫̈ܪܫܝ‬ (‘heads of tens,’ 18:21, 25), ‫ܚܡܫܝܢ‬ ‫̈ܪܝܫܝ‬ (‘heads of fifties,’ 18:21, 25), ‫ܘܬܐ‬ ‫̈ܪܝܫܝ ܡܐ‬ ̇ ̈ (‘heads of hundreds,’ 18:21, 25), ‫‘( ̈ܪܝܫܝ ܠܐܦܐ‬heads of thousands,’ 18:21, 25), ‫ܪܝܫ ܚܨ ܕܐ‬ ̈ (‘head of the wheat harvest,’ 34:22), ‫ܠܠܬܗ ܕܐܪܥܟ‬ ̇ ‫ܕܚܛܐ‬ ‫‘( ܪܝܫ ̈ܥ‬the head of the harvest ̇ ‫‘( ܪܝܫ‬the head/top of the hill,’ 17:10), ‫ܪܝܫ ܥܒܘܪܟܘܢ‬ of your land,’ 23:19; 34:26), ‫ܪܡܬܐ‬ (‘the head of your labor,’ 23:16), ‫‘( ܪܝܫ ܝ̈ܪܚܐ‬head of months,’ 12:2), ‫‘( ܪܝܫ ܛܘܪܐ‬thë head/top of the mountain,’ 34:2), ‫‘( ܝܕ ܢܗܪܐ‬the hand/bank of the river,’ 2:5), ‫ܐܦܝ ܡܫܟܢܐ‬ (‘the face/front ̈ of the tent,’ 26:9), ‫‘( ܦܘܡ ܣܝܪܗ‬the mouth of its thread,’ 28:32; 39:23), ̈ and ‫‘( ܐܦܝ ܡܝܐ‬the face of the water,’ 32:20). When the first member is a literal body part, the cataphoric genitive construction is typically employed. ‫‘( ܥܝܢ‬eye’) and ‫‘( ܥܝܢ̈ ܝ‬eyes’) are used as the head noun in 9 combinations. ‫ܥܝܢ‬ (‘eye’) is used as a first member in the following combinations: ‫ܥܝܢ ܠܟܗܘܢ ܕܒܬܝܐܝܣܪܝܠ‬ ̈ ̈ (‘the eye/sight of all the house of Israel,’ 24:17), ‫‘( ܥܝܢ ܣܒܐ ܕܒܢ ܝ ܐܝܣܪܝܠ‬the eye/sight of the elders of the sons of Israel,’ 17:6), ‫‘( ܥܝܢ ܦܪܥܘܢ‬the eye/sight of ̈ ݂ ‫‘( ܥܝܢ‬the eye/sight of his servants,’ 7:20). ‫‘( ܥܝܢ̈ ܝ‬eyes’) Pharaoh,’ 7:20), and ‫ܥܒܕܘܗܝ‬ ̇ ‫‘( ܥܝܢ̈ ܝ‬the eyes/sight of functions as a head noun in the following combinations: ‫ܡܪܗ‬ ̈ ̈ her master,’ 21:8), ‫‘( ܥܝܢ ܝ ܥܡܐ‬the eyes/sight of the people,’ 11:3), ‫‘( ܥܝܢ ܝ ܦܪܥܘܢ‬the ̈ ̈ eyes/sight of Pharaoh,’ 5:21), ‫ܥܒܕܘܗܥ ܕܦܪܥܘܢ‬ ݂ ‫‘( ܥܝܢ ܝ‬the eyes/sight of the servants of ̈ ݂ ‫‘( ܥܝܢ̈ ܝ‬the eyes/sight Pharaoh,’ 11:3), and ‫ܕܘܗܝ‬ of his servants,’ 5:21). ̇ ‫ܥܒ‬

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN SYRIAC PESHITTA

35

4. Adjective The adjective class is defined by the first member being an adjective modifying the second member as an attribute. This type of relationship is not expressed in Peshitta by the cataphoric genitive construction. Ten combinations in the construct genitive construction function this way in Peshitta Exodus. Four of the 10 combinations involve some form of ‘wise’ as the first member and ‘heart’ as the second member: ‫ܚܟܡܬ ܠܒܐ‬ (‘wisdom of heart,’ 35:35), ‫‘( ܚܟܝܡܬ ܠܒܐ‬wise [fem.] of heart,’ 35:25), ‫ܚܟܝܡ ܠܒܐ‬ ̈ (‘wise ones of heart,’ 28:3; 31:6; (‘wise [masc.] of heart,’ 36:1, 2), and ‫ܚܟܝܡܝ ܠܒܐ‬ 35:10; 36:8). The other 6 combinations fitting this class are: ‫ܡܥܛܪ ܥܛܪܐ‬ ݂ (‘a place of burning incense,’ 30:1), ‫‘( ܙܒܝܢ ܟܣܦܐ‬purchased of money,’ 12:44), ‫ܡܠܠܝ‬ ̇ ‫ܠܥܓ ̇ܡ‬ (‘stammerer of speech,’ 4:10), ‫‘( ݂ܥܛܠ ܠܫܢܐ‬difficult of tongue,’ 4:10), ‫ܠܥܓ ܠܫܢ ܝ‬ ̇ (‘the opener of wombs,’ 13:12[2], 15; (‘stammerer of tongue,’ 6:30), and ‫ܦܬܚ ̈ܪܚܡܐ‬ 34:19). 5. Nominalized Predicate A nominalized predicate is defined by the second member functioning as the subject of the verb that has been nominalized in the first member. While 8 nominalized predicates are found in the cataphoric genitive construction, only 3 such combinations are used in the construct genitive construction in Peshitta Exodus. The 3 nominalized predicates ̇ (‘the work of a carpenter,’ 35:35), ‫ܡܒܣܡ‬ ̇ (‘the work of a perfumer,’ are: ‫ܥܒܕ ܢܓܪ‬ ݂ ‫ܥܒܕ‬ 30:25), and ‫‘( ܟܪܝܘܬ ܪܘܚܐ‬shortness of spirit,’ 6:9). 6. Part-Whole Fourteen combinations appear in the construct genitive construction when the first member is a part of the whole represented by the second member. The part-whole relationship is twice as prevalent in the cataphoric genitive construction, occurring in 33 combinations. Part-whole relationships for material objects are used in the construct genitive ̈ construction. These include ‫‘( ܩܢ ܝ ܡܢܪܬܐ‬the branches of the lampstand,’ 37:18[2]), ‫ܚܨܪ‬ ‫‘( ܟܒܕܐ‬the lobe of the liver,’ 29:22), ‫‘( ̈ܕܦܝ ܛܣܪܗ ܚܕ ܕܡܫܟܢܐ‬the boards of one side of the ̈ tabernacle,’ 36:31, 32), ‫‘( ܬܪܥ ܡܫܟܢܗ‬the doorway of his tent,’ 33:8, 10), and ‫ܡܐܢ ܝ‬ ‫‘( ܡܫܟܢܐ‬the vessels of the tent,’ 31:7). Other part-whole relationships specify a physical location of the whole. Those ̈ (‘the base of the altar,’ used in the construct genitive construction are: ‫ܫܦܘܠܝ ܡܕܒܚܐ‬ 29:12), ‫‘( ܓܘ ܣܢ ܝܐ‬the midst of the bush,’ 3:2, 4), ‫‘( ܛܣܪ ܪܘܚܐ ܕܬܝܡܢܐ‬the side of the ̈ blowing of the south,’ 27:9), ‫‘( ܓܘ ܡܫܟܢܐ‬the midst of the tent,’ 33:11), ‫ܫܦܘܠܝ ܡܫܟܢܐ‬ ̈ (‘the rear of the tent,’ 36:27; 40:24), and ‫‘( ܡܘܦܝ ܡܕܒܪܐ‬the ends of the wilderness,’ 13:20). One combination denotes a quantity of the whole: ‫‘( ܦܠܓܘܬ ܡܬܩܐܠ‬half a shekel,’ ̈ 30:13[2], 15). Another combination used in construction a is ‫‘( ܡܠܝ ܩܝ̇ܡܐ‬the words of the covenant,’ 34:28). ̈ The most frequently used combination in construction a is ‫ܩܘܕܫܐ‬ ‫‘( ܩܕܘܫ‬the holy of holies’). This phrase is used seven times (26:33, 34; 29:37; 30:10, 29, 36; 40:10). This combination solely appears in construction a in Peshitta Exodus. It may be that this pluralis majestatis is limited to the construct genitive construction in Syriac.

36

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

7. Basic Possession Basic possession is used to describe the relationship in which the second member is assumed to inherently possess the first member. While construction c has seven combinations used this way, especially in laws (cf. 20:17; 22:25), there are 3 combinations in the construction genitive construction in Peshitta Exodus. The three ̈ ݂ ‫‘( ܒܬܝ‬the house of his are: ‫ܒܬܝܗ‬ ‫‘( ܬܪܥ‬the doorway of his house,’ 12:22), ‫ܥܒܕܘܗܝ‬ ݂ ̈ servants,’ 8:20), and ‫ܕܝܟ‬ ݂ ‫‘( ܒܬܝ‬the house of your servants,’ 7:28). ̇ ‫ܥܒ‬ 8. Second Member Is an Abstract Noun of Quality There are 7 combinations in the construct genitive construction for which the second member is an abstract noun of quality that modifies the first member. There are no such instances in construction c. The 7 combinations are: ‫‘( ܒܬܝ ܥܒܕܘܬܐ‬the house of ̈ slavery,’ 13:3, 14; 20:2), ‫‘( ܡܫܝ ܚܘܬ ܩܘܕܫܐ‬oil of holy anointment,’ 30:25), ‫ܠ ܒܘܫܝ‬ ‫‘( ܩܘܕܫܐ‬holy garments,’ 28:2, 3, 4; 29:29; 31:10; 35:19; 35:21; 39:41; 40:13), ‫ܡܘܗܒܬ‬ ̈ ‫‘( ̈ܩܘܕܫܝܗܘܢ‬their holy gifts,’ 28:38), ‫ܩܘܕܫܐ‬ ‫ܩܠܝ‬ ‫ܡܬ‬ (‘the shekels of the holy place,’ ̈ 30:13, 24; 38:26), ‫‘( ܠ ܒܘܫܝ ܬܫܡܫܬܐ‬garments of ministry,’ 31:10; 35:19; 39:1, 41), ̇ (‘work of skill,’ 35:33). and ‫ܥܒܕ ܐܘܡܢܘ‬ 9. Definitional Attribute, Second This class is defined by the second member functioning as an attribute that in some way defines the first member. There are 4 such combinations in construction a, but none expressed in the cataphoric genitive construction. The 4 combinations in Peshitta ̈ Exodus are: ‫‘( ܒܪ ܬܡܢܐܝܢ ܗܘܐ ܘܬܠܬ‬a son of eighty-three,’ 7:7), ‫‘( ܠܚܡ ܐܦܐ‬bread of ̈ presence,’ 25:30), ‫‘( ܩܘܢܡܘܢ ܒܣܡܐ‬fragrant cinnamon,’ 30:23), and ‫ܢܓܪܘܬ ܩܝܣܐ‬ (‘carpentry of wood,’ 35:33). 10. Objective Genitive An objective genitive construction has a second member which serves as the object of the first member. There are 6 combinations in construction a that function this way ̈ in ̈ Peshitta Exodus: ‫‘( ܢܛ̈ܪܝ ܦܘܩܕܢ ܝ‬keepers of my commandments, 20:6), ‫ܬܝܒܝ ܐܪܥܐ‬ (‘inhabitants of the land,’ 23:31; 34:12, 15), ‫‘( ܦܘܪܩܢ ܢܦܫܗ‬ransom of his soul,’ 30:12), ̈ ̈ ̈ (‘the sacrifices of their peace offerings,’ 29:28), ‫ܡܬܚܫܒܝ‬ ‫ܕܒܚ ܝ ̈ܫܠܡܝܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܡܚܫܒܬܐ‬ ̈ ̇ ‫‘( ܥܒܕܝ‬the performers of the work,’ 36:8). (‘planners of plans,’ 35:35), and ‫ܥܒܕܐ‬ There is only one objective genitive in construction c, ‫‘( ܕܘܟܪܢܗ ܕܥܡܠܝܩ‬the memory of Amalek,’ 17:14). The cataphoric genitive construction is called for because the second member is a personal name, which is almost always found in construction c. 11. Special Relationship When a first member has an accepted societal role in relation to the second member, it is considered a special relationship. Whereas there were 13 special relationships in construction c, there are only 4 in the construct phrase. The 4 combinations are: ‫ܒܪ‬ ‫‘( ܐܡܬܟ‬the son of your female servant,’ 23:12), ‫‘( ܒܪ ܢܘܟ̈ܪܝܐ‬son of foreigners,’ 12:43), ‫‘( ܒܢ̈ ܝ ܥܒ̈ܪܝܐ‬the sons of the Hebrews,’ 2:6), and ‫‘( ܐܢܬܬܐ ܒܥܠ‬the husband of the ̈ woman,’ 21:3). ‫ ܒܢ ܝ ܥܒ̈ܪܝܐ‬are found in a law.

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN SYRIAC PESHITTA

37

12. Definitional Attribute, First This class is defined by the first member functioning as an attribute that in some way defines the second member. There are two such combinations in construction c while ̈ construction a has 3: ‫‘( ܡܢ ܝܢ ܝܘܡܬܟܘܢ‬number of your days,’ 23:26), ‫ܡܣܬ ܡܐܠܟܗ‬ ̈ (‘the measure of his eating,’ 12:4; 16:16, 18, 21), and ‫‘( ܡܢ ݂ܝܢ ܢܦܫܬܟܘܢ‬the number of your souls,’ 16:16). 13. First Member Is an Abstract Noun of Quality The sole ̈ occurrence of an abstract noun of quality as the first member in construction a is ‫‘( ܐܪܕܠܟܘܬ ܟܐܦܐ‬architecture of stones,’ 35:33). There are 6 such combinations in the cataphoric genitive construction. B3. Combinations Used in the Adjunct Genitive Construction The adjunct genitive construction, construction b, has 356 combinations in Peshitta Exodus. It is the unmarked member used as a default when the criteria for constructions c and a are not met.

C. ANALYSIS BY FIRST MEMBERS This section will analyze the use of the genitive syntagm in Peshitta Exodus based upon the use of first members (nomen regens). This analysis regards number to be determinative when distinguishing members. That is, a singular form of a noun is counted as a separate member from the plural form. The state of the noun, be it construct, absolute, or determined, will not, however, distinguish members. That is, a member in the absolute state will be regarded as the same member as the noun in the determined state. Gender will be used to differentiate members in this analysis. For example, the feminine adjective ‫ ܚܟܝܡܬ‬will be considered a different member than the masculine form ‫ܚܟܝܡ‬. C1. First Members That Occur in Each Construction 1. Construction a There are fewer first members used in construction a than either constructions b or c. The distribution, by number and gender, of first members used in construction a is shown below. 56 different first members 34 singular 21 masculine 13 feminine 22 plural 20 masculine 2 feminine Feminine plural nouns are more seldomly used as first members in construction a in P Exodus than in the rest of the Peshitta. The other first members appear in the

38

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

proportion of singular to plural and masculine to feminine that would be expected from the distribution of nouns in the rest of the P Exodus. While a broad range of categories of first members are attested in construction a, only nouns with construct (bound) forms may appear in this construction. 2. Construction b Construction b has more different first members than constructions a and c combined. The distribution by number and gender of first members used in construction b is shown below. 212 different first members 142 singular 102 masculine 40 feminine 70 plural 53 masculine 17 feminine 3. Construction c Construction c has about one third as many different first members as construction b, but more than construction a. The distribution of first members according to number and gender is shown below. 76 different first members 50 singular 38 masculine 12 feminine 26 plural 15 masculine 11 feminine ms noun form

fs form

mp form

fp form

total

Suffix 3ms

31

10

10

7

58

3fs

7

0

2

0

0

4

3

1

12

5

3fp

0

0

1

0

1

Total

38

12

15

11

76

3mp

As expected from general usage, singular forms, singular suffixes, masculine forms, and masculine suffixes all occur more than their plural or feminine counterparts. First members used in the c construction may be categorized as follows.

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN SYRIAC PESHITTA

39

C2. First Members That Only Occur in One Construction 1. Construction a Twenty-nine different first members only occur in construction a. Twenty-seven of these only occur in one combination in Exodus. One first member occurs in two combinations. ‫‘( ܠܥܓ‬stammerer’) is used in combination with ‫ܡܠܠܝ‬ ̇ ‫‘( ̇ܡ‬speech,’ 4:10) and ‫‘( ܠܫܢ ܝ‬tongue,’ 6:30). In 4:10, Moses professes to the Lord that he is a ‫ܠܥܓ‬ ‫ܡܠܠܝ‬ ̇ ‫ܡ‬,̇ ‘stammerer of speech.’ Later (6:30) Moses describes himself to the Lord as a ‫ܠܥܓ ܠܫܢ ܝ‬, ‘stammerer of tongue.’ Construction a is used for both of these expressions because the relationship between the nomen regens and nomen rectum is especially close. The second term qualifies the first. Of those first members which only occur in construction a, ‫‘( ܒܪܬ‬daughter’) occurs in the most combinations, three. ‫ܒܪܬ ܠܘܝ‬, ‘the daughter of Levi,’ is mentioned in 2:1. ‫ܒܪܬ ܦܪܥܘܢ‬, ‘the daughter of Pharaoh,’ is used five times (2:5, 7, 8, 9, 10), while ‫ܒܪܬ‬ ‫ܥܡܝܢܕܒ‬, ‘the daughter of Amminadab,’ occurs once (6:23). While the singular ‫ܒܪܬ‬ ̈ occurs exclusively in construction a, the plural ‫ ܒܢܬ‬occurs exclusively in the c ̈ construction—6:25 has ‫ܒܢܬܗ ܕܦܢܛܝܠ‬, ‘the daughters of Puntiel.’ While ‫ ܒܪܬ‬is the only first member in a kinship relationship that occurs exclusively in construction a, ‫ܒܪ‬ ̈ (‘son’) and ‫‘( ܒܢ ܝ‬sons’) are also used in the a construction, but also appear in construction c in Exodus. 2. Construction b There are 180 different first members that only occur in construction b. Two of the 180 ̈ occur in seven combinations: ‫‘( ܡܕܒܚܐ‬altar’) and ‫‘( ܣܡܟܐ‬bases’). Both of these concern the tabernacle and its service. Four of the second members used with ‫ ܡܕܒܚܐ‬are materials: ̈ ‫‘( ܢ ܚܫܐ‬bronze,’ 38:30; 39:39), ‫‘( ܐܕܡܬܐ‬earth,’ 20:24), ‫‘( ܕܗܒܐ‬gold,’ 40:5, 26), and ‫‘( ܟܐܦܐ‬stones,’ 20:25). The other three denote the function of the altar: ‫‘( ܥܠܬܐ‬burnt offering,’ 30:28; 31:9), ‫‘( ܝܩܪܐ‬fire,’ 35:16; 38:1), and ‫‘( ܥܛܪܐ‬incense,’ 30:27; 31:8; 35:15; ̈ 37:25; 39:38). Two of the second members used with ‫ ܣܡܟܐ‬are materials: ‫ܢ ܚܫܐ‬ (‘bronze,’ 26:37) and ‫‘( ܣܐܡܐ‬silver,’ 26:19, 32; 36:24, 36). The other five are objects of ̈ which the ‫ ܣܡܟܐ‬are a part: ‫‘( ܕܪܬܐ‬the court,’ 38:31), ‫‘( ܬܪܥܐ ܕܡܫܟܢܙܒܢܐ‬the doorway of the tent of meeting,’ 38:30), ‫‘( ܬܪܥܐ ܕܕܪܬܐ‬the gate of the court,’ 38:31), ‫‘( ܩܘܕܫܐ‬the sanctuary,’ 38:27), and ‫‘( ܦܪܣܐ‬the veil,’ 38:27). ‫‘( ܐܪܥܐ‬land’) occurs in six combinations. Five of the six second members are proper names. Three of those are singular: ‘Canaan,’ ‘Egypt,’ and ‘Goshen. ’ Two of them are plural: ‘the Canaanites’ and ‘the Philistines.’ One second member is a noun with pronoun suffix, ‘their sojourn.’ Three nouns occur in five combinations: ‫‘( ܫ̈ܪܒܬܐ‬families’), ‫‘( ܥܕܥܐܕܐ‬feast’), and ‫‘( ܪܘܚܐ‬spirit’). All of the second members used with ‫ ܫ̈ܪܒܬܐ‬are proper names: ‘Korah,’ ‘Levi,’ ‘Levites,’ ‘Reuben,’ and ‘Simeon.’ All of them are masculine singular except ‘Levites’ which is masculine plural. Each second member combined with ‫ܥܕܥܐܕܐ‬ adjectivally modifies ‫ܥܕܥܐܕܐ‬, that is, it tells what kind of feast it is: ‘the harvest,’ ‘the ingathering,’ ‘the Passover,’ ‘unleavened bread,’ and ‘weeks.’ ‫ ܪܘܚܐ‬denoting ‘spirit’ is used with the second members ‘God’ and ‘wisdom.’ When ‫ ܪܘܚܐ‬means ‘breath’ or ‘wind’ it is combined with the second members ‘north,’ ‘south,’ and ‘your nostrils.’

40

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

‫‘( ܒܘܟ̈ܪܐ‬firstborn’) is used in four combinations: ‘bulls,’ ‘cattle,’ ‘my sons,’ and ‘your sons.’ ‫‘( ܡܫܚܐ‬oil’) also appears in four combinations: ‘oil of holiness,’ ‘olive,’ ‘anointment,’ and ‘shedding light.’ There arë 8 nouns that occur in 3 combinations: ̈ ‫‘( ܩܒܘܬܐ‬ark’), ‫ܒܥܝܪܐ‬ (‘cattle’), ‫‘( ܦܘܪܫܢܐ‬gift’), ‫‘( ܠܐܗܐ‬gods’), ‫‘( ܠܟܝ ܐܠ‬molding/crown’), ‫ܟܐܦܐ‬ ̈ (‘stones’), ‫‘( ܡܝܐ‬waters’), and ‫‘( ܡܕܒܚܐ‬wilderness’). 36 first members are used in two combinations. 3. Construction c Forty-two first members occur exclusively in construction c. Two nouns occurs in four combinations: ‫‘( ܣܦܬܐ‬edge’) and ‫‘( ܛܣ̈ܪܝܐ‬sides’). These are both anatomical parts which Williams notes were used in construction c in 1 Kings.1 ‫ ܣܦܬܐ‬is used in combination with ‫‘( ܢܗܪܐ‬river,’ 2:3; 7:15), ‫‘( ܝܪܝܥܬܐ‬the curtain,’ 26:4, 5, 10[2]; 36:11[2], 17[2]), ‫ܦܕܬܐ‬ (‘the ephod,’ 28:26), and ‫‘( ܝܡܐ‬the sea,’ 14:30). ‫ܛܣ̈ܪܝܐ‬appears with the following second members: ‫‘( ܡܕܒܚܐ‬the altar,’ 27:7; 38:7), ‫‘( ܩܒܘܬܐ‬the ark,’ 25:14; 37:5), ‫ܚܘܣܝܐ‬ (‘the breastpiece,’ 25:18; 28:23, 24, 26; 37:7; 39:16, 17, 19), and ‫‘( ܡܫܟܢܐ‬the tabernacle,’ 26:13). These are all objects associated with the tabernacle and its worship. Two first members appear in three combinations: ‫‘( ܡܪܐ‬owner’) and ‫ܦܬܝܐ‬ (‘breadth’). ‫ ܡܪܐ‬is used with ‫‘( ܒܬܝܐ‬the house,’ 22:7), ‫‘( ܬܘܪܐ‬the ox,’ 21:28), and ‫ܓܘܒܐ‬ (‘the pit,’ 21:34). ‫ܦܬܝܐ‬, a dimension, appears with ‫‘( ܕܦܐ‬the board,’ 26:16; 36:21), ‫ܕܪܬܐ‬ (‘the court,’ 27:12, 13), and ‫‘( ܝܪܝܥܬܐ‬the curtain,’ 36:15). These second members are all part of the physical structure of the tabernacle. Four nouns occur in two combinations: ‫‘( ܪܘܓܙܐ‬anger’), ‫‘( ܚܬܐ‬sister’), ‫ܡܠܬܐ‬ ̈ (‘word’), and ‫‘( ܦܬܓܡܐ‬words’). ‫ ܪܘܓܙܐ‬is used with ‫‘( ܡܪܝ‬my lord’) and ‫‘( ܡܪܝܐ‬the Lord’). ‫ ܡܪܝܐ‬is only used as a second member in construction c. ‫ ܚܬܐ‬occurs only in construction c with a person’s name as the second member, ‫ ܐܗܪܘܢ‬and ‫ ܡܠܬܐ ܢ̈ ܚܫܘܢ‬is also used with two proper names, ‫ ܡܘܫܐ‬and ‫ܡܪܝܐ‬. The plural ‘words,’ ‫ܦܬܓܡܐ‬, takes the second member ‫ ܡܪܝܐ‬and another animate ‫ܓܡܐ‬. C3. First Members That Occur in Two Constructions 1. Constructions a and b There are nine nouns that occur as first members in both constructions a and b. This is nearly the same number of first members that constructions a and c have in common, eleven. The ten first members shared by constructions a and b are analyzed below.

i. ‫‘( ܚ ܝܘܬ‬beast’) occurs in two combinations (1x a, 1x b). 23:29 has ‫ܚ ܝܘܬ ܒܪܐ‬, ‘beast of the field,’ while 23:11 has ‫ܚ ܝܘܬܐ ܕܕܒܪܐ‬, ‘beasts of the field.’ Since ‫ ܚ ܝܘܬ ܒܪܐ‬is a common noun phrase in Syriac, it prefers construction a, whereas ‫ ܚ ܝܘܬܐ ܕܕܒܪܐ‬occurs less frequently. It also seems that ‫ ܒܪܐ‬has a broader meaning than does ‫ܕܒܪܐ‬.

̈ ̈ ii. ‫‘( ܠܚܡ‬bread’) occurs in only one combination, with ‫‘( ܐܦܐ‬presence’). 25:30 has ‫ܠܚܡ ܐܦܐ‬, ‘the bread of the presence,’ the construct genitive construction. 35:13 and 1

Williams, Peshitta of 1 Kings, 18.

41

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN SYRIAC PESHITTA

̈

39:36 have the same first member and second member in construction b, ‫ܠܚܡܐ ܕܐܦܐ‬, ‘the bread of the presence.’ The reason for selecting one construction ̈ ̈ over another seems fairly obvious. ‫ ܠܚܡ ܐܦܐ‬renders the Hebrew ‫ ֶל ֶחם ָּפנִים‬, while ‫ ܠܚܡܐ ܕܐܦܐ‬renders ‫ ֶל ֶחם ַה ָּפנִ ים‬. Furthermore, the use of ‫ ֵאת‬in 35:13 and 39:36 indicates definiteness. The author of Peshitta Exodus reflects the addition of the definite article to ‫ ָּפנִ ים‬by using construction b. Thus, in this case, construction b appears to be more determined than construction a.

̈

iii. ‫‘( ܢܓܪܘ‬carpentry’) is used in one combination, with ‫‘( ܩܝܣܐ‬wood’). This combination appears in 31:5 with construction b and in 35:33 with construction a. The two contexts are virtually identical. The addition of ‫ ַמ ֲח ָּש ֶבת‬in 35:33 does not seem to justify the use of construction a versus construction b. A different phrase is also used for ‘stone work’ in 35:33. Perhaps the two phrases are assimilated to each other in form. This appears to be an instance where the two constructions are interchangeable. iv. ‫‘( ܬܪܥ‬doorway’) appears in five constructions (2x a, 3x b). When describing the entrance of an individual’s tent, P uses construction a. 33:8 and 10 have ‫ܬܪܥ ܡܫܟܢܗ‬, ‘the entrance of his tent.’ However, in the same section of Exodus, the entrance of the tabernacle is conveyed by using construction b. 33:9 and 10 render the Hebrew ‫ֶפ ַתח‬ ‫ ַָּהא ֶֹּהל‬with ‫ܬܪܥܐ ܕܡܫܟܢܐ‬, ‘the entrance of the tent.’ There are four other instances where ‫ ܬܪܥܐ ܕܡܫܟܢܐ‬is used to describe the entrance of the tabernacle (26:36; 35:15; 36:37; and 39:38). Furthermore, in the nine instances (29:4, 11, 32, 42, 38:8, 30; 40:6, 12, and 29) where the fuller description ‫‘( ܡܫܟܢܙܒܢܐ‬tent of meeting’) is used for the tabernacle as the second member of the genitive construction ‫‘( ܬܪܥܐ ܕܡܫܟܢܙܒܢܐ‬the entrance of the tent of meeting’), construction b is always used. Similarly, when the entrance of an individual’s house is described (12:22), construction a is employed, ‫ܒܬܝܗ‬ ‫ܬܪܥ‬. But when the entrance of the covering of the ݂ tabernacle is mentioned, construction b is used, ‫ܬܪܥܐ ܕܦܪܣܐ‬. Additionally, only construction b is used to express ‘the gate of the court’ of the tabernacle ‫ܬܪܥܐ ܕܕܪܬܐ‬. This happens eight times in Exodus (27:16; 35:17; 38:15, 18, 31; 39:40; 40:8, and 33).

̈

v. ‫‘( ܠ ܒܘܫܝ‬garments’) occurs in three combinations (2x a, 1x b). When the second ̈ member qualifies ‫ ܠ ܒܘܫܝ‬as the kind of garments involved, construction a is used. This ̈ is seen in two frequently occurring genitive constructions: ‫‘( ܠ ܒܘܫܝ ܩܘܕܫܐ‬holy ̈ garments,’ cf. 28:2, 3, 4; 29:29; 31:10; 35:19, 21; 39:41; 40:13) and ‫ܠ ܒܘܫܝ ܬܫܡܫܬܐ‬ (‘garments of ministry,’ cf. 31:10; 35:19; 39:1, 41). However, when the second member expresses possession by particular individuals, construction b is used. This happens ̈ twice in 29:21 when mentioning the garments of Aaron’s sons, ‫‘( ܘܗܝܠ ܒܘܫܐ ܕܒܢ‬the garments of his sons’). The garments of the sons of Aaron are viewed by the author of Peshitta Exodus as more determined than either of the more general expressions, ‘holy garments’ or ‘ministerial garments.’

vi. ‫‘( ̈ܪܝܫܝ‬heads’) is used in six combinations in Exodus (4x a, 2x b). In Exod 18:21 and 25, it appears as the first member of eight genitive constructions identifying ̈ the heads over ‘thousands,’ ‘hundreds,’ ‘fifties,’ and ‘tens.’ Since the terms ‫̈ܪܝܫܝ‬ , ‫ܦܐ‬ ‫ܠܐ‬ ‫̈ܪܝܫܝ‬ ̈ ‫ܡܐܘܬܐ‬, etc. are used to describe general offices (like the military terms, ‘general’ ‘colonel,’ ‘major,’ etc.) , the relationship between the first member and second member is close and, therefore, construction a is selected. Construction b, on the other ̈ hand, is used to describe officers over a specific group of people. 6:14 has ‫̈ܪܝܫܐ ܕܒܬܝ ܐܒܗܝܗܘܢ‬,

42

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

̈

‘the heads of the house of their fathers,’ while 6:25 has ‫̈ܪܝܫܐ ܕܫ̈ܪܒܬܐ ܕܠ ܘܝܐ‬, ‘the heads of the families/clans of the Levites.’ It is worth noting that the singular form, ‫ܪܝܫ‬ (‘head’), appears in constructions a and c, but does not occur in construction b.

̈

vii. ‫‘( ܬܝܒܝ‬inhabitants’) occurs in one combination in construction a and one combination in construction b. Construction a is employed three times (23:31; 34:12, 15) to provide a general description of the pagan inhabitants of the land of Canaan, ̈ ‫‘( ܬܝܒܝ ܐܪܥܐ‬the inhabitants of the land’). Construction b, however, is used to describe a ̈ group living in a named region, ‫‘( ܬܝܒܐ ܕܦܠܫܬ‬the inhabitants of Philistia,’ 15:14). viii. ̈ ‫ܡܢ ܝܢ‬ ̈ ‫ܕܢܦܫܬܐ‬ ‫ܡܢ ܝܢܐ‬

(‘number’) appears in three combinations (2x a, 1x b). Construction b, (‘number of persons’), is used to render the indefinite ‫ִמ ְכ ַסת נְ ָּפש ֹּת‬ ̈ (‘number of persons’) in Exod 12:4. However, construction a, ‫‘( ܡܢ ݂ܝܢ ܢܦܫܬܟܘܢ‬the number of your persons’), is used to render ‫יכם‬ ֶ ‫‘( ִמ ְס ַפר נַ ְפש ֵֹּת‬the number of your ̈ ̈ , so a marked persons’) in 16:16. ‫ ܢܦܫܬܟܘܢ‬is specific and more determined than ‫ܢܦܫܬܐ‬ ̈ construction, a, is used with ‫ܡܢ ݂ܝܢ ܢܦܫܬܟܘܢ‬. This is also seen in 23:26 where ̈ construction a, ‫‘( ܡܢ ܝܢ ܝܘܡܬܟܘܢ‬the number of your days’), renders ‫יָּמיָך‬ ֶ ‫‘( ִמ ְס ַפר‬the number of your days’).

ix. ‫‘( ܡܫܟܢ‬tent’) is used frequently in the expression ‫‘( ܡܫܟܢ ܙܒܢܐ‬the tent of meeting,’ 27:21; 28:43; 30:16, 26, 36; 35:21; 38:8; 39:32; 39:40; 40:2, 7, 22, 29, 34). Construction a is employed because the relationship between the words is especially close, identifying a single structure, the tabernacle. The closeness of the relationship between this first and second member is evident by the frequent occurrence of the pair spelled as a single word ‫( ܡܫܟܢܙܒܢܐ‬29:4, 10, 11, 30, 32, 42, 44; 30:18, 20; 31:7; 33:7 [2x]; 38:30; 40:12, 24, 26, 30, 32, 35). However, when P renders ‫‘( ִמ ְש ַכן ָּה ֵע ֻדת‬the tent of the testimony,’ 38:21), construction b is employed, ‫‘( ܡܫܟܢܐ ܕܣܗܕܘܬܐ‬the tent of the testimony’). 38:21 contains the only occurrence of ‫ ܡܫܟܢܐ ܕܣܗܕܘܬܐ‬in Exodus. However, ‫‘( ܩܒܘܬܐ ܕܣܗܕܘܬܐ‬the ark of the testimony,’ 25:22; 26:33, 34; 30:6, 26; 39:35; 40:3, 5, ̈ 21) and ‫ܠܘܚܐ ܕܣܗܕܘܬܐ‬ (‘the tablets of the testimony,’ 31:18; 32:15; 34:29) always employ construction b in Exodus. When the second member is a specific object, identified with the Decalogue in this case, a more determined genitive construction is called for. 2. Constructions a and c There are eleven nouns that occur as first members in both constructions a and c. This is two more than are shared between constructions a and b. These eleven first members will be discussed below.

̈

̈

i. ‫‘( ܥܝܢ ܝ‬eyes’) occurs in seven combinations (5x a, 2x c). ‫‘( ܥܝܢ ܝܗܘܢ ܕܡܨ̈ܪܝܐ‬the eyes ̈ of the Egyptians,’ 3:21; 11:3; 12:36) and ‫‘( ܥܢܘܗܝ ܕܦܪܥܘܢ‬the eyes of Pharaoh,’ 9:8) both employ construction c. It is probably the fact that the second member is a proper name which necessitates construction c be used over a. However, construction a is also used ̈ ̈ to render ‫ ֵעינֵ י ַפ ְרעֹּה‬in 5:21, which has ‫ܥܝܢ ܝ ܦܪܥܘܢ‬. The use of construction a in ‫ܥܝܢ ܝ‬

43

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN SYRIAC PESHITTA

should be considered the anomaly since, as Williams also noted 2, the use of proper names as second members is not common in construction a. There are only two other occurrences of proper names used as the second member of construction a, in ‘babies of the Hebrews’ (2:6) and ‘the eye of Pharaoh’ (7:20). Construction a is also ̈ ݂ ‫‘( ܥܝܢ̈ ܝ‬the eyes of the servants of Pharaoh,’ 11:3). used in the genitive ‫ܥܒܕܘܗܝ ܕܦܪܥܘܢ‬ ̈ The use of construction a is not surprising since the servants are not named. ‫ ܥܝܢ ܝ‬also takes ‘her master’ (21:8), ‘his servants’ (5:21), and ‘the people’ (11:3) as second ̈ members. This nonliteral use of ‫ ܥܝܢ ܝ‬for sight prefers construction a except when the second member is a proper name.

‫ܦܪܥܘܢ‬

̈

̈

ii. ‫‘( ܐܦܝ‬face’) is used in five combinations (3x a, 2x c). When ‫ ܐܦܝ‬is used to denote the surface of something, construction a is employed. This seems to be parallel to ‘eyes of’ used metaphorically. This occurs with the second members ‫‘( ܐܪܥܐ‬the earth,’ ̈ 32:12; ̈ 33:16), ‫‘( ܡܫܟܢܐ‬the tent,’ 26:9), and ‫‘( ܡܝܐ‬the water,’ 32:20). On three occasions ‫ ܐܦܝ‬is used for the body part. For each of the three instances ̈ a name is used as the second member and construction c is employed: ‫‘( ܐܦܘܗܝ ܕܡܘܫܐ‬the face of Moses,’ ̈ 34:35) and ‫‘( ܐܦܝ̇ܗܘܢ ܕܟ̈ܪܘܒܐ‬the faces of the cherubs,’ 25:20; 37:9).

iii. ‫‘( ܦܠܓܘ‬half’) appears in three combinations (1x a, 2x c). ‫ ܦܠܓܘ‬is used as the first member in construction a when it denotes half of a unit of coinage, as in ‫ܦܠܓܘܬ‬ ‫‘( ܡܬܩܐܠ‬half a shekel,’ 30:13[2x], 15). When ‫ ܦܠܓ‬denotes half of some other quantity, construction c is employed: ‫‘( ܦܠܓܗ ܕܕܡܐ‬half of the blood,’ 24:6[2x]) and ‫ܦܠܓܗ‬ ‫‘( ܕܠܠܝܐ‬midnight,’ 11:4; 12:29). iv. ‫‘( ܪܝܫ‬head’) is used in ten combinations (6x a, 4x c). When ‫ ܪܝܫ‬is used for the body part, construction c is employed. Exod 29 contains instructions for Aaron and his sons for the ordination of priests. Construction c is used three times to denote the head of a sacrificial animal: ‫‘( ܪܫܗ ܕܬܘܪܐ‬the head of the bull,’ 29:10) and ‫‘( ܪܫܗ ܕܕܟܪܐ‬the head of the ram,’ 29:15, 19). When construction a is used with ‫ ܪܝܫ‬as the first member, ‫ܪܝܫ‬ denotes a beginning or top, a nonliteral or extended sense. It is used with the following second members in construction a: ‘months’ (12:2), ‘the hill’ (17:10), ‘your labor’ (23:16), ‘the harvest of your land’ (23:19, 34:26), ‘the mountain’ (34:2), and ‘harvest of wheat’ (34:22). When ‘hill’ is used as the second member, construction c is used in 17:9 while construction a is used in the next verse to render the same Hebrew genitive construction. Also, when ‘mountain’ serves as the second member, construction a is used (34:2) as well as construction c (19:20[2x], 24:17). Thus, the constructions seem to be interchangeable for these expressions since no difference in meaning is apparent in the contexts in which they are found.

v. ‫‘( ܒܬܝ‬house’) is used in 13 combinations (11x a, 2x c). In the two instances (23:19 and 34:26) where the MT refers to the tabernacle as the ‫‘( ֵבית יְ הוָּ ה‬the house of the Lord’), P renders it with construction c, ‫ܒܬܝܗ ܕܡܪܝܐ‬. This is consistent with the rest of Peshitta Exodus which always employs construction c when ‫ ܡܪܝܐ‬is the second member. The final commandment in the Decalogue (20:17) contains the other

2

Williams, Peshitta of 1 Kings, 27.

44

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

occurrence of ‘house’ used as a first member in construction c. P renders ‫‘( ֵבית ֵר ֶעָך‬the house of your neighbor’) as ‫ܒܬܝܗ ܕܚܒܪܟ‬. All other genitive constructions using ‫ ܒܬܝ‬as the first member employ construction a (2:1; 6:14; 7:28[2x]; 8:20[2x]; 12:3; 13:3, 14; 19:3; 20:2; 22:6; 40:38). Four different proper names are used as second members in construction a: Levi (2:1), Pharaoh (8:20), Jacob (19:3), and Israel (40:38). Construction a is used since ‫ܠܘܝ‬ ̇ ‫ ܒܬܝ‬conveys the singular notion of ancestral descent, ‘Levite,’ etc. ‫ ܒܬܝ‬as a first member in construction a can also convey the idea of location as in, ‫ܒܬܝ ܥܒܕܘܬܐ‬, ‘the house (place) of slavery’ (13:3; 13:14; 20:2). Animates serve as the remaining second members; ‘their fathers’ (6:14), ‘your servants’ (7:28), ‘his servants’ (8:20), ‘his fathers’ (12:3), and ‘the man’ (22:6), are also used. ‘Your bedroom’ (7:28) is also employed communicating a location.

vi. ‫‘( ܒܥܠ‬husband’) is used in two combinations (1x a, 1x c). In a law regarding Hebrew servants (21:3), Peshitta (P) describes the married servant as ‫‘( ܐܢܬܬܐ ܒܥܠ‬the husband of a wife’), rendering the MT’s ‫ ַב ַעל ִא ָּשה‬. Construction a is employed to convey this singular idea of marital status. In a law of personal injury (21:22) P uses construction c, ‫‘( ܒܥܠ ̇ܗ ܕܐܢܬܬܐ‬the husband of the woman’), to render ‫ ַב ַעל ָּה ִא ָּשה‬, the injured woman’s husband. The translator of Peshitta Exodus uses a translation technique of rendering the definite form ‫ ַב ַעל ָּה ִא ָּשה‬with construction c, but the indefinite form ‫ ַב ַעל ִא ָּשה‬with construction a (21:3). vii. ‫‘( ܓܘ‬midst’) appears in three combinations (2x a, 1x c). When ‫ ֶק ֶרב‬is the head noun in the MT, as in ‫‘( ֶק ֶרב ַָּה ָּא ֶרץ‬the midst of the land,’ 8:18), P uses construction c, ̇ ‫ܓܘܗ ܕܐܪܥܐ‬ (8:18). Construction a, on the other hand, renders Hebrew construct chains with ‫ תֹוְך‬as the construct noun. 3:2 and 3:4 both render the Hebrew ‫‘( תֹוְך ַה ְסנֶ ה‬the midst of the bush’) with construction a, ‫ܓܘ ܣܢ ܝܐ‬. In 33:11, Hebrew ‫‘( תֹוְך ַָּהא ֶֹּהל‬the midst of the tent’) is rendered by P with construction a, ‫ܓܘ ܡܫܟܢܐ‬. Since in all these instances, the MT has a definite second member, the differentiator seems to be which first member is being rendered by P.

̈ (‘rear, hem’) is the first member in four combinations (1x a, 3x c). In viii. ‫ܫܦܘܠܝ‬ ̈ (‘the rear of the tabernacle’) translates ‫יַ ְר ְכ ֵתי ַה ִמ ְש ָּכן‬. 26:22, 36:27, ‫ܫܦܘܠܝ ܡܫܟܢܐ‬ however, renders the same genitive syntagm in an almost identical context with ̈ . P uses the same construction to render ‫ ֶצ ַלע ַה ִמ ְש ָּכן‬in construction c, ‫ܫܦܘܠܘܗܝ ܕܡܫܟܢܐ‬ ̈ , while P 26:27. In 40:22, P renders ‫ יֶ ֶרְך ַה ִמ ְש ָּכן‬with construction c, ‫ܫܦܘܠܘܗܝ ܕܡܫܟܢܐ‬ ̈ . renders the same Hebrew construction in 40:24 by construction a, ‫ܫܦܘܠܝ ܡܫܟܢܐ‬ These instances seem to show that constructions a and c are interchangeable when ̈ is also used as the first member in expressing ‘the rear of the tabernacle.’ ‫ܫܦܘܠܘܗܝ‬ construction c when ‫‘( ܦܪܙܘܡܐ‬the girdle,’ 28:34; 39:24, 25, 26) and ‫‘( ܡܕܒܚܐ‬the altar,’ ̈ is the first member, 27:5) are used as second members. It appears that when ‫ܫܦܘܠܝ‬ construction c is preferred and the two instances of construction a in 36:27 and 40:24 are aberrations, but occurring both times in the same phrase. ix. ‫‘( ܒܪ‬son’) occurs in 12 combinations (11x a, 1x c). The lone occurrence of ‫ ܒܪ‬as the first member in construction c appears in 38:21. Hebrew uses ‫ן־א ֲהר ֹּן‬ ַ ‫‘( ֶב‬the son of Aaron’) to denote the priestly descent of Ithamar. P renders this genitive syntagm with construction c, ‫ܒܪܗ ܕܐܗܪܘܢ‬. In 6:25, however, P uses construction a, ‫ܒܪ ܐܗܪܘܢ‬, to render the same. The determination reflected by the c construction is seen in the LXX reading

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN SYRIAC PESHITTA

45

τοῦ υἱοῦ Ααρων in 38:21, but ὁ τοῦ Ααρων in 6:25. Furthermore, 38:21 follows the genitive by the appositional use of ‫ ַהכ ֵֹּהן‬, ‘the priest,’ while 6:25 lacks it.

All other uses of ‫ ܒܪ‬as a first member take construction a. Five other proper names are used as second members: ‘Ahisamach’ (31:6; 35:34; 38:23), ‘Canaanite’ (6:15), ‘Hur’ (31:2; 35:30; 38:22), ‘Nun’ (33:11), and ‘Uri’ (31:2; 35:30; 38:22). ‫ ܒܪ‬is also used as a first member in an extended sense when an age is being communicated, as with the second members ‘year’ (12:5) and ‘eighty-three’ (29:1). Other second members used are ‘foreigner’ (12:43), ‘your female servant’ (23:12), and ‘cattle’ (29:1).

̈

x. ‫‘( ܒܢ ܝ‬sons’) appears in 14 combinations (8x a, 6x c). A personal name serves as the second member in every case but two: ‘sons’ (34:7) and ‘year’ (29:38). In 34:7, P ̈ ̈ renders ‫‘( ְבנֵ י ָּבנִ ים‬grandchildren’) as ‫ܒܢ ܝ ܒܢ ܝܐ‬. Construction a is normally employed in this expression. ‫י־שנָּ ה‬ ָּ ֵ‫‘( ְבנ‬year old’) in 29:38 is rendered by construction a, ‫ܒܢ̈ ܝ ܫܢܬܐ‬, common in Syriac. Construction c is used when the following names serve as second members: Gershon (6:17), Izhar (6:21), Kohath (6:18), Levi (32:26), Merari (6:19), and Uzziel (6:22). Levi is the only second member used in both construction a (6:16; 32:28) and construction c (32:26). In 32:26–29 Moses summons all who are for the Lord. Verse 26 ̈ states that ‫‘( ְבנֵ י ֵלוִ י‬the sons of Levi’), rendered with ‫( ܒܢܘܗܝ ܕܠܘܝ‬construction c), responded to Moses’ call. Verse 28 records Moses’ command for the Israelites to kill their fellow Israelites. Noting that the Levites obeyed the command, P renders ‫ְבנֵ י ֵלוִ י‬ ̈ with construction a, ‫ܒܢ ܝ ܠܘܝ‬. It could be that the role that ‘the sons of Levi’ plays in the narrative determines which construction is used. When the Levites are identified as the sole respondents to Moses’ dire summons, construction c, a more determined construction, is used. When simply noting that the Levites did in fact obey Moses’ subsequent command, P employs the less determined construction a. Personal names used as second members in construction a are: Israel (1:1, 7, etc.), Aaron (28:1, 40), Korah (6:24), Levi (6:16; 32:28), Reuben (6:14), and Simeon (6:15). Levi, Reuben, and Simeon denote tribal distinctions, while Aaron and Korah indicate ̈ priestly association. ‫‘( ܒܢ ܝ ܐܝܣܪܝܠ‬the sons of Israel’), a tribal or supratribal designation, is normally in construction a.

̈

xi. ‫‘( ܡܠܝ‬words’) is used in two combinations (1x a, 1x c). In 34:28, P uses ̈ construction a, ‫‘( ܡܠܝ ܩܝ̇ܡܐ‬the terms of the covenant”), to render Hebrew ‫ ִד ְב ֵרי ַה ְב ִרית‬. ̈ Since the relationship between the two words, ‫ܡܠܝ ܩܝ̇ܡܐ‬, is especially close, referring to the set of Ten Commandments, construction a is employed. 23:8 contains a law that prohibits taking a bribe. The second basis for the prohibition is that it subverts “the words of the righteous.” P renders ‫יקים‬ ִ ‫ ִד ְב ֵרי ַצ ִד‬, apparently referring to rendering ̈ ̈ ̈ judgments, with construction c, ‫ܡܠܝܗܘܢ ܕܙܟܝܐ‬. It may be the case that ‫ ܡܠܝ ܩܝ̇ܡܐ‬is the more specialized usage and therefore employs the construct genitive construction. 3. Constructions b and c

There are fifteen nouns that occur in both constructions b and c. This is roughly 50% more than a and b or a and c have in common. Since the sample size is small, it is not safe to conclude that constructions b and c are more closely related in the Syriac of Peshitta Exodus.

46

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

i. ‫‘( ܕܡܐ‬blood’) is used as the first member in four combinations (3x b, 1x c). When construction b is employed, the following second members are used: ‘the sacrifice’ (23:18; 34:25), ‘the covenant’ (24:8), and ‘the sin offering of atonement’ (30:10). Each of these second members is a technical term associated with the Levitical sacrifices. The lone occurrence of ‫ ܕܡܐ‬as a first member in construction c is in 29:12. P renders ‫‘( ַדם ַה ָּפר‬the blood of the bull’) as ‫ܕܡܗ ܕܬܘܪܐ‬. Perhaps construction c is used because the second member is animate or because it is a part-whole relation, whereas the others are not. ii.

̈ ‫ܕܚܠܬܐ‬

(‘deities’) is used in two combinations (1x b, 1x c). In 8:22, P renders

̈ (‘the things ‫תֹוע ַבת ִמ ְצ ַריִם‬ ֲ (‘the abomination of Egypt’) with construction b, ‫ܕܚܠܬܐ ܕܡܨ̈ܪܝܐ‬ the Egyptians fear’). In 12:12, ‫ֹלהי ִמ ְצ ַריִם‬ ֵ ‫‘( ֱא‬the gods of Egypt’) is rendered by P using construction c,

̈ (‘the deities of the Egyptians’). ‫ܕܚܠܬܗܘܢ ܕܡܨ̈ܪܝܐ‬

iii. ‫‘( ܒܘܟܪܐ‬firstborn’) is used as the first member in six combinations (4x b, 2x c). When the second member is a proper name, construction c is employed. Both ‘Israel’ (6:14) and ‘Pharaoh’ (11:5; 12:29) are used as second members with construction c. Therefore, having a proper name as a second member is a significant factor. All other second members take construction b. The second members used with construction b are: ‘cattle’ (13:15), ‘man’ (‫ ܒܪܢܫܐ‬13:13, 15), ‘the captive’ (12:29), and ‘the female slave’ (11:5). All of these are either indefinite or generic. iv. ‫‘( ܒܣܪܐ‬flesh’) appears in five combinations (4x b, 1x c). As with ‫‘( ܕܡܐ‬blood’) discussed above, the lone second member used in construction c is ‫‘( ܬܘܪܐ‬bull’). 29:14 discusses stipulations of the sin offering. P renders ‫‘( ְב ַשר ַה ָּפר‬the flesh of the bull’) with construction c, ‫ܒܣܪܗ ܕܬܘܪܐ‬. This cataphoric genitive construction seems to refer to a particular bull. The four second members used in construction b are: ‘man’ (30:32) and ‘their nakedness’ (28:42) both of which are indefinite and generic, ‘ordination’ (29:34), and ‘the ram’ (29:32) which is most comparable to 29:14. v. ‫‘( ܠܐܗܐ‬God’) is used in ten different combinations (5x b, 5x c). With the proper names ‘Hebrews’ (3:18; 5:3; 7:16; 9:1, 13; 10:3) and ‘Israel’ (5:1; 24:10; 32:27; 34:23), construction b is employed. But with the second members ‘Abraham’ (3:6, 15, 16; 4:5), ‘Isaac’ (3:6, 15; 4:5), and ‘Jacob’ (3:6, 15; 4:5), construction c is used. The plural second member, ‘fathers,’ with the possessive pronouns ‘my’ (18:4), ‘their’ (4:5), and ‘your’ (3:13, 15, 16) is used with construction b. The singular second member, ‘father,’ however, with the possessive suffixes ‘my’ (15:2) and ‘your’ (3:6) employs construction c. It seems that when the second member is an individual person, the cataphoric genitive construct is preferred; otherwise the adjunct genitive construct is preferred. vi. ‫‘( ܐܝ̈ܕܐ‬hands’) is used in two combinations (1x b, 1x c). In 29:9, P renders ‫ד־בנָּ יו‬ ָּ ַ‫י‬ ̈ (‘the hand of his sons’) with construction b, ‫‘( ܐܝ̈ܕܐ ܕܒܢܘܗܝ‬the hands of his sons’). This one is particularly interesting because it stands along side construct c with Aaron as the second member. This contrasts with 29:24 where construction b is used with Aaron (in the singular).

‫‘( ַכ ֵפי ָּבנָּ יו‬the palms of his sons’) in 29:24 is rendered by P with the same ̈ construction, ‫ܐܝ̈ܕܐ ܕܒܢܘܗܝ‬. However, when ‘Moses’ is the second member, as in 17:12 (‫)יְ ֵדי מ ֶֹּשה‬, construction c is employed, ‫ܐܝܕܘܗܝ ܕܡܘܫܐ‬. This last picture is very physical and literal, which normally takes the cataphoric genitive construction.

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN SYRIAC PESHITTA

47

vii. ‫‘( ܠܒܐ‬heart’) is used in four combinations (1x b, 3x c). The sole occurrence of ̈ ݂ (‘his as the first member in construction b is with the second member ‫ܥܒܕܘܗܝ‬ servants,’ 10:1). ‫ ܠܒܐ‬is used in construction c with the following second members: ‘the Egyptians’ (14:17), ‘Pharaoh’ (7:3, 13, 14, 22; 8:15; 9:7, 12, 35; 10:20, 27; 11:10; 14:4, 8), and ‘sea’ (15:8). ‘Egyptians’ and ‘Pharaoh’ are proper names suitable to construction c, while ‫‘( ܠܒܗ ܕܝܡܐ‬the heart of the sea’) is a metaphor for ‘deep within the sea’ so that the use of c is surprising.

‫ܠܒܐ‬

viii. ‫‘( ܢܡܘܣܐ‬law’) occurs in two combinations (1x b, 1x c). P renders ‫תֹורת יְ הוָּ ה‬ ַ (‘the law of the Lord’) in 13:9 with construction c, ‫ܢܡܘܣܗ ܕܡܪܝܐ‬. This is consistent with the rest of Peshitta Exodus which always renders genitive syntagms with the tetragrammaton as the second member with construction c. The other occurrence of ‫ ܢܡܘܣܐ‬as a first member occurs in 12:43 where ‫‘( ֻח ַקת ַה ָּפ ַסח‬the statute of the Passover’) is rendered with construction b, ‫‘( ܢܡܘܣܐ ܕܦܨܚܐ‬the law of the Passover’). ix. ‫‘( ܐܘܪܟܐ‬length’) is used in four combinations (1x b, 3x c). The sole occurrence of ‫ ܐܘܪܟܐ‬as a first member in construction b is in 26:13. P renders ‫‘( א ֶֹּרְך ְי ִריעֹּת ָּהא ֶֹּהל‬the length of the curtains of the tent’) as ‫ܐܘܪܟܐ ܕܝ̈ܪܝܥܬܐ ܕܡܫܟܢܐ‬. The second member used in construction b is plural, while all second members used in construction c are singular: ‘the board’ (26:16; 36:21), ‘the court’ (27:18), and ‘the curtain’ (26:2, 8; 36:9, 15). This is possibly a relevant factor. x. ‫‘( ܛܘܪܐ‬mountain’) appears in four combinations (3x b, 1x c). The sole occurrence of ‫ ܛܘܪܐ‬as a first member in construction c is with ‫‘( ܠܐܗܐ‬God’) as the second member (3:1; 4:27; 18:5; 24:13). As is true with ‫ ܠܐܗܐ‬,‫ ܡܪܝܐ‬only occurs as a second member in construction c. ‫ ܛܘܪܐ‬is used as a first member in construction b with the following second members: ‘Horeb’ (33:6), ‘Sinai’ (19:11, 18, 20, 23; 24:16; 31:18; 34:2, 4, 29, 32), and ‘your inheritance’ (15:17).

xi. ‫‘( ܫܡ‬name’) appears in four combinations (1x b, 3x c). The sole occurrence of as a first member in construction b is with a plural second member. In 23:13, P ̈ ‫‘( ܫܡ‬the name of renders ‫ֹלהים‬ ִ ‫‘( ֵשם ֱא‬the name of gods’) with construction b, ‫ܕܚܠܬܐ‬ deities’). ‫ ܫܡ‬is also indefinite, in the absolute state. All second members used in construction c are singular: ‘the other’ (1:15), ‘one’ (1:15), and ‘the Lord’ (20:7). ‫ܡܪܝܐ‬ only occurs in construction c.

‫ܫܡ‬

̈

xii. ‫‘( ܙܩܙܩܬܐ‬rings’) is used in four combinations (3x b, 1x c). Two of the second members used in construction b are materials: ‘bronze’ (27:4) and ‘gold’ (25:12, 26; 30:4; 37:3, 13, 27; 39:16, 19, 20). As Randall Garr3 concluded, construction b is preferred to express material composition. The sole combination in construction c represents inalienable possession. In both 28:28 and 39:21, P renders ‫‘( ַט ְבעֹּת ָּה ֵאפֹּד‬the ̈ . As Garr notes, construction c is ̇ ‫ܙܩܙܩ‬ rings of the ephod’) by construction c, ‫ܬܗ ܕܦܕܬܐ‬ used for inalienable possession if both members are definite. 4 This relationship should simply be viewed as a part-whole relationship. An exception to this norm is found in

3

4

Garr, “Construct and Dī Phrases in Biblical Aramaic,” 216.

Ibid., p. 214.

48

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

25:15 where P translates ‫‘( ַט ְבעֹּת ָּה ָּאר ֹּן‬the rings of the ark’) with construction b, ‫ܕܩܒܘܬܐ‬.

‫̈ܙܩܙܩܬܐ‬

̇ xiii. ‫‘( ܫܘܥܒܕܐ‬servitude’) is found in two combinations (1x b, 1x c). When ‫ܡܨ̈ܪܝܐ‬ (‘the Egyptians’) is the second member, construction b is employed (3:17; 6:6, 7). Construction b is the predominant construction used when ‫ ܡܨ̈ܪܝܐ‬is the second member. ‫ ܫܘܥܒܕܐ‬is used in construction c when ‫‘( ܥܡܝ‬my people’) is the second member. This is the so-called “objective genitive” construction, that is where the first member is a nominalized verb and the second member is the object of the underlying verb. This is the only occurrence of ‫ ܥܡܝ‬as a second member in P Exodus. All animate nouns with the possessive suffix ‘my’ used as second members occur in construction c in Exodus: ‘my people’ (3:7), ‘my father’ (15:2), and ‘my lord’ (32:22). xiv. ‫‘( ܩܐܠ‬sound’) is used in eight combinations (5x b, 3x c). When the second member is personal, construction c is employed: ‘the Lord’ (15:26), ‘his father-in-law’ (18:24), and ‘the people’ (32:17). A variety of second members are used in construction b, mostly in chapter 19 and 32:18: ‘horn’ (19:16, 19; 20:18), ‘war’ (32:17), ‘sin’ (32:18), ‘speech of heroes’ (32:18), and ‘weak ones’ (32:18). All of these second members are employed when ‫ ܩܐܠ‬is used in the sense of ‘sound’ rather than ‘voice.’ C4. First Members That Occur in All Three Constructions There are seven nouns that occur in all three constructions. The use of each is described below.

̈ (‘boards’) occurs in seven different combinations (2x a, 2x b, 3x c). ‫ܛܣܪܗ ܚܕ‬ ‫ܕܦܐ‬ ‫‘( ܕܡܫܟܢܐ‬the one side of the tabernacle’) is used as a second member in both i.

construction a (36:31) and b (26:26). Since the text and context of the MT being rendered in both cases is identical, constructions a and b appear interchangeable. The same holds true for the second member ‫‘( ܛܣܪܗ ܐܚܪܐܢ ܕܡܫܟܢܐ‬the other side of the tabernacle’) used in both construction a (36:32) and c (26:27). The adjunct genitive construction is used with the cataphoric genitive construction in 26:27 twice. There seems to be an avoidance of compounding construction c. This is also applicable to ‫‘( ܡܫܟܢܐ‬the tabernacle’) in construction b (36:22) and c (26:17; 36:32). The only second ̈ ‫‘( ܛܣܪܐ ܐܚܪܐܢ ܡܢ‬the other member used in only one construction is ‫ܫܦܘܠܘܗܝ ܕܡܫܟܢܐ‬ side of the back parts of the tabernacle’) found in construction c in 26:27. This is another case of avoidance of two contiguous c constructions.

ii. ‫‘( ܥܝܢܐ‬eye’) is used in seven combinations (4x a, 2x b, 1x c). When ‫ ܥܝܢܐ‬denotes a surface, construction c is employed. P renders ‫‘( ֵעין ַָּה ָּא ֶרץ‬the surface of the land’) in ̇ . This figure is not simply ‘surface,’ but concerns the obscuring effect 10:5 as ‫ܥܝܢܗ ܕܐܪܥܐ‬ of locusts, so that no one can see. 21:26 contains the law regarding the striking of an eye of a male or female servant. Construction b is used to render ‫‘( ֵעין ַע ְבדו‬the eye of his male servant’) and ‫‘( ֵעין ֲא ָּמתו‬the eye of his female servant’): ‫ ܥܝܢܐ ܕܥܒܕܗ‬and ‫ܥܝܢܐ‬ ‫ܕܐܡܬܗ‬, respectively. This is a bit surprising, since construction c would normally be used for such a phrase. When ‫ ܥܝܢܐ‬is used metaphorically for ‘sight,’ construction a is employed. Four different second members are used in construction a: ‘his servants’ (7:20), ‘Pharaoh’ (7:20), ‘the elders of Israel’ (17:6), and ‘all the house of Israel’ (24:17). In each case ‫ ܥܝܢ‬is prefixed with the preposition ‫ ܠ‬which usually denotes physical sight, whereas ‫ ܒ‬which normally indicates a mental sight.

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN SYRIAC PESHITTA

49

iii. ‫‘( ܐܝܕܐ‬hand’) is used in nine different combinations (1x a, 4x b, 4x c). Construction a is used when ‫ ܐܝܕܐ‬is a geographic designation. The sole occurrence of this use is in 2:5 when P renders ‫‘( יַ ד ַהיְ אֹּר‬the bank of the river’) as ‫ܝܕ ܢܗܪܐ‬. Construction c is employed when ‫ ܐܝܕܐ‬is used in the metaphor for ordination. In 29:9, P renders the clause ‫ד־א ֲהר ֹּן‬ ַ ַ‫את י‬ ָּ ‫ּומ ֵל‬ ִ (‘and you will ordain Aaron’) using ‫ܐܝܕܗ‬ ‫ ܕܐܗܪܘܢ‬for ‫ד־א ֲהר ֹּן‬ ַ ַ‫י‬. On two occasions (9:3; 16:3), construction c (‫ )ܐܝܕܗ ܕܡܪܝܐ‬expresses the judgment of the Lord. Since ‫ ܡܪܝܐ‬is only used as a second member in construction c, this is not surprising. Construction c is also used twice to express the power of Pharaoh, ‫( ܐܝܕܗ ܕܦܪܥܘܢ‬18:9, 10). In both cases it is preceded by ‫‘( ܐܝܕܐ ܕܡܨ̈ܪܝܐ ܘܡܢ‬the hand of the Egyptians and from,’ construction b). This could be an instance of avoidance of two contiguous c constructions. The last use of a genitive syntagm with ‫ ܐܝܕܐ‬as a first member is ‫‘( ܐܝܕܗ ܕܡܘܫܐ‬the hand of Moses,’ 34:29). The cataphoric genitive construction is appropriate because when the first member is a human body part used in a literal way, as is the case in ‫ ܐܝܕܗ ܕܡܘܫܐ‬in 34:29, construction c is preferred. Furthermore, proper nouns, such as ‫ܡܘܫܐ‬, are most frequently found as second members in construction c. Construction b is employed with a variety of uses. ‫ ܐܝܕܐ‬denotes a literal hand twice in construction b, but not in the other two constructions. The majority of uses of ‫ ܐܝܕܐ‬in construction b denote ‘power,’ ‘authority,’ or ‘direction.’ It is used this way with three different second members in the following instances: ‘to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians’ (3:8); ‘the Lord rescued Israel from the power of the Egyptians’ (14:30); ‘he (the Lord) rescued them from the power of the Egyptians’ (18:9); ‘the Lord who rescued you from the power of the Egyptians’ (18:10); ‘who rescued his people from under the authority of the Egyptians’ (18:10); ‘they were numbered … by the authority of Ithamar’ (38:21); ‘the Lord commanded by the authority of Moses’ (9:35); ‘the Lord commanded to do by the authority of Moses’ (35:29); and ‘an Egyptian rescued us from the power of the shepherds’ (2:19). iv. ‫‘( ܦܘܡܐ‬mouth’) appears in six combinations (1x a, 1x b, 4x c). Construction a is used to render ‫‘( ִפי ַת ְח ַָּרא‬the opening of a coat of mail,’ NAS, 28:32; 39:23), ‫ܦܘܡ‬ ‫‘( ܣܝܪܗ‬the mouth of its thread’). While the meaning of this expression is uncertain, it seems to be an often-used technical term. ‫י־ח ֶרב‬ ָּ ‫‘( ִפ‬the edge of the sword,’ 17:13) is used once and is rendered by construction b, ‫ܦܘܡܐ ܕܚܪܒܐ‬. The majority of uses of ‫ܦܘܡܐ‬ as a first member occur with construction c. It is used to denote a command of the Lord (17:10) and of Moses (38:21). ‘The Lord’ is used as a second member solely in construction c, while ‘Moses’ is predominantly used as a second member in construction c, although it is also used in construction b with ‘hand’ as a first member. It is used metaphorically twice in construction c to denote the opening of a priestly garment. 28:32 has ‫‘( ܦܘܡܗ ܕܪܫܗ‬the opening of its top’) and 39:23 has ‫ܦܘܡܗ ܕܦܪܙܘܡܐ‬ (‘the opening of the robe’). v. ‫‘( ܛܣܪܐ‬side’) is used in 9 combinations (1x a, 6x b, 3x c). The sole occurrence in construction a is in 27:9 in the phrase ‫‘( ܛܣܪ ܪܘܚܐ ܕܬܝܡܢܐ‬the side of the direction of the south’). An almost identical phrase appears in 36:25 using construction b ‫ܛܣܪܐ ܕܪܘܚܐ‬ ‫‘( ܕܓܪܒܝܐ‬the side of the direction of the north’). Since ‫ ܛܣܪܐ‬is most frequently used as the first member in construction b, its use as the first member in construction a may be viewed as an aberration.

50

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

‫‘( ܡܫܟܢܐ‬the tabernacle’) serves as a second member in construction b (26:20, 27, 35; 36:25) and in construction c (26:26; 36:31, 32). There is no detectable reason that causes the selection of one construction over the other. The other two second members used in construction c are ‘lampstand’ (25:32) and ‘the curtain’ (36:12). Other second members employed in construction b are: ‘wind’ (26:18; 27:13; 38:9, 13), ‘north’ (26:35; 27:11; 38:11), ‘west’ (27:12; 38:12), and ‘the ephod’ (39:19). ̈

vi. ‫‘( ܡܐܐܢ‬vessels’) appears in seven combinations (1x a, ̈ 5x b, 1x c). The only ̈ occurrence of ‫ ܡܐܐܢ‬in construction a is in 31:7 in the phrase ‫‘( ܡܫܟܢܐ ܡܐܢ ܝ‬the vessels of the tent’). Thë same first member and second member are used in construction b in 27:19, ‫ܡܐܐܢ ܕܡܫܟܢܐ‬. While ‫ ָּהא ֶֹּהל‬is used in 31:7 and ‫ ַה ִמ ְש ָּכן‬in 27:19, this does not appear to be the reason for selecting a different Syriac construction. If this were the case, there would be other examples of this translation criterion which there are not. Therefore, constructions a and b seem to be interchangeable for this first and second member combination. ̈ Similarly, the sole case of ‫ ܡܐܐܢ‬as a first member in̈ construction c is in 38:3 to render ‫‘( ְכ ֵלי ַה ִמזְ ֵב ַח‬the vessels of the altar’), ‫ܡܐܢܘܗܝ ܕܡܕܒܚܐ‬. The same first member is ̈ used in 38:30 construction b, ‫ܡܐܐܢ ܕܡܕܒܚܐ‬, to translate ‫ ְכ ֵלי ַה ִמזְ ֵב ַח‬. Constructions b and c should be considered interchangeable for this phrase. Of the eight other instances of ̈ ‫ ܡܐܐܢ‬used as a first member in construction b, seven are a genitive of material, with ‘gold’ (3:22; 11:2; 12:35; 35:22) and ‘silver’ (3:22; 11:2; 12:35), and one is with the second member ‘the service of the tabernacle’ (39:40).

̇ (‘work’) is used in 15 different combinations (3x a, 10x b, 2x c). ‘God’ vii. ‫ܥܒܕܐ‬ (32:16) and ‘the Lord’ (34:10) serve as second members in construction c. ‘The Lord’ serves as a second member only in construction c, while ‘God’ does as well, with the exception of ‘the spirit of God’ (31:3; 35:31) and ‘the staff of God’ (4:20; 17:9), which employ construction b. ‫ ܐܘܡܢܐ‬appears nine times in construction b (26:1, 31; 28:6, 11, 15; 36:8, 35; 39:3, ̇ (‘work of a skilled worker’) 8). Eight of the nine uses of construction b, ‫ܥܒܕܐ ܕܐܘܡܢܐ‬ ̇ translates ‫‘( ַמ ֲע ֵשה ָּח ַרש‬the work of renders Hebrew ‫ ַמ ֲע ֵשה ח ֵֹּשב‬. In 28:11, ‫ܥܒܕܐ ܕܐܘܡܢܐ‬ an engraver’). ‫ ܐܘܡܢܘ‬occurs only one time in construction a (35:33), when P renders ‫אכת‬ ֶ ‫ְמ ֶל‬ ̇ (‘work of skill’). When ‫ ܐܘܡܢܐ‬denotes ‘a skilled worker’ as a ‫ ַמ ֲח ָּש ֶבת‬with ‫ܥܒܕ ܐܘܡܢܘ‬ second member, construction b is used. When ‫ ܐܘܡܢܘ‬is an abstract noun used as a kind of attributive genitive, construction a is employed. The other two second members used in construction a are professions: ‘perfumer’ (30:25) and ‘carpenter’ (35:35). These are not used as second members in construction b, but one other profession is, ‘embroiderer’ (28:39; 38:18; 39:29). The remainder of second members used in construction b are objects associated with the tabernacle and its worship: ‘the brick of sapphire’ (24:10), ‘embroidery’ (26:36; 27:16; 36:37), ‘ephod’ (28:15; 39:8), ‘net of bronze’ (27:4; 38:4), ‘the sanctuary’ (36:4; 38:24), ‘service’ (35:24), ‘the service of the sanctuary’ (36:1), and ‘the tent of meeting’ (35:21; 39:32). D. ANALYSIS BY SECOND MEMBERS There are 369 different second members of genitive constructions in Peshitta Exodus— 90 in construction a, 216 in b, and 63 in c.

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN SYRIAC PESHITTA

51

D1. Second Members That Occur in Each Construction 1. Construction a The distribution of second members used in construction a according to number and gender is as follows: 90 different second members 62 singular 47 masculine 15 feminine 28 plural 22 masculine 6 feminine The distribution seems proportionate to what is found for nouns in general throughout P Exodus. 2. Construction b 217 different second members are used in construction b. This is more than appear in constructions a and c combined. Construction b can be considered the “default” construction. 217 different second members 156 singular 113 masculine 43 feminine 61 plural 49 masculine 12 feminine 3. Construction c The distribution of second members used in construction c by number and gender is as follows: 63 different second members 58 singular 46 masculine 12 feminine 5 plural 5 masculine 0 feminine Nineteen of the masculine singular nouns are personal names (including ‘God’, ‘the Lord’, etc.). One is a personal common noun (‘the Egyptians’). Many of the remaining items are connected with the tabernacle and its service. Of the twelve feminine singular nouns, the majority are associated with the tabernacle and its service.

52

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC Summary

ms

fs

mp

fp

total

a b c

48 113 46

15 43 12

22 50 5

7 12 0

92 118 63

Construction c has significantly fewer different second members than either a or b. The plural is less common in construction c. D2. Second Members That Only Occur in One Construction 1. Construction a There are 57 second members that only occur in construction a. One noun (‫ )ܠܒܐ‬occurs in four combinations.

‫ܠܒܐ‬ ‫ܠܒܐ‬ ‫ܠܒܐ‬ ‫ܠܒܐ‬

‫( ܚܟܡܬ‬35:35) ‫( ܚܟܝܡܬ‬35:25) ‫( ܚܟܝܡ‬36:1) ‫( ̈ܚܟܝܡܝ‬28:3)

2. Construction b There are 176 second members that only occur in construction b. This is almost six times as many as in Peshitta of 1 Kings.5 Twenty-six nouns occur in two combinations. Five nouns occur in three combinations:

‫‘( ܐܫܟܪܥܐ‬acacia’) ‫‘( ܩܝܣܐ ܕܐܫܟܪܥܐ‬acacia wood’) ‫‘( ܬܠܟܬܐ‬blue/purple’) ‫‘( ܒܢ̈ܘܗܝ‬his sons’) ‫‘( ܣܗܕܘܬܐ‬testimony’) Four nouns occur in four combinations:

‫‘( ܒܘܨܐ‬fine linen’) ‫‘( ܦܘܪܫܢܐ‬wave offering/gift’) ‫‘( ܣܐܡܐ‬silver’) ‫‘( ܡܫܟܢ ܙܒܢܐ‬tent of meeting’) One noun occurs in four combinations, ‫‘( ܡܨܪܝܢ‬Egypt’). One noun occurs in eleven combinations, ‫‘( ܢ ܚܫܐ‬bronze’). ‫‘( ܒܢ̈ ܝ ܐܝܣܪܝܠ‬the sons of̈ Israel’) occurs 28 times in 12 combinations in the b ̈ construction. ‫‘( ܫܡܗܐ ܕܒܢ ܝ ܐܝܣܪܝܠ‬the names of the sons of Israel’) occurs 7 times in construction b (1:1; 28:9, 11, 21, 29; 39:6, 14). The remaining 11 first members used in 5

Williams, Peshitta of 1 Kings, 29.

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN SYRIAC PESHITTA

53

the adjunct genitive construction are: ‫‘( ܓܥܬܐ‬groaning/crying out,’ 3:9), ‫ܟܢܘܫܬܐ‬ ̈ (‘congregation,’ 12:3, 6; 17:1; 35:1, 4, 20), ‫‘( ܨܒܘܬܐ‬desire,’ 18:8), ‫‘( ܣܒܐ‬elders,’ 3:16, ̈ ̈ 18; 12:21; 17:6; 18:12; 24:11), ‫‘( ܐܢܩܬܐ‬groan,’ 6:5), ‫‘( ܒܬܐ‬houses,’ 12:27), ‫ܕܝܢܐ‬ (‘judgments,’ 28:30), ‫ܪܛܢܐ‬ ݂ (‘murmuring,’ 16:12), ‫‘( ܚܘܫܒܢܐ‬reckoning,’ 30:12), ‫̇ܣܦ̈ܪܐ‬ ̈ (‘scribes,’ 5:15), and ‫‘( ܥܠܝܡܐ‬young men,’ 24:5). Thus, it can be concluded that when ‫ ܒܢ̈ ܝ ܐܝܣܪܝܠ‬is the second member, construction b is preferred. One noun occurs in nineteen combinations, ‫‘( ܕܗܒܐ‬gold’). 3. Construction c There are thirty-seven second members that only occur in construction c. This is over twelve times as many as in 1 Kings.6 One noun occurs in two combinations, ‫‘( ܦܪܙܘܡܐ‬the robe’). Two nouns occur in three combinations:

‫‘( ܕܦܐ‬the board’) ‫‘( ܚܒܪܟ‬your neighbor’) Two nouns occur in four combinations:

‫‘( ܬܘܪܐ‬the bull’) ‫‘( ܝܪܝܥܬܐ‬the curtain’) One noun occurs in eighteen combinations,

‫‘( ܡܪܝܐ‬the Lord’).

D3. Second Members That Occur in Two Constructions 1. Constructions a and b There are sixteen nouns that occur in both constructions a and b. Each is discussed below.

i. ‫‘( ܒܩܪܐ‬cattle’) occurs in three combinations (1x a, 2x c). The sole use of ‫ ܒܩܪܐ‬as a second member in construction a is with the first member ‫‘( ܒܪ‬son’) to indicate ‘young bull’ in 29:1. This is expected since ‫ ܒܪ‬is only used as a first member in construction a with the lone exception of ‫‘( ܒܪܗ ܕܐܗܪܘܢ‬the son of Aaron’) in 38:21. First members used in construction c are ‘firstborn’ (13:15) and ‘firstborns’ (11:5; 12:29).

ii. ‫‘( ܩܝ̇ܡܐ‬the covenant’) is used in three combinations (1x a, 2x c). The only use ̈ of ‫ ܩܝ̇ܡܐ‬in construction a is in the phrase ‫‘( ܡܠܝ ܩܝ̇ܡܐ‬the words of the covenant’) in 34:28. Since the covenant is comprised of words, in the sense of ‘terms’ or ‘stipulations,’ this genitive would denote inalienable possession. Two first members are used in construction b, ‘book’ (24:7) and ‘blood’ (24:8). These two first members differ from ‫ ̈ܡܠܝ‬in that both are singular. ‘Book’ is the written form of the covenant. ‘Blood’ is required by the covenant and symbolically represents the sanctions of the covenant.

6

Ibid, 30.

54

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

̈

The relationship ‫ ܡܠܝ ܩܝ̇ܡܐ‬seems closer than either pair in construction b and may justify the use of the construct genitive construction.

iii. ‫‘( ܥܒ̈ܪܝܐ‬Hebrews’) appears in two combinations (1x a, 1x b). ‫‘( ܠܐܗܐ ܕܥܒ̈ܪܝܐ‬the God of the Hebrews’) is used 6 times in Exodus (3:18; 5:3; 7:16; 9:1, 13; 10:3). Construction b is used with ‫ ܠܐܗܐ‬as a first member whenever the second member is ̈ plural. If the second member is singular, construction c is used. ‫‘( ܒܢ ܝ ܥܒ̈ܪܝܐ‬the sons of the Hebrews’) employs construction a as is consistently the case when the second ̈ member is plural for which ‫ ܒܢ ܝ‬is the first member.

̈

iv. ‫ܥܒܕܘܗܝ‬ ݂ (‘his servants’) appears in four combinations (3x a, 1x b). Its only ݂̈ occurrence as a second member in construction b is in the phrase ‫ܕܥܒܕܘܗܝ‬ ‫‘( ܠܒܐ‬the heart of his servants’). ‫ ܠܒܐ‬is not used as a first member in construction a in Exodus. Three different first members are used in construction a: ‘in (‫ )ܠ‬the eye’ (7:20), ‘in (‫ )ܒ‬the eyes’ (5:21), and house (8:20).

v. ‫‘( ܩܘܕܫܐ‬holiness’) is used in 11 different combinations (3x a, 6x b). The most frequent occurrence of ‫ ܩܘܕܫܐ‬as a second member in construction a is in the phrase ‫‘( ܠ ̈ܒܘܫܝ ܩܘܕܫܐ‬holy garments’). This phrase occurs 9 times in̈ Exodus (28:2, 3, 4; 29:29; 31:10; 35:19, 21; 39:41; 40:13). ‫ ܩܘܕܫܐ‬is modifying ‫ ܠ ܒܘܫܝ‬like an attributive adjective. Another use of ‫ ܩܘܕܫܐ‬in construction a is in the phrase ‫ܡܫܝ ܚܘܬ ܩܘܕܫܐ‬ (‘anointment of holiness,’ 30:25). Once again, ‫ ܩܘܕܫܐ‬functions adjectivally. Yet another ̈ use of ‫ ܩܘܕܫܐ‬as a second member in construction a appears in the phrase ‫ܡܬܩܠܝ ܩܘܕܫܐ‬ (‘the shekels of the holy place,’ 30:13, 24; 38:26), ‫ ܩܘܕܫܐ‬expressing possession. There are 6 first members used with ‫ ܩܘܕܫܐ‬in construction b: ‫‘( ܠܟܝ ܐܠ‬mitre,’ 29:6; 39:30), ̈ (‘bases,’ 38:27), ‫‘( ܦܘܪܫܢܐ‬gift,’ 36:6), ‫ܦܘܠܚܢܐ‬ ‫‘( ܡܬܩܐܠ‬shekel,’ 38:24, 25), ‫ܣܡܟܐ‬ (‘service,’ 36:1), and ‫‘( ܥܒܕܐ‬work,’ 36:4; 38:24). Each of these are masculine singular ̈ nouns with the exception of ‫ ܣܡܟܐ‬which is plural. ‫ ܩܘܕܫܐ‬means ‘holy place’ in each of the uses in construction b except when ‘mitre’ is used as a first member. Therefore when ‫ ܩܘܕܫܐ‬is a concrete sanctuary, construction b will be used except when the first ̈ member is a plural noun as in ‫ܡܬܩܠܝ ܩܘܕܫܐ‬, then construction a is employed.

vi. ‫‘( ܥܛܪܐ‬incense’) appears in two combinations (1x a, 1x b). The only occurrence of ‫ ܥܛܪܐ‬as a second member in construction a is in the phrase ‫ܡܥܛܪ ܥܛܪܐ‬ ݂ (‘a place for burning incense,’ 30:1). ‫ܡܥܛܪ ܥܛܪܐ‬ ݂ seems to be a common designation so construction a is used to express the singularity of the idea. ‫‘( ܡܕܒܚܐ ܕܥܛܪܐ‬the altar of incense’) is used six times in Exodus (30:27; 31:8; 35:15; 37:25; 38:24; 39:38). The altar (‫ )ܡܕܒܚܐ‬is for the burning of incense (‫)ܥܛܪܐ‬. Construction b is permissible for such a genitive. vii. ‫‘( ܓܒܪܐ‬the man’) is used in 3 combinations (1x a, 2x b). In each case, ‫ܓܒܪܐ‬ indicates possession. The sole first member in construction a is material, ‘house’ (22:6), while the two first members used in construction b are animate, ‘ox’ (31:35[2x]) and ‘servant’ (12:44). Since a house is a more basic possession than an ox or a servant, the construct genitive construction is preferred for the former while the adjunct genitive construction is employed for the latter.

̈

viii. ̈ ‫‘( ܐܦܐ‬presence’) is used in two combinations (1x a, 1x b).̈ There is one instance of ‫‘( ܠܚܡ ܐܦܐ‬the bread of the presence’, 25:30) and two of ‫‘( ܠܚܡܐ ܕܐܦܐ‬the bread of the presence,’ 35:13; 39:36). Construction a renders the Hebrew ‫ ֶל ֶחם ָּפנִים‬, while construction b translates ‫ ֶל ֶחם ַה ָּפנִים‬. The presence of the definite article on ‫ ָּפנִ ים‬seems

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN SYRIAC PESHITTA

55

to cause the translator to prefer the adjunct genitive construction over the construct genitive construction. ix.

̈

(‘Reuben’) appears in two combinations (1x a, 1x b). 6:14 has ‫ܒܢ ܝ‬ ‫‘( ܪܘܒܝܠ‬the sons of Reuben’) and ‫‘( ܫ̈ܪܒܬܐ ܕܪܘܒܝܠ‬the families of Reuben’). Construction a is used consistently for ‘the sons of X’ where X is ‘Israel’ or any one of the tribal heads. ‘The sons of Levi’ occurs one time in construction c (32:26). ‘The families of X,’ however, always take construction b in Exodus.

‫ܪܘܒܝܠ‬

x. ‫‘( ܫܡܥܘܢ‬Simeon’) is also used in two combinations (1x a, 1x b) and exhibits ̈ behavior identical to ‫ܪܘܒܝܠ‬. ‫‘( ܒܢ ܝ ܫܡܥܘܢ‬the sons of Simeon’) appears in 6:15 and employs construction a, while ‫‘( ܫ̈ܪܒܬܐ ܕܫܡܥܘܢ‬the families of Simeon’) occurs later in the same verse and uses the adjunct genitive construction. The same constructions were selected for the same first members with ‫ ܪܘܒܝܠ‬as the second member in the preceding verse.

̈

xi. ‫‘( ܟܐܦܐ‬stones’) is used in 5 combinations (1x a, 4x b). 35:33 describes the ability in masonry that ̈ the Lord gave Bezalel by ‫‘( ֲחר ֶֹּשת ֶא ֶבן‬cutting of stone’). P renders this phrase with ‫‘( ܐܪܕܠܟܘܬ ܟܐܦܐ‬masonry’). 31:5, however, uses construction b with a ̈ different first member to render the same Hebrew phrase, ‫ܦܐ‬ ‫ܕܟܐ‬ ‫ܐܘܡܢܘܬܐ‬ (‘craft of ̈ stones’). When ‫ ܟܐܦܐ‬is used in a genitive of material, construction b is consistently used. The following first members are attested: ‘altar’ (20:25), ‘rows’ (39:10), and ‘setting’ (28:17).

xii. ‫‘( ܒܣܡܐ‬sweet odor’) is used in two combinations (1x a, 1x b). 30:23 lists ‫ִקנְ ָּמן־‬ ‫‘( ֶב ֶשם‬fragrant cinnamon’) as one of the fine spices for the anointing oil. P uses

construction a to render this phrase, ‫‘( ܩܘܢܡܘܢ ܒܣܡܐ‬fragrant cinnamon’). Later in the same verse, P renders ‫‘( ְקנֵ ה־ב ֶֹּשם‬fragrant cane’) with construction b, ‫ܩܢ ܝܐ ܕܒܣܡܐ‬. ‫בשם‬ is pointed differently in each case which may trigger in P a different genitive construction.

̈

xiii. ‫‘( ܐܒܗܝܗܘܢ‬their fathers’) ̈ appears in two constructions (1x a, 1x b). In 6:14 construction a is seen, ‫‘( ܒܬܝ ܐܒܗܝܗܘܢ‬the house of their fathers’). ‫ ܒܬܝ‬is most commonly used as a first member in construction a except when ‘the Lord’ (23:19; 34:26) or ‘your neighbor’ (20:17) is the second ̈ member, in which case construction c is used. In 4:15, construction b is used, ‫‘( ܠܐܗܐ ܕܐܒܗܝܗܘܢ‬the God of their fathers’). When ‫ ܠܐܗܐ‬is the first member and the second member is plural, construction b is always used.

̈

xiv. ‫‘( ܡܝܐ‬the water’) is used in two combinations (1x a, 1x b). In 32:20, ̈ construction a is employed when the first member ‫ܦܝ‬ ‫ܐ‬ is used metaphorically to mean ̈ ̈ ̈ ‘surface.’ Hence, ‫‘( ܐܦܝ ܡܝܐ‬the surface of the water’) translates Hebrew ‫ ְפנֵי ַה ַמיִם‬. ̈ ‫ܡܝܐ‬ ̈ is used in construction b when it functions as a genitive of material, ‫ܥܝܢܬܐ ܕܡܝܐ‬ (‘springs of water,’ 15:27). Genitives of material regularly take construction b in P Exodus. xv. ‫‘( ܡܕܒܪܐ‬the wilderness’) appears in two constructions (1x a, 1x b). Construction ̈ a is used in 13:20 in the phrase, ‫‘( ܣܘܦܝ ܡܕܒܪܐ‬the ends of the wilderness’). In 13:18, however, construction b is employed in the phrase ‫‘( ܐܘܪܚܐ ܕܡܕܒܪܐ‬the way of the wilderness’). Construction a is used to express inalienable possession, while construction b is employed to indicate the way to the wilderness.

56

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

xvi. ‫‘( ܪܘܚܐ‬wind/spirit’) is used in two combinations (1x a, 1x b). Construction a is used in 6:9 in the phrase ‫‘( ܟܪܝܘܬ ܪܘܚܐ‬shortness of spirit’). Construction a is the most appropriate construction for this phrase because it conveys the singular idea of ‘discouragement.’ The relationship between the members seems especially close. Construction b is employed each of the 4 times (26:18; 27:13; 38:9, 13) the phrase ‫ܛܣܪܐ‬ ‫‘( ܕܪܘܚܐ‬side of the wind,’ e.g. ‘east’) is used. The adjunct genitive construction is used for directions. 2. Constructions a and c There are seven nouns that occur in both constructions a and c. Each of the seven is discussed below.

̇ (‘the hill’) is used twice with ‫‘( ܪܝܫ‬head’) as the first member (1x a, 1x i. ‫ܪܡܬܐ‬ c). 17:9 records Moses’ assertion to Joshua that he would station himself on ‘the top of ̇ the mountain,’ ‫רֹּאש ַהגִ ְב ָּעה‬. This noun phrase is rendered by P with construction c, ‫ܪܫܗ‬ ‫ܬܐܕܪܡ‬. The next verse describes the movement of Moses to the mountain top using the same Hebrew phrase for the peak, ‫רֹּאש ַהגִ ְב ָּעה‬, but it is rendered by P with construction ̇ ‫ܪܝܫ‬. It may be that construction a is used in v. 10 because the mountain top is a, ‫ܪܡܬܐ‬ identifiable, having been mentioned in the preceding verse.

ii. ‫‘( ܝܥܩܘܒ‬Jacob’) occurs in three combinations (1x a, 2x c). ‫‘( ܒܬܝ ܝܥܩܘܒ‬the house of Jacob,’ 19:3) employs construction a just as ‫‘( ܒܬܝ ܐܝܣܪܝܠ‬the house of Israel’) does in 3:11. ‫‘( ܠܐܗܗ ܕܝܥܩܘܒ‬the God of Jacob’) is used 3 times (3:6, 15; 4:5) in construction c. When ‫ ܠܐܗܐ‬is the first member and either ‘Abraham,’ ‘Isaac,’ or ‘Jacob’ is the second member, construction c is always employed. ‫‘( ܚܨܗ ܕܝܥܩܘܒ‬the loin of Jacob,’ 1:5) is the other combination used in construction c. It is the only time that ‫ ܚܨܐ‬is used as a first member in Exodus. iii.

̈

(‘lampstand’) is used in two combinations (1x a, 1x c). The phrase ‫ܩܢ ܝ‬ ‫‘( ܡܢܪܬܐ‬the branches of the lampstand’) occurs twice in 37:18. Construction a is employed to denote this inalienable relationship. Since these two phrases are parallel in 37:18, the use of the same genitive construction for both should be expected. 25:32 ̇ (‘the one side of contains ‫ ܡܢܪܬܐ‬as a second member in construction c, ‫ܛܣܪܗ ܚܕ ܕܡܢܪܬܐ‬ the lampstand’). As Avinery noted, directions are normally in construction c, but the phrase ‫‘( ܛܣܪܐ ܕܪܘܚܐ‬side of the wind,’ e.g. ‘east’) employs construction b on 4 occasions in Exodus (26:18; 27:13; 38:9,13).7

‫ܡܢܪܬܐ‬

iv. ‫‘( ܠܘܝ‬Levi’) is used as a second member in 3 combinations in construction a ̈ and is used once in construction c. ‫‘( ܒܬܝ‬house,’ 2:1), ‫‘( ܒܪܬ‬daughter,’ 2:1), and ‫ܒܢ ܝ‬ (‘sons,’ 6:16; 32:28) appear as first members in construction a. When ‫ ܒܬܝ‬is the first member and the second member is a personal name, construction a is always used. The ̈ same is true for ‫ܒܪܬ‬. With ‫ܒܢ ܝ‬, however, either construction a or c may be used when the second member is a personal name. This flexibility is seen when ‫ ܠܘܝ‬is the second member. Two times (6:16; 32:28) construction a is used, but another time (32:26) the c 7

Avinery, “Syntaxe,” 112, 125, 130–32.

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN SYRIAC PESHITTA

57

construction is used. One possible reason for the selection of a and c can be observed in ̈ 32:26 and 32:28. In 32:26, ‫‘( ܒܢܘܗܝ ܕܠܘܝ‬the sons of Levi’) are introduced as those who respond to Moses’ command, ‘Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.’ 32:28 records the ̈ ̈ obedience of ‫ ܒܢ ܝ ܠܘܝ‬to the command of Moses. Since ‫ ܒܢܘܗܝ ܕܠܘܝ‬were introduced two verses prior (32:26) in construction c, the construct genitive construction is used in verse 28.

v. ‫‘( ܛܘܪܐ‬the mountain’) appears in 3 combinations (1x a, 2x c). 34:2 contains the sole occurrence of ‫ ܛܘܪܐ‬used in construction a. It contains the Lord’s command to Moses to come up to Mount Sinai. The next clause refers to exact location on the mountain with ‫‘( ܪܝܫ ܛܘܪܐ‬the top of the mountain’). Since ‫ ܛܘܪܐ‬is identifiable, construction a is ̇ in 17:10). 19:20 has two instances of construction c. It describes the selected (like ‫ܪܡܬܐ‬ Lord coming down to Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain ( ‫ל־הר ִסינַ י ֶאל־רֹּאש‬ ַ ‫ַע‬ ‫) ָּה ָּהר‬. P renders ‫ רֹּאש ָּה ָּהר‬with construction c, ‫ܪܝܫܗ ܕܛܘܪܐ‬. Later in the verse, the same phrase is used. 24:17 contains another instance of ‫ܪܝܫܗ ܕܛܘܪܐ‬. The last instance of ̈ (‘the foot of the mountain’). construction c is in 19:17, ‫ܫܦܘܠܘܗܝ ܕܛܘܪܐ‬

vi. ‫‘( ܦܪܥܘܢ‬Pharaoh’) is richly attested as a second member appearing in 13 different combinations (4x a, 9x c). ‫‘( ܒܪܬ ܦܪܥܘܢ‬the daughter of Pharaoh’) is used 5 times (2:5, 7, 8, 9, 10). The first member ‫ ܒܪܬ‬only appears in construction a, although it occurs once in the plural in construction c (6:25). 7:20 contains ‫‘( ܠܥܝܢ ܦܪܥܘܢ‬in the ̈ sight of Pharaoh’). ‫( ܥܝܢ‬singular) only appears as a first member in construction a. ‫ܥܝܢ ܝ‬ (plural) appears in both construction a and c. Its sole occurrence in construction a with ‫ ܦܪܥܘܢ‬as a second member is in 5:21, ‫‘( ܒܥܝܢ̈ ܝ ܦܪܥܘܢ‬in the sight of Pharaoh’). When the preposition ‫ ܒ‬precedes ‘eye’ or ‘eyes,’ a mental vision is normally denoted, as it is ̈ in 5:21. Construction c, ‫ܠܥܢܘܗܝ ܕܦܪܥܘܢ‬, is used in 9:8. The preposition ‫ ܠ‬is regularly employed before ‘eye’ or ‘eyes’ when the vision is literal, as it is in 9:8. Construction c may be used in 9:8 because the idea of throwing the soot into the sky in ‘the sight of Pharaoh’ may be more prominent than ‘the sight of Pharaoh’ is in 5:21. Since the throwing of the soot and its subsequent changing to boils is intended to be a sign to Pharaoh, it is essential that it be performed in his sight. The final occurrence of ‫ܦܪܥܘܢ‬ as a second member in construction a is in 8:20 in the phrase ‫ܒܬܝ ܦܪܥܘܢ‬. When used as a first member, ‫( ܒܬܝ‬singular) always appears in construction a, except when ‘the Lord’ or ‘your neighbor’ is the second member, in which case the c construction is employed. Other first members used with ‫ ܦܪܥܘܢ‬in construction c are ‘army’ (14:28), ‘chariots’ (15:4), ‘firstborn’ (11:5; 12:29), ‘hand’ (18:9, 10), ‘heart’ (7:3, 13, 14, 22; 8:15; 9:7, 12, 35; 10:20, 27; 11:10; 14:4, 8), ‘horses’ (14:23; 15:19), ‘servants’ (11:3), and ‘sword’ (18:4). A survey of this data reveals that ‫ ܦܪܥܘܢ‬is most frequently used as a second member in construction c and that it is used with a variety of first members, singular and plural, animate and inanimate. vii. ‫‘( ܐܢܬܬܐ‬woman’) occurs in two combinations (1x a, 1x c). In 21:3, P renders the noun phrase in the verbless clause ‫ ַב ַעל ִא ָּשה הּוא‬as ‫‘( ܒܥܠ ܐܢܬܬܐ‬the husband of a wife’) employing construction a. P of 21:22 renders ‫ ַב ַעל ָּה ִא ָּשה‬with construction c, ‫‘( ܒܥܠ ̇ܗ ܕܐܢܬܬܐ‬the husband of the woman’). Perhaps the more determined construction is used because of the determined form of ‫ ָּה ִא ָּשה‬in the MT.

58

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

3. Constructions b and c There are 9 nouns that occur in both constructions b and c. This is almost twice as many as a and c have in common (5), but only a bit more than half as many as a and b share in common (17). One conclusion could be that constructions a and b are the most closely related, followed by b and c, with a and c the most widely separated. The numbers are so small, however, that inferences are precarious.

̈

i. ‫‘( ܩܒܘܬܐ‬ark’) is used in two combinations (1x b, 1x c). 25:15 has ‫ܙܩܙܩܬܐ ܕܩܒܘܬܐ‬ ̈ (‘the rings of the ark’) functioning as an indirect object. ‫ ܙܩܙܩܬܐ‬is used mostly in ̇ construction b with only two exceptions in construction c (28:28 and 39:21). ‫ܛܣ̈ܪܝܗ‬ ‫‘( ܕܩܒܘܬܐ‬sides of the ark’), employing construction c, appears twice (25:14; 37:5). While ‘side’ (singular) is used as a first member in all three constructions, ‘sides’ (plural) is only used in construction c in P Exodus. ii. ‫‘( ܚܘܣܝܐ‬breastpiece/mercy seat/atonement’) appears in two combinations (1x b, 1x c). Construction b is used in ‫‘( ܚܛܗܐ ܕܚܘܣܝܐ‬sin offering of atonement’) in 30:10. ‫ ܚܛܗܐ ܕܚܘܣܝܐ‬communicates ‘the sin offering that makes atonement.’ The most common construction, b, is suitable to express this. ‫‘( ܛܣ̈ܪܘܗܝ ܕܚܩܣܝܐ‬the sides of the breastpiece/mercy seat’), using construction c, appears 8 times in Exodus (25:18, 28:23, 24, 26; 37:7; 39:16, 17, 19). As was noted above, ‘sides’ is only used as a first member in construction c in Exodus.

iii. ‫‘( ܕܪܬܐ‬court’) is used in 7 combinations (5x b, 2x c). Construction c is employed ̇ when the first member is a dimensional term. ‫ܦܬܝܗ ܕܕܪܬܐ‬ (‘the breadth of the court’) appears in 27:12 and 13, while ‫‘( ܕܕܪܬܐ ܐܘܪܟܗ‬the length of the court’) is used in 27:18. All other occurrences of ‫ ܕܪܬܐ‬as a second member are in construction b. Five first ̈ members are used in construction b: ‫‘( ܣܡܟܐ‬bases,’ 38:31), ‫‘( ܬܪܥܐ‬gate/doorway,’ 27:16; 35:17; 38:15, 18, 31; 39:40; 40:8, 33), ‫‘( ܣܕ̈ܪܐ‬hangings,’ 35:17; 38:9, 16, 18; 39:40), ̈ (‘pillars,’ 27:17; 38:17). Four of the 5 are ‫‘( ̈ܣܟܐ‬pegs,’ 27:19; 38:31), and ‫ܥܡܘܕܐ‬ plural nouns.

iv. ‫‘( ܡܨ̈ܪܝܐ‬Egyptians’) occurs in 10 different combinations (8x b, 3x c). ̈ (‘deities,’ 12:12), ‘eyes’ (3:21; 11:3; Construction c is used with the first members ‫ܕܚܠܬܐ‬ 12:36), and ‘heart’ (14:17). The phrase ‘the deities of Egypt’ appears in both ̈ renders ‫ֹלהי ִמ ְצ ַריִם‬ construction c (12:12) and b (8:22). In 12:12, ‫ܕܚܠܬܗܘܢ ܕܡܨ̈ܪܝܐ‬ ֵ ‫ֱא‬ ̈ which functions as the complement of a preposition. In 8:22, however, ‫ܕܚܠܬܐ ܕܡܨ̈ܪܝܐ‬ renders ‫‘( תו ֲע ַבת ִמ ְצ ַריִם‬an abomination of Egypt’) functioning as a direct object marked by ‫ ֶאת־‬. It could be either the difference in the reading of the MT or the difference in grammatical function that results in a different construction in P. The other two first members used with ‫ ܡܨ̈ܪܝܐ‬in construction c are parts of the body used metaphorically: ‫‘( ܥܝܢ̈ ܝܗܘܢ‬eyes,’ 3:21; 11:3; 12:36) and ‫‘( ܠܒܗܘܢ‬heart,’ 14:17). In 3:21; 11:3, and ̈ 12:36, ‫ ܥܝܢ ܝܗܘܢ‬is preceded by the preposition ‫ ܒ‬which normally indicates the vision is mental, as it is in these three instances. ‘Heart’ used metaphorically as a first member is always in construction c in P with only one exception, ‘the heart of his servants’ (10:1). The frequently used phrase ‫‘( ܠܒܗ ܕܦܪܥܘܢ‬the heart of Pharaoh’) always appears in construction c in Exodus. First members used in construction b are the following: ‫ܛܢܦܘܬܐ‬ (‘abomination,’ 8:22), ‫‘( ܡܫܪܬܝܐ‬camp,’ 14:20, 24[2]), ‫‘( ܒܥܝܪܐ‬cattle,’ 9:4, 6), (‘deities,’ ̈ 8:22), ‫‘( ܐܝܕܐ‬hand,’ 3:8, 14:30, 18:10[2]), ‫‘( ܒܬܐ‬houses,’ 8:17), ‫‘( ܫܘܥܒܕܐ‬servitude,’ 3:17; 6:6, 7), and ‫‘( ܬܚܘܡܐ‬territory,’ 10:14, 19).

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN SYRIAC PESHITTA

59

v. ‫‘( ܦܕܬܐ‬ephod’) is used in 7 combinations (4x b, 3x c). Those first members used in construction c are two plural nouns which are used with ‫ ܦܕܬܐ‬to show possession: ̈ ̈ (‘rings,’ 28:28; 39:21) and ‫ܦܬܗ‬ ̇ ‫ܙܩܙܩ‬ ̇ ‫‘( ܬܟ‬shoulder pieces,’ 28:12, 25, 27; 39:7, 18, ‫ܬܗ‬ ̇ 20). The other first member is a surface feature, ‫ܣܦܬܗ‬ (‘edge,’ 28:6). Those first ̇ members used in construction b are ‫‘( ܥܒܕܐ‬work,’ 28:15; 39:8), ‫‘( ܗܡܝܢܐ‬belt,’ 28:8, 27, 28; 29:5, 20, 21), ‫‘( ܦܪܙܘܡܐ‬girdle,’ 28:31; 39:22), and ‫‘( ܛܣܪܐ‬side,’ 39:19). ‘Belt’ and ‘girdle’ differ from ‘rings’ and ‘shoulder pieces’ used in construction c in their singular form and in the fact that they are not an integral, inseparable part of the ephod. One ̇ surface feature, ‫ܣܦܬܗ‬ , is used in construction c while another, ‫ܛܣܪܐ‬, is used in construction b. vi. ‫‘( ܠܐܗܐ‬God’) occurs in 7 combinations (2x b, 5x c). Both 31:3 and 35:31 render ‫ֹלהים‬ ִ ‫רּוח ֱא‬ ַ (‘the Spirit of God’) with construction b, ‫ܪܘܚܐ ܕܠܐܗܐ‬. The ‫ַמ ֵטה‬ ‫ֹלהים‬ ִ ‫‘( ַָּה ֱא‬the staff of God’) with which Moses performed miraculous signs is also translated by P with construction b, ‫( ܚܘܛܪܐ ܕܠܐܗܐ‬4:20; 17:9). Both of these noun phrases represent something sacred, so a determined construction, b, is employed. First ̈ members used in construction c are ‫‘( ܨܒܥܐ‬finger,’ 8:15; 31:18), ‫ܩܐܠ‬ (‘sounds/voices/thunders,’ 9:28), and ‫‘( ܛܘܪܐ‬mountain,’ 3:1; 4:27; 18:5; 24:13). Since these noun phrases do not occur in either construction a or b, perhaps they are considered a bit more determined than those using construction b. vii. ‫‘( ܡܘܫܐ‬Moses’) appears in 6 combinations (1x b, 6x c). The only first member used in construction b is ‫‘( ܐܝܕܐ‬hand’). On two occasions (9:35; 35:29), P renders ‫יַ ד־מ ֶֹּשה‬ (‘the hand of Moses’) with ‫ܐܝܕܐ ܕܡܘܫܐ‬. In these two instances, ‫ ܐܝܕܐ‬is used metaphorically for authority. The cataphoric genitive construction is employed once (34:29) when ‫ܐܝܕܐ‬ is the first member and ‫ ܡܘܫܐ‬is the second member, ‫ܐܝܕܗ ܕܡܘܫܐ‬. In 34:29, ‫ܐܝܕܗ ܕܡܘܫܐ‬ denotes the literal hand of Moses. P prefers construction c when a body part is used in a literal sense, but employs the adjunct genitive construction when a body part is used in a nonliteral or extended ̈ way. Five other first members are used with ‫ ܡܘܫܐ‬as the second member: ‫ܦܘܗܝ‬ ‫ܐ‬ (‘face,’ 34:35), ‫‘( ܚܡܘܗܝ‬father-in-law,’ 18:1, 2, 5, 12[2], 14, ̈ 17), ‫‘( ܐܝܕܘܗܝ‬hands,’ 17:12), ‫‘( ܦܘܡܗ‬mouth,’ 38:21), and ‫‘( ܡܠܬܗ‬word,’ 8:9, 27; 12:35; 32:28). Three of these are body parts. Each body part is used in a literal way, thus P selects construction c to express the genitive syntagm. One first member is a kinship relationship only found as a first member in construction c. The other first member is a word involving speech.

viii. ‫‘( ܕܟܪܐ‬ram’) is used in two combinations (1x b, 1x c). In 29:32, P renders ‫ְב ַשר‬ ‫‘( ָּה ַאיִל‬the flesh of the ram’) with construction b, ‫ܒܣܪܐ ܕܕܟܪܐ‬. Construction c is employed in 29:15 and 19 to render ‫‘( רֹּאש ָּה ָּאיִל‬the head of the ram’) as ‫ܪܫܗ ܕܕܟܪܐ‬. When ‫ ܪܝܫ‬is used as a first member to denote a body part, it only appears in construction c in Exodus. ix. ‫‘( ܝܡܐ‬sea’) is used in 3 combinations (1x b, 2x c). In 15:19, P renders ‫ֵמי ַהיָּ ם‬ ̈ (‘the waters of the sea’) with construction b, ‫ܡܝܐ ܕܝܡܐ‬. This is not surprising because ̈ ‫ ܡܝܐ‬is only used as a first member in construction b in Exodus. Construction c is used in 15:8 to translate ‫‘( ֶלב־יָּם‬the heart of the sea’), ‫ ܠܒܐ‬.‫ ܠܒܗ ܕܝܡܐ‬is used as a metaphor for center or middle. 14:30 contains another use of construction c, ‫‘( ܣܦܬܗ ܕܝܡܐ‬the edge of the sea’) to render ‫ ְש ַפת ַהיָּ ם‬. ‫ ܣܦܬܐ‬is also used used metaphorically. Both of these genitives describe a particular area of the sea.

60

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

D4. Second Members That Occur in All Three Constructions There are eight nouns that occur in all three constructions as second members. The following chart lists each noun and the number of instances and combinations that each is used in each construction. In the paragraphs that follow, patterns that seem to be especially significant will be discussed. Noun

a

b

c

i. ‫ܐܗܪܘܢ‬

3/2 combs.

2/2

5/5

ii. ‫ܡܕܒܚܐ‬

1/1

1/1

5/4

iii. ‫ܐܪܥܐ‬

5/2

8/5

2/2

iv. ‫ܐܝܣܪܝܠ‬

66/2

14/7

1/1

v. ‫ܥܡܐ‬

1/1

1/1

3/2

vi. ‫ܢܗܪܐ‬

1/1

2/1

2/1

vii. ‫ܡܫܟܢܐ‬

5/4

22/11

10/6

viii. ‫ܫܢܬܐ‬

2/2

1/1

1/1

i. ‫ ܐܗܪܘܢ‬is used as a second member most frequently in construction c. In construction a it is used with the first members ‘son’ (6:25) and ‘sons’ (28:1, 40). ‘Sons’ most frequently appears as a first member with a proper name as a second member in ̈ construction a, including the frequently used ‫‘( ܒܢ ܝ ܐܝܣܪܝܠ‬the sons of Israel’). It is never used as a first member in construction b. ‘Son’ is only used as a first member in construction a with one exception, the use of construction c in 38:21, ‫‘( ܒܪܗ ܕܐܗܪܘܢ‬the son of Aaron’). The use of construction a in 6:25, ‫‘( ܒܪܗ ܕܐܗܪܘܢ‬the son of Aaron’), is expected. One possible explanation for the use of construction c in 38:21 is that the genitive is followed by ‫‘( ܟܗܐܢ‬the priest’), and may therefore be considered more determined than its use in 6:25. Construction b is used with the first members ‫‘( ܐܝܕܐ‬hand,’ 29:24) and ‫‘( ܚܘܛܪܐ‬staff,’ 7:12). ‫ ܚܘܛܪܐ‬is only used as a first member in construction b and ‫ ܐܝܕܐ‬is most frequently used in construction b. Construction c is employed with 5 different first members: ‫ܐܕܢܗ‬ ̈ (‘ear,’ 29:20), ‫‘( ܒܬܝ ܥܝܢܘܗܝ‬forehead,’ 28:38), ‫‘( ܐܝܕܗ‬hand,’ 29:9), ‫‘( ܚܛܗ‬sister,’ 15:20), and ‫‘( ܒܪܗ‬son,’ 38:21). Each of these is either a body part or kinship relationship. ii. ‫‘( ܡܕܒܚܐ‬altar’) is most frequently used in construction c, but is used once in both construction a and b. ‫ ܡܕܒܚܐ‬is used in 5 different combinations in construction c ̈ in relationships that show inalienable possession. The 5 first members are: ‫ܦܘܠܘܗܝ‬ ̈‫ܫ‬ (‘base,’ 27:5), ‫‘( ܩ̈ܪܢܬܗ‬horns,’ 29:12), ‫‘( ܛܣ̈ܪܘܗܝ‬sides,’ 27:7; 38:7), and ‫ܡܐܢܘܗܝ‬ (‘vessels,’ 38:3). Each of the 5 first members is a plural ̈ noun. ‘The vessels of the altar’ is expressed with construction b in 38:30, ‫ܡܐܐܢ ܕܡܕܒܚܐ‬. The use of construction c in 38:3 and b in 38:30 are in near-identical contexts. The only difference is that genitive construction c appears first in a list of direct objects, while construction b appears last. This,̈ however, does not seem to be a consistent criterion throughout Exodus. Since ‫ ܡܐܢܘܗܝ‬seem to be detachable from the ‫ܡܕܒܚܐ‬, it may not form an inalienable ̈ relationship with ‫ܡܕܒܚܐ‬. The only first member used in construction a is ‫ܫܦܘܠܝ‬

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN SYRIAC PESHITTA

61

(‘base,’ 29:12). The same first and second member are used in construction c in 27:5. In ̈ . P translates 29:12, P renders ‫‘( יְ סוד ַה ִמזְ ֵב ַח‬the base of the altar’) with ‫ܫܦܘܠܝ ܡܕܒܚܐ‬ ̈ ‫‘( ַכ ְרכֹּב ַה ִמזְ ֵב ַח‬the ledge of the altar’) in 27:5 as ‫ܫܦܘܠܘܗܝ ܕܡܕܒܚܐ‬. Since both of these relationships express inalienable possession, it is difficult to know why construction a is used in 29:12, since construction c seems to be normative. For these two genitive syntagms, the first member rendered seems to be more determinative in the selection of genitive construction by P than the second member rendered. iii. ‫ ܐܪܥܐ‬is used in construction b more times and in more combinations than ̈ in constructions a and c combined. Construction̈ a is used in the phrases ‫‘( ܐܦܝ ܐܪܥܐ‬the face of the earth,’ 32:12; 33:16) and ‫‘( ܬܝܒܝ ܐܪܥܐ‬the inhabitants of the earth,’ 23:31; 34:12, 15). These two phrases are only found in construction a in Exodus. They appear to be associated through construction a by constant use. The two phrases cast in ̇ construction c have first members that specify a location: ‫ܓܘܗ ܕܐܪܥܐ‬ (‘the midst of the ̇ ̇ land,’ 8:18) and ‫ܥܝܢܗ ܕܐܪܥܐ‬ (‘the surface of the land,’ 10:5). ‫ܥܝܢܗ ܕܐܪܥܐ‬ may be a somewhat living metaphor, since visibility is at stake. The five first members used are: ̈ (‘natives,’ 12:48), ‫ܥܡܐ‬ ‫‘( ܥܦܪܐ‬dust,’ 8:12, 13[2]), ‫‘( ܥܡܘ̈ܪܐ‬inhabitants,’ 12:19), ‫ܒܘܟܢܐ‬ (‘people,’ 5:5), and ‫‘( ܥܣܒܐ‬plant,’ 10:12, 15). Three of the first members are animate and two are inanimate.

iv. ‫ ܐܝܣܪܝܠ‬occurs most often as a second member in construction a, because of ̈ the frequent use of ‫‘( ܒܢ ܝ ܐܝܣܪܝܠ‬the sons of Israel,’ 1:1, 7, 9, 12, 23; 2:23, 25; 3:9 etc.), which only appears in construction a. ‫ ܐܝܣܪܝܠ‬is used on one other occasion as a second member in construction a, that is in the phrase ‫‘( ܒܬܝ ܐܝܣܪܝܠ‬the house of ̈ Israel,’ 40:38) which is synonymous with ‫ܒܢ ܝ ܐܝܣܪܝܠ‬. Construction c is used one time, in 6:14, ‫ܒܘܟܪܗ ܕܐܝܣܪܝܠ‬, ‘the firstborn of Israel.’ The use of ‘firstborn’ as a first member personalizes ‫ ܐܝܣܪܝܠ‬as a nation. ‫ ܐܝܣܪܝܠ‬in 6:14 is used for the person Jacob which is probably the reason the cataphoric genitive construction is employed. Although ‫ ܐܝܣܪܝܠ‬appears the most times in construction a, it appears in more combinations in construction b than in constructions a and c combined. ‫ ܐܝܣܪܝܠ‬is used as a second member in construction b in 7 different combinations. The following are the first members with which‫ ܐܝܣܪܝܠ‬is used in construction b: ‫‘( ܡܫܪܬܝܐ‬camp,’ ̈ 14:19, 20), ‫‘( ܒܥܝܪܐ‬cattle,’ 9:4, 7), ‫‘( ܟܢܘܫܬܐ‬congregation,’ 12:19, 47), ‫ܩܫܝܫܐ‬ (‘elders,’ ̈ ̈ 17:5), ‫‘( ܣܒܐ‬elders,’ 24:1, 9), ‫‘( ܠܐܗܐ‬God,’ 5:1; 24:10; 32:27; 34:23), and ‫ܫܒܛܐ‬ (‘tribes,’ 24:4). All of these first members are animate. Five of the first members are people, one is animal (‫)ܒܥܝܪܐ‬, and another is divine (‫)ܠܐܗܐ‬. While the kinship ̈ relationship ‫ ܒܢ ܝ ܐܝܣܪܝܠ‬is always in construction a, other genitive phrases which describe the Israelites are in construction b: ‫‘( ܡܫܪܬܝܐ ܕܐܝܣܪܝܠ‬the camp of Israel’), ̈ ‫ܟܢܘܫܬܐ ܕܐܝܣܪܐܝܠ‬ (‘the congregation of Israel’), ‫ܩܫܥܫܐ ܕܐܝܣܪܝܠ‬ (‘the elders of Israel’), ̈ ̈ ‫‘( ܣܒܐ ܕܐܝܣܪܐܝܠ‬the elders of Israel’), and ‫‘( ܫܒܛܐ ܕܐܝܣܪܝܠ‬the tribes of Israel’). v. ‫‘( ܥܡܐ‬the people’) is used 3 times in two combinations in construction c, and is used once in both constructions a and b. Construction c is used in ‫‘( ܩܠܗ ܕܥܡܐ‬the sound of the people,’ 32:17). Whenever ‘sound’ is used as a first member with an animate second member, construction c is ̈ employed. Construction c is also used in the two occurrences of ‫‘( ܦܬܓܡܘܗܝ ܕܥܡܐ‬the words of the people,’ 19:8, 9). ̈ ‫ ܦܬܓܡܘܗܝ ܕܥܡܐ‬is only used as a first member in construction c. The uses of ‫ ܥܡܐ‬as ̈ a second member in constructions a and b are in ‫‘( ܒܥܝܢ ܝ ܥܡܐ‬in the eyes of the people,’ ̈ 11:3) and ‫‘( ܩܫܝܫܐ ܕܥܡܐ‬the elders of the people,’ 19:7), respectively. The preposition

62

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

̈

is normally used when the vision is mental, not physical, as in ‫ ܒܥܝܢ ܝ ܥܡܐ‬in 11:3. When human body parts are used in a nonliteral or extended way, the construct genitive construction is preferred. Also determinative may be the double genitive construction in the preceding phrase.

‫ܒ‬

vi. ‫‘( ܢܗܪܐ‬river/Nile’) is used in three combinations, one in each construction. The selection of construction c and a in 2:3 and 5 may be based on the first member used. 2:3 describes the mother of Moses placing him in a wicker basket in the reeds by the bank of the Nile, ‫ܣܦܬܗ ܕܢܗܪܐ‬. Construction c is used to express this inalienable possession. In 2:5, however, the a construction is employed since the first member is a human body part used in a nonliteral or extended way, ‫‘( ܝܕ ܢܗܪܐ‬the edge of the Nile’). The construct genitive construction is preferred in P Exodus when the first member is a human body part used nonliterally. 7:15 records the Lord’s command to Moses to wait on the bank of the Nile, ‫ܣܦܬܗ ܕܢܗܪܐ‬, to meet Pharaoh. The cataphoric genitive construction regularly expresses inalienable possession in P Exodus. Construction b is ̈ used to express the possessive relationship, ‫‘( ܡܝܐ ܕܢܗܪܐ‬the waters of the river,’ 4:9; 7:24).

vii. ‫‘( ܡܫܟܢܐ‬the tent’) occurs as the second member more times and in more combinations in construction b than in constructions a and c combined. It is used the fewest times and in ̈ the fewest combinations in construction a. The combinations of the first members ‫‘( ܐܦܝ‬front,’ 26:9) and ‫‘( ܓܘ‬midst,’ 33:11) with the second member ‫ ܡܫܟܢܐ‬only appear in construction a. These two first members each specifying a particular area of the tabernacle are most commonly used in construction a. A first member that occurs with ‫ ܡܫܟܢܐ‬as a second member in both construction a and b is ̈ ‫‘( ܡܐܢ ܝ‬vessels’). It occurs in construction a in 31:7 and in construction b in 27:19 with no discernible cause for the selection of one construction over the other. The first ̈ (‘rear’) is used in both constructions a (36:27; 40:24) and c (26:22, member ‫ܫܦܘܠܝ‬ ̈ (‘the rear of the tabernacle’) is introduced 27; 40:22). In 40:22, ‫ܫܦܘܠܘܗܝ ܕܡܫܟܢܐ‬ with the more determined construction c. When mentioned again in verse 24, the less determined construction a is employed. ‫‘( ̈ܕܦܐ‬boards’) is a first member shared by constructions b (36:22) and c (26:17). ̈ The command involving the ‫‘( ܕܦܘܗܝ ܕܡܫܟܢܐ‬the boards of the tabernacle,’ 26:17) uses construction c while the narrative mentioning that the boards of the tabernacle were made (36:22) uses the less determined genitive construction in Peshitta, b. The other first members used in construction c are: ‫‘( ܒܣܬܪܐ‬back,’ 26:12), ‫̈ܕܦܝ ܛܣܪܗ ܐܚܪܐܢ‬ ̈ (‘rear,’ 26:22, 27; 40:22), ‫‘( ܛܣܪܗ ܚܕ‬one (‘boards of the other side,’ 36:32), ‫ܫܦܘܠܘܗܝ‬ side,’ 26:26; 36:31), ‫‘( ܛܣܪܗ ܐܚܪܐܢ‬other side,’ 36:32), and ‫‘( ܛܣ̈ܪܘܗܝ‬sides,’ 26:13). ‫ܛܣܪܗ‬ ‫ ܐܚܪܐܢ‬is also used as a first member in construction b (26:20, 27; 36:25) with no detectable difference in meaning between the two constructions. The remaining first members in construction b are related to ‫ ܡܫܟܢܐ‬by inalienable possession: ‫ܙܘܬܝܐ‬ (‘corner,’ 26:23; 36:28), ‫‘( ܦܪܣܐ‬covering,’ 40:19), ‫‘( ܝ̈ܪܝܥܬܐ‬curtains,’ 26:12, 13), ‫ܬܪܥܐ‬ ̈ (‘doorway,’ 26:36; 32:26; 33:9, 10; 35:15; 36:37; 39:38), ‫‘( ܡܢ ܝܢܐ‬numbers,’ 38:21), ̈ ‫‘( ܕܡܘܬܐ‬pattern,’ 25:9), ‫‘( ܣܟܐ‬pegs,’ 38:31), and ‫‘( ܦܘܠܚܢܐ‬service,’ 39:40). viii. ‫‘( ܫܢܬܐ‬year’) occurs in four different combinations. It is used with the first ̈ members ‫‘( ܒܪ‬son,’ 12:5, etc.) and ‫‘( ܒܢ ܝ‬sons,’ 29:38, etc.) to describe sacrificial lambs ‘one year old.’ P regularly uses construction a for this phrase. Another common ̇ expression is expressed with construction c. ‫ܡܦܩܗ ܕܫܢܬܐ‬ (‘the end of the year,’ 34:22)

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN SYRIAC PESHITTA

63

is a regular expression for new year period. The final first member used with ‫ ܫܢܬܐ‬as a second member is ‫‘( ܝ̈ܪܚܐ‬months,’ 12:2) used in construction b, ‫‘( ܝ̈ܪܚܐ ܕܫܢܬܐ‬the months of the year’) to express inalienable possession.

E. COMBINATIONS WHERE BOTH MEMBERS ARE THE SAME BUT A DIFFERENT CONSTRUCTION IS USED

The following are sets of first and second members which are used in more than one construction. The reason why one construction is preferred over another was theorized in the sections above. The information is gathered here for completeness. E1. Constructions a and b 1. ‘the oil of the anointment of holiness’ 2. ‘the boards of one side of the tabernacle’ 3. ‘the bread of the presence’ 4. ‘the vessels of the tabernacle’ 5. ‘carpentry of wood’ E2. Constructions a and c 1. ‘the son of Aaron’ 2. ‘the sons of Levi’ 3. ‘the head of the mountain’ 4. ‘the rear of the tabernacle’ 5. ‘head of the hill’ 6. ‘eyes of Pharaoh’ 7. ‘the husband of the woman’ E3. Constructions b and c 1. ‘the hand of Aaron’ 2. ‘the vessels of the altar’ 3. ‘the names of the sons of Israel’ 4. ‘the boards of the tent/tabernacle’ 5. ‘the side of the tent/tabernacle’ E4. Constructions a, b, and c None

F. CONCLUSIONS The following conclusions may be drawn based on the preceding analysis of the use of the genitive construction in Peshitta Exodus. This list contains the major conclusions. Other factors influencing the selection of one genitive construction over another were discussed in the preceding sections. 1. The adjunct genitive construction (b) is the default genitive construction in Peshitta Exodus. It is the unmarked member, while construction a and c are marked.

64

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

When the criteria for the cataphoric genitive construction (c) and the construct genitive construction (a) are not met, the adjunct genitive construction is used. 2. When ‫‘( ܡܪܝܐ‬the Lord’) is used as a second member, the cataphoric genitive construction is always employed. 3. When ‫‘( ܠܐܗܐ‬God’) is used as second member, the cataphoric genitive construction is almost always employed. 4. Proper nouns are most often found as second members in the cataphoric genitive construction. 5. Human body parts used as first members in a nonliteral sense prefer the construct genitive construction. 6. Human body parts used as first members in a literal sense prefer the cataphoric genitive construction. 7. Kinship relationships with the first members ‘sister,’ ‘mother,’ ‘father-in-law,’ ‘daughters,’ and ‘firstborn’ when the second member is a personal name are used in construction c. When ‘daughter’ is the first member, a kinship relationship is expressed with the construct genitive construction. 8. The adjective class, in which the first member is an adjective modifying the second member as an attribute, is expressed by the construct genitive construction, not by the cataphoric genitive construction. 9. Two contiguous cataphoric genitive constructions are avoided and normally replaced with an adjunct genitive construction followed by a cataphoric genitive construction. 10. When ‫‘( ܒܬܝܐ‬house’) is used as a first member in a nonliteral sense, the construct genitive construction is employed. 11. When ‫‘( ܒܬܝܐ‬house’) is used as a first member in a literal sense, the cataphoric genitive construction is employed. 12. In general, a particular item is expressed by construction c while a more general item is expressed by either construction a or b. The cataphoric genitive construction is used to express things that are physical and literal, whereas nonliteral things are expressed by construction a or b. 13. The cataphoric genitive construction is normally used to express ‘sons of’ a specific person. When the second member is not a specific person, ‘sons’ is usually the first member in the construct genitive construction. 14. Compound nouns are normally in the construct genitive construction, while the cataphoric genitive construction usually avoids them. So-called “fixed phrases,” genitive phrases codified through repeated use, are almost always in construction a. 15. When the first member is an abstract noun of quality, construction c is always preferred over a, with only one exception in Peshitta Exodus. 16. When the second member is an abstract noun of quality, the construct genitive construction is always selected over the cataphoric genitive construction. 17. When the second member is an attribute that in some way defines the first, construction a is used, not construction c.

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN SYRIAC PESHITTA

65

G. A SURVEY OF THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN EARLY AND LATER SYRIAC TEXTS

How, then, does the use of the genitive constructions in P Exodus relate to the use of genitive constructions in Old Syriac (OS), as witnessed by early inscriptions and parchments, and later Syriac texts? The OS texts will be analysed first followed by late Syriac. G1. The Use of Genitive Constructions in OS In 1980, Han Drijvers asserted that the OS of ancient inscriptions is somewhere between Official Aramaic and later Syriac. 8 Six years later, Klaus Beyer hypothesized that the Imperial Aramaic used in and around Edessa was interrupted by Greek after the Alexandrian conquest, but that there was a revival afterward based on the continued use of literary Aramaic in the Parthian Empire.9 The revived language was largely that spoken in Edessa. Han Drijvers and John Healey, in 1999, stated their belief that it was the commencement of the Aryu dynasty in the middle of the second century B.C.E. that gave rise to Aramaic being used in public life.10 Drijvers and Healey described the language of OS of the earliest inscriptions and parchments in the following terms: The language of the corpus is, therefore, to be regarded as the first stage in the formation of classical Syriac, reflecting revival in the fortunes of Aramaic as a prestige language in the Edessa region (with parallels to this revival at Palmyra and Hatra). The language represents transitional features: it clearly has its roots in Reichsaramäisch, whether of a local variety or a variety borrowed from an area where Arsacid Aramaic was in written use, but the local features which in the end made Syriac into a distinctive branch of the Aramaic tree already in evidence. 11

In 2009, Healey asserted that Classical Syriac is more standardized than the OS of the inscriptions.12 Healey observed that it is the related script and historical context of the various inscriptions that merits the label, Old Syriac. 13 He believes it is the pagan kingdom of Edessa and the establishment of Edessa as the center of Syriac Christianity that gave rise to Syriac as an important dialect of Aramaic.14

Han J. W. Drijvers, Cults and Beliefs at Edessa (Leiden: Brill, 1980), 20–21. Klaus Beyer, The Aramaic Language: Its Distribution and Subdivisions; trans. by John F. Healey (Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1986), 31–32. 10 Han J. W. Drijvers and John F. Healey, The Old Syriac Inscriptions of Edessa and Osrhoene: Texts, Translations and Commentary (Leiden: Brill, 1999), 33. 11 Ibid., 34. 12 John F. Healey, Aramaic Inscriptions and Documents of the Roman Period (TSSI IV; Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009), 44. 13 Ibid. 14 Ibid. 8 9

66

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

In order to study the use of genitive constructions in the OS of inscriptions and parchments, the texts included in The Old Syriac Inscriptions of Edessa and Osrhoene (OSI), published by Han J. W. Drijvers and John F. Healey (Leiden: Brill, 1999), were analysed. This volume supersedes Drijvers’ Old-Syriac (Edessean) Inscriptions of 1972 and includes more recent finds. The inscriptions are labeled with the following sigla based upon the location and material of the inscription15: Location:

A — Known places of origin in Turkey B — Known places of origin in Syria C — Unknown places of origin: mostly materials in museums and private collections.

Material:

s — Inscriptions on stone m — Inscriptions set in mosaic o — Other inscriptions (on metalwork, pot, coins)

This nomenclature will be used in this chapter. The date of writing of these texts ranges from 6 C.E. to 243 C.E. Seventeen of the inscriptions and parchments included in OSI were published again by Healey in “Early Syriac (Edessan Aramaic) Inscriptions and Parchments,” chapter VI in Aramaic Inscriptions and Documents of the Roman Period (TSSI IV; Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009). Healey numbers these texts 46–57 and 59–63 and provides a fresh commentary on each. One additional Syriac inscription is provided in this volume. Healey labels it “Orpheus Mosaic Depicting ‘Orpheus Taming Wild Animals’.” 16 This inscription is number 58 in Healey’s volume and is dated 194 C.E. by him. Two other ancient texts were also consulted. One is a Syriac amulet on leather published by Joseph Naveh in 1997.17 Another is an inscription on a mosaic pavement discovered in February 2007 north-east of Aleppo. It was published by Françoise Briquel Chatonnet and Alain Desreumaux in 2011. 18 Chatonnet and Desreumaux date the inscription to the fifth century C.E.19 The following conclusions can be drawn about the relationship between the use of genitive constructions in P Exodus and their use in OS, using the conclusions drawn about P Exodus (section G) as a guide. 1. The adjunct genitive construction (b) appears to be the default genitive construction in OS. This is more apparent in OS than in P Exodus. While P most often uses the cataphoric genitive construction when the second member is a proper noun, OS prefers construction b.

Drijvers and Healey, Inscriptions, XIII. Healey, Inscriptions, 245–47. 17 Joseph Naveh, “A Syriac Amulet on Leather,” JSS 42 (1997): 33–38. 18 Françoise Briquel Chatonnet and Alain Desreumaux, “Oldest Syriac Inscription Discovered in North-Syria,” Hugoye: Journal of Syriac Studies 14.1 (2011): 45–61. 19 Ibid., 46. 15 16

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN SYRIAC PESHITTA

67

2. The theonyms ‫‘( ܡܪܝܐ‬the Lord’) and ‫‘( ܠܐܗܐ‬God’) do not occur in the corpus of OS examined for this research so it is unknown whether or not OS would prefer construction c when either of these is the second member. 3. Perhaps the largest difference in the use of genitive constructions in OS versus P Exodus is found when a proper noun is the second member. In P Exodus, construction c is most often used when the second member is a proper noun. In the corpus of OS studied for this research, only one clear example of construction c was observed. This instance appears in an inscription on a mosaic pavement discovered ̈ north-east of Aleppo in 2007.20 On the left side of the mosaic the text has ‫ܒܝܘܡܬܗ ܕܪܫ‬ ‫‘( ܕܝܪܐ ܡܪ ܒܪܢܒܐ‬in the days ̈ of Father Superior Mar Barnaba’), construction c. The right side reads ‫‘( ܒܝܘܡܝ ܪܫ ܕܝܪܐ ܡܪܗ‬in the days of Father Superior Mares’), construction a. The comment made by Chatonnet and Desreumaux seems accurate: “The alternating ̈ ̈ uses of ‫ ܒܝܘܡܬܗ‬and ‫ ܒܝܘܡܝ‬which in no way aims to express nuances, as in both cases the words are merely meant to connect a specific date to a particular Father Superior of the monastery.”21 Apart from kinship relationships, whenever the second member is a proper noun, OS prefers construction b and sometimes uses construction a. OS uses the adjunct genitive construction with the following first members (when the second member is a proper noun): a. ‫( ܨܠܡܐ‬masculine) and ‫( ܨܠܡܬܐ‬feminine) (‘image’). Instances occur in the following texts: As6, As23, As60, and Cs3. b. ‫‘( ܫܠܝܛܐ‬governor’): As36, As47, As49, As51, As52, and As55. c. ‫‘( ܩܒܪܐ‬grave’): As10 and As58. d. ‫‘( ܡܪܒܝܢܐ‬tutor’): As55. e. ‫‘( ܚܘܓܐ‬act of reverence’): As61. f. ‫‘( ܢܘܗܕܪܐ‬commandant’): As47. g. ‫‘( ܬܠܡܕܐ‬disciple’): Bs1. h. ‫‘( ܒܕܪ‬budar,’ name of a religious function): Bs2. i. ‫‘( ܓܕܗ‬possession’): P1 and P2. j. ‫‘( ܐܪܟܝܘܢ‬archive’): P1. k. ‫‘( ܐܒܕܐ‬servant’): P2. l. ‫‘( ܟܪܟܐ ܚܕܬܐ‬New Town’): P2 (2x). m. ‫‘( ܗܦܛܝܐ‬consulship’): P1 and P3. n. ‫‘( ܚܪܘܪܐ‬liberation’): P1 (plural) and P3 (singular). o. ‫‘( ܟܡܪܘܬܐ‬priesthood’): P1 and P3. p. ‫‘( ܛ ܓܘܬܐ‬governorship’): P1. q. ‫‘( ܐܪܟܘܢܘܬܐ‬archonship’): P3.

Apart from kinship relationships, there are two different first members in OS that employ the construct genitive construction (a) when the second member is a proper noun. The first is ‫‘( ܝܪܚܐ‬month’). In every instance in OS in which the first member is 20 21

Chatonnet and Desreumaux, “Inscription,” 45. Ibid., 55.

68

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

(‘month’) and the second member is a proper noun, OS employs construction a. Examples in OS appear in the following texts: As9, As55, Am1, Am7, Am8, Am9, Bs2, ̈ and P2. In P Exodus, the phrase ‫‘( ܝܪܚܐ ܕܗܒܒܐ‬the month of Abib’) appears four times (Exod 13:4; 23:15; 34:18 [twice]). The adjunct genitive construction is employed each time. There are no other combinations in P Exodus in which the first member is ‫ܝܪܚܐ‬ (‘month’) and the second member is a proper name. The second first member in OS that employs construction a when the second member is a proper noun (apart from kinship relationships) is ‫‘( ܚ ܝ ܝܐ‬life’). There are at least three such instances in OS: ‫‘( ܚ ܝ ܝ ܬܝܪܕܬ‬the life of Tiridates,’ As27), ‫ܚ ܝ ܝ ܐܕܘܐܢ‬ (‘the life of Adona,’ As36), and ‫‘( ܚ ܝ ܝ ܐܒܓܪ‬the life of Abgar,’ Am10). While there are no instances of this combination in P Exodus, P Gen contains three examples. Gen ̈ 25:17 employs construction c to express ‘the life of Ishmael,’ ‫ܚ ܝܘܗܝ ܕܐܝܫܡܥܝܠ‬. Both ̈ Gen 42:15 and 16 use the cataphoric construction to render ‘the life of Pharaoh,’ ‫ܚ ܝܘܗܝ‬

‫ܝܪܚܐ‬

‫ܕܦܪܥܘܢ‬.

4. The selection of genitive construction when the first member is a human body part is the same in OS as it is in P Exodus. When a body part is used in a nonliteral sense, the construct genitive construction is used. In As10, ‘the head of the troop/band’ is expressed by ‫ܪܝܫ ܓܘܕܐ‬, construction a. Drijvers and Healey make the following comment about this phrase: “[It] is evidently a military title. The title seems to be a calque on the Greek.”22 When a human body part is used in a literal sense, the cataphoric genitive construction is preferred. A Syriac amulet on leather, published by Joseph Naveh, speaks of the healing of the “chest of this girl,” ‫ܚܕܝܗ ܕܗܕܐ ܠܛܬܝܐ‬. Construction c is used because the amulet is appointed for the healing of the physical chest of the girl. 5. The selection of genitive construction when expressing a kinship relationship is the same in OS as it is in P Exodus. When the first member is ‘sister,’ ‘mother,’ or ‘daughters,’ and the second member is a personal name, OS employs construction c as does P Exodus. An example of each will illustrate: ‫‘( ܚܬܗ ܕܒܪܫܡܫ‬the sister of Baršamaš,’ As4), ‫‘( ܐܡܗ ܕܒܪܣܡܝܐ‬the mother of Barsimya,’ As10), and [—] ‫ܒܢܬܗ ܕ‬23 (‘the daughters of …,’ As11). When ‘daughter’ or ‘son’ is used as the first member and the second member is a proper noun, the construct genitive construction is always selected in OS as it is in P Exodus. Examples with ‘daughter’ as the first member appear in the following inscriptions and parchment: As1, As6, As10, As18, As19, As20, As21, Am3, Am4, Am5, Am8, Am11, Cm7, Cm10, and P1. Instances with ‘son’ as a first member are found in the following: As1, As6, As20, Am3, Am4, Am5, Am6, Am7, Am9, Am10, Am11, Bs1, Bs3, Cm1, Cm14, and P1. As in P, when ‘wife’ is the first member and the second is a proper noun, either construction a or c may be used. Although no examples of this combination are found Drijvers and Healey, Inscriptions, 65. Although the proper name is not visible in this inscription, it would be expected from the surrounding context. 22 23

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN SYRIAC PESHITTA

69

in P Exodus, the two occurrences in P Gen will suffice: ‫‘( ܐܢܬܬ ܢ ܚܘܪ‬the wife of Nahor,’ Gen 24:15, construction a) and ‫‘( ܐܢܬܬܗ ܕܣܘ‬the wife of Esau,’ Gen 36:10, construction c). Instances in OS employing the construct genitive construction are found in Am1, Am3, Am4, and Am8. An occurrence of construction c appears in As62 (‫ܐܬܬܗ ܕܫܪܕܘ‬, ‘the wife of Šaredu’) and another in P2 (‫ܐܢܬܬܗ ܕܒܥܝܫܘ‬, ‘the wife of Baʻīšu’). 6. When ‫‘( ܒܬܝܐ‬house’) is used as a first member in an extended sense, construction a is used in OS as it is in P Exodus. Especially frequent is the expression ‫‘( ܒܬܝ ܥܠܡܐ‬house of eternity’). It is found in the following inscriptions: As5, As7, As9, Am2, Am5, Am6, Am7, and Am10. Another common phrase is ‫‘( ܒܬܝ ܩܒܘܪܐ‬grave’). It occurs, sometimes with ‘with,’ in the following texts: As16, As20, As55, As56, Am8, and Am9. Another term from grave appears in As24, also using ‘house’ as a first member: ‫‘( ܒܬ ܛܡܐ‬house of bones’). A sole instance of the phrase ‫‘( ܒܬܝ ܡܫܟܒܐ‬house of repose’) appears in the Orpheus Mosaic.24 Like Classical Aramaic, when ‫‘( ܒܬܝܐ‬house’) is the first member and is used in a literal sense, construction a is not used. But while the cataphoric genitive construction is used in P Exodus, the adjunct genitive construction is employed in OS. An example is found in P3: [‫‘( ܒܬܐ ܕܡܫܟܢܐ ܒܣܚܪܬ]ܐ‬the village of Seḥerta’). G2. The Use of Genitive Constructions in Classical Syriac In 1997, Sebastian P. Brock published an article discussing the use of the construct throughout the entire history of Syriac as a language of literature. 25 Two of his observations seem especially pertinent to the study of this volume. First, while this present volume has confirmed the conclusion of past research that the proportion of analytic genitive constructions (b and c) to synthetic (a) increases throughout time in the dialects of Aramaic, the historical development of this trend in Syriac literature is interrupted in the seventh century C.E. Brock studied the use of genitive constructions in Luke 2 in OS (third century), the revisions of P (c. 400), and Harkleian (H; c. 614). Brock found that H introduces several new constructs. He notes that in some cases, this was done to preserve the Greek compound.26 He gives the following examples: “šappirut ṣebyānā = εὐδοκία, v. 14; šappir deḥlta = εὐλαβής, v. 25; bnay genshon = συγγενεῖς, v. 44; also v. 48, following a few Greek manuscripts.” 27 Brock gives a list of Syriac glosses for Greek compound elements regularly used by H and other seventh-century translations: “bassimut ~ χρηστο-, bišut ~ κακο-, mmallut ~ λογία, saggi’ut ~ πολυ-, ‘asqut ~ δυσ-, šappirut ~ εὐ-.” He summarizes his observation this way: “The case of the Harkleian version of the New Testament, mentioned above, points to the reason why there is a significant increase in the use of the construct in Healey, Inscriptions, 245–47. Sebastian P. Brock, “Some Remarks on the Use of the Construct in Classical Syriac,” in Built on Solid Rock: Studies in Honour of Professor Ebbe Egede Knudsen on the Occasion of his 65th Birthday April 11th 1997 (ed. Elie Wardini; Oslow: Instituttet for sammenlignende kulturforskning, 1997), 44–60. 26 Ibid., 47. 27 Ibid. 24 25

70

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

Syriac writers of the late sixth and seventh centuries onwards: the prestige of Greek and the preference for a highly literal style of translation, both characteristic of the seventh century, led to the introduction into general Syriac usage of a large number of construct phrases whose models lay in Greek compound nouns.”28 The second historical development noteworthy for this research Brock observed through an analysis of the first twenty pages of Bedjan’s edition of Isaac of Nineveh’s ascetic discourses. Isaac of Nineveh wrote in the late seventh century C.E. In these discourses Brock noted a shift from the historic practice of the second member qualifying the first to the first member qualifying the second.29 Brock cites the example ’amminut šelyā, ‘continuous stillness.’30 His analysis of Book I of Bar Hebraeus’ (d. 1286) Book of the Dove concluded the same thing—that the first element qualifies the second in the majority of cases.31 Thus, Brock concludes: “In the fourth and fifth-century writers the second element usually qualifies the first, whereas later on cases where the first element qualifies the second preponderate.”32

Ibid., 51. Ibid., 50. 30 Ibid. 31 Ibid., 51. 32 Ibid., 59. 28 29

CHAPTER THREE:

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN TARGUM ONKELOS

A. INTRODUCTION The use of genitive constructions in Targum Onkelos (TO) of Exodus will be discussed in this chapter. Targum Onkelos1 represents a later development of the Jewish literary Aramaic ultimately descended from the Official Aramaic of the Persian period. The three main Aramaic genitive constructions will be studied for their distribution in translating the construct phrase in Hebrew: the construct phrase, the genitive adjunct phrase with d-, and the genitive phrase with d- anticipated by a possessive suffix on the head noun. These will be referred to as constructions a, b, and c, respectively. Each will be analyzed according to the syntactic relationship between the two members of the genitive syntagm. A detailed analysis according to first members and then second members will follow. Finally, conclusions will be drawn concerning the criteria used by the Targumist for selecting one genitive construction over another.

B. CLASSIFICATION BY COMBINATIONS This section will analyze the use of genitive constructions in TO Exodus based upon the use of first member and second member pairs, combinations, in the various constructions. Number will be regarded to be determinative when distinguishing members. That is, a plural form of a noun is counted as a separate member from the singular form. The state of the noun (construct, absolute, or determined) will not be used to distinguish members. A member in the absolute state will be regarded as the same member as the noun in the determined state. Gender (masculine or feminine) will be used to differentiate members in this analysis. A feminine adjective will be counted separately from its masculine counterpart. The number of combinations occurring in a construct phrase is 377. The cataphoric genitive construction claims a mere 15 combinations, while 205 combinations employ the adjunct genitive construction. The

The text of TO used in this research is: Alejandro Díez Macho, ed., Biblia Polyglotta Matritensia. Series IV. Targum Palaestinense in Pentateuchum. Additur Targum Pseudojonatan eiusque hispanica versio. L. 2: Exodus (Madrid: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, 1980). 1

71

72

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

adjunct genitive construction, construction b, is the default, unmarked member, while both the construct genitive construction and the cataphoric genitive construction are marked. B1. Classification of Combinations Used in the Cataphoric Genitive Construction by the Syntactic Relationship between Members

The 15 combinations used in the cataphoric genitive construction fall into 4 different classes described below. The number of combinations used in construction c is just a small fraction of those used in construction in the construct phrase (377) and in the adjunct genitive construction (205). The cataphoric genitive construction is the most restricted lexically of the 3 constructions and is, therefore, a marked member. A classification of combinations according to the relationship between the members is presented below. 1. Kinship The cataphoric genitive construction has 4 combinations in Targum Onkelos of Exodus that express a kinship relationship. ‘Sister’ is only used as a first member twice in Targum Onkelos of Exodus. On both occasions, it occurs in construction c. ‫אחתיה‬ ‫‘( דנחשון‬the sister of Nahshon’) is mentioned in 6:23, while ‫‘( אחתיה דאהרן‬the sister of Aaron’) is specified in 15:20. ‘Mother’ appears only once as a first member in Exodus. It is used in construction c in 2:8 in the phrase, ‫‘( אמיה דרביא‬the mother of the boy’). The variant reading also employs the cataphoric genitive construction. The most frequently occurring kinship relationship in the cataphoric genitive construction is ‫חמוהי דמשה‬ (‘the father-in-law of Moses’). This phrase occurs 7 times in Exodus (18:1, 2, 5, 12[2], 14, 17). ‘Father-in-law’ is only used as a first member in construction c. 2. Body Part There are two cataphoric genitive constructions in Exodus of Targum Onkelos whose first member is a body part of the second member. One is a literal body part and the other is nonliteral. 28:38 stipulates that the gold plate attached to the turban be on Aaron’s forehead (‫)בית עינוהי דאהרן‬. This is a literal forehead. In 39:23, the opening of the robe is described with the phrase ‫‘( פומיה דמעילא‬the mouth of the robe’). ‘Mouth’ is used in a nonliteral way. 3. Objective Genitive There is one cataphoric genitive construction whose second member functions as an object of the first member. This objective genitive is found in 17:14 where the Lord promises to blot out ‘the memory of Amalek’ (‫)דוכרניה דעמלק‬. This phrase only occurs once in Exodus. 4. Special Relationship Eight combinations in the cataphoric genitive construction have members that share a special relationship. Four of these combinations have ‘God’ as the first member: ‫אלהיה‬ ‫‘( דאברהם‬the God of Abraham,’ 3:6, 15, 16; 4:5), ‫‘( אלהיה דאבוך‬the God of your father,’ 3:6), ‫‘( אלהיה דיצחק‬the God of Isaac,’ 3:6, 15; 4:5), and ‫‘( אלהיה דיעקב‬the God

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN TARGUM ONKELOS

73

of Jacob,’ 3:6, 15; 4:5). ‫ אלהא‬is also used as a first member in constructions a and b. ‘Owner’ appears as the first member for 3 combinations denoting special relationships: ‫‘( מריה דביתא‬the owner of the house,’ 22:7), ‫‘( מריה דתורא‬the owner of the ox,’ 21:28), and ‫‘( מריה דגובא‬the owner of the pit,’ 21:34). Construction c is the only genitive construction in which ‘owner’ is used as a first member. All 3 of these instances are in statutes of the Mosaic Law. The last combination denoting a special relationship in construction c is ‫‘( בעלה דאיתתא‬the husband of the woman,’ 21:22). This phrase is also in a Mosaic stipulation. B2. Classification of Combinations Used in the Construct Genitive Construction by the Syntactic Relationship between Members

There are 377 combinations in the construct genitive construction. These combinations fall into 19 different classes based on the syntactic relationship between the members. Each of the 19 classes is discussed below. 1. Kinship Thirteen different combinations have a kinship relationship in the construct genitive construction in Exodus of Targum Onkelos. Three first members are employed: ‫בר‬ (‘son’), ‫‘( בת‬daughter’), and ‫‘( זרעית‬families’). These three first members are only used as head nouns in construction a in TO Exodus. ‫‘( בר‬son’) is used in 6 combinations: ‫‘( בר אהרן‬son of Aaron,’ 6:25; 38:21), ‫‘( בר אחיסמך‬son of Ahisamach,’ 31:6; 35:34; 38:23), ‫‘( בר כנעניתא‬son of a Canaanite,’ 6:15), ‫‘( בר חור‬son of Hur,’ 31:2; 35:30; 38:22), ‫‘( בר נון‬son of Nun,’ 33:11), and ‫‘( בר אורי‬son of Uri,’ 31:2; 35:30; 38:22). Three combinations have a kinship relationship with ‫‘( בת‬daughter’) as the first member: ‫‘( בת עמינדב‬daughter of Amminadab,’ 6:23), ‫‘( בת לוי‬daughter of Levi,’ 2:1; 6:19), and ‫‘( בת פרעה‬daughter of Pharaoh,’ 2:5, 7, 8, 9, 10). ‫‘( זרעית‬families’) is the head noun for four combinations in construction a: ‫‘( זרעית קרח‬the families of Korah,’ 6:24), ‫‘( זרעית לוי‬the families of Levi,’ 6:19), ‫‘( זרעית ראובין‬the families of Reuben,’ 6:14), and ‫‘( זרעית שמעון‬the families of Simeon,’ 6:15). 2. Fixed Phrase The third largest class, behind part-whole and defining attribute, second, is the fixed phrase class. These are combinations that appear to be so commonly used that they are fixed, much like a compound noun. There are 52 fixed phrase combinations in construction a in TO Exodus. This is 13.8% (52/377) of all combinations. Far and away the most common fixed phrase is ‫‘( בני ישראל‬the sons of Israel,’ 1:1, 7, 9, 12, 13; 2:23, 25, etc.). ‫ בני‬is also used in the following combinations as fixed phrases: ‫‘( בני אהרן‬the sons of Aaron,’ 28:1, 40), ‫‘( בני גרשון‬the sons of Gershon,’ 6:17), ‫‘( בני יצהר‬the sons of Izhar,’ 6:21), ‫‘( בני יהודאי‬the sons of the Jews,’ 2:6), ‫‘( בני קהת‬the sons of Kohath,’ 6:18), ‫‘( בני קרח‬the sons of Korah,’ 6:24), ‫‘( בני לוי‬the sons of Levi,’ 6:16; 32:26, 28), ‫בני‬ ‫‘( מררי‬the sons of Merari,’ 6:19), ‫‘( בני ראובין‬the sons of Reuben,’ 6:14), ‫‘( בני שמעון‬the sons of Simeon,’ 6:15), ‫‘( בני בנין‬the sons of sons,’ 34:7), ‫‘( בני עזיאל‬the sons of Uzziel,’ 6:22), and ‫‘( בני שנא‬the sons of a year,’ 29:38). The singular, ‫‘( בר‬son’), is used in two combinations: ‫‘( בר תורי‬son of bulls,’ 29:1) and ‫‘( בר שתיה‬son of a year,’ 12:5). ‫בנת‬ (‘daughters’) is also used as a first member in two fixed phrases: ‫‘( בנת ישראל‬the daughters of Israel,’ 21:9) and ‫‘( בנת פוטיאל‬the daughters of Putiel,’ 6:25). The

74

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

remaining family member used as a first member in a fixed phrase is ‫אבהת‬, used in these two combinations: ‫‘( אבהת אבהתך‬the fathers of your fathers,’ that is, ‘your grandfathers,’ 10:6) and ‫‘( אבהת ליואי‬the fathers of the Levites,’ 6:25). ‫‘( בית‬house’) is used as a first member in 10 fixed phrases in the construct genitive construction: ‫‘( בית פרעה‬the house of Pharaoh,’ 8:20), ‫‘( בית משכבך‬the house of your bed,’ that is, ‘your bedroom,’ 7:28), ‫‘( בית אבא‬a house of a father,’ 12:3), ‫בית אבהתהון‬ (‘the house of their fathers,’ 6:14), ‫‘( בית אולפנא‬the house of instruction,’ 33:7[2x]), ‫בית‬ ‫‘( ישראל‬the house of Israel,’ 16:31; 40:38), ‫‘( בית יעקב‬the house of Jacob,’ 19:3), ‫בית לוי‬ (‘the house of Levi,’ 2:1), ‫‘( בית כנישת‬the receptacle of the pooling,’ that is, ‘a reservoir,’ 7:19), and ‫‘( בית עבדותא‬the house of slavery,’ 13:3, 14; 20:2). With the exception of ‫בית פרעה‬, each of these combinations employs ‫ בית‬in a nonliteral way. The second most frequently occurring fixed phrase in construction a in TO Exodus is ‫‘( משכן זמנא‬the tent of meeting,’ 27:21; 28:43; 29:4, 10, 11, 30, 32, 42, 44; 30:16, etc.). The third most common is ‫‘( אעי שטין‬acacia wood,’ 25:5, 10, 13, 23, 28; 26:15, 26; 27:1, 6; 30:1, etc.). The following fixed phrases in the construct genitive construction are also found in TO Exodus: ‫‘( הלכת בנת ישראל‬the legal decisions of the daughters of Israel,’ 21:9), ‫‘( פתגם יום‬the thing of the day,’ that is, ‘quota,’ 5:13, 19; 16:4), ‫‘( חית ברא‬the beast of the field,’ 23:11, 29), ‫‘( אילני חקלא‬the trees of the field,’ 9:25), ‫‘( שלהובית אישתא‬flame of fire,’ 3:2), ‫‘( מלי חופניכון‬the fullness of your handfuls,’ 9:8), ‫‘( סלעי קודשא‬the coins of the holy place,’ 30:13, 24; 38:24, 25, 26), ‫משכן בית‬ ‫‘( אולפנא‬the tent of the house of instruction,’ 33:7), ‫‘( אידרון בית משכבך‬the chamber of the house of your bed,’ that is, ‘your bedroom,’ 7:28), ‫‘( שני חיי עמרם‬the years of the life of Amram,’ 6:20), ‫‘( שני חיי קהת‬the years of the life of Kohath,’ 6:18), ‫שני חיי לוי‬ (‘the years of the life of Levi,’ 6:16), ‫‘( בסר עריא‬the flesh of nakedness,’ 28:42), ‫קשי קדל‬ (‘stiff of neck,’ 32:9; 33:3, 5; 34:9), ‫‘( מי ימא‬the water of the sea,’ 15:19), ‫מוהרי בתולתא‬ (‘the dowry of the virgins,’ 22:16), ‫‘( יציבי ארעא‬the citizens of the land,’ 12:48), ‫יתיב‬ ‫‘( ארעא‬the inhabitant of the land,’ 34:12, 15), ‫‘( יתבי ארעא‬the inhabitants of the land,’ 23:31), and ‫‘( מימר פתגמיא‬the utterance of the words,’ 34:27). 3. Body Part Some combinations are distinguished from the others by the first member being a body part. This is the fourth most plentiful class with 32 combinations—8.5% (32/377) of all combinations. Some of these are used literally, while others are used in a nonliteral way. The body part used the most times as a first member is ‫‘( עיני‬eyes’). ‫ עיני‬is used as the head noun in 8 different combinations in construction a, but is never used as a first member in either construction b or c in TO Exodus. On each occasion it is used in a nonliteral way to denote ‘the sight of.’ The 8 combinations with ‫ עיני‬as a head noun are: ‫‘( בעיני מצרא‬in the sight of the Egyptians,’ 3:21; 11:3; 12:36), ‫‘( לעיני סבי ישראל‬in the sight of the elders of Israel,’ 17:6), ‫‘( בעיני רבונה‬in the sight of her master,’ 21:8), ‫לעיני‬ ‫‘( עמא‬in the sight of the people,’ 4:30; 11:3), ‫‘( בעיני פרעה‬in the sight of Pharaoh,’ 5:21; 7:20; 9:8), ‫‘( בעיני עבדי פרעה‬in the sight of the servants of Pharaoh,’ 11:3), ‫בעיני עבדוהי‬ ‘in the sight of his servants,’ 5:21; 7:20), and ‫‘( לעיני בני ישראל‬in the sight of the sons of Israel,’ 24:17). ‫‘( ריש‬head’) is used in two combinations as a literal head and 4 as a figurative head. The two literal combinations are: ‫‘( ריש תורא‬the head of the bull,’ 29:10) and ‫ריש‬ ‫‘( דיכרא‬the head of the ram,’ 29:15, 19). The 4 two nonliteral combinations are: ‫ריש‬

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN TARGUM ONKELOS

75

‫‘( ירחיא‬the beginning of months,’ 12:2), ‫‘( ריש טורא‬the top of the mountain,’ 19:20[2]; 24:17; 34:2), ‫‘( ריש רמתא‬the top of the hill,’ 17:9, 10), and ‫‘( ריש בכורי ארעך‬the best of the firstfruits of your soil,’ 23:19; 34:26). The plural of this head noun, ‫‘( רישי‬heads’), is used nonliterally in two combinations to denote leaders: ‫‘( רישי בית אבהתהון‬the heads of the house of their fathers,’ 6:14) and ‫‘( רישי אבהת ליואי‬the heads of the fathers of the

Levites,’ 6:25). ‫‘( ידי‬hands’) occurs as a head noun only in the construct genitive construction. It occurs in 3 combinations and is used literally in each: ‫‘( ידי משה‬the hands of Moses,’ 17:12), ‫‘( ידי אהרן‬the hands of Aaron,’ 29:24), and ‫‘( ידי בנוהי‬the hands of his sons,’ 29:24). ‫‘( פום‬mouth’) is also used as a head noun in two combinations in construction a and is used in a nonliteral way in each: ‫‘( פום מיכליה‬the mouth of his eating,’ 12:4; 16:16, 18, 21) and ‫‘( פום שרין‬the mouth of the breastplate,’ 28:32; 39:23). ‫פום‬ (‘mouth’) only occurs one other time as a head noun in TO Exodus, in the cataphoric genitive construction in ‫‘( פומיה דמעילא‬the mouth of the robe,’ 39:23). It is used in 39:23 nonliterally. ‫‘( אפי‬face’) is used in 5 combinations. Two combinations are literal, ‫‘( אפי כרוביא‬the faces of the cherubs,’ 25:20; 37:9) and ‫‘( אפי משה‬the face of Moses,’ 34:35). The other three combinations have a nonliteral use of ‫אפי‬: ‫‘( אפי משכנא‬the face of the tabernacle,’ 26:9), ‫‘( אפי מיא‬the face of the water,’ 32:20) and ‫אפי ארעא‬ (‘the face of the earth,’ 32:12; 33:16). Eight additional combinations whose first member is a body part are found in TO Exodus. One of these has a first member which is a body part used in a non-literal way: ‫‘( עין שמשא דארעא‬the surface of the sun of the land,’ 10:5).The remaining 7 have a first member that is a body part used literally: ‫‘( אליון רגלהון‬the big toe of their foot,’ 29:20), ‫‘( בסר תורא‬the flesh of the bull,’ 29:14), ‫‘( גרמי יוסף‬the bones of Joseph,’ 13:19), ‫‘( אודני נשיכון‬the ears of your wives,’ 32:2), ‫‘( ערלת ברה‬the foreskin of her son,’ 4:25), ‫‘( אליון ידהון‬the thumb of their hand,’ 29:20), and ‫‘( גדפי נשרין‬the wings of eagles,’ 19:4). 4. Adjective Some construct genitive constructions have an adjective for the first member that modifies the second member. Eight of these combinations occur in TO Exodus. This is a rather small percentage of the total number of combinations, 2.1% (8/377). These 8 combinations are: ‫‘( חליל לוחין‬hollow of boards,’ 38:7), ‫‘( חכימת ליבא‬wise one of heart,’ feminine, 35:25), ‫‘( חכים ליבא‬wise one of heart,’ masculine, 36:1, 2), ‫‘( חכימי ליבא‬wise ones of heart,’ 35:10; 28:3; 31:6; 36:8), ‫‘( פתח ולד בעירא‬first offspring of the offspring of cattle,’ 13:12), ‫‘( זבין כספא‬purchased of money,’ 12:44), ‫‘( יקיר ממלל‬unintelligible of speech,’ 4:10; 6:30), and ‫‘( עמיק לישן‬ponderous of tongue,’ 4:10). 5. Nominalized Predicate A nominalized predicate is a combination whose second member is the subject of the verb that has been nominalized in the first member. There are 21 such combinations in the construct genitive construction in TO Exodus. This is 5.6% (21/377) of all combinations in the corpus. The most common first member is ‫‘( עובד‬work’). ‫‘( עובד‬work’) is a nominalization of the verb ‫‘( עבד‬make’). It is used in the following 4 combinations: ‫‘( עובד בוסמנו‬the work of the art of perfume,’ 30:25, 35; 37:29), ‫‘( עובד אומן‬the work of a skilled worker,’ 26:1, 31; 28:6, 15; 36:8, 35; 39:3, 8),

76

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

‫‘( עובד אומן אבן‬the work of a skilled worker of stone,’ 28:11), ‫‘( עובד מחי‬the work of

weavers,’ 28:32; 39:22, 27). Two additional first members denoting work function as nominalized predicates in construction a: ‫‘( עבידת נגר‬the work of a carpenter,’ 35:35) and ‫‘( פולחן ליואי‬the work of the Levites,’ 38:21). ‫‘( עבידת‬work’) is a nominalization of the verb ‫‘( עבד‬make’), while ‫‘( פולחן‬work’) is a nominalization of the verb ‫‘( פלח‬serve’). The first member ‫‘( זיו‬appearance’) is used in two combinations: ‫זיו יקרא דאפוהי‬ (‘the appearance of the honor of his face,’ 34:29[2]) and ‫‘( זיו יקרא דאפי משה‬the appearance of the honor of the face of Moses,’ 34:35). Another word denoting ‘appearance’ is employed as a first member: ‫‘( חיזו יקרא דיוי‬the appearance of the glory of the Lord,’ 24:17). ‫‘( חיזו‬appearance’) is a nominalization of the verb ‫‘( חזא‬see’). The first member ‫‘( חיי‬life’) is also found as the head noun in two combinations: ‫‘( חיי לוי‬the life of Levi,’ 6:16) and ‫‘( חיי קהת‬the life of Kohath,’ 6:18). ‫‘( חיי‬life’) is a nominalization of the verb ‫‘( חיא‬live’). ‫‘( מימר‬word’) is the head noun for two combinations: ‫מימר פומך‬ (‘the word of your mouth,’ 15:8) and ‫‘( מימר חמוהי‬the word of his father-in-law,’ 18:24). ‫‘( מימר‬word’) is a nominalization of the verb ‫‘( אמר‬say’). There are 8 additional construct genitive constructions in the nominalized predicate class in TO Exodus: ‫מרות‬ ‫‘( מצראי‬the domination of the Egyptians,’ 18:10), ‫‘( שעבוד מצראי‬the enslavement of the Egyptians,’ 3:17), ‫‘( פתגמי עמא‬the words of the people,’ 19:8, 9), ‫‘( קבילת בני ישראל‬the complaint of the sons of Israel,’ 3:9; 6:5), ‫‘( תורעמת בני ישראל‬the grumblings of the sons of Israel,’ 16:12), ‫‘( מותב בני ישראל‬the dwelling of the sons of Israel,’ 12:40), ‫‘( חושבן בני ישראל‬the number of the sons of Israel,’ 30:12), and ‫‘( סגי תוקפך‬the abundance of your strength,’ 15:7, 16). 6. Part-Whole Many genitive combinations share a part-whole relationship where the first member represents a part of which the second member represents the whole. This is the largest category of construct genitive constructions. 18% (68/377) of all combinations in construction a in TO Exodus fit into this class. The most frequently occurring second member is (‘tabernacle’ or ‘tent’). It is used in 12 combinations in the construct genitive construction: ‫‘( אחורי משכנא‬the back of the tabernacle,’ 26:12), ‫‘( דפי משכנא‬the boards of the tabernacle,’ 26:17; 36:22, 32), ‫‘( זוית משכנא‬the corners of the tabernacle,’ 26:23; 36:28), ‫‘( דרת משכנא‬the court of the tabernacle,’ 27:9), ‫‘( יריעת משכנא‬the curtains of the tabernacle,’ 26:12, 13), ‫‘( תרע משכנא‬the doorway of the tabernacle,’ 26:36; 33:9, 10; 35:15; 36:37; 39:38; 40:6, 29), ‫‘( סיפי משכנא‬the ends of the tabernacle,’ 26:22; 36:27), ‫‘( גו משכנא‬the midst of the tabernacle,’ 33:11), ‫‘( סיכי משכנא‬the pegs of the tabernacle,’ 35:18; 38:31), ‫‘( סטר משכנא‬the side of the tabernacle,’ 26:20, 26, 27[2], 35; 36:25, 31, 32), ‫‘( סטרי משכנא‬the sides of the tabernacle,’ 26:13), and ‫מני משכנא‬ (‘the utensils of the tabernacle,’ 27:19; 31:7). There are 3 other combinations with ‫ משכנא‬as a part of its second member: ‫‘( דפי סטר משכנא‬the boards of the side of the tabernacle,’ 26:26, 27[2]; 36:31, 32), ‫‘( תרע משכן זמנא‬the doorway of the tent of meeting,’ 29:4, 11, 32, 42; 38:8, 30; 40:12), and ‫‘( תרע משכניה‬the doorway of his tent,’ 33:8, 10). The second most frequently occurring second member used in construction a in this class is ‫‘( דרתא‬court’). It used in 5 combinations: ‫‘( דרתא‬the bases of the court,’ 38:31), ‫‘( תרע דרתא‬the gate of the court,’ 27:16; 35:17; 38:15, 18, 31, 40; 40:8, 33), ‫‘( סרדי דרתא‬the hangings of the court,’ 35:17; 38:16, 18; 39:40), ‫‘( סכי דרתא‬the pegs of

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN TARGUM ONKELOS

77

the court,’ 27:19; 35:18; 38:31), and ‫‘( עמודי דרתא‬the pillars of the court,’ 27:17; 38:17). There is another second member that is used in 5 combinations, ‫איפודא‬ (‘ephod’): ‫‘( המין איפודא‬the belt of the ephod,’ 28:27, 28; 29:5; 39:20, 21), ‫עזקת איפודא‬ (‘the ring of the ephod,’ 39:21), ‫‘( עזקת איפודא‬the rings of the ephod,’ 28:28), ‫מעיל‬ ‫‘( איפודא‬the robe of the ephod,’ 28:31; 29:5; 39:22), and ‫‘( כתפי איפודא‬the shoulder pieces of the ephod,’ 28:12, 25, 27; 39:7, 18, 20). ‫‘( תקוניה‬its ephod’) appears in one combination: ‫‘( המין תקוניה‬the belt of its ephod,’ 28:8; 39:5). ‫‘( מדבחא‬altar’) is used as the second member in 3 combinations: ‫קרנת מדבחא‬ (‘the horns of the altar,’ 29:12), ‫‘( סטרי מדבחא‬the sides of the altar,’ 27:7; 38:7), and ‫‘( מני מדבחא‬the utensils of the altar,’ 38:3, 30). ‫‘( ארונא‬ark’) is the second member in two combinations: ‫‘( עזקת ארונא‬the ring of the ark,’ 25:15) and ‫‘( סטרי ארונא‬the sides of the ark,’ 25:14; 37:5). The following part-whole construct genitive constructions are also used in TO Exodus: ‫‘( פלגות דמא‬half of the blood,’ 24:6[2]), ‫‘( סטרי חושנא‬the sides of the breastpiece,’ 28:23, 24, 26; 39:16, 17, 19), ‫‘( גו אסנא‬midst of the bush,’ 3:2, 4), ‫‘( תרע משריתא‬the gate of the camp,’ 32:26), ‫‘( גלגלי רתיכיהון‬the wheels of their chariots,’ 14:25), ‫‘( פלגות סלעא‬half a coin,’ 30:13[2], 15), ‫‘( רברבי כנשתא‬the leaders of the congregation,’ 16:22), ‫‘( פתגמי קימא‬the word of the covenant,’ 34:28), ‫סמכי תרע‬ ‫‘( משכן זמנא‬the bases of the doorway of the tent of meeting,’ 38:30), ‫רום אודנא דאהרן‬ (‘the top part of the ear of Aaron, 29:20), ‫‘( רום אודנא דבנוהי‬the top part of the ear of his sons,’ 29:20), ‫‘( סמכי תרע דרתא‬the bases of the gate of the court,’ 38:31), ‫כוכבי‬ ‫‘( שמיא‬the stars of the heavens,’ 32:13), ‫‘( מחזי שמיא‬the sights of the sky,’ 24:10), ‫קדש‬ ‫‘( קודשיא‬holy of holies,’ 26:33, 34; 29:37; 30:10, 29, 36; 40:10), ‫‘( סמכי קדשא‬the bases of the sanctuary’ 38:27), ‫‘( תרע ביתיה‬the gate of his house,’ 12:22), ‫‘( קני מנרתא‬the branches of the lampstand,’ 25:32[2], 37:18[2]), ‫‘( סיפי ארעא דכנען‬the ends of the land of Canaan,’ 16:35), ‫‘( חצר כבדא‬the lobe of the liver,’ 29:22), ‫‘( סטרי כפורתא‬the sides of the mercy seat,’ 25:18; 37:7), ‫‘( שפולי טורא‬the lower parts of the mountain,’ 19:17), ‫‘( פלגות ליליא‬half the night,’ 11:4; 12:29), ‫‘( גו עמיה‬the midst of his people,’ 31:14), ‫‘( מסכיני עמך‬the poor ones of your people,’ 23:11), ‫‘( ווי עמודיא‬the hooks of the pillars,’ 27:10, 11; 38:10, 11, 12, 17), ‫‘( בסר דיכרא‬the flesh of the ram,’ 29:32), ‫‘( גו יערא‬midst of brushwood,’ 2:5), ‫‘( כיף נהרא‬bank of river,’ 2:3, 5), ‫‘( שפולי מעילא‬the hem of the robe,’ 28:34; 39:24, 26), ‫‘( מערת טינרא‬the cave of the rock,’ 33:22), ‫‘( בסר קרבניא‬the flesh of the sacrifice,’ 29:34), ‫‘( כיף ימא‬the shore of the sea,’ 14:30), ‫‘( פירי אילנא‬the fruits of the tree,’ 10:15), ‫‘( סמכי פרוכתא‬the bases of the veil,’ 38:27), and ‫ירחי שתא‬ (‘the months of the year,’ 12:2). 7. Basic Possession Basic possession describes a relationship between two members of a genitive syntagm for which the second member is assumed to inherently possesses the first member. There are 21 such construct genitive constructions in TO Exodus. The majority of these combinations, 12, have a personal name representing a person, group of people, or nation as the second member: ‫‘( ארע כנענאי‬the land of the Canaanites,’ 3:17; 13:5, 11), ‫‘( אתר כנענאי‬the place of the Canaanites,’ 3:8), ‫‘( רברבי אדום‬the chiefs of Edom,’ 15:15), ‫‘( בתי מצרים‬the houses of Egypt,’ 8:17), ‫‘( חרשי מצרים‬the magicians of Egypt,’ 7:11, 22), ‫‘( רחיכי מצראי‬the chariots of the Egyptians,’ 14:7), ‫‘( משרית פרעה‬the camp of Pharaoh,’ 14:28), ‫‘( רתיכי פרעה‬the chariots of Pharaoh,’ 14:9; 15:4), ‫סוסות פרעה‬ (‘the horses of Pharaoh,’ 14:23; 15:19), ‫‘( ארע פלשתאי‬the land of the Philistines,’

78

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

13:17), ‫‘( בכורי בני ישראל‬the firstborn ones of the sons of Israel,’ 24:5), and ‫בתי בני‬ ‫‘( ישראל‬the houses of the sons of Israel,’ 12:27). Six other combinations have human second members: ‫‘( עבד גבר‬servant of a man,’ 12:44), ‫‘( בית גברא‬the house of the man,’ 22:6), ‫‘( דין מסכינך‬the judgment of your poor one,’ 23:6), ‫‘( בית עבדך‬the house of your servant,’ 7:28), ‫‘( בית עבדוהי‬the house of his servants,’ 8:20), and ‫‘( לבושי בנוהי‬the garments of his sons,’ 29:21[2]; 31:10; 35:19; 39:41). The 3 remaining combinations involve preeminence above a set: ‫בכור תור‬ (‘firstborn of cattle,’ 34:19), ‫‘( בכורי ארעך‬firstfruits of your soil,’ 23:19; 34:26), and ‫‘( בכורי עובדך‬the firstfruits of your work,’ 23:16). 8. Accidental Possession Accidental possession is defined here by the second member possessing the first member, but that possession is not obligatory by virtue of the mere existence of the second member. Two combinations in construction a are related in such a fashion in TO Exodus. These two combinations are: ‫‘( לבושי אהרן‬the garments of Aaron,’ 28:3) and ‫‘( מחזית נשיא‬the mirrors of the women,’ 38:8). Both of these first members only appear in the construct genitive construction. 9. Second Member Is an Abstract Noun of Quality This class is marked by the second member being an abstract noun of quality modifying the first member. While there are no such combinations in the cataphoric genitive construction in TO Exodus, there are 12, or 3.2% (12/377) in the construct genitive construction. The most frequently occurring abstract noun of quality as a second member is ‫‘( קודשא‬holiness’). It is used in two combinations: ‫‘( לבושי קודשא‬holy garments,’ 28:2, 4; 29:29; 31:10; 35:19, 21; 39:1, 41; 40:13) and ‫‘( רבות קודשא‬holy anointment,’ 30:25[2], 32). A related form is used for the tabernacle ‫בית מקדשא‬ (‘house of sanctuary,’ 23:19). The plural with a possessive suffix is found in one combination: ‫‘( מתנת קודשיהון‬their holy gifts,’ 28:38). The second most common abstract noun of quality is ‫‘( עלם‬eternity’). It appears as the second member in two combinations: ‫‘( קים עלם‬eternal covenant,’ 12:14, 17; 27:21; 28:43; 29:9, 28; 30:21; 31:16) and ‫‘( כהונת עלם‬eternal priesthood,’ 40:15). Six other combinations appear in TO Exodus: ‫‘( יום אסערותי‬the day of my dealing out,’ 32:34), ‫‘( חושן דינא‬the breastpiece of judgment,’ 28:15, 29, 30), ‫‘( מני פולחן משכנא‬the utensils of the service of the tabernacle,’ 39:40), ‫‘( לבושי שמושא‬the garments of service,’ 31:10; 35:19; 39:1, 41), ‫‘( קנמון בסם‬cinnamon of sweet odor,’ 30:23), and ‫‘( לוחי סהדותא‬the tablets of the testimony,’ 31:18; 32:15; 34:29). 10. First Member Is an Abstract Noun of Quality There are 9 combinations in the construct genitive construction in TO Exodus whose first member is an abstract noun of quality. While this is a small percentage of the total number of combinations 2.4% (9/377), there are no such combinations in the cataphoric genitive construction. Three of these combinations have ‫‘( תקוף‬strength’) as a first member: ‫‘( תקוף רגז‬strength of anger,’ 11:8), ‫‘( תקוף רוגזך‬the strength of your anger,’ 32:12), and ‫‘( תקוף יד‬strength of hand,’ 13:3, 14, 16). Two combinations have ‫‘( שפר‬best’) as a first member: ‫‘( שפר חקליה‬the best of his field,’ 22:4) and ‫שפר כרמיה‬

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN TARGUM ONKELOS

79

(‘the best of his vineyard,’ 22:4). The 4 other combinations whose first member is an abstract noun of quality are: ‫‘( אורך יריעת משכנא‬the length of the curtains of the tent,’ 26:13), ‫‘( מנין נפשתא‬the number of souls,’ 12:4), ‫‘( מבחר גיברוהי‬the choice one of his warriors,’ 15:4), and ‫‘( מיסת פולחנא‬sufficiency of the work,’ 36:5). 11. Definitional Attribute, Second Some genitive combinations are characterized by the second member functioning as an attribute that in some way defines the first member. While none of the cataphoric genitive constructions in TO Exodus fit this pattern, 59 construct genitive constructions do. This is the second largest class with 15.6% (59/377) of all combinations in TO Exodus. Only the part-whole category is larger with 68 combinations. The most frequently appearing combination in the construct genitive construction in this class in TO Exodus is ‫‘( שמהת בני ישראל‬the names of the sons of Israel,’ 1:1; 28:9, 11, 21, 29; 39:6, 14). The second most frequently occurring first member is ‫‘( משח‬oil’). It is used in two combinations: ‫‘( משח רבותא‬oil of anointment,’ 25:6; 35:8, 28) and ‫משח רבות‬ ‫‘( קודשא‬oil of anointment of holiness,’ 30:25[2], 31). Another head noun, ‫‘( קל‬sound,’), is used in 5 combinations: ‫‘( קל עמא‬the sound of the people,’ 32:17), ‫‘( קל שופרא‬the sound of the ram’s horn,’ 19:16, 19), ‫‘( קל קרבא‬the sound of war,’ 32:17), ‫קל גיברין‬ ‫‘( דנצחין בקרבא‬the sound of warriors who are conquering,’ 32:18), and ‫קל חלשין‬ ‫‘( דמתברין‬the sound of weak ones who are being defeated,’ 32:18). There is a combination that occurs 6 times in TO Exodus and another 5 times: ‫‘( משכי ססגונא‬skins of vermillion,’ 25:5; 26:14; 35:7, 23; 36:19; 39:34) and ‫‘( אבני בורלא‬stones of beryl,’ 25:7; 28:9; 35:9, 27; 39:6). Three combinations are used 3 times each in TO Exodus: ‫‘( לחים אפיא‬the bread of the presence,’ 25:30; 35:13; 39:36), ‫‘( משכי דכרי‬skins of rams,’ 26:14; 35:7; 36:19), and ‫‘( אבני אשלמותא‬stones of setting,’ 25:7; 35:9, 27). The following are the remaining combinations in the construct genitive construction in this class in TO Exodus: ‫חיי עמרם‬ (‘the life of Amram,’ 6:20), ‫‘( חטא כיפוריא‬sin offering of atonement,’ 30:10), ‫כסף‬ ‫‘( כיפוריא‬silver of atonement,’ 30:16), ‫‘( זרע גידא‬seed of coriander,’ 16:31), ‫דם קימא‬ (‘the blood of the covenant,’ 24:8), ‫‘( בר תמנן ותלת שנין‬son of eighty-three years,’ 7:7), ‫‘( חובי אבהן‬the sins of the fathers,’ 34:7), ‫‘( נכסת חגא דפסחא‬the sacrifice of the Feast of the Passover,’ 34:25), ‫‘( נכסת חגא‬the sacrifice of the feast,’ 23:18), ‫מכנסי בוצא דבוץ‬ ‫‘( שזיר‬linen trousers of twisted linen,’ 39:28), ‫‘( כורסי יקרא‬the throne of glory,’ 17:16), ‫‘( עבידת קודשא‬the labor of the sanctuary,’ 36:4; 38:24), ‫‘( אפרשות קודשא‬the separated offering of the sanctuary,’ 36:6), ‫‘( לילי נטיר‬night of keeping,’ 12:42), ‫‘( דודי בסרא‬pots of meat,’ 16:3), ‫‘( אבני דוכרנא‬stones of memorial,’ 28:12; 39:7), ‫‘( דיבח חיס‬sacrifice of mercy,’ 12:27), ‫‘( עיגל מתכא‬calf of molten metal,’ 32:4, 8), ‫‘( מנחת צפרא‬the grain offering of the morning,’ 29:41), ‫‘( מטרת צפרא‬the watch of the morning,’ 14:24), ‫כסף‬ ‫‘( מניני כנשתא‬the silver of the numbers of the congregation,’ 38:25), ‫‘( זיתא‬olive oil,’ 27:20; 30:24), ‫‘( דם פסחי‬the blood of my Passover sacrifice,’ 23:18; 34:25), ‫רמוני תכלא‬ (‘pomegranates of purple,’ 28:33; 39:24), ‫‘( דמשכי דכרי‬the skins of rams,’ 39:34), ‫בוציני‬ ‫‘( סדרא‬the lights of the row,’ 39:37), ‫‘( תרבי נכסת חגא‬the fat of the sacrifice of the feast,’ 23:18), ‫‘( תרבי נכסת חגא דפסחא‬the fat of the sacrifice of the Feast of the Passover,’ 34:25), ‫‘( נכסת קדשיהון‬their holy sacrifices,’ 29:28), ‫‘( דם חטא כיפוריא‬the blood of the sin offering of atonement,’ 30:10), ‫‘( שמהת שיתה‬the names of the six,’ 28:10), ‫‘( מלפי אומנון‬teachers of skill,’ 35:35), ‫‘( עבידת אומנון‬work of skill,’ 35:33), ‫ארע‬

80

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

‫‘( תותבותהון‬the land of their sojourn,’ 6:4), ‫‘( שמהת בני לוי‬the names of the sons of Levi,’ 6:16), ‫‘( אומנות אבן‬craft of stone,’ 31:5; 35:33), ‫‘( אומן אבן‬skilled worker of stone,’ 28:11), ‫‘( קרוי בית אוצרי‬cities of store houses,’ 1:11), ‫‘( מרי נצחן קרביא‬the Lord of victory of wars,’ 15:3), ‫‘( נחש ארמותא‬the bronze of the wave offering,’ 38:29), ‫דהב‬ ‫‘( ארמותא‬the gold of the wave offering,’ 38:24), ‫‘( עובד גדילו‬work of wicker-work,’ 28:14), ‫‘( עובד גדילו דדהב‬work of wicker-work of gold,’ 28:22; 39:15), ‫נגרות אעא‬ (‘carpentry of wood,’ 31:5; 35:33), and ‫‘( עבידת פולחנא‬the labor of the work,’ 35:24). 12. Definitional Attribute, First There are 8 combinations in construction a in TO Exodus whose first member functions as a definitional attribute of the second member. While this is a small percentage of the total number of combinations 2.1% (8/377), the cataphoric genitive construction had none. The first member ‫‘( שם‬name’) is used in 3 combinations: ‫‘( שם חדא‬the name of the one,’ 1:15), ‫‘( שום תנייתא‬the name of the second,’ 1:15), and ‫‘( שום טעות‬the name of the idols,’ 23:13). ‫‘( מניני‬number’) is a head noun for two combinations: ‫מניני משכנא‬ (‘the numbers of the tabernacle,’ 38:21) and ‫‘( מניני כנשתא‬the numbers of the congregation,’ 38:25). The remaining three combinations are: ‫‘( דכר קורבניא‬ram of sacrifice,’ 29:22, 26, 27, 31), ‫‘( דמות משכנא‬the likeness of the tabernacle,’ 25:9), and ‫‘( תרין לוחי אבניא‬two tablets of stone,’ 34:1, 4[2]). 13. Objective Genitive An objective genitive construction has a second member which serves as the object of the first member. There are 19 combinations in construction a in this category, compared to only one combination in the cataphoric genitive construction. That is 5.3% (20/377) of all combinations in TO Exodus. Only one second member is a proper name, ‫‘( מצראי‬the Egyptians,’ 6:6, 7). There are three different first members that denote work or labor. They are used in the following 6 combinations: ‫‘( פולחן מצראי‬the work of the Egyptians,’ 6:6, 7), ‫‘( פולחן קודשא‬the work of the sanctuary,’ 36:1, 3), ‫פולחן משכנא‬ (‘the service of the tabernacle,’ 39:40), ‫‘( עובד ציור‬the work of embroidery,’ 26:36; 27:16; 28:39; 36:37; 38:18; 39:29), ‫‘( עובד איפודא‬the work of the ephod,’ 28:15; 39:8), and ‫‘( עבידת פולחן קודשא‬the labor of the work of the sanctuary,’ 36:1, 3). Thirteen more combinations in construction a that function as objective genitives are found in TO Exodus: ‫‘( בית כנישת מימיהון‬the place of the pooling of their water,’ 17:9), ‫‘( פתח ולדא‬the opening of the womb,’ 13:12, 15; 34:19), ‫‘( דין תרויהון‬the judgment of both of them,’ 22:8), ‫‘( נטרי פיקודי‬the keepers of my commandments,’ 20:6), ‫‘( פורקן נפשיה‬the redemption of his life,’ 21:30; 30:12), ‫‘( שעבוד עמי‬the enslavement of my people,’ 3:7), ‫‘( דין בני ישראל‬the judgment of the sons of Israel,’ 28:30), ‫‘( אשלמות אבנא‬setting of stone,’ 28:17), ‫‘( חפוי רישיהון‬overlaying their tops,’ 38:17, 19), ‫‘( נצחן קרביא‬victory of wars,’ 15:3), ‫‘( חצד חטין‬harvest of wheat,’ 34:22), ‫‘( עבדי עבידתא‬the performers of the work,’ 36:8), and ‫‘( מרחיק רגז‬removing of wrath,’ 34:6). 14. Explicative Genitive An explicative genitive combination has the first member explicated by the second member. There are 14 combinations in the construct genitive construction with this

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN TARGUM ONKELOS

81

relationship in TO Exodus. The most frequently occurring combination is ‫קטורת בוסמיא‬ (‘the incense of spices’). It occurs 13 times in TO Exodus: 25:6; 30:7, 27; 31:8, 11; 35:8, 15[2], 28; 37:25, 29; 39:38; 40:27. The first member used in the most combinations is ‫‘( עובד‬work’). It is the head noun for two combinations: ‫‘( עובד אבן טבא‬work of good stone,’ 24:10) and ‫‘( עובד מצדתא דנחשא‬work of net of bronze,’ 27:4; 38:4). Two other first members denoting work are used in one combination each: ‫‘( עבידת משכנא‬the work of the tabernacle,’ 39:32) and ‫‘( פולחן משכן זמנא‬the work of the tent of meeting,’ 30:16; 35:21). Ten other combinations occur in construction a with an explicative genitive relationship: ‫‘( תחום מצרים‬the territory of Egypt,’ 10:14, 19), ‫‘( ענן יקרא דיוי‬the cloud of the glory of the Lord,’ 40:38), ‫‘( ארמות דהבא‬the wave offering of gold,’ 35:22), ‫‘( טסי דהבא‬the sheets of gold,’ 39:3), ‫‘( איסרת איזובא‬a bundle of hyssop,’ 12:22), ‫זמן‬ ‫‘( ירחא דאביבא‬the appointed time of the month of Abib,’ 23:15), ‫‘( גזירת פסחא‬the decree of the Passover,’ 12:43), ‫‘( ארמות כסף‬the wave offering of silver,’ 35:24), and ‫קני‬ ‫‘( בוסמא‬cane of sweet odor,’ 30:23). 15. Direction Eight combinations in the construct genitive construction have a second member that is a direction. Second members that indicate a direction only occur in construction a. ‫‘( קדומא‬east’) is found as a second member in one combination: ‫‘( רוח קדומא‬the wind/direction of the east,’ 27:13; 38:13). ‫‘( מערבא‬west’) is also used as a second member in a single combination: ‫‘( רוח מערבא‬the wind/direction of the west,’ 10:19; 27:12; 38:12). A third second member, ‫‘( צפונא‬north’), appears in the same combination: ‫‘( רוח צפונא‬the wind/direction of the north,’ 26:20; 27:11; 36:25; 38:11). It is also used with the first member ‫‘( סטר‬side,’ 26:35). ‫‘( דרומא‬south’) appears in a single combination: ‫‘( עיבר דרומא‬the side of the south,’ 26:18; 27:9; 36:23; 38:9). 27:9 has the compound genitive construction: ‫‘( רוח עיבר דרומא‬the wind/direction of the side of the south’). The remaining two combinations have ‫‘( אורח‬way’) as a head noun: ‫‘( אורח מדברא‬the way of the wilderness,’ 13:18) and ‫‘( אורח ארע פלשתאי‬the way of the land of the Philistines,’ 13:17). 16. Material The vast majority of combinations in Exodus of TO whose second member specifies the material composition of the first member appear in the adjunct genitive construction. While there are none of these combinations in the cataphoric genitive construction, there are 6 cast in the construct genitive construction. The most frequently occurring combination is ‫‘( צבע זהורי‬color of scarlet,’ 25:4; 26:1, 31, 36; 27:16; 28:5, 6, 8, 15, 33; 35:6, 23, 25, 35; 36:8, 35, 37; 38:18, 23; 39:1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 24, 29). Three different combinations involve the material stone. ‫‘( לוחי אבנא‬the tablets of stone’) appears in 24:12 and 31:18, while ‫‘( לוחי אבניא‬the tablets of stones’) is used in 34:1 and 34:4 (twice). On a single occasion, ‫‘( מדבח אבנין‬altar of stones,’ 20:25) is used. ‫מדבח אדמתא‬ (‘altar of earth’) appears in the preceding verse (20:24). ‫‘( עמודי שטין‬pillars of acacia’) is employed on three occasions (26:32, 37; 36:36).

82

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

17. Nominal Attribute, First Eight combinations in the construct genitive construction in TO Exodus have a first member that is a nominal attribute of the second member. ‫‘( מנין‬number’) is used as a first member in two combinations: ‫‘( מנין נפשתכון‬the number of your souls,’ 16:16) and ‫‘( מנין יומך‬the number of your day,’ 23:26). The 6 other combinations in TO Exodus are: ‫‘( ולד בעירא‬offspring of cattle,’ 13:12), ‫‘( עוית קודשיא‬the iniquity of the holy things,’ 28:38), ‫‘( עיק רוח‬distress of spirit,’ 6:9), ‫‘( שאר שיזבתא‬remainder of what is delivered,’ 10:5), ‫‘( דחוק פולחן מצראי‬the oppression of the work of the Egyptians,’ 6:6, 7), and ‫‘( חכימות ליבא‬wisdom of heart,’ 35:35). 18. Nominal Attribute, Second There is a solitary occurrence in TO Exodus where the second member of a construct genitive construction functions as a nominal attribute of the first member. In 28:3 TO renders the MT’s ‫רּוח ָּח ְכ ָּמה‬ ַ with ‫‘( רוח חוכמה‬a spirit of wisdom’). This Aramaic phrase is equivalent to ‘a wise spirit.’ There are no combinations of this class in the cataphoric genitive construction. 19. Special Relationship The final class to be discussed includes combinations whose first member has a special relationship to the second member. Most of the first members represent either an office over the related second member or some superior status related to the second member. There are 16 combinations in construction a that fit this category. This is 4.2% (16/377) of all combinations in TO Exodus. While there are 8 combinations that can be classified as a “special relationship” in the cataphoric genitive construction, the criteria for construction c is different than the criteria for construction a. If ‘God’ is a first member, construction c must be used. If a personal name (such as Amalek, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) appears as a second member, construction c must be employed. When the first member is an official office or position, construction a must be employed. All plural first members must be cast in the construction genitive construction. The most frequently occurring special relationship combination in construction a is ‫‘( סבי ישראל‬the elders of Israel,’ 3:16, 18; 12:21; 17:5, 6; 18:12; 24:1, 9). Since the first member is plural and the second member is not the name of a person (in this case), but the name of a nation, the construct genitive construction is employed. ‫‘( סבי‬elders’) is also used in two other “special relationship” combinations: ‫‘( סבי בני ישראל‬the elders of the sons of Israel,’ 4:29) and ‫‘( סבי עמא‬the elders of the people,’ 19:7). The first member ‫‘( רברבי‬leaders’) appears as the first member in 4 combinations in construction a denoting a special relationship of authority over the group represented by the second member: ‫‘( רבני עסוריתא‬leaders of tens,’ 18:21, 25), ‫רבני‬ ‫‘( חמשין‬leaders of fifties,’ 18:21, 25), ‫‘( רבני מותא‬leaders of hundreds,’ 18:21, 25), and ‫‘( רבני אלפי‬leaders of thousands,’ 18:21, 25). ‫‘( רברב‬leaders’) is used as a fist member in one more combination, ‫‘( רברבי בני ישראל‬the leaders of the sons of Israel,’ 24:11). Five of the 8 remaining combinations have a first member that is human: ‫‘( בר אמתך‬the son of your female servant,’ 23:12), ‫‘( תקיפי מואב‬the strong ones of Moab,’ 15:15), ‫עבדי‬ ‫‘( פרעה‬the servants of Pharaoh,’ 10:7; 11:3), ‫‘( סרכי בני ישראל‬the commanding officers of the sons of Israel,’ 5:14, 15, 19), and ‫‘( בעיל איתתא‬the husband of a wife,’ 21:3). One

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN TARGUM ONKELOS

83

combination has a supernatural first member: ‫‘( טעות מצראי‬the idols of the Egyptians,’ 12:12). The remaining two combinations have inanimate first members: ‫בכורי חצד חטין‬ (‘the firstfruits of the wheat harvest,’ 34:22) and ‫‘( שבח קובעיא‬the best of headcoverings,’ 39:28). B3. Classification of Combinations Used in the Adjunct Genitive Construction by the Syntactic Relationship between Members

While the adjunct genitive construction, construction b, has just a little over half as many combinations as does the construct genitive construction, 205 to 377, it still seems to function as the unmarked member. One noticeable difference between the construct genitive construction and the adjunct genitive construction is that the former has many plural first members, while the latter does not. The distribution of first members of construction b according to gender and number is as follows: 132 different first members 105 singular 79 masculine 26 feminine 27 plural 21 masculine 6 feminine

There are only 27 plural first members for adjunct genitive constructions. This is only 20% of the first members (27/132). The construct genitive construction has the following distribution of first members: 210 different first members 125 singular 84 masculine 41 feminine 85 plural 64 masculine 21 feminine 40.5% (85/210) of the first members in construction a are plural. This is twice the percentage of plural first members in construction b. The preference of plural first members for construction a is made even more noticeable when the 27 plural first members used in construction b are analyzed. Each of the 6 feminine plural first members in construction b is used with a second member that specifies the material composition of the first. All of these first members are also in the absolute state. The following instances are found in Exodus of Targum Onkelos: ‫‘( יריען דמעזי‬curtains of goat’s hair,’ 26:7; 36:14), ‫‘( מרמצן דדהב‬filigree settings of gold,’ 28:13; 39:16), ‫‘( ענובין דתכלא‬loops of blue,’ 26:4; 36:11), ‫תכין דדהב‬ (‘parapets of gold,’ 28:14), ‫‘( עזקן דנחשא‬rings of bronze,’ 27:4), ‫‘( עזקן דדהב‬rings of gold,’ 25:12, 26; 28:23, 26, 27; 30:4; 37:3, 13, 27; 39:16, 19, 20), and ‫מבועין דמין‬ (‘springs of water,’ 15:27). If these 6 first members are subtracted from the total of plural first members used in construction b, that leaves only the 21 masculine plural first members.

84

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

The 21 first members that are masculine plural will be analyzed. Of the 21 masculine first members used in construction b, the following 10 are used with second members that specify material constitution: ‫‘( עברי דאעי שטין‬bars of acacia wood,’ 36:31), ‫‘( סמכין דנחשא‬bases of bronze,’ 26:37), ‫‘( סמכין דכסף‬bases of silver,’ 26:19, 32; 36:36), ‫‘( זגין דדהב‬bells of gold,’ 28:33; 39:25), ‫‘( פורפין דנחש‬clasps of bronze,’ 26:11; 36:18), ‫‘( פורפין דדהב‬clasps of gold,’ 26:6; 36:13), ‫‘( דחלן דדהב‬gods of gold,’ 20:23; 32:31), ‫‘( דחלן דכסף‬gods of silver,’ 20:23), ‫‘( דחלן דמתכא‬gods of metal,’ 34:17), ‫אריחי‬ ‫‘( דאעי שטין‬poles of acacia wood,’ 25:13, 27:6; 37:4), ‫‘( קדשי דדהב‬rings of gold,’ 32:2, 3), ‫‘( סדרין דאבן‬rows of stone,’ 39:10), ‫‘( מכנסין דבוץ‬trousers of fine linen,’ 28:42), ‫מנין‬ ‫‘( דדהב‬vessels of gold,’ 3:22; 11:2; 12:35), and ‫‘( מנין דכסף‬vessels of silver,’ 3:22; 11:2; 12:35). These first members are not in the determined form and so some may consider these genitive syntagms to be better categorized as construction a. Of the remaining 11 plural first members under consideration, 4 of them have the second member ‫‘( יוי‬the Lord’). In Targums Onkelos and Jonathan, whenever ‫ יוי‬is used as the second member, the adjunct genitive construction is employed. Therefore, it appears that the requirement for combinations with ‫ יוי‬as a second member to take construction b has priority over the preference of combinations with plural first members to take construction a. The 4 plural first members used with ‫ יוי‬as a second member are: ‫‘( חיליא דיוי‬the hosts of the Lord,’ 12:41), ‫‘( דחליא דיוי‬the fearers of the Lord,’ 18:21), ‫‘( קימיא דיוי‬the ordinances of the Lord,’ 18:16), and ‫‘( פתגמיא דיוי‬the words of the Lord,’ 4:28; 24:3, 4). There are only 7 plural first members used in construction b that are not used with a second member that denotes material composition or is the divine name, ‫יוי‬. These 7 may be classified as follows. 1. Fixed Phrase Two plural first members in construction b are used with second members that form fixed phrases in Targum Onkelos. The first is ‫‘( יציביא דארעא‬the citizens of the land,’ 12:19). The second fixed phrase is ‫‘( שבטיא דישראל‬the tribes of Israel,’ 24:4). These genitive syntagms seem to be codified in construction b through repeated use. 2. Definitional Attribute, Second Three of the plural first members in the adjunct genitive constructions are somehow defined by their second members. The first is used in two combinations: ‫גברין דחילא‬ (‘men of strength,’ 18:21, 25) and ‫‘( גברין דקשוט‬men of truth,’ 18:21).The second first member is ‫סהדין‬, used in the combination ‫‘( סהדין דתביר‬the witnesses of what is torn,’ 22:12). ‫ סהדין‬is an absolute form. The third first member is used in a single combination, ‫‘( משכי דדכרי‬skins of rams,’ 25:5; 35:23). ‫ משכי‬is in the determined state. 3. Part-Whole One plural first member in construction b is combined with a second member to a part-whole relationship. Exod 38:9 discusses the making of the court tabernacle. This verse uses the genitive phrase, ‫‘( סרדי דדרתא‬the hangings court’). This is an adjunct genitive construction with a plural first member determined state.

denote of the of the in the

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN TARGUM ONKELOS

85

4. Location There is one plural first member that is used in two combinations with second members that denote the physical location of the first member. The first is found in 7:19, ‫מיא‬ ‫‘( דמצראם‬the waters of Egypt’). The second is in 8:2, ‫‘( מיא דמצראי‬the waters of the Egyptians’). In conclusion, of the 27 plural first members used in construction b, 16 are used with a second member denoting the material composition of the first. This relationship is normally found in the adjunct genitive construction in Targums Onkelos and Jonathan (OJA). Four are used with the second member ‫יוי‬, which always take construction b in OJA. That leaves only 7 plural first members used with the adjunct genitive construction. Therefore, only 5.3% of first members in construction b are plural (7/132), and not a genitive of material, combined with ‫יוי‬, or absolute in form. This compares with the disproportionate number of plural first members in construction a, 40%. It can be concluded that plural first members have an overwhelming preference for construction a in Targum Onkelos of Exodus.

C. ANALYSIS BY FIRST MEMBERS This section will analyze the use of the genitive syntagm in Targum Onkelos based upon the use of first members (nomen regens). This analysis will use the same parameters that were used for Peshitta Exodus. Number will be regarded to be determinative when distinguishing members. The state of the noun will not, however, distinguish members. Gender will be used to distinguish members in this analysis. C1. First Members That Occur in Each Construction 1. Construction a The construct genitive construction, a, has the most different first members by far. The distribution, by number and gender, of first members used in construction a is shown below. 210 different first members 125 singular 84 masculine 41 feminine 85 plural 64 masculine 21 feminine

2. Construction b Construction b has fewer different first members than the construct genitive construction has. The distribution by number and gender of first members used in construction b is shown below. 132 different first members 105 singular

86

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC 79 masculine 26 feminine 27 plural 21 masculine 6 feminine

3. Construction c The cataphoric genitive construction, c, has only a few different first members compared to constructions a and b. The distribution of first members according to number and gender is shown below. 10 different first members 9 singular 7 masculine 2 feminine 1 plural 1 masculine 0 feminine

C2. First Members That Only Occur in One Construction 1. Construction a There are 175 different first members used only in the construct genitive construction in TO Exodus. There are two first members that are found in the most combinations in the construct genitive construction in TO Exodus. Both ‫‘( בית‬house’) and ‫‘( בני‬sons’) appear in 14 different combinations. In all 14 combinations, ‫‘( בית‬house’) is used in a nonliteral, extended sense: ‫‘( בית משכבך‬the house of your bed,’ 7:28), ‫‘( בית אבא‬house of father,’ 12:3), ‫‘( בית אבהתהון‬the house of their fathers,’ 6:14), ‫בית כנישת מימיהון‬ (‘the receptacle of the gathering of their water,’ 7:19), ‫‘( בית מקדשא‬house of sanctuary,’ 23:19), ‫‘( בית אולפנא‬the house of instruction,’ 33:7[2]), ‫‘( בית גברא‬the house of the man,’ 22:6), ‫‘( בית פרעה‬the house of Pharaoh,’ 8:20), ‫‘( בית עבדך‬the house of your servant,’ 7:28), ‫‘( בית עבדוהי‬the house of his servants,’ 8:20), ‫‘( בית עבדותא‬the house of slavery,’ 13:3, 14; 20:2), ‫‘( בית ישראל‬the house of Israel,’ 16:31; 40:38), ‫בית‬ ‫‘( יעקב‬the house of Jacob,’ 19:3), and ‫‘( בית לוי‬the house of Levi,’ 2:1). Each of the 14 combinations for which ‫‘( בני‬sons’) is the head noun appear to be fixed phrases in the construct genitive construction. These 14 combinations seem to be fixed through repeated use: ‫‘( בני גרשון‬the sons of Gershon,’ 6:17), ‫‘( בני ישראל‬the sons of Israel,’ 1:1, 7, 9, 12, 13; 2:23, 25; 3:9, etc.), ‫‘( בני יצהר‬the sons of Izhar,’ 6:21), ‫בני‬ ‫‘( יהודאי‬the sons of the Jews,’ 2:6), ‫‘( בני קהת‬the sons of Kohath,’ 6:18), ‫‘( בני קרח‬the sons of Korah,’ 6:24), ‫‘( בני לוי‬the sons of Levi,’ 6:16; 32:26, 28), ‫‘( בני מררי‬the sons of Merari,’ 6:19), ‫‘( בני ראובין‬the sons of Reuben,’ 6:14), ‫‘( בני שמעון‬the sons of Simeon,’ 6:15), ‫‘( בני בנין‬the sons of sons,’ 34:7), ‫‘( בני עזיאל‬the sons of Uzziel,’ 6:22), ‫בני שנא‬ (‘sons of a year,’ 29:38), and ‫‘( בני אהרן‬the sons of Aaron,’ 28:1, 40). The first member used solely in the construct genitive construction appearing in the next most combinations is ‫‘( בר‬son’). It is the head noun for 10 combinations in TO Exodus. Six of these combinations denote kinship: ‫‘( בר אהרן‬the son of Aaron,’ 6:25;

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN TARGUM ONKELOS

87

38:21), ‫‘( בר אחיסמך‬the son of Ahisamach,’ 31:6; 35:34; 38:23), ‫‘( בר כנעניתא‬son of a Canaanite,’ 6:15), ‫‘( בר חור‬the son of Hur,’ 31:2, 35:30; 38:22), ‫‘( בר נון‬the son of Nun,’ 33:11), and ‫‘( בר אורי‬the son of Uri,’ 31:2; 35:30; 38:22). One of the combinations is a special relationship: ‫‘( בר אמתך‬the son of your servant,’ 23:12). Two of the combinations are fixed phrases: ‫‘( בר שתיה‬son of a year,’ 12:5) and ‫‘( בר תורי‬son of bulls,’ 29:1). Another combination has a second member that functions as a defining attribute of the first member: ‫‘( בר תמנן ותלת שנין‬son of eighty-three years,’ 7:7). The first member used only in construction a with the next most combinations is a body part, ‫‘( עיני‬eyes’). In the majority of instances in which ‫ עיני‬is the first member, 8 of 14, it has a nonliteral, extended sense. For each of these instances, it is preceded by the preposition ‫ב‬, which normally indicates a mental vision: ‫‘( בעיני מצראי‬in the eyes of the Egyptians,’ 3:21; 11:3; 12:36), ‫‘( בעיני רבונה‬in the eyes of her master,’ 21:8), ‫בעיני‬ ‫‘( פרעה‬in the eyes of Pharaoh,’ 5:21), ‫‘( בעיני עבדי פרעה‬in the eyes of the servants of Pharaoh,’ 11:3), ‫‘( בעיני עבדוהי‬in the eyes of his servants,’ 5:21), and ‫‘( בעיני עמא‬in the eyes of the people,’ 11:3). In the other 6 instances in which ‫ עיני‬is the nomen regens, it is preceded by the preposition ‫ ל‬and indicates literal eyes and physical vision: ‫לעיני פרעה‬ (‘in the eyes of Pharaoh,’ 7:20; 9:8), ‫‘( לעיני עבדוהי‬in the eyes of his servants,’ 7:20), ‫‘( לעיני בני ישראל‬in the eyes of the sons of Israel,’ 24:17), ‫‘( לעיני סבי ישראל‬in the eyes of the elders of Israel,’ 17:6), and ‫‘( לעיני עמא‬in the eyes of the people,’ 4:30). ‫‘( עבדית‬work’) is used in 7 combinations. ‫‘( ריש‬head’) and ‫‘( תרע‬doorway/gate’) are each head nouns for 6 combinations. ‫‘( אפי‬face’), ‫‘( רוח‬blowing/spirit’), ‫רבני‬ (‘leaders’), ‫‘( סטרי‬sides’), and ‫‘( פולחן‬work’) are each found in 5 combinations. ‫זרעית‬ (‘families’), ‫‘( לבושי‬garments’), ‫‘( גו‬midst’), ‫‘( נכסת‬sacrifice’), ‫‘( אבני‬stones’), and ‫מני‬ (‘utensils’) are each head nouns for 4 combinations. ‫‘( זיו‬appearance’), ‫‘( בת‬daughter’), ‫‘( סבי‬elders’), ‫‘( פתח‬first offspring’), ‫‘( בכורי‬firstfruits’), ‫‘( פלגות‬half’), ‫‘( ידי‬hands’), ‫דין‬ (‘judgment’), ‫‘( חיי‬life’), ‫‘( שמהת‬names’), ‫‘( תקות‬strength’), ‫‘( לוחי‬tablets’), and ‫שני‬ (‘years’) are used in 3 combinations each. The following first members are used in two combinations in the construct genitive construction: ‫‘( כיף‬bank/shore’), ‫‘( דפי‬boards’), ‫‘( רתיכי‬chariots’), ‫‘( רברבי‬chiefs’), ‫‘( בנת‬daughters’), ‫‘( סיפי‬ends’), ‫‘( תרבי‬fat’), ‫אבהת‬ (‘fathers’), ‫‘( שפולי‬hem/feet’), ‫‘( בתי‬houses’), ‫‘( מנין‬number’), ‫‘( מניני‬numbers’), ‫סיכי‬ (‘pegs’), ‫‘( עמודי‬pillars’), ‫‘( סטר‬side’), ‫‘( כסף‬silver’), ‫‘( משכן‬tent’), ‫‘( רום‬top part’), ‫תרין‬ (‘two’), ‫‘( ארמות‬wave offering’), and ‫‘( אורח‬way’). All other first members that are only used in construction a appear in only one combination. 2. Construction b One hundred and four first members are used only in the adjunct genitive construction. Three first members are used in 5 combinations. Two of the 3 are body parts: ‫ידא‬ (‘hand’) and ‫‘( ליבא‬heart’). ‫‘( ידא‬hand’) is used in the following combinations in an extended or metaphorical sense: ‫‘( ידא דמצראי‬the hand of the Egyptians,’ 3:8; 14:30; 18:9, 10), ‫‘( ידא דאיתמר‬the hand of Ithamar,’ 38:21), ‫‘( ידא דמשה‬the hand of Moses,’ 9:35; 35:29), ‫‘( ידא דפרעה‬the hand of Pharaoh,’ 18:10), and ‫‘( ידא דרעיא‬the hand of the shepherds,’ 2:19). It is used as a literal hand as a first member only one time in the adjunct genitive construction: ‫‘( ידא דמשה‬the hand of Moses,’ 34:29). ‫‘( ליבא‬heart’) is used in the following combinations with a figurative sense: ‫‘( ליבא דמצראי‬the heart of the Egyptians,’ 14:17), ‫‘( ליבא דעבדוהי‬the heart of his servants,’ 10:1), ‫‘( ליבא דפרעה‬the heart of Pharaoh,’ 7:3, 13, 14, 22; 8:15; 9:7, 12, 35; 10:20, 27; 11:10; 14:4, 8), and

88

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

‫‘( ליבא דימא‬the heart of the sea,’ 15:8). It is employed as a first member in construction b on a single occasion to denote a literal heart: ‫‘( ליבא דאהרן‬the heart of Aaron,’ 28:30).

The other first member used in five combinations in the adjunct genitive construction is ‫‘( חגא‬feast’). It appears in the following combinations in TO Exodus: ‫‘( חגא דחצדא‬the feast of the harvest,’ 23:16), ‫‘( חגא דכנשא‬the feast of the ingathering,’ 23:16; 34:22), ‫‘( חגא דפסחא‬the feast of the Passover,’ 34:25), ‫‘( חגא דפטיריא‬the feast of unleavened bread,’ 23:15; 34:18), and ‫‘( חגא דשבועיא‬the feast of weeks,’ 34:22). Seven first members are found in 3 combinations in the adjunct genitive construction: ‫‘( רוגזא‬anger’), ‫‘( פותיא‬breadth’), ‫‘( חופאה‬covering’), ‫‘( פרסא‬curtain’), ‫‘( דחלן‬gods’), ‫‘( טורא‬mountain’), and ‫‘( תורא‬ox’). ‫‘( רוגזא‬anger’) is used in the following 3 combinations: ‫‘( רוגזא דיוי‬the anger of the Lord,’ 4:14), ‫‘( רוגזא דמשה‬the anger of Moses,’ 32:19), and ‫‘( רוגזא דריבוני‬the anger of my lord,’ 32:22). The first combination employs the divine name as the second member while in the second and third combination, the first member is a nominalized predicate. ‫‘( פותיא‬breadth’) appears in the following combinations: ‫‘( פותיא דדפא‬the breadth of the board,’ 26:16; 36:21), ‫‘( פותיא דדרתא‬the breadth of the court,’ 27:12, 13), and ‫‘( פותיא דיריעתא‬the breadth of the curtain,’ 36:15). Each of these has the first member functioning as an abstract noun of quality. The 3 combinations having ‫‘( חופאה‬covering’) as a first member are: ‫חופאה‬ ‫‘( דמשכי ססגונא‬the covering of the skins of vermillion,’ 36:19; 39:34), ‫חופאה דמשכי‬ ‫‘( דכרי‬the covering of the skins of rams,’ 39:34), and ‫‘( חופאה דמשכנא‬the covering of the tent,’ 40:19). Each of these combinations has a part-whole relationship. ‫‘( פרסא‬curtain’) serves as the first member for the following part-whole combinations: ‫‘( פרסא דתרע משכנא‬the curtain of the doorway of the tent,’ 39:38), ‫‘( פרסא דתרעא‬the curtain of the doorway,’ 40:5, 28), and ‫‘( פרסא דתרע דרתא‬the curtain of the gate of the court,’ 40:8, 33). ‫‘( דחלן‬gods’) is used in 3 combinations where the second member expresses the material composition of the first member: ‫דחלן‬ ‫‘( דדהב‬gods of gold,’ 20:23; 32:31), ‫‘( דחלן דכסף‬gods of silver,’ 20:23), and ‫דחלן דמתכא‬ (‘gods of metal,’ 34:17). ‫‘( טורא‬mountain’) is the first member for the following 3 combinations which share an explicative genitive relationship: ‫‘( טורא דסיני‬mount Sinai,’ 19:11, 18, 20, 23; 24:16; 31:18; 34:2, 4, 29, 32), ‫‘( טורא דאחסנתך‬the mountain of your inheritance,’ 15:17), and ‫‘( טורא דחורב‬mount Horeb,’ 33:6). Each of the 3 combinations with ‫תורא‬ (‘ox’) as a first member share a special relationship (as defined above): ‫‘( תור דגבר‬an ox of a man,’ 21:35), ‫‘( תורא דחבריה‬the ox of his neighbor,’ 21:35), and ‫‘( תורא דסנאך‬the ox of your enemy,’ 23:4). Each of these genitive syntagms are in a stipulation and specify a well-understood relationship in ancient Israelite society. Sixteen other first members are used in two combinations in the adjunct genitive construction in TO Exodus. The remaining first members are found in one combination. 3. Construction c Six first members occur exclusively in the cataphoric genitive construction. ‘Owner’ is the first member for the most combinations. It is appears as the first member for 3 combinations denoting special relationships: ‫‘( מריה דביתא‬the owner of the house,’ 22:7), ‫‘( מריה דתורא‬the owner of the ox,’ 21:28), and ‫‘( מריה דגובא‬the owner of the pit,’ 21:34). ‘Sister’ is the only other first member used exclusively as such in the cataphoric genitive construction in more than one combination: ‫‘( אחתיה דנחשון‬the

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN TARGUM ONKELOS

89

sister of Nahshon,’ 6:23) and ‫‘( אחתיה דאהרן‬the sister of Aaron,’ 15:20). The remaining four first members used only in construction c appear in only one combination. C3. First Members That Occur in Two Constructions 1. Constructions a and b Twenty-five different head nouns are used in both the construct genitive construction and the adjunct genitive construction. Each is discussed below. i. ‫‘( מדבחא‬altar’) occurs in 6 combinations (2x a, 4x b). When the second member defines the material composition of the altar, the adjunct genitive construction is used. This occurs for two combinations in TO Exodus: ‫‘( מדבחא דנחשא‬the altar of bronze,’ 38:30; 39:39) and ‫‘( מדבחא דדהבא‬the altar of gold,’ 39:38; 40:5, 26). In both 38:30 and 39:39, TO renders the Hebrew ‫ ֵאת ִמזְ ַבח ַהנְ ח ֶֹּשת‬with the adjunct genitive construction. The Hebrew noun phrase is marked by ‫ ֵאת‬, the marker of the definite direct object, and has the definite article prefixed to the second member. ‫מדבחא דדהבא‬ renders the Hebrew ‫ת־מזְ ַבח ַהזָּ ָּהב‬ ִ ‫ ֶא‬in 39:38, 40:5, and 40:26. The two combinations used in the construct genitive construction also have second members that appear to define the material makeup of the first member: ‫‘( מדבח אדמתא‬altar of earth,’ 20:24) and ‫‘( מדבח אבנין‬altar of stones,’ 20:25). The materials earth and stones are different than bronze and gold in that the latter two are precious metals and the former two are not. In fact, ‫‘( אדמתא‬earth’) and ‫‘( אבנין‬stones’) are used exclusively as second members in the construct genitive construction. Furthermore, ‫ מדבח אדמתא‬renders the Hebrew ‫ ִמזְ ַבח ֲא ָּד ָּמה‬while ‫ מדבח אבנין‬translates the MT’s ‫ ִמזְ ַבח ֲא ָּבנִ ים‬. Both Hebrew noun phrases are lacking ‫ ֵאת‬and the definite article on the second member. The other two combinations used in the adjunct genitive construction render a Hebrew construct phrase preceded by ‫ ֵאת‬and with the definite article prefixed to the absolute noun: ‫‘( מדבחא דעלתא‬the altar of burnt offering,’ 30:28; 31:9; 35:16; 38:1; 40:6, 10, 29) and ‫‘( מדבחא דקטורת בוסמיא‬the altar of incense of spices,’ 30:27; 31:8; 35:15; 37:25).

ii. ‫‘( דם‬blood’) is the head noun in 4 combinations (3x a, 1x b). The 3 combinations in the construct genitive construction for which ‫ דם‬is the first member have a second member that functions as an attribute that somehow defines the first member. The 3 combinations are: ‫‘( דם קימא‬the blood of the covenant,’ 24:8), ‫דם פסחי‬ (‘the blood of my Passover sacrifice,’ 23:18; 34:25), and ‫‘( דם חטאת כיפוריא‬the blood of the sin offering of atonement,’ 30:10). The first two combinations render Hebrew construct phrases with the maqqep. The last combination, however, does not have a maqqep. The lone occurrence of ‫ דם‬as a first member in the adjunct genitive construction is in the noun phrase ‫‘( דמא דתורא‬the blood of the bull,’ 29:12). The construct phrase in the MT that TO Exodus renders has no maqqep. Furthermore, ‫דמא‬ ‫ דתורא‬denotes a part-whole relationship, while those cast in construction a have a second member that functions as an attribute that in some way defines the first member. iii. ‫‘( משרי‬camp’) appears in 3 combinations (1x a, 2x b). In chapter 14 of TO Exodus, ‫ משריתא‬is used as a first member 5 times in two combinations in the adjunct genitive construction: ‫‘( משריתא דמצראי‬the camp of the Egyptians,’ 14:20, 24[2]) and ‫‘( משריתא דישראל‬the camp of Israel,’ 14:19, 20). The lone occurrence of ‫ משריתא‬as a

90

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

first member in the construction genitive construction is also found in TO Exodus 14: ‫‘( משרית פרעה‬the camps of Pharaoh’). Perhaps construction a is selected because ‫ משרית‬is rendering the MT’s ‫‘( ֵחיל‬army’) and not ‫‘( ַמ ֲחנֵ ה‬camp’) as it is in each of the 5 occurrences of the adjunct genitive construction. ‫‘( ֵחיל ַפ ְרעֹּה‬the army of Pharaoh’) may be regarded to TO as a more particular fixed phrase calling for construction a in TO, rather than the more general terms ‫‘( ַמ ֲחנֵ ה יִ ְש ָּר ֵאל‬the camp of Israel’) and ‫ַמ ֲחנֵ ה ִמ ְצ ַריִם‬ (‘the camp of Egypt’) fitting the unmarked genitive syntagm, construction b.

iv. ‫‘( יציביא‬citizens’) is the first member in two combinations (1x a, 1x b). The lone occurrence of ‫ יציביא‬as a first member in the adjunct genitive construction is in 12:19 in the phrase ‫‘( יציביא דארעא‬the citizens of the earth’), which renders the Hebrew ‫ֶאזְ ַרח‬ ‫‘( ָּה ָּא ֶרץ‬native of the land’). In 12:48, the same first member is used in the phrase ‫יציבי‬ ‫ ארעא‬to render the same Hebrew construct phrase as in 12:19. While both Aramaic syntagms seem to be functioning as fixed phrases in their respective contexts, the Aramaic phrase ‫ יציבי ארעא‬in 12:48 renders a Hebrew construct phrase preceded by ‫ְכ‬ and is perhaps more particular and familiar in its context than ‫ יציביא דארעא‬in 12:19 which renders the same Hebrew construct phrase preceded by ‫ ְב‬. v. ‫‘( עיבא‬cloud’) occurs in two combinations (1x a, 1x b). TO Exod 19:9 uses the adjunct genitive construction, ‫‘( עיבא דעננא‬the mass of the cloud’) to render the Hebrew construct phrase ‫‘( ַעב ֶה ָּענָּ ן‬the mass of the cloud,’ i.e. ‘thick cloud’). 40:38 translates the MT’s ‫‘( ֲענַ ן יְ הוָּ ה‬the cloud of the Lord’) with ‫‘( ענן יקרא דיוי‬the cloud of the glory of the Lord’). The construct genitive construction is used to express this explicative genitive. It is common for an explicative genitive to be cast in construction a. Fifteen different combinations in TO Exodus which have an explicative genitive relationship are expressed in the construct genitive construction. vi. ‫‘( יריעת‬curtains’) is used in two combinations (1x a, 1x b). It is employed in the construct genitive construction in the combination ‫‘( יריעת משכנא‬the curtains of the tent,’ 26:12, 13). This is a part-whole relationship and is appropriately expressed in construction a because the first member is a plural noun, which prefers the construct genitive construction in the Aramaic of OJA. ‫‘( יריען‬curtains’) is used as a first member in one combination in the adjunct genitive construction in TO Exodus: ‫יריען דמעזי‬ (‘curtains of goat’s hair,’ 26:7; 36:14). Although the relativizer ‫ ד‬stands between the first member and the second member, ‫ יריען דמעזי‬may be considered the construct genitive construction because the first member is in the absolute state. While plural first members normally appear in the construct genitive construction, the second member denotes the material composition of the first member and thus calls for the adjunct genitive construction.

vii. ‫‘( יום‬day’) appears in two combinations (1x a, 1x b). It is found in the construct genitive construction in one combination: ‫‘( יום אסערותי‬the day of my dealing out,’ 32:34). In this genitive syntagm, ‫ אסערותי‬is an infinitive that defines ‫יום‬. This relationship is suited for construction a, not construction b. The lone combination in the adjunct genitive construction is ‫‘( יומא דשבתא‬the day of the Sabbath,’ 20:8, 11; 31:15; 35:3). ‫‘( שבתא‬the Sabbath’) only appears as a first member in construction b. These two members share an explicative genitive relationship. The phrase communicates, ‘the day, namely, the Sabbath.’

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN TARGUM ONKELOS

91

viii. ‫‘( עין‬eye’) occurs in 3 combinations (1x a, 2x b). When ‫‘( עינא‬eye’) appears as a first member and is used in a nonliteral, extended sense, the construct genitive construction is employed. This applies to one combination in TO Exodus: ‫עין שמשא‬ ‫‘( דארעא‬the eye/surface of the sun of the land,’ 10:5). However, when ‫‘( עינא‬eye’) serves as a head noun and has a literal sense, the adjunct genitive construction is used. This pertains to two combinations in TO Exodus: ‫‘( עינא דעבדיה‬the eye of his servant,’ 21:26) and ‫‘( עינא דאמתיה‬the eye of his female servant,’ 21:26). Both of these genitive syntagms are used in a stipulation of the Mosaic code. They refer to the literal eye of the male servant and female servant, respectively. ix. ‫‘( בכור‬firstborn’) occurs in 10 combinations (1x a, 9x b). The adjunct genitive construction is the preferred genitive construction when ‫‘( בוכרא‬firstborn’) is the first member. It occurs in the following 9 combinations in construction b: ‫‘( בוכרא דשביא‬the firstborn of the captive,’ 12:29), ‫‘( בוכרא דבעירא‬firstborn of cattle,’ 11:5; 12:29; 13:15), ‫‘( בוכרא דחמרא‬firstborn of donkey,’ 13:13; 34:20), ‫‘( בוכרא דישראל‬firstborn of Israel,’ 6:14), ‫‘( בוכרא דאנשא‬firstborn of man,’ 13:13, 15), ‫‘( בוכרא דפרעה‬firstborn of Pharaoh,’ 11:5; 12:29), ‫‘( בוכרא דאמתא‬the firstborn of the slave girl,’ 11:5), ‫בוכרא דבנך‬ (‘the firstborn of your son,’ 22:28), and ‫‘( בוכרא דבני‬the firstborn of my sons,’ 13:15). The sole occurrence of ‫‘( בוכרא‬firstborn’) as a first member in the construct genitive construction is in the noun phrase ‫‘( תורבכור‬the firstborn of cattle,’ 34:19). It may be that construction a is employed because ‫ תור‬is used in the compound noun phrase ‫תור‬ ‫ ואימר‬which serves as the nomen regens in the genitive syntagm ‫בכור תור ואימר‬. It seems that genitive constructions with a compound second member would more likely occur in the construct genitive construction than in the adjunct genitive construction.

x. ‫‘( בסר‬flesh’) occurs in 4 combinations (4x a, 1x b). The favored genitive construction is the construct genitive construction, claiming 4 of the 5 combinations: ‫‘( בסר תורא‬the flesh of the bull,’ 29:14), ‫‘( בסר עריא‬flesh of nakedness,’ 28:42), ‫בסר‬ ‫‘( דיכרא‬the flesh of the ram,’ 29:32), and ‫‘( בסר קרבניא‬the flesh of the sacrifice,’ 29:34). Each of these second members defines ‫ בסר‬in some way. The lone occurrence of ‫בסרא‬ (‘flesh’) as a first member in the adjunct genitive construction is ‫‘( בסרא דאנשא‬flesh of man,’ 30:32). ‫ אנשא‬only occurs as a second member in construction b in TO Exodus. The phrase in 30:32 conveys the idea of ‘human flesh.’ xi. ‫‘( סרדי‬hangings’) occurs in two combinations (1x a, 1x b). Since ‫ סרדי‬is plural, one would expect to find it as a first member in the construct genitive construction in OJA. It occurs in this construction in the phrase ‫‘( סרדי דרתא‬the hangings of the court,’ 38:16, 18; 39:40). The same combination is cast in the adjunct genitive construction in 38:9, ‫‘( סרדי דדרתא‬the hangings of the court’). Perhaps the Targumist is using the unmarked construction, b, for the first use of this term, and then employs the construct genitive construction for subsequent uses in the general vicinity. Construction a should be regarded as the expected construction, since ‫ סרדי‬is plural.

xii. ‫‘( ארעא‬land’) occurs in 6 combinations (3x a, 3x b). The adjunct genitive construction is employed when the second member is one of 3 proper names: Canaan, Egypt, and Goshen. The following instances are found in TO Exodus: ‫‘( ארעא דכנען‬the land of Canaan,’ 6:4; 16:35), ‫‘( ארעא דמצרים‬the land of Egypt,’ 5:12; 6:13, 26, 28; 7:3, 4, 19, 21; 8:1, 2, 3, 12, 13, 20, etc.), and ‫‘( ארעא דגושן‬the land of Goshen,’ 8:18; 9:26). Both ‫ כנען‬and ‫ גושן‬are restricted to the adjunct genitive construction when they appear

92

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

as second members. Although ‫ מצרים‬is used in 5 instances in TO Exodus as a second member in the construct genitive construction, it is predominantly used in construction b and always so when expressing the the geographic term ‫ארעא דמצרים‬. ‫ארעא‬ appears as a first member for 3 combinations of the construct genitive construction in TO Exodus: ‫‘( ארע כנענאי‬the land of the Canaanites,’ 3:17; 13:5, 11), ‫‘( ארע פלשתאי‬the land of the Philistines,’ 13:17), and ‫‘( ארע תורבותהון‬the land of their sojournings,’ 6:4).The 3 second members used in these combinations are restricted to the construct genitive construction, with the sole exception of ‫‘( פלשתאי‬Philistines’) which is used in the phrase ‫‘( ימא דפלשתאי‬the sea of the Philistines’) one time in 23:31. ‫ ימא דפלשתאי‬is a geographical term which seems to be fixed in construction b through repeated use but only occurs once in TO Exodus. ‫ ימא‬is used as a first member only in the adjunct genitive construction. xiii. ‫‘( אורך‬length’) occurs in 4 combinations (1x a, 3x b). ‫ אורכא‬functions as an abstract noun of quality when it serves as the first member in all 4 combinations in TO Exodus. This type of relationship is expressed in both construction a and b, but is a bit more prevalent in construction b. The 3 combinations in the adjunct genitive construction in TO Exodus are: ‫‘( אורכא דדפא‬the length of the board,’ 26:16; 36:21), ‫‘( אורכא דדרתא‬the length of the court,’ 27:18), and ‫‘( אורכא דיריעתא‬the length of the curtain,’ 26:2, 8; 36:9, 15). The lone use of ‫ אורכא‬as a first member in the construct genitive construction is in the phrase ‫‘( אורך יריעת משכנא‬the length of the curtains of the tent,’ 26:13). The construct genitive construction may also be employed because the second member is a construct genitive construction. There is no example in TO Exodus of an adjunct genitive construction with a construct genitive construction serving as the second member. There are instances in TO Exodus, however, of a construct genitive construction having a second member that is an adjunct genitive construction. xiv. ‫‘( שום‬name’) is used in 4 combinations (3x a, 1x b). The most prevalent genitive construction employed is construction a, which expresses 3 combinations in TO Exodus: ‫‘( שם חדא‬the name of the one,’ 1:15), ‫‘( שום תנייתא‬the name of the second,’ 1:15), and ‫‘( שום טעות‬the name of the idols,’ 23:13). The only combination for which ‫ שמא‬serves as the first member in the adjunct genitive construction is the thrice-used genitive syntagm ‫‘( שמא דיוי‬the name of the Lord,’ 20:7; 33:19; 34:5). The Targumist restricts his use of ‫‘( יוי‬the Lord’) as a second member to construction b. In this way, he shows deference to the creator by putting a veil between him and his creation. xv. ‫‘( משחא‬oil’) occurs in 5 combinations (3x a, 2x b). The combination ‘oil of anointment’ is expressed 3 times in construction a, ‫( משח רבותא‬25:6; 35:8, 28), and 7 times in the adjunct genitive construction, ‫( משחא דרבותא‬29:7; 21, 31:11; 35:15; 39:38; 40:9). There is no clear difference in meaning between constructions a and b for this combination. Since it occurs more than twice as much in the adjunct genitive construction, it may be initially concluded that this is the favored construction, but the sample size is too small to conclude decisively. The other two combinations cast in construction a are: ‫‘( משח רבות קודשא‬oil of anointment of holiness,’ 30:25[2], 31) and ‫‘( משח זיתא‬olive oil,’ 27:20; 30:24). The second members of these two combinations define their first members by specifying exactly what kind of oil is in view. The other combination found in the adjunct genitive construction is ‫‘( משחא דאנהרותא‬the oil of light,’ 35:14; 39:37). The unmarked construction, b, is fitting for this combination

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN TARGUM ONKELOS

93

because ‫ אנהרותא‬does not define what kind of oil is involved as specifically as ‫ זיתא‬or ‫ רבות קודשא‬do. xvi. ‫‘( עזקן‬rings’) occurs in 4 combinations (2x a, 2x b). Since ‫ עזקן‬is plural, it would normally be found as a first member in construction a, as it is in the following two combinations: ‫‘( עזקת ארונא‬the rings of the ark,’ 25:15) and ‫‘( עזקת איפודא‬the rings of the ephod,’ 28:28). It is also found as the first member in two adjunct genitive constructions: ‫‘( עזקן דנחשא‬rings of bronze,’ 27:4) and ‫‘( עזקן דדהב‬rings of gold,’ 25:12, 26; 28:23, 26, 27; 30:4; 37:3, 13, 27; 39:16, 19, 20). This is understandable, however, since the second members denote the material composition of the first members, which is normally done with construction b in OJA. xvii. ‫‘( עברא‬side’) occurs in two combinations (1x a, 1x b). The only combination in which ‫ עברא‬is a first member in construction a is ‫‘( עיבר דרומא‬the side of the south,’ 26:18; 27:9; 36:23; 38:9). Whenever the second member indicates a direction, the construct genitive construction is employed. ‫ עברא‬is also used one time as a first member in the adjunct genitive construction: ‫‘( עברא דאיפודא‬the side of the ephod,’ 28:26; 39:19). Construction b is appropriate for this part-whole relationship.

xviii. ‫‘( משכי‬skins’) occurs in 3 combinations (2x a, 1x b). Since ‫ משכי‬is plural, one would expect it to appear as a first member in the construct genitive construction as it does in two combinations: ‫‘( משכי דכרי‬skins of rams,’ 26:14; 35:7; 36:19; 39:34) and ‫‘( משכי ססגונא‬skins of vermillion,’ 25:5; 26:14; 35:7, 23; 36:19; 39:34). It occurs twice in one combination in the adjunct genitive construction: ‫‘( משכי דדכרי‬skins of rams,’ 25:5; 35:23). There is no obvious reason why ‫ משכי דדכרי‬should take construction b in 25:5 and 35:23, but employ construction a in 26:14, 35:7, 36:19, and 39:34. Since ‫דכרי‬ (‘rams’) defines the first member and is plural, construction a should be regarded as the expected construction for this combination, with the use of the adjunct genitive construction an anomaly. xix. ‫‘( קל‬sound’) occurs in 6 combinations (5x a, 1x b). It is predominantly found as a first member in the construct genitive construction, in which it appears in the following five combinations: ‫‘( קל גיברין דנצחין בקרבא‬the sound of warriors who are victorious in war,’ 32:18), ‫‘( קל עמא‬the sound of the people,’ 32:17), ‫‘( קל שופרא‬the sound of the ram’s horn,’ 19:16, 19), ‫‘( קל קרבא‬the sound of war,’ 32:17), and ‫קל חלשין‬ ‫‘( דמתברין‬the sound of weak men being conquered,’ 32:18). Each of these combinations has a second member that in some way defines ‫קל‬. Therefore, the construct genitive construction is appropriate. The sole occurrence of ‫ קלא‬as a first member in construction b is in 32:18, ‫‘( קל דמחיכין‬the sound of people laughing’). In 32:18, ‫קל‬ ‫ גיברין דנצחין בקרבא‬and ‫ קל חלשין דמתברין‬precede ‫קל דמחיכין‬. Perhaps the Targumist is placing the relativizer as close as possible to the final term in the noun phrase. Other than that, it is difficult to ascertain why ‫ קל דמחיכין‬takes construction b and the other two take the construct genitive construction. xx. ‫‘( מכנסין‬trousers’) occurs in two combinations (1x a, 1x b). This plural first member is expected to take construction a in OJA, as it does in 39:28, ‫מכנסי בוצא דבוץ‬ ‫‘( שזיר‬trousers of fine linen of fine linen’). Its use in 28:42, ‫‘( מכנסין דבוץ‬trousers of fine linen’), has the first member in the absolute form and employs the adjunct genitive construction.

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GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

xxi. ‫‘( מיא‬waters’) occurs in 3 combinations (1x a, 2x b). The lone use of ‫ מיא‬as a first member in the construct genitive construction is ‫‘( מי ימא‬the water of the sea,’ 15:19). This phrase seems to be fixed through repeated usage. Fixed phrases prefer construction a. The two combinations for which the adjunct genitive construction is employed are ‫‘( מיא דמצרם‬the waters of Egypt,’ 7:19) and ‫‘( מיא דמצראי‬the waters of the Egyptians,’ 8:2). Both ‫‘( מצרים‬Egypt’) and ‫‘( מצראי‬the Egyptians’) most frequently occur as second members in construction b.

xxii. ‫‘( פרגמא‬word’) occurs in 7 combinations (2x a, 5x b). The adjunct genitive construction expresses the most combinations with ‫ פרגמא‬as the first member in TO Exodus. The following 5 combinations are found in this unmarked construction: ‫פרגמא‬ ‫‘( דשקרא‬the thing of falsehood,’ 23:7), ‫‘( פתגם דחוב‬thing of guilt,’ 22:8), ‫פרגמא דיוי‬ (‘the word of the Lord,’ 9:20, 21), ‫‘( פרגמא דמשא‬the word of Moses,’ 8:9, 27; 12:35; 32:28), and ‫‘( פתגם דחרב‬the edge of the sword,’ 17:13).

xxiii. ‫‘( מימר‬word’) is used in 4 combinations (2x a, 2x b). One combination that employs the adjunct genitive construction has ‫‘( יוי‬the Lord’) as a second member: ‫‘( מימרא דיוי‬the word of the Lord,’ 15:26; 17:1). The Targumist always employs construction b when ‫‘( יוי‬the Lord’) is the second member. By this he shows deference to ‫ יוי‬by putting a veil between him and his creation (the first member). The other genitive syntagm in the adjunct genitive construction is ‫‘( מימרא דמשה‬the word of Moses,’ 38:21). The Targumist selected the unmarked construction in the absence of a compelling criterion to place this predicate nominative in construction a or c. The two combinations used in the construct genitive construction are: ‫‘( מימר פומך‬the word of your mouth,’ 15:8) and ‫‘( מימר חמוהי‬the word of his father-in-law,’ 18:24). The first member of both of these combinations functions as a nominalized predicate. The Targumist frequently expresses nominalized predicates in the construct genitive construction, as evidenced by the 20 other nominalized predicates in construction a in TO Exodus. xxiv. ‫‘( פתגמיא‬words’) occurs in two combinations (1x a, 1x b). This plural first member would normally be found in construction a in OJA, as it is in ‫‘( פתגמי עמא‬the words of the people,’ 19:8, 9). It is, however, found in one combination in construction b: ‫‘( פתגמיא דיוי‬the words of the Lord,’ 4:28; 24:3, 4). This, too, is expected because the Targumist restricts the use of ‫ יוי‬as a second member to the adjunct genitive construction. He feels obliged to protect the majesty of God by separating his name from the first member with the relativizer ‫ד‬.

xxv. ‫‘( עובדא‬work’) occurs in 11 combinations (10x a, 1x b). The construct genitive construction is greatly favored taking 10 of the 11 combinations: ‫‘( עובד בוסמנו‬the work of the art of preparing perfumes,’ 30:25, 35; 37:29), ‫‘( עובד ציור‬the work of embroidery,’ 26:36; 27:16; 28:39; 36:37; 38:18; 39:29), ‫‘( עובד איפודא‬the work of the ephod,’ 28:15; 39:8), ‫‘( עובד אבן טבא‬work of good stone,’ 24:10), ‫עובד מצדתא דנחשא‬ (‘work of net of bronze,’ 27:4; 38:4), ‫‘( עובד אומן‬work of a skilled worker,’ 26:1, 31; 28:6, 15; 36:8, 35; 39:3, 8), ‫‘( עובד אומן אבן‬work of a skilled worker of stone,’ 28:11), ‫‘( עובד מחי‬work of a weaver,’ 28:32; 39:22, 27), ‫‘( עובד גדילו‬work of wicker-work,’ 28:14), and ‫‘( עובד גדילו דדהב‬work of wicker-work of gold,’ 28:22; 39:15). The lone combination for which (‘work’) serves as a first member is ‫‘( עובדא דיוי‬the work of the Lord,’ 32:16; 34:10). This is fitting since ‫‘( יוי‬the Lord’) is used as a second member

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN TARGUM ONKELOS

95

solely in the adjunct genitive construction. This is the Targumist’s way of showing deference to the Lord by putting a screen between his name and the first member. 2. Constructions a and c There are two nouns that occur as first members in both constructions a and c. They are discussed below. i. ‫‘( בעל‬husband’) occurs in two combinations (1x a, 1x c). The same combination appears once in the construct genitive construction, ‫‘( בעיל איתתא‬the husband of the woman,’ 21:3), and once in the cataphoric genitive construction, ‫‘( בעלה דאיתתא‬the husband of the woman,’ 21:22). The combination denotes a special relationship in both contexts. The Hebrew text from which the Targum was rendered is slightly different in both instances. In 21:3, the Targumist renders an anarthrous Hebrew phrase, ‫ ַב ַעל ִא ָּשה‬. In 21:22, however, the MT has ‫ ִא ָּשה‬with a definite article, ‫ ַב ַעל ָּה ִא ָּשה‬. The Targumist may regard the cataphoric genitive construction to be more determined than the adjunct genitive consruction. ii. ‫‘( פום‬mouth’) is used in 4 combinations (3x a, 1x c). In each of the 3 combinations occurring in the construct genitive construction, ‫ פום‬is a body part intended in a nonliteral, extended sense: ‫‘( פום שרין‬the mouth of the breastplate,’ 28:32; 39:23), ‫‘( פום מיכליה‬the mouth of his eating,’ 12:4; 16:16, 18, 21), and ‫מימר פתגמיא‬ (‘the utterance of the words,’ 34:27). When a body part is the first member and has a nonliteral, extended meaning, it is most frequently placed in the construct genitive construction. The lone occurrence of ‫‘( פום‬mouth’) as a first member in the cataphoric genitive construction is in the phrase ‫‘( פומיה דמעילא‬the mouth of the robe,’ 39:23). ‫ פומא‬has a nonliteral meaning in 39:23. The Targumist’s rationale for placing ‫פומיה‬ ‫ דמעילא‬in the cataphoric genitive construction may be that it renders a Hebrew construct phrase that has an article on the second member, ‫י־ה ְמ ִעיל‬ ַ ‫ ִפ‬. Each instance of ‫ פומא‬as a first member in construction a renders a Hebrew construct phrase that is anarthrous. The Targumist may consider the cataphoric genitive construction to be a bit more determined than the construct genitive construction. 3. Constructions b and c There is one first member that occurs in both constructions b and c. ‫‘( אלהא‬God’) is used in 12 combinations (1x a, 7x b, 4x c). When a proper noun is the second member, either the adjunct genitive construction or the cataphoric genitive construction is employed. Construction c is selected when the second member is a proper name representing a single individual: ‫‘( אברהם‬Abraham, 3:6, 15, 16; 4:5), ‫‘( יצחק‬Isaac,’ 3:6, 15; 4:5), and ‫‘( יעקב‬Jacob,’ 3:6, 15; 4:5). ‫ אברהם‬and ‫ יצחק‬are only used as second members in the cataphoric genitive construction in TO Exodus. ‫ יעקב‬is also limited to construction c when it is used as a second member except on two occasions: ‫בית יעקב‬ (‘the house of Jacob,’ 19:3) and ‫‘( ירכא דיעקב‬the loins of Jacob,’ 1:5). When ‫ בית‬is used in an extended fashion, the construct genitive construction is preferred. ‫ ירכא דיעקב‬is a fixed phrase denoting ancestral descent so the unmarked genitive construction, b, is employed. While kinship relationships with ‫‘( אלהא‬God’) as the first member almost exclusively employ the adjunct genitive construction, there is a singular occasion in which the cataphoric genitive construction is used: ‫‘( אלהיה דאבוך‬the God of your father,’ 3:6). It seems that the cataphoric genitive construction is employed because the

96

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

second member ‫‘( אבוך‬your father’) is singular and regarded to be more determined than its plural counterpart ‫‘( אבהתכון‬your fathers,’ 3:13, 15, 16) which employs the adjunct genitive construction when ‫‘( אלהא‬God’) is the head noun. The adjunct genitive construction is used when the relationship between members denotes kinship or when the second member is a proper name representing more than one individual. ‫‘( אלהא‬God’) is used in construction b in the following kinship relationships: ‫‘( אלהא דאבא‬the God of the [my] father,’ 18:4), ‫‘( אלהא דאבהתי‬the God of my fathers,’ 15:2), ‫‘( דאלהא אבהתהון‬the God of their fathers,’ 4:5), and ‫דאלהא‬ ‫‘( אבהתכון‬the God of your fathers,’ 3:13, 15, 16). Two proper names are used as second members when ‫‘( אלהא‬God’) is the head noun in the cataphoric genitive construction: (‘the God of Israel,’ 5:1; 24:10; 32:27; 34:23), and ‫‘( אלהא דיהודאי‬the God of the Jews,’ 3:18; 5:3; 7:169:1, 13; 10:3). C4. First Members That Occur in All Three Constructions There is one first member that occurs in all three genitive constructions. ‫‘( סמכי‬bases’) occurs in 8 combinations (5x a, 2x b, 1x c). Since ‫ סמכי‬is a plural first member, one would expect it to occur in the construct genitive construction, which it does in 5 combinations: ‫‘( סמכי דרתא‬the bases of the court,’ 38:31), ‫‘( סמכי תרע משכן זמנא‬the bases of the doorway of the tent of meeting,’ 38:30), ‫‘( סמכי תרע דרתא‬the bases of the gate of the court,’ 38:31), ‫‘( סמכי קדשא‬the bases of the sanctuary,’ 38:27), and ‫סמכי‬ ‫‘( פרוכתא‬the bases of the veil,’ 38:27). The two combinations with ‫ סמכי‬as a first member in the adjunct genitive construction have second members that specify the material composition of the first member: ‫‘( סמכין דנחשא‬bases of bronze,’ 26:37) and ‫‘( סמכין דכסף‬bases of silver,’ 26:19, 32; 36:36). Second members that specify the material makeup of their first members prefer construction b. In each of these 4 instances, the first member is in the absolute form, ‫סמכין‬. The lone occurrence of ‫ סמכי‬in the cataphoric genitive construction is in the phrase ‫‘( סמכיהון דכסף‬bases of silver,’ 36:24). Since the number of the pronoun suffix on the first member does not agree with the number of the second member, it is not certain that this is a cataphoric genitive construction, but it appears to be. There is no obvious reason why this instance should be framed in construction c, while the instances of the same combination should be expressed in the adjunct genitive construction in 26:19, 32, and 36:36.

C. ANALYSIS BY SECOND MEMBERS There 389 different second members of genitive constructions in TO Exodus. There are 259 in construction a, 116 in b, and 14 in c. D1. Second Members That Occur in Each Construction 1. Construction a The distribution of second members used in construction a according to number and gender is as follows:

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN TARGUM ONKELOS

97

259 different second members 189 singular 141 masculine 48 feminine 70 plural 54 masculine 16 feminine 2. Construction b 116 different second members are used in construction b. This adjunct genitive construction should be considered the unmarked member and the default construction in TO Exodus. 116 different second members 87 singular 61 masculine 26 feminine 29 plural 24 masculine 5 feminine 3. Construction c The distribution of second members used in construction c by number and gender is as follows: 14 different second members 14 singular 13 masculine 1 feminine 0 plural 0 masculine 0 feminine D2. Second Members That Only Occur in One Construction 1. Construction a There are 215 second members that occur only in the construct genitive construction in TO Exodus. Of these 217, ‫‘( לוי‬Levi’) is the second member that is used in the most combinations, five. Two of these combinations are kinship relationships: ‫‘( בת לוי‬the daughter of Levi,’ 2:1) and ‫‘( זרעית לוי‬the families of Levi,’ 6:19). Two other combinations appear to be fixed phrases: ‫‘( בית לוי‬the house of Levi,’ 2:1) and ‫בני לוי‬ (‘the sons of Levi,’ 6:16; 32:26, 28). In the remaining combination, the first member functions as a nominalized predicate, ‫‘( חיי לוי‬the life of Levi,’ 6:16). Two second members occur in 4 combinations each. ‫‘( ליבא‬heart’) is used in 3 combinations in which the first member is an adjective: ‫‘( חכימת ליבא‬wise one of heart,’ 35:25), ‫‘( חכים ליבא‬wise one of heart,’ 36:1, 2), and ‫‘( חכימי ליבא‬wise ones of heart,’ 28:3; 31:6; 35:10; 36:8). The other combination has a first member that is a

98

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

nominalized attribute: ‫‘( חכימות ליבא‬wisdom of heart,’ 35:35). ‫‘( עמא‬people’) occurs in the following 4 combinations in TO Exodus: ‫‘( סבי עמא‬the elders of the people,’ 19:7), ‫‘( עיני עמא‬the eyes of the people,’ 4:30; 11:3), ‫‘( קל עמא‬the sound of the people,’ 32:17), and ‫‘( פתגמי עמא‬the words of the people,’ 19:8, 9). The following second members appear in two combinations in TO Exodus: ‫‘( שטין‬acacia’), ‫כנענאי‬ (‘Canaanites’), ‫‘( כנשתא‬congregation’), ‫‘( עלם‬eternity’), ‫‘( יקרא דיוי‬the glory of the Lord’), ‫‘( שמיא‬heavens’), ‫‘( קודשין‬holinesses’), ‫‘( קהת‬Kohath’), ‫‘( קרח‬Korah’), ‫צפרא‬ (‘morning’), ‫‘( טורא‬mountain’), ‫‘( ציפונא‬north’), ‫ראובין‬(‘Reuben’), ‫‘( קורבניא‬sacrifice’), ‫‘( אומנון‬skill’), ‫‘( אבנין‬stones’), ‫‘( בסם‬sweet odor’), ‫‘( משכן זמנא‬tent of meeting’), and ‫‘( פולחנא‬work’). All other second members only used in the construct genitive construction in TO Exodus are used in a solitary combination. 2. Construction b Seventy-five second members are used exclusively in the adjunct genitive construction. The second member used in the most combinations is ‫‘( דהבא‬gold’), which occurs in 20 combinations. This is consistent with the general observation that genitive syntagms in TO Exodus whose second member specifies the material composition of the first member are normally expressed in construction b. The divine name ‫‘( יוי‬the Lord’) occurs in 15 combinations in TO Exodus. The most frequently occurring combination is ‫‘( יקרא דיוי‬the glory of the Lord,’ 16:7, 10; 24:16, 17; 40:34, 35, 38). The other 14 combinations are: ‫‘( מלאכא דיוי‬the angel of the Lord,’ 3:2; 14:19), ‫‘( רוגזא דיוי‬the anger of the Lord,’ 4:14), ‫‘( אצבעא דיוי‬the finger of the Lord,’ 31:18), ‫‘( חיליא דיוי‬the hosts of the Lord,’ 12:41), ‫‘( אוריתא דיוי‬the law of the Lord,’ 13:9), ‫‘( שמא דיוי‬the name of the Lord,’ 20:7; 33:19; 34:5), ‫‘( מומתא דיוי‬the oath of the Lord,’ 22:10), ‫‘( קימיא דיוי‬the ordinances of the Lord,’ 18:16), ‫‘( פורקנא דיוי‬the salvation of the Lord,’ 14:13), ‫בית‬ ‫‘( מקדשא דיוי‬the temple of the Lord,’ 23:19; 34:26), ‫‘( פתגמא דיוי‬the word of the Lord, 9:20, 21; 15:26; 17:1), ‫‘( פתגמיא דיוי‬the words of the Lord,’ 4:28; 24:3, 4), ‫עובדא דיוי‬ (‘the work of the Lord,’ 32:16; 34:10), and ‫‘( כתבא דיוי‬the writing of the Lord,’ 32:16). The second member used in the next largest number of combinations is ‫נחשא‬ (‘bronze’). This is expected since second members that denote the material composition of the first member occur in the adjunct genitive construction in TO Exodus. ‫נחשא‬ (‘bronze’) is used in the following 8 combinations: ‫‘( בסיסיה דנחשא‬its base of bronze,’ 30:18; 38:8), ‫‘( סמכין דנחשא‬bases of bronze,’ 26:37), ‫‘( פורפין דנחש‬clasps of bronze,’ 26:11; 36:18), ‫‘( כיורא דנחשא‬laver of bronze,’ 30:18; 38:8), ‫‘( מצדתא דנחשא‬net of bronze,’ 27:4; 38:4), ‫‘( עזקן דנחשא‬rings of bronze,’ 27:4), ‫‘( מדבחא דנחשא‬the altar of bronze,’ 38:30; 39:39), and ‫‘( סרדא דנחשא‬the grating of bronze,’ 35:16; 38:5, 30; 39:39). Another second member that specifies the material composition of the head noun and is used exclusively in the adjunct genitive construction in TO Exodus is ‫שטין‬ (‘acacia wood’). It is used in the following 3 combinations: ‫‘( ארונא דאעי שטין‬ark of acacia wood,’ 25:10), ‫‘( עברי דאעי שטין‬bars of acacia wood,’ 36:31), and ‫אריחי דאעי‬ ‫‘( שטין‬poles of acacia wood,’ 25:13; 27:6; 37:4). ‫‘( לחים‬bread’) also denotes the material composition of the first member and is found in 3 combinations exclusively in construction b in TO Exodus. It appears in the following genitive syntagms: ‫דלחים‬ ‫‘( גריצתא‬cake of bread,’ 29:23), ‫‘( פיתא דלחים‬piece of bread,’ 29:23), and ‫סדרין דלחים‬ (‘arrangement of bread,’ 40:23). Yet another second member exclusively used in

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN TARGUM ONKELOS

99

construction b to denote the material makeup of the first member is ‫‘( בוצא‬fine linen’). It is used in 3 combinations: ‫‘( מכנסי בוצא דבוץ שזיר‬linen undergarments of finely twisted linen,’ 39:28), ‫‘( מכנסין דבוץ‬trousers of fine linen,’ 28:42), and ‫מצנפתא דבוצא‬ (‘turban of fine linen,’ 28:39). There are 10 other second members used solely in the adjunct genitive construction in more than one combination. These second members are (the number of combinations is given within the parentheses): ‫‘( יריעתא‬the curtain,’ 4), ‫‘( דפא‬the board,’ 2), ‫‘( עננא‬cloud,’ 2), ‫‘( סנאך‬your enemy,’ 2), ‫‘( אמתיה‬his female servant,’ 2), ‫‘( אנשא‬man,’ 2), ‫‘( עבדיה‬his servant,’ 2), ‫‘( סיני‬Sinai,’ 2), ‫‘( משכי ססגונא‬skins of vermillion,’ 2), and ‫‘( פטיריא‬unleavened bread,’ 2). All other second members used exclusively in the adjunct genitive construction occur in only one combination. 3. Construction c There are 9 second members that only occur in the cataphoric genitive construction in TO Exodus. Each of them occurs in only one combination. Four of the 9 are names: ‫‘( אלהיה דאברהם‬the God of Abraham,’ 3:6, 15, 16; 4:5), ‫‘( דוכרניה דעמלק‬the memory of Amalek,’ 17:14), ‫‘( אלהיה דיצחק‬the God of Isaac,’ 3:6, 15; 4:5), and ‫‘( אחתיה דנחשון‬the sister of Nahshon,’ 6:23). Four of the other second members used exclusively in the cataphoric genitive construction in TO Exodus denote a special relationship in the one combination in which they occur: ‫‘( אלהיה דאבוך‬the God of your father,’ 3:6), ‫מריה‬ ‫‘( דביתא‬the owner of the house,’ 22:7), ‫‘( מריה דתורא‬the owner of the ox,’ 21:28), and ‫‘( מריה דגובא‬the owner of the pit,’21:34). The remaining second member forms a kinship relationship with its head noun: ‫‘( אימיה דרביא‬the mother of the boy,’ 2:8). D3. Second Members That Occur in Two Constructions 1. Constructions a and b The construct genitive construction and the adjunct genitive construction have 38 second members in common. Each is discussed below. i. ‫‘( מדבחא‬altar’) occurs in 5 combinations (3x a, 2x b). All of these combinations have a part-whole relationship. That is, the first member is a part of the whole represented by the second member. Each combination found in the construct genitive construction has a plural first member: ‫‘( קרנת מדבחא‬the horns of the altar,’ 29:12), ‫‘( סטרי מדבחא‬the sides of the altar,’ 27:7; 38:7), and ‫‘( מני מדבחא‬the utensils of the altar,’ 38:3, 30). This is expected since genitive constructions with plural first members in the Aramaic of OJA prefer construction a. The combinations in the adjunct genitive construction have singular first members: ‫‘( סוביבא דמדבחא‬the ledge of the altar,’ 27:5) and ‫‘( יסודא דמדבחא‬the base of the altar,’ 29:12). Construction b is the default genitive construction in TO Exodus. ii. ‫‘( רבותא‬anointment’) is the head noun in two combinations (1x a, 1x b). The noun phrase ‘oil of anointment’ is expressed in TO Exodus in both the construct genitive construction and in the adjunct genitive construction. It occurs 3 times in construction

a (‫משח רבותא‬, 25:6; 35:8, 28), but appears 7 times in construction b ( ‫משחא‬ ‫דרבותא‬, 29:7, 21; 31:11; 35:15; 37:29; 39:38; 40:9). Each use of ‫ משחא דרבותא‬in TO Exodus renders the Hebrew ‫ת־ש ֶמן ַה ִמ ְש ָּחה‬ ֶ ‫ ֶא‬, except the instance in 29:21. None

100

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

of the instances of ‫ משח רבותא‬renders a Hebrew phrase preceded by ‫ ֶאת‬. Thus it appears that the Targumist favors the adjunct genitive construction for this combination when it is preceded by ‫ ֶאת‬in the MT. iii. ‫‘( תורא‬bull’) appears in 4 combinations (3x a, 1x b). ‫ תורא‬occurs as a second member 3 times in Exodus 29. It is used twice when the first member is a body part for which the construct genitive construction is employed: ‫‘( ריש תורא‬the head of the bull,’ 29:10) and ‫‘( בסר תורא‬the flesh of the bull,’ 29:14). These two first members are literal body parts. It is more common for the Targumist to employ construction a when the body part is used in a nonliteral way. It is also used an additional time in construction a: ‫‘( בכור תור‬firstborn of a bull,’ 34:19). The first member is a basic possession of the second member. This kind of a relationship occurs 21 times in the construct genitive construction. The lone occurrence of ‫ תורא‬as a second member in the adjunct genitive construction is ‫‘( דמא דתורא‬the blood of the bull,’ 29:12). These members share a partwhole relationship which is sometimes expressed in the unmarked construction, b. iv. ‫‘( בעירא‬cattle’) is the first member in two combinations (1x a, 1x b). The phrase ‫‘( בוכרא דבעירא‬firstborn of cattle,’ 11:5; 12:29; 13:15) occurs three times in the adjunct genitive construction. The lone occurrence of ‫ בעירא‬as a second member in construction a is in the phrase ‫‘( ולד בעירא‬offspring of cattle,’ 13:12). The first member is a nominalized attribute of the second member. This type of relationship occurs 9 times in the construct genitive construction in TO Exodus.

v. ‫‘( דרתא‬court’) occurs in two combinations (5x a, 3x b). There are five first members that share a part-whole relationship with ‫ דרתא‬and whose combination employs the construct genitive construction. Four of the five are plural: ‫סמכי דרתא‬ (‘the bases of the court,’ 38:31), ‫‘( סרדי דרתא‬the hangings of the court,’ 35:17; 38:16, 18; 39:40), ‫‘( סכי דרתא‬the pegs of the court,’ 27:19; 35:18; 38:31), and ‫עמודי דרתא‬ (‘the pillars of the court,’ 27:17; 38:17). That these combinations should be cast in construction a is not surprising since the Aramaic of OJA normally places plural first members in construction a. There is one first member that is singular, but is still placed in construction a: ‫‘( תרע דרתא‬the gate of the court,’ 27:16; 35:17; 38:15, 18, 31; 39:40; 40:8, 33). Although the first member is a part of the whole represented by the second member, ‫ תרע דרתא‬also seems to be a fixed phrase cast in the construct genitive construction through repeated use. There is one occurrence of ‘the hangings of the court’ expressed in construction b, ‫( סרדי דדרתא‬38:9). This appears to be atypical. The other two combinations in the adjunct genitive construction have singular first members: ‫‘( פותיא דדרתא‬the breadth of the court,’ 27:12, 13) and ‫‘( אורכא דדרתא‬the length of the court,’ 27:18). Both first members are abstract nouns of quality, sometimes placed in construction b. vi. ‫‘( קימא‬covenant’) appears in 3 combinations (2x a, 1x b). The sole occurrence of ‫ קימא‬as a second member in the default genitive construction, b, is in the phrase ‫‘( ספרא דקימא‬the book of the covenant,’ 24:7). This combination has an explicative genitive relationship, which often occurs in construction a, but may also appear in construction b. The two combinations cast in the construct genitive construction are ‫דם‬ ‫‘( קימא‬the blood of the covenant,’ 24:8) and ‫‘( פתגמי קימא‬the word of the covenant,’ 34:28). In the former combination, ‫ קימא‬functions as an attribute that defines ‫דם‬. In

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN TARGUM ONKELOS

101

the latter combination, ‫ פתגמא‬is a part of the whole represented by ‫קימא‬. Both of these relationship types are common in the construct genitive construction in TO Exodus.

vii. ‫‘( ארעא‬earth’) occurs in 9 combinations (4x a, 5x b). It is used with plural first members in the construct genitive construction: ‫‘( אפי ארעא‬the face of the earth,’ 32:12; 33:16), ‫‘( יציבי ארעא‬the citizens of the earth,’ 12:48), and ‫‘( יתבי ארעא‬the inhabitants of the earth,’ 23:31). This is expected since plural first members are normally placed in construction a in OJA. Furthermore, the first member ‫‘( אפי‬face’) is a body part used in a nonliteral way, regularly placed in construction a. There is one combination that has a singular first member in construction a: ‫‘( יתיב ארעא‬inhabitant of the earth,’ 34:12, 15). The Targumist seems to be understanding ‫ יתיב ארעא‬to be a collective noun and, therefore, places it in the same construction as its plural counterpart, ‫יתבי‬. The adjunct genitive construction frames combinations with singular first members: ‫‘( עפרא דארעא‬the dust of the earth,’ 8:12, 13[2]), ‫‘( עמא דארעא‬the people of the land,’ 5:5), ‫‘( עסבא דארעא‬the plant of the land,’ 10:12, 15), and ‫שמשא‬ ‫‘( דארעא‬the sun of the land,’ 10:5). There is one instance where the first member is plural and construction b is employed: ‫‘( יציביא דארעא‬the citizens of the earth,’ 12:19). The Hebrew construct phrase rendered in 12:19 is prefixed with ‫‘( ְב‬whether’) while that in 12:48 is prefixed by ‫‘( ְכ‬like’). Perhaps this is a criterion for genitive construction selection in the thinking of the Targumist. viii. ‫‘( מצרים‬Egypt’) occurs in 6 combinations (3x a, 3x b). Two of the three combinations in the construct genitive construction have plural first members: ‫בתי‬ ‫‘( מצרים‬the houses of Egypt,’ 8:17) and ‫‘( חרשי מצרים‬the magicians of Egypt,’ 7:11, 22). This is expected since plural first members take construction a in OJA. The singular first member in construction a has an explicative genitive relationship with its second member: ‫‘( תחום מצרים‬the territory of Egypt,’ 10:14, 19). There are 13 other explicative genitive relationships expressed in construction a in TO Exodus, most of which have singular first members. The 3 combinations found in the adjunct genitive construction are: ‫‘( מלכא דמצרים‬the king of Egypt,’ 1:15, 17, 18; 2:23; 3:18, 19, etc.), ‫ארעא דמצרים‬ (‘the land of Egypt,’ 5:12; 6:13, 26, 28; 7:3, 4, etc.), and ‫‘( מיא דמצרים‬the waters of Egypt,’ 7:19). The first combination is a title, while the other two are geographic designations. They seemed to have been cast in the adjunct genitive construction through repeated use.

ix. ‫‘( מצראי‬Egyptians’) occurs in 11 combinations (6x a, 5x b). Three of the first members used in the adjunct genitive construction are plural: ‫‘( טעות מצראי‬the idols of the Egyptians,’ 12:12), ‫‘( רתיכי מצראי‬the chariots of the Egyptians,’ 14:7), and ‫עיני‬ ‫‘( מצראי‬the eyes of the Egyptians,’ 3:21; 11:3; 12:36). Plural first members routinely take construction a in OJA. Additionally, ‫‘( עיני‬eyes’) is a body part used in a nonliteral way, typical for construction a. There are two combinations whose first members function as nominalized predicates: ‫‘( מרות מצראי‬the domination of the Egyptians,’ 18:10) and ‫‘( שעבוד מצראי‬the enslavement of the Egyptians,’ 3:17). There are 20 other combinations in construction a in TO Exodus that have a nominalized predicate relationship. The other combination cast in construction a has an objective genitive relationship: ‫‘( פולחן מצראי‬the work of the Egyptians,’ 6:6, 7). Sixteen other combinations in construction a in TO Exodus have an objective genitive relationship. There are 4 combinations with singular first members in the adjunct genitive construction: ‫‘( משריתא דמצראי‬the camp of the Egyptians,’ 14:20, 24[2]), ‫בעירא‬

102

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

‫‘( דמצראי‬the cattle of the Egyptians,’ 8:22[2], 9:4, 6), ‫‘( ידא דמצראי‬the hand of the Egyptians,’ 3:8; 14:30; 18:9, 10), and ‫‘( ליבא דמצראי‬the heart of the Egyptians,’ 14:17). ‫‘( בעירא‬cattle’), ‫‘( ידא‬hand’), and ‫‘( ליבא‬heart’) are only used in construction b when they serve as first members. ‫ משריתא‬is almost always used as a first member in construction b. The one exception is ‫‘( משרית פרעה‬the camp of Pharaoh,’ 14:28). The lone combination with a plural first member used in construction b is ‫‘( מיא דמצראי‬the waters of the Egyptians,’ 8:2). The Targumist may regard ‫ מיא‬as a singular entity in this geographic designation. ‫ מיא‬only occurs one time as a first member in construction a, in the fixed phrase ‫‘( מי ימא‬the water of the sea,’ 15:19). x. ‫‘( איפודא‬ephod’) occurs in 7 combinations (6x a, 1x b). Five of the seven combinations in the construct genitive construction have a part-whole relationship: ‫המין‬ ‫‘( איפודא‬the belt of the ephod,’ 28:27, 28; 29:5; 39:20, 21), ‫‘( עזקת איפודא‬the ring of the ephod,’ 39:21), ‫‘( עזקת איפודא‬the rings of the ephod,’ 28:28), ‫‘( מעיל איפודא‬the robe of the ephod,’ 28:31; 29:5; 39:22), and ‫‘( כתפי איפודא‬the shoulder pieces of the

ephod,’ 28:12, 25, 27; 39:7, 18, 20). The other combination in construction a has an objective genitive relationship: ‫‘( עובד איפודא‬the work of the ephod,’ 28:15; 39:8). The lone use of ‫ איפודא‬as the second member in a combination cast adjunct genitive construction is ‫‘( עברא דאיפודא‬the side of the ephod,’ 28:26; 39:19). This is unusual, for ‫ עברא איפודא‬most frequently occurs as a first member in construction a. One possible clue to the Targumist’s selection of construction b would be the preceding ‫ֶאל־‬ to the Hebrew construct phrase being rendered in both 28:26 and 39:19. xi. ‫‘( אבא‬father’) occurs in two combinations (1x a, 1x b). The lone occurrence of ‫ אבא‬in the adjunct genitive construction is in ‫‘( אלהא דאבא‬the God of my father,’ 18:4). Since the Targumist never uses ‫ אלהא‬as a first member in construction a (to reflect his deferential attitude toward God), this combination is appropriately expressed through construction b. The instance of ‫ אלהא‬as a second member in the construct genitive construction is ‫‘( בית אבא‬house of father,’ 12:3). This appears to be a fixed phrase cast in construction a through repeated use. xii. ‫‘( אבהתהון‬their fathers’) occurs in two combinations (1x a, 1x b). The adjunct genitive construction is employed once with ‫ אבהתהון‬as a second member: ‫אלהא‬ ‫‘( דאבהתהון‬the God of their fathers,’ 4:5). Since TO Exodus does not have ‫ אלהא‬as a first member in construction a, the unmarked construction is fitting. The other use of ‫ אבהתהון‬as a second member is in the adjunct genitive construction: ‫‘( בית אבהתהון‬the house of their fathers,’ 6:14). The Targumist regularly places fixed phrases such as this in construction a.

xiii. ‫אבהתך‬/‫‘( אבהתהון‬your fathers’) occurs in two combinations (1x a, 1x b). The adjunct genitive construction frames the phrase ‫‘( אלהא דאבהתהון‬the God of your fathers’) 3 times (3:13, 15, 16) in TO Exodus. This is expected since ‫ אלהא‬is not used as a first member in the construct genitive construction. The other occurrence of ‫אבהתכון‬ as a second member is in the fixed phrase ‫‘( אבהת אבהתך‬the fathers of your fathers,’ 10:6). Fixed phrases are regularly expressed in construction a in TO Exodus. Although the pronoun suffix of ‫ אבהתכון‬is plural while the suffix of ‫ אבהתך‬is singular, this difference would probably not influence one genitive construction to be favored over another.

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN TARGUM ONKELOS

103

xiv. ‫‘( חקלא‬field’) occurs in two combinations (1x a, 1x b). The construct genitive construction is used to express a fixed phrase with ‫ חקלא‬as the second member: ‫אילני‬ ‫‘( חקלא‬the trees of the field,’ 9:25). The only combination in which ‫ חקלא‬appears as a second member in the adjunct genitive construction is in the fixed phrase ‫עסבא דחקלא‬ (‘the plant of the field,’ 9:25; 10:15). Although construction a is expected for this fixed phrase, the factor that determines the selection of genitive construction may be the number of the first member. ‫ אילני‬is plural and takes construction a, while ‫ עסבא‬is singular and takes construction b. xv. ‫‘( אישתא‬fire’) occurs in two combinations (1x a, 1x b). The fixed phrase ‫‘( שלהובית אישתא‬flame of fire,’ 3:2) is expressed, as expected, in the construct genitive construction. The sole combination with ‫ אישתא‬as a second member in the adjunct genitive construction is ‫‘( עמודא דאישתא‬pillar of fire,’ 13:21, 22; 14:24). Since ‫עמודא‬ ‫‘( דעננא‬pillar of cloud,’ 13:21, 22; 14:19; 19:9; 33:9, 10) is also restricted to construction b, it seems that these two combinations are intentionally cast by the Targumist in the same genitive construction as ‫ יוי‬is when it serves as a first member to show deference to ‫ יוי‬whom both of these images represent.

xvi. ‫‘( תרע דרתא‬gate of the court’) occurs in two combinations (1x a, 1x b). Both the combination found in construction a and that found in construction b have a partwhole relationship. ‫‘( סמכי דרתא‬the bases of the gate of the court,’ 38:31) occurs once, while ‫‘( פרסא דתרע דרתא‬the curtain of the gate of the court,’ 35:17, 18; 40:8, 33) appears 4 times in TO Exodus. There is no clear reason why one combination should be in the construct genitive construction and the other in the adjunct genitive construction.

xvii. ‫‘( קודשא‬holiness’) occurs in 8 combinations (7x a, 1x b). In two of the combinations in the construct genitive construction, the second member functions like an abstract noun of quality: ‫‘( רבות קודשא‬anointment of holiness,’ 30:25[2], 31) and ‫‘( לבושי קודשא‬garments of holiness,’ 28:2, 4; 29:29; 31:10; 35:19, 21; 39:41; 40:13). For two combinations, the second member serves as an attribute defining the first member: ‫‘( עבידת קודשא‬labor of the sanctuary,’ 36:4; 38:24) and ‫‘( אפרשות קודשא‬the separated offering of the sanctuary,’ 36:6). One combination is a fixed phrase: ‫סלעי‬ ‫‘( קודשא‬the coins of the sanctuary,’ 30:13, 24; 38:24, 25, 26). Another combination has a part-whole relationship: ‫‘( סמכי קדשא‬the bases of the sanctuary,’ 38:27). Still another has an objective genitive relationship: ‫‘( פולחן קודשא‬the work of the sanctuary,’ 36:1, 3). The only combination for which ‫ קודשא‬is the second member in the adjunct genitive construction is ‫‘( כלילא דקודשא‬the crown of holiness,’ 29:6; 39:30). This second member of this combination modifies the first term but it doesn’t seem to define it. Therefore, the adjunct genitive construction is more appropriate than the construct genitive construction. xviii. ‫‘( ישראל‬Israel’) occurs in 9 combinations (4x a, 6x b). With all but one of the plural first members, the construct genitive construction is employed: ‫‘( בנת ישראל‬the daughters of Israel,’ 21:9), ‫‘( סבי ישראל‬the elders of Israel,’ 3:16, 18; 12:21; 17:5, 6; 18:12; 24:1, 9), and ‫‘( בני ישראל‬the sons of Israel,’ 1:1, 7, 9, 12, 13; 2:23, 25; 3:9, 10, 11, etc.). This is expected since plural first members usually take construction a in OJA. The other combination in construction a has ‫‘( בית‬house’) as a first member used in a nonliteral way: ‫‘( בית ישראל‬the house of Israel,’ 16:31; 40:38). The nonliteral use of ‫בית‬

104

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

(‘house’) as a first member takes construction a in TO Exodus. Five of the 6 first members used in construction b are singular: ‫‘( משריתא דישראל‬the camp of Israel,’ 14:19, 20), ‫‘( בעירא דישראל‬the cattle of Israel,’ 9:4, 7), ‫‘( כנשתא דישראל‬the congregation of Israel,’ 12:3, 19, 47), ‫‘( בוכרא דישראל‬the firstborn of Israel,’ 6:14), and ‫‘( אלהא דישראל‬the God of Israel,’ 5:1; 24:10; 32:27; 34:23). The only combination with a plural first member in construction b is ‫‘( שבטיא דישראל‬the tribes of Israel,’ 24:4). It is not clear why the adjunct genitive construction is employed for this combination. xix. ‫‘( יהודאי‬Jews’) occurs in two combinations (1x a, 1x b). When ‫‘( אלהא‬God’) is the first member, the adjunct genitive construction is employed, as it is consistently in TO Exodus. This combination, ‫‘( אלהא דיהודאי‬the God of the Jews’), appears in 3:18; 5:3; 7:16; 9:1, 13; 10:3. When the fixed phase ‫‘( בני יהודאי‬the sons of the Jews’) is used in 2:6, it employs the construct genitive construction as all the combinations do that have ‫ בני‬as their first member. Furthermore, ‫ בני יהודאי‬should take construction a because it has a plural first member. xx. ‫‘( גבר‬man’) occurs in 3 combinations (2x a, 1x b). Three combinations that have a special relationship take ‫ גבר‬as their second member. Two of these are in the construct genitive construction: ‫‘( עבד גבר‬servant of a man,’ 12:44) and ‫‘( בית גברא‬the house of the man,’ 22:6). The other combination is cast in the adjunct genitive construction: ‫‘( תור דגבר‬ox of a man,’ 21:35). The first members may be determining the genitive construction selected by the Targumist, for ‫ עבד‬and ‫ בית‬are only used as first members in construction a, while ‫ תור‬is restricted to construction b when it is a first member.

xxi. ‫‘( פסחא‬Passover’) occurs in two combinations (1x a, 1x b). The two combinations that have ‫ פסחא‬as a second member each have an explicative genitive relationship. The construct genitive construction is employed in ‫‘( גזירת פסחא‬the decree of the Passover,’ 12:43), while the adjunct genitive construction shapes ‫חגא דפסחא‬ (‘the feast of the Passover,’ 34:25). Once again, it may be the permitted domain of the first member that determines the genitive construction selected by the Targumist. ‫גזירת‬ is used as a first member only in construction a, while ‫ חגא‬is restricted to construction b when it is the first member. xxii. ‫‘( פרעה‬Pharaoh’) occurs in 11 combinations (7x a, 4x b). Four of the first members used in the construct genitive constructions have plural first members: ‫רתיכי‬ ‫‘( פרעה‬the chariots of Pharaoh,’ 14:9; 15:4), ‫‘( עיני פרעה‬the eyes of Pharaoh,’ 5:21; 7:20; 9:8), ‫‘( סוסות פרעה‬the horses of Pharaoh,’ 14:23; 15:19), and ‫‘( עבדי פרעה‬the servants of Pharaoh,’ 10:7; 11:3). This is normal because plural first members regularly take construction a in OJA. Another combination in construction a has a kinship relationship only found in construction a: ‫‘( בת פרעה‬the daughter of Pharaoh,’ 2:5, 7, 8, 9, 10). ‫‘( בית‬house’) used in a nonliteral way is normally placed in construction a as it is in the combination: ‫‘( בית פרעה‬the house of Pharaoh,’ 8:20). The other combination occurring in construction a is ‫‘( משרית פרעה‬the camp of Pharaoh,’ 14:28). There is no obvious reason why the Targumist selected construction a for this combination. The 4 combinations in the adjunct genitive construction have singular first members: ‫בוכרא‬ ‫‘( דפרעה‬the firstborn of Pharaoh,’ 11:5; 12:29), ‫‘( ידא דפרעה‬the hand of Pharaoh,’ 18:10), ‫‘( ליבא דפרעה‬the heart of Pharaoh,’ 7:3, 13, 14, 22; 8:15; 9:7, 12, 35; 10:20, 27; 11:10; 14:4, 8), and ‫‘( חרבא דפרעה‬the sword of Pharaoh,’ 18:4). The latter three first

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105

members occur as such only in the adjunct genitive construction in TO Exodus, and the former first member (‫ )בוכרא‬also does with one exception (in 34:19, construction a is employed). xxiii. ‫‘( פלשתאי‬Philistines’) occurs in two combinations (1x a, 1x b). The construct genitive construction is employed to express ‫‘( ארע פלשתאי‬the land of the Philistines,’ 13:17). This combination has a basic possession relationship. This type of relationship is most frequently stated by construction a. Although ‫ ארע‬is used as a first member in both construction a and b, it only appears in construction a when the second member is plural. The adjunct genitive construction is employed in ‫‘( ימא דפלשתאי‬the sea of the Philistines,’ 23:31). ‫ ימא‬only appears as a first member in construction b.

xxiv. ‫‘( תכילתא‬purple/blue’) occurs in 3 combinations (1x a, 2x b). The construct genitive construction is employed for one combination: ‫‘( רמוני תכלא‬pomegranates of purple,’ 28:33; 39:24). This is consistent with the preference of the Aramaic of OJA to place plural first members in construction a. Another combination, ‫‘( ענובין דתכלא‬loops of purple,’ 26:4; 36:11), has a plural first member in the absolute form cast in a construction some would regard as construction a. The final combination is ‫חוטא‬ ‫‘( דתכילתא‬cord of purple,’ 28:28, 37; 39:21, 31), which may be cast in the adjunct genitive construction because ‫ תכילתא‬is regarded as specifying the material composition of the cord. xxv. ‫‘( דכרי‬rams’) occurs in two combinations (1x a, 1x b). The combination ‘skins of rams’ employs the adjunct genitive construction, ‫( משכי דדכרי‬25:5; 35:23), but more often the construct genitive construction, ‫( משכי דכרי‬26:14; 35:7; 36:19; 39:34). Since the Aramaic of OJA prefers to place plural first members in construction a, it should be regarded as the preferred construction for this combination. Furthermore, the second member is an attribute that defines the first member, which is most frequently true for the construct genitive construction. There seems to be no clear reason why the combination is cast in construction b in 25:5 and 35:23. It could be that the Targumist views ‫ דכרי‬as some kind of material in those two instances. xxvi. ‫‘( ים‬sea’) occurs in 3 combinations (2x a, 1x b). The construct genitive construction claims two combinations. One is a part-whole relationship: ‫‘( כיף ימא‬the shore of the sea,’ 14:30). The other is a fixed phrase: ‫‘( מי ימא‬the water of the sea,’ 15:19). Both of these relationship types are normally expressed in construction a in TO Exodus. One combination with a body part as a first member employs the adjunct genitive construction: ‫‘( ליבא דימא‬the heart of the sea,’ 15:8). ‫‘( ליבא‬heart’) is restricted to construction b in TO Exodus when it is used as a first member.

xxvii. ‫‘( עבדוהי‬his servants’) occurs in 3 combinations (2x a, 1x b). Since ‫ליבא‬ (‘heart’) appears as a first member only in the adjunct genitive construction, it is not surprising that the combination ‫‘( ליבא דעבדוהי‬the heart of his servants,’ 10:1) employs construction b. The other two combinations use the construct genitive construction: ‫‘( בעיני עבדוהי‬the eyes of his servants,’ 5:21; 7:20) and ‫‘( בית עבדוהי‬the house of his servants,’ 8:20). When ‫ עיני‬serves as a first member and has a nonliteral sense, as indicated by the prefixed ‫ב‬, construction a is regularly employed. ‫‘( בית‬house’) only appears in construction a when it is a first member, as it is in this combination that expresses basic possession.

106

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

xxviii. ‫‘( כספא‬silver/money’) occurs in 5 combinations (2x a, 3x b). The 3 first members used in combination with ‫ כספא‬in construction b are plural: ‫סמכין דכסף‬ (‘bases of silver,’ 26:19, 32; 36:24, 36), ‫‘( דחלן דכסף‬gods of silver,’ 20:23), and ‫מנין‬ ‫‘( דכסף‬vessels of silver,’ 3:22; 11:2; 12:35). Even though plural first members are expected to employ the construct genitive construction, the preference for the adjunct genitive construction by second members that specify the material composition of their first members has priority. Furthermore, each of the 3 plural first members is in the absolute form. The two combinations occurring in the adjunct genitive construction are: ‫‘( זבין כספא‬purchased of silver,’ 12:44) and ‫‘( ארמות כסף‬wave offering of silver,’ 35:24). In the former combination, the first member is an adjective modifying the second member. The latter combination functions as an explicative genitive. Since neither of these uses of ‫ כספא‬specifies the material composition of the first member, the adjunct genitive construction should not be expected. xxix. ‫‘( בני ישראל‬sons of Israel’) occurs in 14 combinations (12x a, 2x b). Eight of the 12 combinations in construction a have plural first members: ‫‘( רברבי בני ישראל‬the leaders of the sons of Israel,’ 24:11), ‫‘( סרכי בני ישראל‬the commanding officers of the sons of Israel,’ 5:14, 15, 19), ‫‘( תורעמת בני ישראל‬the grumblings of the sons of Israel,’ 16:12), ‫‘( סבי בני ישראל‬the elders of the sons of Israel,’ 4:29), ‫‘( עיני בני ישראל‬the eyes of the sons of Israel,’ 24:17), ‫‘( בכורי בני ישראל‬the firstborn of the sons of Israel,’ 24:5), ‫‘( בתי בני ישראל‬the houses of the sons of Israel,’ 12:27), and ‫‘( שמהת בני ישראל‬the names of the sons of Israel,’ 1:1; 28:9, 11, 21, 29; 39:6, 14). Plural first members normally employ the construct genitive construction in OJA. Three other combinations have singular first members that function as nominalized predicates: ‫קבילת בני ישראל‬ (‘the complaint of the sons of Israel,’ 3:9; 6:5), ‫‘( מותב בני ישראל‬the dwelling of the sons of Israel,’ 12:40), and ‫‘( חושבן בני ישראל‬the number of the sons of Israel,’ 30:12). There are 19 other nominalized predicates in construction a in TO Exodus. The other combination in construction a has an objective genitive relationship: ‫‘( דין בני ישראל‬the judgment of the sons of Israel,’ 28:30). There are 16 other combinations with an objective genitive relationship in TO Exodus. There are two combinations with singular first members in the adjunct genitive construction: ‫‘( בעירא דבני ישראל‬the cattle of the sons of Israel,’ 9:6) and ‫כנשתא דבני‬ ‫‘( ישראל‬the congregation of the sons of Israel,’ 17:1; 35:1, 4, 20). The default, adjunct genitive construction is probably selected for these two combinations because there is nothing that compels the Targumist to place them in either the construct genitive construction or the cataphoric genitive construction. xxx. ‫‘( בנוהי‬his sons’) occurs in 4 combinations (2x a, 2x b). The construct genitive construction is employed for plural first members: ‫‘( לבושי בנוהי‬the garments of his sons,’ 29:21[2]; 31:10; 35:19; 39:41) and ‫‘( ידי בנוהי‬the hands of his sons,’ 29:24). Plural first members routinely employ the construct genitive construction in OJA. The two combinations in the adjunct genitive construction both have singular first members: ‫‘( קורבנא דבנוהי‬the offering of his sons,’ 29:9) and ‫‘( אודנא דבנוהי‬the ear of his sons,’ 29:20). Also ‫‘( אודנא‬ear’) is used in a literal sense, which is common for construction b. xxxi. ‫‘( אבנא‬stone’) occurs in 6 combinations (4x a, 1x b). Four of the 5 combinations with ‫‘( אבנא‬stone’) as a second member employ the construct genitive construction: ‫‘( אומנות אבן‬craft of stone,’ 31:5; 35:33), ‫‘( אשלמות אבנא‬setting of stone,’

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN TARGUM ONKELOS

107

28:17), ‫‘( אומן אבן‬skilled worker of stone,’ 28:11), and ‫‘( לוחי אבנא‬the tablets of stone,’ 24:12; 31:18). Two of the combinations have a second member that functions as an attribute defining the first member: ‫‘( אומנות אבן‬craft of stone’) and ‫‘( אומן אבן‬skilled worker of stone’). This relationship is appropriately expressed in construction a. Another combination has an objective genitive relationship: ‫‘( אשלמות אבנא‬setting of stone’). There are 16 other objective genitive relationships in construction a. One combination has a second member that seems to specify the material composition of the first member: ‫‘( לוחי אבנא‬the tablets of stone’). While this type of relationship is normally expressed in the adjunct genitive construction, the preference of the plural first member for construction a seems to have priority. The lone occurrence of a combination in the adjunct genitive construction is ‫‘( סדרין דאבן‬rows of stone,’ 39:10). One would expect this combination to be in construction a since the first member is plural. The fact that the first member, ‫סדרין‬, is in the absolute form would cause some to classify this construction as the construct genitive construction.

xxxii. ‫‘( משכנא‬tabernacle’) occurs in two combinations (17x a, 2x b). Ten of the 17 combinations in construction a have plural first members: ‫‘( אחורי משכנא‬the back of the tabernacle,’ 26:12), ‫‘( דפי משכנא‬the boards of the tabernacle,’ 26:17; 36:22, 32), ‫‘( זוית משכנא‬the corners of the tabernacle,’ 26:23; 36:28), ‫‘( סיפי משכנא‬the ends of the tabernacle,’ 26:22; 36:27), ‫‘( מניני משכנא‬the number of the tabernacle,’ 38:21), ‫סיכי‬ ‫‘( משכנא‬the pegs of the tabernacle,’ 35:18; 38:31), ‫‘( סטרי משכנא‬the sides of the tabernacle,’ 26:13), ‫‘( מני משכנא‬the vessels of the tabernacle,’ 27:19; 31:7), ‫יריעת‬ ‫‘( משכנא‬the curtains of the tabernacle,’ 26:12, 13), and ‫‘( אפי משכנא‬the face of the tabernacle,’ 26:9). The construct genitive construction is expected for these combinations because construction a is regularly employed in OJA for combinations with plural first members. Four of the remaining 7 combinations have a part-whole relationship: ‫דרת משכנא‬ (‘the court of the tabernacle, 27:9), ‫‘( סטר משכנא‬the side of the tabernacle,’ 26:20, 26, 27[2], 35; 36:25, 31, 32), ‫‘( תרע משכנא‬the doorway of the tabernacle,’ 26:36; 33:9, 10; 35:15; 36:37; 39:38; 40:6, 29), and ‫‘( גו משכנא‬the midst of the tent,’ 33:11). Sixty-seven combinations in construction a have a part-whole relationship. One combination in construction a has a first member that defines the second member: ‫‘( דמות משכנא‬the likeness of the tabernacle,’ 25:9). Although this type of relationship is not as common in construction a as some other types, 8 other combinations have this relationship in construction a. Another combination has a second member that functions as an object of the first member: ‫‘( פולחנ משכנא‬the service of the tabernacle,’ 39:40). Sixteen other combinations in construction a in TO Exodus have an objective genitive relationship. The final combination in the construct genitive construction has an explicative genitive relationship: ‫‘( עבידת משכנא‬the work of the tabernacle,’ 39:32). There are 13 other combinations that have an explicative genitive relationship. Only two combinations with ‫‘( משכנא‬tabernacle’) as the second member take the adjunct genitive construction: ‫‘( שידא דמשכנא‬the side of the tabernacle,’ 40:22, 24) and ‫‘( חופאה דמשכנא‬the covering of the tabernacle,’ 40:19). ‫‘( שידא‬side’) only occurs twice in TO Exodus. Even though it forms a part-whole relationship with its second member, which is normally in construction a, it could be the rarity of the word or the fact that it occurs near the end of Exodus that caused the Targumist to select the default construction, b, instead of the construct genitive construction. ‫‘( חופאה‬covering’) only

108

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

occurs 4 times as a first member in TO Exodus and only in the adjunct genitive construction. All its instances are near the end of the book. It too forms a part-whole relationship with ‫‘( משכנא‬tabernacle’), but is not expressed in the construct genitive construction as might normally be expected.

xxxiii. ‫‘( סהדותא‬testimony’) occurs in 3 combinations (1x a, 2x b). The noun phrase ‫‘( לוחי סהדותא‬the tablets of testimony,’ 31:18; 32:15; 34:29) employs the construct genitive construction. The second member is an abstract noun of quality that defines the first member. Construction a is expected for this type of relationship. Additionally, the first member is plural, a regular criterion for construction a in TO Exodus. There are two combinations cast in the adjunct genitive construction, whose first members only appear in construction b: ‫‘( ארונא דסהדותא‬the ark of the testimony,’ 25:22; 26:33, 34; 30:6, 26; 39:35; 40:3, 5, 21) and ‫‘( משכנא דסהדותא‬the tabernacle of testimony,’ 38:21). xxxiv. ‫‘( מיא‬water’) occurs in two combinations (1x a, 1x b). The construct genitive construction expresses the phrase ‫‘( אפי מיא‬the face of the water,’ 32:20). This is expected since first members that are body parts used in a nonliteral way take construction a. Furthermore, ‫‘( אפי‬face’) is plural in form, and plural first members are regularly placed in the construct genitive construction. The sole occurrence of ‫ מיא‬as a second member in construction b is in the phrase ‫‘( מבועין דמין‬springs of water,’ 15:27). Since ‫‘( מבועין‬springs’) is in the absolute state, some would regard this to be the construct genitive construction and not a violation of the regularity that plural first members take construction a.

xxxv. ‫‘( ארמותא‬wave offering’) occurs in 3 combinations (2x a, 1x b). The construct genitive construction is employed to express two combinations: ‫דהב ארמותא‬ (‘the gold of the wave offering,’ 38:24) and ‫‘( נחש ארמותא‬the bronze of the wave offering,’ 38:29). In both of these combinations, the second member functions as an attribute that defines the first member in some way. This type of relationship is regularly expressed in construction a. The lone occurrence of ‫ ארמותא‬as a second member in the adjunct genitive construction is in the phrase ‫‘( חדיא דארמותא‬the breast of the wave offering,’ 29:27). The only thing noticeably different about the use of construction b is that it renders a Hebrew text that is preceded by the marker of the definite direct object, ‫ ֵאת‬, while the two construct genitive constructions render Hebrew construct phrases that are not preceded by ‫ ֵאת‬. xxxvi. ‫‘( חטין‬wheat’) occurs in two combinations (1x a, 1x b). The sole appearance of ‫ חטין‬as a second member in the construct genitive construction is in the phrase ‫חצד‬ ‫‘( חטין‬harvest of wheat,’ 34:22). These two members have an objective genitive relationship. That is, ‫ חטין‬is the object of ‫חצד‬. There are 17 objective genitive relationships in TO Exodus. The lone appearance of ‫ חטין‬as a second member in the adjunct genitive construction is in the phrase ‫‘( סלת דחטין‬flour of wheat,’ 29:2). The second member is an attribute that defines the first member. Although this kind of relationship most frequently occurs in construction a, it can also be expressed through construction b. There is no clear reason why construction b is chosen over construction a for this combination. xxxvii. ‫‘( שתא‬year’) occurs in two combinations (1x a, 1x b). The construct genitive construction is employed for the phrase ‫‘( ירחי שתא‬the months of the year,’

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN TARGUM ONKELOS

109

12:2). Since the Aramaic of OJA regularly uses construction a when then first member is plural, it is expected that ‫ ירחי שתא‬would be expressed in construction a. The adjunct genitive construction expresses one combination in which ‫ שתא‬is the second member: ‫‘( מפקה דשתא‬the turning of the year,’ 34:22). The Targumist employs the default construction, b, to express this objective genitive relationship.

xxxviii. ‫‘( מתכא‬metal’) occurs in 2 combinations (1x a, 1x b). It is used twice in construction a in the phrase ‫‘( עיגל מתכא‬calf of molten metal,’ 32:4, 8). The lone combination in construction b is ‫‘( דחלן דמתכא‬gods of metal,’ 34:17). 2. Constructions a and c

There are two nouns that occur as second members in both constructions a and c. Both of them are discussed below. i. ‫‘( מעילא‬robe’) is used in two combinations (1x a, 1x c). The construct genitive construction is normally employed when the first member is plural. This is the case for the lone combination with ‫‘( מעילא‬robe’) as a second member cast in construction a: ‫‘( שפולי מעילא‬the hem of the robe,’ 28:34; 39:24, 26). The sole combination that takes the cataphoric genitive construction has a first member that is a body part used in a nonliteral, extended way: ‫‘( פומיה דמעילא‬the mouth of the robe,’ 39:23). When body parts are used in a nonliteral way, constructions a and c are preferred over the default construction, b. This is the only use of ‫‘( פום‬mouth’) as a first member in TO Exodus.

ii. ‫‘( איתתא‬the woman’) is used in two combinations (1x a, 1x c). The same first member and second member occur once in the construct genitive construction, ‫בעיל‬ ‫‘( איתתא‬the husband of the woman,’ 21:3), and once in the cataphoric genitive construction, ‫‘( בעלה דאיתתא‬the husband of the woman,’ 21:22). Although the combination denotes a special relationship in both contexts, the Hebrew text from which the Targum was rendered is slightly different. In 21:3, the Targumist renders a Hebrew phrase that is anarthrous, ‫ ַב ַעל ִא ָּשה‬. In 21:22, however, the MT has a definite article prefixed to ‫ ִא ָּשה‬, ‫ ַב ַעל ָּה ִא ָּשה‬. Perhaps the Targumist regards the cataphoric genitive construction to be a bit more determined than the adjunct genitive consruction. 3. Constructions b and c The adjunct genitive construction and the cataphoric genitive construction have no second members in common. D4. Second Members That Occur in All Three Constructions There are 3 nouns that occur in all three constructions as second members. The following chart lists each noun and the number of instances and combinations that each is used in each construction. In the paragraphs that follow, patterns that seem to be especially significant will be discussed.

110

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC Noun

a

b

c

i. ‫אהרן‬

6/4 combs.

4/4

2/2

iii. ‫משה‬

2/2

9/3

7/1

ii. ‫יעקב‬

1/1

1/1

1/1

i. ‫‘( אהרן‬Aaron’) is used as a second member most frequently in construction a. Three of the 4 first members used in construction a are plural: ‫‘( לבושי אהרן‬the garments of Aaron,’ 28:3), ‫‘( ידי אהרן‬the hands of Aaron,’ 29:24), and ‫‘( בני אהרן‬the sons of Aaron,’ 28:1, 40). Plural first members normally take the construct genitive construction in OJA. The other phrase cast in construction a is ‫‘( בר אהרן‬the son of Aaron,’ 6:25; 38:21). The kinship relationship ‘son of’ is restricted to construction a in TO Exodus. One of the two combinations in the cataphoric genitive construction has ‘sister’ as a first member, indicating a kinship relationship that is only found in construction c in TO Exodus: ‫‘( אחתיה דאהרן‬the sister of Aaron,’ 15:20). The other phrase in construction c is ‫‘( בית עינוהי דאהרן‬the forehead of Aaron,’ 28:38). This is a body part relationship with ‫ בית עינוהי‬denoting a literal forehead. Most frequently, literal body parts used as first members are cast in construction b. It could be that since ‫ בית‬is used in a nonliteral sense, and the second member is a personal name representing a single individual, the cataphoric genitive construction is selected over the other 2. Two of the 4 combinations in the adjunct genitive construction have a body part that is singular and used in a literal way: ‫‘( ליבא דאהרן‬the heart of Aaron,’ 28:30) and ‫‘( אודנא דאהרן‬the ear of Aaron,’ 29:20). First members that are singular body parts used in a literal fashion regularly take the adjunct genitive construction in TO Exodus. The other two combinations cast in the unmarked construction, b, have no special characteristic that would compel the Targumist to place them in construction a or c: ‫‘( חוטרא דאהרן‬the staff of Aaron,’ 7:12) and ‫‘( קורבנא דאהרן‬the offering of Aaron,’ 29:9). ii. ‫‘( יעקב‬Jacob’) is used once in each construction. The lone occurrence of ‫ יעקב‬as a second member in the construct genitive construction is in the combination ‫בית יעקב‬ (‘the house of Jacob,’ 19:3). This is expected because when ‫ בית‬is used in a nonliteral way, it prefers construction a. The cataphoric genitive construction is employed when ‫‘( אלהא‬God’) is the first member: ‫‘( אלהיה דיעקב‬the God of Jacob,’ 3:6, 15; 4:5). Combinations with ‫ אלהא‬as the first member and a personal name representing a single individual as the second member, are restricted to the cataphoric genitive construction in TO Exodus. The default construction, b, expresses one combination: ‫‘( ירכא דיעקב‬the loins of Jacob,’ 1:5). Since there is no characteristic that compels the Targumist to place this combination in either construction a or construction c, the default construction is selected. iii. ‫‘( משה‬Moses’) is used in construction b more times and in more combinations than in constructions a and c combined. As expected, plural first members take the construct genitive construction: ‫‘( ידי משה‬the hands of Moses,’ 17:12) and ‫אפי משה‬ (‘the face of Moses,’ 34:35). Although both of these first members are body parts used in a literal fashion which more frequently calls for the adjunct genitive construction, it is probably their plural number which causes the Targumist to select construction a.

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN TARGUM ONKELOS

111

The lone combination that employs the cataphoric genitive construction in TO Exodus is a kinship relationship: ‫‘( חמוהי דמשה‬the father-in-law of Moses,’ 18:1, 2, 5, 12[2], 14, 17). Construction c is regularly used to express the father-in-law relationship. The unmarked genitive construction, construction b, frames 3 combinations in TO with ‫ משה‬as the second member in TO Exodus: ‫‘( רוגזא דמשה‬the anger of Moses,’ 32:19), ‫‘( ידא דמשה‬the hand of Moses,’ 9:35; 34:29; 35:29), and ‫‘( פתגמא דמשה‬the word of Moses,’ 8:9, 27; 12:35; 32:28; 38:21). Even though two instances of the body part relationship regard ‫ ידא‬in a nonliteral way (9:35; 35:29), the Targumist saw no criterion that compelled him to place these members in a marked construction, either a or c.

E. CONCLUSIONS Certain conclusions can be drawn from the preceding analysis. A list of the major conclusions is presented below. Some of the less determinative factors which may have influenced the Targumist to select one genitive construction over the others were mentioned in the chapter, but all are not compiled below. That is to say, the following list is not exhaustive. 1. Of the three major genitive constructions employed in TO Exodus, the adjunct genitive construction is the unmarked member. The Targumist defaults to this construction when the criteria for the construct genitive construction and the cataphoric genitive construction are not met. 2. Plural first members almost always take the construct genitive construction. This is a significant factor in making it the most frequently occurring construction in TO Exodus. 3. The cataphoric genitive construction is by far the most infrequently used construction. It is used for certain relationships described above. 4. When ‫‘( יוי‬the Lord’) is used as a second member, the adjunct genitive construction is always employed. The Targumist shows deference to the Lord by placing the relativizer between his name and his creatures. 5. Physical images that represent ‫‘( יוי‬the Lord’), such as ‫‘( עמודא דאישתא‬pillar of fire,’ 13:21, 22; 14:24) and ‫‘( עמודא דעננא‬pillar of cloud,’ 13:21, 22; 14:19; 19:9; 33:9, 10), also take construction b to show deference to ‫יוי‬. 6. Combinations with ‫ אלהא‬as the first member and a personal name representing a single individual as the second member are restricted to the cataphoric genitive construction in TO Exodus. If this criterion is not met, combinations with ‫ אלהא‬as a first member are cast in the adjunct genitive construction. These combinations have second members that represent more than a single individual. 7. A combination with a second member that defines the material composition of the first member will almost always take the adjunct genitive construction. 8. Body parts of humans used in a literal sense prefer the adjunct genitive construction, while those used in a nonliteral, extended sense prefer the construct genitive construction. 9. Kinship relationships having as a first member ‘son,’ ‘daughter,’ or ‘families’ are restricted to the construct genitive construction. 10. Kinship relationships with ‘sister,’ ‘mother,’ or ‘father-in-law’ as the first member are expressed only in the cataphoric genitive construction.

112

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

11. Combinations with the first member ‘sons’ are restricted to the construct genitive construction. 12. Two cataphoric genitive constructions in immediate succession are avoided and normally replaced with an adjunct genitive construction followed by a cataphoric genitive construction. 13. When ‫‘( בית‬house’) is used as a first member, the construct genitive construction is employed. 14. Compound nouns are normally in the construct genitive construction. So-called “fixed phrases,” genitive phrases codified through repeated use, are almost always in construction a. 15. If the Hebrew construct phrase is preceded by the Hebrew marker of the definite direct object, ‫ ֶאת‬, or has the definite article prefixed to the noun in the absolute position, TO Exodus often renders it with the adjunct genitive construction.

F. A COMPARISON OF THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN IMPERIAL ARAMAIC WITH THEIR USE IN TO EXODUS

How, then, does the use of the genitive constructions in TO Exodus compare to their use in Imperial Aramaic (IA)? A general metric of comparison between IA and TO Exodus is the ratio of synthetic genitive constructions (a) to analytic (b and c). Menahem Kaddari published the following ratios within various documents of IA: 2 Aḥīqar’s Proverbs Genesis Apocryphon Elephantine Papyri Ezra Aḥīqar’s Tale Daniel

17.33 12.00 7.85 7.35 5.00 4.52

The ratio of construct to dī-phrases in TO Exodus is less than all of these, 1.71 (377/220). Kaddari concluded that the later the writing, the lower the ratio of construct to dī-phrases. If TO originated in the Tannaitic Period (70–135 C.E.), as Cook and others have argued, then the ratio of synthetic to analytic constructions in TO fits this theory nicely. The second factor influencing this ratio, according to Kaddari, is the style of the text. Kaddari reasoned that the closer the text was to official style, the more dī-phrases it would contain. Since the Aramaic of TO seems to be vernacular language, not official, legal language, the amount of analytic constructions is not higher and is within an acceptable range to fit Kaddari’s theory. Kaddari attributed the increasing number of dī-phrases to the influence of the Babylonian ša.3 This influence would explain the increased number of dī-phrases in TO Exodus versus IA since it is likely that TO originated in Palestine but was redacted in Babylonia where its language was influenced by Babylonian, including its use of the relativizer ša.

2 3

Kaddari, “Dī-Phrases,” 103. Ibid., 115.

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN TARGUM ONKELOS

113

The cataphoric genitive construction is by far the least frequently employed in TO Exodus. Only 2.51% (15/597) of the combinations in TO Exodus appear in construction c. If TO developed from the IA tradition, the few combinations employed in construction c in TO Exodus should find their origin in IA texts. For confirmation of this hypothesis, the analysis of genitive constructions in IA by Margaretha Folmer was consulted.4 Four of the fifteen combinations used in construction c in TO Exodus are kinship relationships. Two of the four have ‘sister’ as the first member and a proper name as the second member: ‫‘( אחתיה דנחשון‬the sister of Nahshon’) is mentioned in 6:23, while ‫‘( אחתיה דאהרן‬the sister of Aaron’) appears in 15:20. Folmer cites an example of this combination type in a text from Asia Minor in the Hellenistic period: Arebsun 1.2 ’ḥth w’ntth zy byl ‘the sister and wife of Bel’.5 The most frequently occurring kinship relationship in construction c is ‫‘( חמוהי דמשה‬the father-in-law of Moses’). This exact phrase is used 7 times in TO Exodus (18:1, 2, 5, 12[2], 14, 17). ‘Father-in-law’ only appears as a first member in TO Exodus in construction c. While Folmer does not identify a use of ‘father-in-law’ as a first member in IA, she does cite an example of ‘son-in-law’ as a first member in construction c. She notes this phrase in the Hermopolis papyri written from Memphis: HP 6, 3 ḥtnh zy nbšh ‘the son-in-law of Nabusha’ (TAD A).6 The remaining kinship relationship in construction c in TO Exodus is in 2:8, ‫‘( אמיה דרביא‬the mother of the boy’). Folmer gives an example of this combination type from a legal document from Elephantine: C 28, 13 (PN) ’mhm zy ‘lymy’ ’lh ‘(PN) the mother of these lads’.7 Therefore all of the cataphoric genitive constructions in TO Exodus expressing a kinship relationship find precedence in IA. Four combinations in construction c in TO Exodus express a special relationship with ‘God’ as the first member and a proper name or determined second member: ‫‘( אלהיה דאברהם‬the God of Abraham,’ 3:6, 15, 16; 4:5), ‫‘( אלהיה דאבוך‬the God of your father,’ 3:6), ‫‘( אלהיה דיצחק‬the God of Isaac,’ 3:6, 15; 4:5), and ‫‘( אלהיה דיעקב‬the God of Jacob,’ 3:6, 15; 4:5). Folmer notes that this type of combination is not found in Aramaic texts from the Achaemenid period (553–330 B.C.E), but is found in Daniel 6:27: ‫‘ אלהה די־דניאל‬the God of Daniel,’ a type c genitive construction. There is also another example in Biblical Aramaic: ‫‘ אלההון די־שדרך מישך ועבד נגו‬the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego’ which is used in Dan 3:28 and 29. While not all would agree with Fitzmyer that the Aramaic of Daniel is IA, all would agree that its Aramaic is much earlier than the Aramaic of TO. Accepting Fitmyer’s categorization, these four constructions in TO Exodus find precedence in IA. Four additional combinations used in a type c construction in TO Exodus express a special relationship. ‘Owner’ is used as a first member for 3 of these combinations: ‫מריה‬ ‫‘( דביתא‬the owner of the house,’ 22:7), ‫‘( מריה דתורא‬the owner of the ox,’ 21:28), and ‫‘( מריה דגובא‬the owner of the pit,’ 21:34). When ‘owner’ is a first member, the cataphoric genitive construction is used exclusively. All 3 of these occurrences are in Folmer, Aramaic, 259–325. Ibid., 282. 6 Ibid., 277. 7 Ibid., 278. 4 5

114

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

stipulations of the Mosaic Law. The final combination expressing a special relationship in construction c is ‫‘( בעלה דאיתתא‬the husband of the woman,’ 21:22). This phrase is also in a Mosaic commandment. Folmer’s observation regarding possessive relationships in IA is applicable to these four instances: “The more solid the possessive relation is, the more likely it is that the proleptic pron. sf. is used and vice versa: the presence of a proleptic pron. sf. indicates that the relation is viewed by the scribe as one which cannot be terminated.”8 Therefore, the expression of these four combinations in construction c is expected based on the evidence in IA. There are two type c genitive constructions in TO Exodus whose first member is a body part of the second member. One is a literal body part and the other is nonliteral. 28:38 (‫ )בית עינוהי דאהון‬instructs that the gold plate of the turban be placed on Aaron’s forehead. In 39:23, ‫‘( פומיה דמעילא‬the mouth of the robe’) describes the opening of the robe. ‘Mouth’ is used in an extended sense. Diem, Garr, and Folmer would describe these two combinations as indicating “inalienable” or “intrinsic” possession. That is, the first member inherently belongs to the second member. Folmer gives an example of inalienable possession as “a body part and it’s ‘possessor.’”9 Diem, Garr, and Folmer argued that the cataphoric genitive construction is used to express inalienable relationships. Folmer asserts, “Zy- phrases expressing inalienable possession often have a proleptic pron. sf. attached to the first term.”10 The last cataphoric genitive construction in TO Exodus is a combination whose second member functions as an object of the first member. This objective genitive appears in 17:14 where the Lord promises to blot out (‫‘ )דוכרניה דעמלק‬the memory of Amalek’. This phrase only occurs once in Exodus. There does not appear to be a similar combination in the extant IA. Therefore, 14 of the 15 combinations used in construction c in TO Exodus have precedence in IA. This observation strengthens the hypothesis that TO developed from the IA tradition. A consistent characteristic of TO Exodus is that when ‫‘( יוי‬the Lord’) is used as a second member, the adjunct genitive construction is always employed. The Targumist shows deference to the Lord by placing a screen, in this case a relativizer, between his name and his creatures. This behavior is also exhibited in IA. The following first members are used in construction b in IA when the second member refers to god(s): khn ‘priest’, kmr ‘priest’, lḥn(h) ‘servitor’, ‘bd ‘servant’, gnn ‘gardener’, and mnḥh (f. tmnḥ’) ‘devotee’.11 Folmer notes that there are many instances of this construction in legal texts from Elephantine. Among many examples, Folmer cites 8 uses by the scribe Ḥaggai bar Shemaiah, including 3 occurrences of the phrase (PN) lḥn’ zy yhw (’lh’): K 9,23; K 10,17; and K 12,33.12 When ‫‘( בית‬house’) is used as a first member in TO Exodus, the construct genitive construction is employed. This is also true in IA. Folmer makes the following comment, Ibid., 312. Ibid., 304. 10 Ibid., 310. 11 Ibid., 262. 12 Ibid. 8 9

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN TARGUM ONKELOS

115

“A genitive relationship between byt and a DN always takes the form of the construct noun phrase.”13 She identifies four examples in private letters on papyrus written in Memphis: šlm byt nbw HP 1,1; šlm byt bnt HP 2,1; HP 3,1; and šlm bt’l wbyt mlkt šmyn HP 4,1.14 Although there are several examples in IA of the use of the adjunct genitive construction when the first member is byt and the second member is a proper name, IA prefers the construct genitive construction for such combinations as evinced by the large number of them.15 Folmer identifies 5 instances from a legal document from Elephantine by the scribe Attarshuri bar Nabuzeribni: C 8,5 byt drgmn br ḥršyn; C 8,6 byt qwnyh br ṣdq; C 8,6 byt yzn br ’wryh; C 8,7 byt zkryh br ntn; and C 8,7 byt ’spmt br ppṭ‘wnyt.16 In TO Exodus, the genitive of material (genitivus materiae), a combination with a second member that specifies the material composition of the first member, will almost always take the adjunct genitive construction. This is also true in IA. Folmer observes, however, that the first member is usually in the absolute state. 17 She explains this by the fact that this construction is often followed by a number, which requires an absolute state in Aramaic texts from the Achaemenid period.18 The construct genitive construction is employed for this combination in some instances in IA, 19 as it is in some instances in TO Exodus. Folmer lists the following nouns as being attested as the second member in this combination type: lbnn (pl.) ‘bricks’, ‘mr/qmr ‘wool’, ḥ(w)ṣn (pl.) ‘palm leaves’, slq ‘wicker’, ’bn ‘stone’, gm’ ‘papyrus reed’, nḥš ‘bronze, copper’, ’rz ‘cedar’, ktn ‘linen’, ’bn šš ‘marble’, ‘q ‘wood’, ṣl ‘hide’ and ksp ‘silver’.20 Many instances from IA are cited by Folmer. She gives 14 from the legal documents from Elephantine written by Mauwziah bar Nathan. The first 3 cited are: lbš 1 zy qmr ḥdt (K 7,6); gmydh 1 zy qmr ḥdt (K 7,7); and kl lbšn zy qmr wktn (K 7,13). It is safe to conclude that TO Exodus shares this characteristic with IA. Therefore, the comparison of the use of genitive constructions in TO Exodus with their use in IA supports the thesis that TO developed from the IA tradition.

Ibid., 287. Ibid. 15 Folmer presents this data in Excursus ii, 301–2. 16 Ibid., 302. 17 Ibid., 312. 18 Ibid., 313. 19 Ibid. 20 Ibid., 312. 13 14

CHAPTER FOUR:

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN TARGUM NEOFITI I

A. INTRODUCTION The use of genitive constructions in Targum Neofiti I (TN) 1 of Exodus will be analyzed in this chapter. TN is a corpus of the Palestinian Targum that exemplifies the Jewish Palestinian Aramaic of the Amoraic period. The three primary Aramaic genitive constructions will be analyzed for their distribution in translating the construct phrase in Hebrew: the construct phrase, the genitive adjunct phrase with d-, and the genitive phrase with d- anticipated by a possessive suffix on the head noun. These will be referred to as constructions a, b, and c, respectively. Each construction will be discussed according to the syntactic relationship between the two members of the genitive syntagm. A detailed analysis by first members and then by second members will follow. Conclusions will then be drawn concerning the criteria used by the Targumist for selecting one genitive construction over another.

B. CLASSIFICATION BY COMBINATIONS This section will analyze the use of genitive constructions in TN Exodus based upon the use of first member and second member pairs, combinations, in the various constructions. Number will be regarded to be determinative when distinguishing members. That is, a plural form of a noun is counted as a separate member from the singular form. The state of the noun (construct, absolute, or determined) will not be used to distinguish members. A member in the absolute state will be regarded as the same member as the noun in the determined state. Gender (masculine or feminine) will be used to differentiate members in this analysis. A feminine adjective will be counted separately from its masculine counterpart. The construct genitive construction has the most combinations, 265. The cataphoric genitive construction has the fewest combinations, 116. Two hundred twenty-nine combinations are expressed in the adjunct genitive construction, the unmarked member.

TN, because of its numerous scribal errors, has many genitive constructions that are either ambiguous or textually corrupt. They have not been included in this study. 1

117

118

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

B1. Classification of Combinations Used in the Cataphoric Genitive Construction by the Syntactic Relationship between Members

The 116 combinations used in the cataphoric genitive construction fall into 12 different categories that describe the relationship between the members. Each of the 12 classes is described below. 1. Divine Name There are 7 combinations in TN Exodus that have ‫‘( ייי‬the Lord’) as the second member in the cataphoric genitive construction. ‫ ייי‬only appears as a second member in the cataphoric genitive construction and the adjunct genitive construction in TN Exodus. In this way, the Targumist shows deference to the Lord by placing a screen between his name and the first member. The most frequently occurring combination is ‫ממריה דייי‬ (‘the word of the Lord,’ 15:26; 17:1; 34:5). One other combination occurs twice, ‫‘( שכינתיה דייי‬the shekinah of the Lord,’ 24:16, 17). The remaining 5 combinations occur only a single time: ‫‘( חילוותה דייי‬the hosts of the Lord,’ 12:41), ‫‘( קיימוי דייי‬the ordinances of the Lord,’ 18:16), ‫‘( פורקנוי דייי‬the salvation of the Lord,’ 14:13), ‫פתגמוי‬ ‫‘( דייי‬the words of the Lord,’ 9:21), and ‫‘( עובדוי דייי‬the works of the Lord,’ 34:10). 2. Kinship The cataphoric genitive construction is employed to express various kinship relationships in TN Exodus. Eleven different combinations occur in construction c. The relationship found in the most combinations has ‫‘( זרעייותיהון‬families’) as its first member. It is only found in the cataphoric genitive construction. Four combinations appear in TN Exodus: ‫‘( זרעתהון דבנוי דראובן‬the families of the sons of Reuben,’ 6:14), ‫‘( זרעיותיהון דבנוי דשמעון‬the families of the sons of Simeon,’ 6:15), ‫זרעיותיהון דבנוי דלוי‬ (‘the families of the sons of Levi,’ 6:19), and ‫‘( זרעייותיהון דבנו דקרח‬the families of the sons of Korah,’ 6:24). All other kinship relationships are expressed in only one combination in TN Exodus. The most frequently occurring is ‫‘( חמוי דמשה‬the father-in-law of Moses,’ 18:1, 2, 5, 12[2], 14, 17), which only appears in the cataphoric genitive construction in TN Exodus. The next most frequent is ‫‘( ברתה דפרעה‬the daughter of Pharaoh,’ 2:5, 7, 8, 9, 10). While this first member appears in all three genitive constructions, this combination is restricted to constructions b and c. Another kinship relationship appears in two combinations and is only found in the cataphoric genitive construction in TN Exodus: ‫‘( אחתה דאהרן‬the sister of Aaron,’ 15:20) and ‫‘( אחתיה דנחשון‬the sister of Nahshon,’ 6:23). The rest of the kinship relationships found in the cataphoric genitive construction in TN Exodus occur in only one combination in that construction. Two of these kinship relationships are only found in the cataphoric genitive construction in TN Exodus: ‫אמיה‬ ‫‘( דטליא‬the mother of the child,’ 2:8) and ‫‘( בנתיה דפוטיאל‬the daughters of Putiel,’ 6:25). Another common kinship relationship is found in all 3 genitive constructions in TN Exodus: ‫‘( ברה דכנעניתה‬the son of a Canaanite,’ 6:15).

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119

3. Body Part There are 17 different combinations in the cataphoric genitive construction in TN Exodus that have a human body part as a first member. Of the 26 instances, 73.1% (19/26) use the body part in a nonliteral or extended fashion. Only 26.9% (7/26) use the body part in a literal way. The 7 literal uses are: ‫‘( בית אפוי דאהרן‬the forehead of Aaron,’ 28:38), ‫‘( גרמוי דיוסף‬the bones of Joseph,’ 13:19), ‫‘( אפוי דמשה‬the face of Moses,’ 34:35), ‫‘( ידוי דמשה‬the hands of Moses,’ 17:12; 34:29), ‫‘( אודניהון דבנוי‬the ears of his sons,’ 29:20), and ‫‘( ידיהון דבנוי‬the hands of his sons,’ 29:24). The vast majority of occurrences use the body part in a nonliteral sense: ‫‘( ידוי דאהרן‬the hands of Aaron,’ 29:9), ‫‘( אפיהון דמצריי‬the face of the Egyptians,’ 3:21; 11:3; 12:36), ‫‘( ידיהון דמצרייה‬the hands of the Egyptians,’ 3:8; 14:30; 18:9, 10), ‫‘( לבהון דמצריי‬the heart of the Egyptians,’ 14:17), ‫‘( ידוי דאתמר‬the hands of Ithamar,’ 38:21), ‫‘( ידוי דמשה‬the hands of Moses,’ 35:29), ‫‘( פמיה דמשה‬the mouth of Moses,’ 38:21), ‫‘( לביהון דשליטוי‬the heart of his officials,’ 10:1), ‫‘( אפוי שליטוי‬before his officials,’ 5:21), ‫‘( ידוי דפרעה‬the hands of Pharaoh,’ 18:10), ‫‘( לביה דפרעה‬the heart of Pharaoh,’ 10:20; 11:10), ‫‘( ידיהון דרעייא‬the hands of the shepherds,’ 2:19), and ‫‘( ידיהון דבנוי‬the hands of his sons,’ 29:9). 4. Nominalized Predicate There are 7 combinations in the cataphoric genitive construction in TN Exodus in which the first member functions as a nominalized predicate. The second member serves as the subject. The majority of these have a proper name for the second member: ‫‘( שעבודהון דמצריי‬the enslavement of the Egyptians,’ 3:17; 6:6, 7; 18:10), ‫מילוי דמשה‬ (‘the words of Moses,’ 8:9, 27; 12:35; 32:28), ‫‘( קבלתהון דבני ישראל‬the complaint of the sons of Israel,’ 3:9; 6:5), ‫‘( תורעמתהון דבני ישראל‬the complaint of the sons of Israel,’ 16:12), ‫‘( משרוייהון די בני ישראל‬the dwelling of the sons of Israel,’ 12:40), and ‫סכומיהון‬ ‫‘( דבני ישראל‬the totals of the sons of Israel,’ 30:12). The remaining predicate nominative combination is: ‫‘( משמעהון דעמא‬the hearing of the people,’ 11:2; 24:7). 5. Fixed Phrase Fourteen combinations in TN Exodus that employ the cataphoric genitive construction appear to be phrases which are fixed through repeated use. All of these have the first member ‘sons.’ The phrase ‘the sons of X’ denotes genealogical descent from the person named as the second member of the genitive construction. For instance, ‫‘( בנוי דלוי‬the sons of Levi,’ 6:16, 19; 32:28) refers to the Levites. This type of phrase is used many times by the Targumist in TN Exodus. The other 13 combinations are: ‫‘( בנוי דאהרן‬the sons of Aaron,’ 28:1, 40), ‫‘( בנוי דדן‬the sons of Dan,’ 35:34; 38:23), ‫‘( בניהון דעבריהון‬the sons of the Hebrews,’ 2:6), ‫‘( בנוי דישראל‬the sons of Israel,’ 1:7; 5:19; 6:26), ‫בנוי דגרשון‬ (‘the sons of Gershon,’ 6:17), ‫‘( בנוי דיצהר‬the sons of Izhar,’ 6:21), ‫‘( בנוי דיהודה‬the sons of Judah,’ 31:2; 35:30; 38:22), ‫‘( בנוי דקהת‬the sons of Kohath,’ 6:18), ‫‘( בנוי דקרח‬the sons of Korah,’ 6:24[2]), ‫‘( בנוי דמררי‬the sons of Merari,’ 6:19), ‫‘( בנוי דראובן‬the sons of Reuben,’ 6:14), ‫‘( בנוי דשמעון‬the sons of Simeon,’ 6:15[2]), and ‫‘( בנוי דעזיאל‬the sons of Uzziel,’ 6:22).

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6. Definitional Attribute, Second Six of the combinations in the cataphoric genitive construction have a second member that in some way defines the first member. Four combinations only appear in cataphoric genitive construction in TN Exodus: ‫‘( איקרהון דאפוי דמשה‬the glory of the face of Moses,’ 34:35), ‫‘( איקרהון דאפוי‬the glory of his face,’ 34:29, 30), and ‫קלה דחמוי‬ (‘the voice of his father-in-law,’ 18:24), and ‫‘( קלהון דעמא‬the sound of the people,’ 32:17). The other two combinations are not limited to construction c: ‫‘( מליהון דעמא‬the words of the people,’ 19:8, 9), and ‫‘( מדבחיה דקטרת‬the altar of incense,’ 31:8). 7. Basic Possession Seventeen combinations in the cataphoric genitive construction in TN Exodus have a first member that is a ‘basic possession’ of the second member. That is, the first member is something which inherently belongs to the second member. All of the second members are proper names. The second member found in the most combinations is ‫‘( מצריי‬the Egyptians’). It appears in the following 5 combinations: ‫משרייתהון דמצריי‬ (‘the camp of the Egyptians,’ 14:20, 24[2]), ‫‘( בעיריהון דמצריי‬the cattle of the Egyptians,’ 9:4, 6), ‫‘( ארתיכוהון דמצריי‬the chariots of the Egyptians,’ 14:7), ‫חרשיהון‬ ‫‘( דמצריי‬the magicians of the Egyptians,’ 7:11), and ‫‘( מימהון דמצריי‬the waters of the Egyptians,’ 7:19; 8:2). Five other second members occur in two combinations each: ‫‘( בתיהון דמצרי‬the houses of Egypt,’ 8:17),‫‘( חרשיהון דמצרי‬the magicians of Egypt,’ 7:22), ‫‘( משריתיהון דישראל‬the camp of Israel,’ 14:19, 20), ‫‘( בעיריהון דישראל‬the cattle of Israel,’ 9:4, 7), ‫‘( חיילותיה דפרעה‬the armies of Pharaoh,’ 14:28), ‫‘( ארתכוי דפרעה‬the chariots of Pharaoh,’ 14:9, 15:4), ‫‘( ימהון דפלישתאי‬the sea of the Philistines,’ 23:31), ‫‘( ארעהון דפלישתיי‬the land of the Philistines,’ 13:17), ‫‘( בעיריהון דבני ישראל‬the cattle of the sons of Israel,’ 9:6), and ‫‘( בתיהון דבני ישראל‬the houses of the sons of Israel,’ 12:27). The other two second members occur in just one combination: ‫‘( חוטריה דאהרן‬the staff of Aaron,’ 7:12) and ‫‘( ארעהון דכנענאי‬the land of the Canaanites,’ 3:8, 17; 13:5, 11). 8. Accidental Possession There is a solitary combination cast in the cataphoric genitive construction in TN Exodus whose relationship is best described as accidental possession. That is, the first member is a possession of the second member, but not inherently so. The lone combination is ‫‘( לבושוי דאהרן‬the garments of Aaron,’ 28:3). This combination only appears in construction c in TN Exodus. 9. Objective Genitive There are 3 combinations in construction c in TN Exodus whose second member functions as the object of the first member. Each of these combinations occurs just once in TN Exodus. The 4 combinations are: ‫‘( צערהון דעמי‬the pain of my people,’ 3:7), ‫‘( דכרניה דעמלק‬the memory of Amalek,’ 17:14), and ‫‘( דיניהון דבני ישראל‬the judgments of the sons of Israel,’ 28:30). 10. Part-Whole There are 16 different combinations in the cataphoric genitive construction in TN Exodus in which the first member is a part of the whole represented by the second

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121

member. The second member used in the most combinations is ‫‘( משכנא‬tabernacle’). It is employed in the following 4 combinations: ‫‘( שיפולוי דמשכנא‬the back parts of the tabernacle,’ 26:12, 22; 36:27; 40:22, 24), ‫‘( סכוי דמשכנא‬the pegs of the tabernacle,’ 35:18; 38:31), ‫‘( סיטריה דמשכניה‬the side of the tabernacle,’ 26:26), and ‫סיטרוי דמשכנה‬ (‘the sides of the tabernacle,’ 26:23; 36:28). One other second member appears in two combinations: ‫‘( סכוי דדרתה‬the pegs of the court,’ 35:18), and ‫‘( עמודוי דדרתא‬the pillars of the court,’ 27:17). All other second members occur in a just one combination: ‫‘( יסודוי דמדבחא‬the bases of the altar,’ 29:12), ‫‘( מוי דימא‬the waters of the sea,’ 15:19), ‫‘( מוי דנהרא‬the waters of the river,’ 4:9; 7:24), ‫‘( שפלוי דטורא‬the base of the mountain,’ 19:17), ‫‘( דנהון דבנתה‬the judgment of the daughters,’ 21:9), ‫‘( סטרוי דארונא‬the sides of the ark,’ 25:14; 37:5), ‫‘( סיטרוי דחושנא‬the sides of the breastpiece,’ 28:23, 24, 26; 39:16, 17, 19), ‫‘( עזקיה דאפודה‬the ring of the ephod,’ 39:21), ‫‘( סטריה דכפרתה‬the sides of the mercy seat,’ 25:18; 37:7), and ‫‘( שיפולוי דמעילה‬the hem of the robe,’ 28:34; 39:24, 25, 26). 11. Explicative Genitive One combination in the cataphoric genitive construction has a second member that explicates the first member. This combination occurs in 10:14 and 10:19: ‫תחומיהון‬ ‫‘( דמצרים‬the territory of Egypt’). This combination is only found in construction c. 12. Special Relationship Sixteen combinations in the cataphoric genitive construction in TN Exodus share a special relationship. A special relationship is one where the first member holds a particular position or fulfills a certain role relative to the second member. All but 4 of the second members are proper names. Three of the other 4 are animate. Only one is material ‫‘( ביתא‬the house,’ 22:7). Every one of the first members are people with the exception of ‫‘( טעוותה‬idols,’ 8:22[2]; 12:12). The most common first member is ‫‘( אלה‬God’). Although it is also used as a first member in the construct genitive construction and in the adjunct genitive construction, it appears as a first member in cataphoric genitive construction more than the other two constructions combined. It is employed in 7 different combinations in the cataphoric genitive construction to form a special relationship with the second member: ‫‘( אלהה דאברהם‬the God of Abraham,’ 3:6, 15, 16; 4:5), ‫‘( אלהה דאבוך‬the God of your father,’ 3:6), ‫‘( אלההון דעברייה‬the God of the Hebrews,’ 3:18; 5:3; 7:16; 10:3), ‫אלהה‬ ‫‘( דיצחק‬the God of Isaac,’ 3:6, 15; 4:5), ‫‘( אלהה דישראל‬the God of Israel,’ 5:1; 32:27; 34:23), ‫‘( אלהה דיעקב‬the God of Jacob,’ 3:6, 15; 4:5), and ‫‘( אלההון דיהו}י{דיי‬the God of the Jews,’ 9:1, 13). Two other second members appear in 3 and two combinations respectively: ‫עבדוי‬ ‫‘( דפרעה‬the servants of Pharaoh,’ 10:7), ‫‘( שליטוי דפרעה‬the servants of Pharaoh,’ 11:3), and ‫‘( גברוי דפרעה‬the warriors of Pharaoh,’ 15:4),‫‘( סרכיהון דבני ישראל‬the commanding officers of the sons of Israel,’ 5:14, 15), and ‫‘( עולמיהון דבני ישראל‬the young men of the sons of Israel,’ 24:5, 11). All other first members occur in just one combination: ‫‘( טעוותיהן דמצריי‬the idols of the Egyptians,’ 8:22[2]; 12:12), ‫‘( מרה דביתא‬the owner of the house,’ 22:7), ‫‘( אתתיה דחבריה‬the wife of his neighbor,’ 20:17), and ‫מריה דתורא‬ (‘the owner of the ox,’ 21:28).

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GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

B2. Classification of Combinations Used in the Construct Genitive Construction by the Syntactic Relationship between Members

The construct genitive construction is employed for more combinations (265) than the adjunct genitive construction (229) and the cataphoric genitive construction (116). These types of relationship between members expressed by the 266 combinations can be categorized into 18 different classes. Each of the 18 is described below. 1. Kinship Five of the combinations in the construct genitive construction in TN Exodus have a kinship relationship. Four of the 6 combinations have ‫‘( בר‬son’) as a first member. All of the second members are names of people. The 6 combinations are: ‫‘( בר אהרן‬the son of Aaron,’ 6:25; 38:21), ‫‘( בר אחיסמך‬the son of Ahisamach,’ 35:34; 38:23), ‫בת עמינדב‬ (‘the daughter of Amminadab,’ 6:23), ‫‘( בר חור‬the son of Hur,’ 31:2; 35:30; 38:22), ‫בר‬ ‫‘( נון‬the son of Nun,’ 33:11), and ‫‘( בר אורי‬the son of Uri,’ 31:2; 35:30; 38:22). 2. Fixed Phrase Thirty-five different combinations in the adjunct genitive construction in TN Exodus seem to be phrases which are fixed through repeated use. This is 11.7% (35/300) of all combinations in TN Exodus. The first member that occurs in the most combinations (6) is ‫‘( בית‬house’). When ‫‘( בית‬house’) appears as a first member in the construct genitive construction, it has a nonliteral, extended sense: ‫‘( בית אבתהון‬the house of their fathers,’ 6:14; 12:3), ‫‘( בית כנישת מימיהון‬the place of the gathering of their water,’ 7:19), ‫‘( בית אחסנותך‬the house of your inheritance,’ 15:17), ‫‘( בית ישראל‬the house of Israel,’ 40:38), ‫‘( בית יעקב‬the house of Jacob,’ 19:3), and ‫‘( בית שעבודא‬the house of slavery,’ 13:3, 14; 20:2). The first member ‫‘( בני‬sons’) appears in 4 combinations: ‫בני‬ ‫‘( ישראל‬the sons of Israel,’ 1:1, 13; 2:23, 25; 3:9, etc.), ‫‘( בני אנשא‬sons of man,’ 13:13, 15), ‫‘( בני בנין‬sons of sons,’ 34:7), and ‫‘( בני שתהון‬sons of their year,’ 29:38). The singular form ‫‘( בר‬son’) is employed in three combinations: ‫‘( בר תורין‬son of bulls,’ 29:1), ‫‘( בר עממין‬son of peoples,’ 12:43), and ‫‘( בר שתא‬son of a year,’ 12:5). One other first member occurs in 3 combinations: ‫‘( שני חיוי דעמרם‬the years of the life of Amram,’ 6:20), ‫‘( שני חיוי דקהת‬the years of the life of Kohath,’ 6:18), and ‫‘( שנוי חיוי דלוי‬the years of the life of Levi,’ 6:16). The most frequently occurring fixed phrase, next to ‫‘( בני ישראל‬the sons of Israel’), is ‫‘( משכן זימנא‬the tent of meeting’). It occurs 33 times in TN Exodus (27:21; 28:43; 29:4, 10, 11, 30, 32, 42, 44; 30:16, 18, 20, 26, 36; 31:7; 33:7[2]; 35:21; 38:8, 30, 32, 40; 40:2, 6, 7, 12, 22, 24, 26, 29, 30, 32, 34, 35). Sixteen other fixed phrases in the construct genitive construction occur in TN Exodus: ‫‘( אעי שטין‬wood of acacia,’ 35:7, 24), ‫‘( קיטוני מדמכך‬the rooms of your bed,’ 7:28), ‫‘( סכום יום‬total of a day,’ 5:13, 19; 16:4), ‫‘( דיירי ארעא‬the inhabitants of the earth,’ 23:31; 34:12, 15), ‫‘( אבהת אבהתך‬the fathers of your fathers,’ 10:6), ‫‘( חיית ברא‬the beast of the field,’ 23:11, 29), ‫סלע בית‬ ‫‘( קודשא‬the coin of the holy place,’ 38:24, 26), ‫‘( סלעי בית קודשא‬the coins of the holy place,’ 30:13, 24; 38:25), ‫‘( סדר דנהון דבנתה‬the order of the judgment of the daughters,’ 21:9), ‫‘( עסק דין דמלין‬the matter of the judgment of things,’ 24:14), ‫‘( אבהת לווייה‬the fathers of the Levites,’ 6:25), ‫‘( נימוס פרני בתולתא‬the law of the marriage settlements of the virgins,’ 22:16), ‫‘( בשר ערוותהון‬the flesh of their nakedness,’ 28:42), ‫מלא כפיכון‬

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123

(‘the fullness of your palms,’ 9:8), ‫‘( פרני בתולתא‬the marriage settlements of the virgins,’ 22:16), and ‫‘( מימר פתגמיא‬the utterance of words,’ 34:27). 3. Body Part Twenty-seven combinations in the construct genitive construction in TN Exodus have a first member that is a body part. In the vast majority of instances (71%, 25/35 instances) the first members are used in a nonliteral or extended sense. 29% (10/35) of the instances of body parts are used in a literal way. Eight combinations have a first member that denotes a literal body part: ‫‘( ריש תורא‬the head of the bull,’ 29:10, 19), ‫‘( אפי כרובייא‬the faces of the cherubs,’ 25:20; 37:9), ‫‘( כנפי נשירין‬wings of eagles,’ 19:4), ‫‘( אליון רגליהון‬the big toe of their feet,’ 29:20), ‫‘( שן עבדיה‬the tooth of his servant,’ 21:27), ‫‘( שן אמהתיה‬the tooth of his female servant,’ 21:27), ‫‘( אליון ידיהון‬the thumb of their hands,’ 29:20), and ‫‘( אדני נשיכון‬the ears of your wives,’ 32:2). Nineteen combinations have first members that function in a nonliteral, extended sense. The first member used in the most combinations is ‫‘( פם‬mouth’). When used nonliterally, it connotes an opening, as it does in the following 3 combinations: ‫פם סירה‬ (‘the mouth of the breastplate,’ 28:32; 39:23), ‫‘( פם מעילה‬the mouth of the robe,’ 39:23), and ‫‘( פם ראשה‬the mouth of its top,’ 28:32). It is also used in an extended sense in the genitive construction ‫‘( פם מיכלה‬the mouth of his eating,’ 12:4; 16:16, 18, 21). This phrase denotes ‘what a person will eat.’ Another first member, ‫‘( אפי‬face’), is used in 3 combinations to denote ‘surface’: ‫‘( אפי ארעא‬the face of the earth,’ 33:16), ‫אפי ברא‬ (‘the face of the field,’ 10:15), and ‫‘( אפי משכנה‬the face of the tent,’ 26:9). It is also used a single time to denote ‘before’: ‫‘( אפי פרעה‬before Pharaoh,’ 5:21). The first member ‫‘( ריש‬head’) is used in 3 combinations to denote a top: ‫ריש רמתא‬ (‘the top of the hill,’ 17:9, 10), ‫‘( ריש ירחין‬beginning of months,’ 12:2), and ‫ריש טורא‬ (‘the top of the mountain,’ 19:20; 34:2). ‫‘( ריש‬head’) is also used in an extended sense in the expression for a census: ‫‘( ראש סכומיהון דבני ישראל‬the sum of the totals of the sons of Israel,’ 30:12). The plural form, ‫‘( רישי‬heads’), is used for leaders: ‫רישי אבהת‬ ‫‘( לווייה‬the heads of the fathers of the Levites,’ 6:25) and ‫‘( רישי בית אבתהון‬the heads of the house of their fathers,’ 6:14).The first member ‫‘( עיני‬eyes’) denotes ‘sight’ in 3 combinations: ‫‘( עיני עמא‬the eyes of the people,’ 4:30), ‫‘( עיני דבני ישראל‬the eyes of the sons of Israel,’ 24:17), and ‫‘( עיני חכימיא דישראל‬the eyes of the wise men of Israel,’ 17:6). The other combination with a body part used in a nonliteral way is ‫אדרע גבורתך‬ (‘the arm of your might,’ 15:16). 4. Adjective Five combinations have an adjective for a first member. One first member is employed in two combinations: ‫‘( חגר פום‬lame of mouth,’ 4:10) and ‫‘( חגר ממלל‬lame of speech,’ 4:10; 6:30). The other 3 first members are used in a solitary combination: ‫חכימת לבה‬ (‘wise of heart,’ 35:25), ‫‘( חכימי לבי‬wise ones of heart,’ 28:3; 31:6; 35:10; 36:2, 8), and ‫‘( זבין כספא‬purchased of money,’ 12:44). 5. Nominalized Predicate There are 12 combinations found in the construct genitive construction in TN Exodus whose first member functions as a nominalized predicate whose subject is the second

124

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

member. One first member is used in 4 combinations: ‫‘( אבד ידיכון‬the work of your hands,’ 23:16), ‫‘( אובד בשם‬the work of a perfumer,’ 30:25, 35; 37:29), ‫‘( עבד אומן‬the work of a skilled worker,’ 26:1, 31; 28:6, 11, 15; 36:8, 35; 39:3, 8), and ‫‘( עובד גרדיי‬the work of weavers,’ 28:32; 39:22, 27). Another first member appears in two combinations: ‫‘( קרבן ידוי דאהרן‬the offering of the hands of Aaron,’ 29:9) and ‫קרבן‬ ‫‘( ידיהון דבנוי‬the offering of the hands of his sons,’ 29:9). The 5 other combinations have a nominalized predicate relationship in construction a within TN Exodus: ‫ניר שעבודהון‬ ‫‘( דמצריי‬the yoke of the enslavement of the Egyptians,’ 6:6, 7; 18:10), ‫‘( סגי גיוותנותך‬the abundance of your pride,’ 15:7), ‫‘( מחת פורענתי‬stroke of retribution,’ 9:3), ‫חיזו איקר‬ ‫‘( שכינתיה דייי‬the appearance of the glory of the shekinah of the Lord,’ 24:17), and ‫‘( מטמעי שמשא‬the setting of the sun,’ 17:12). 6. Part-Whole Forty-one combinations in the construct genitive construction in TN Exodus have a first member that is a part of the whole represented by the second member. Two second members are found in 5 combinations. One is ‫‘( דרה‬the court’): ‫‘( תרע דרתה‬the gate of the court,’ 27:16; 35:17; 38:15, 18, 31, 40; 40:8, 33), ‫‘( סכוי דרתה‬the pegs of the court,’ 38:31), ‫‘( עמודי דרתה‬the pillars of the court,’ 38:17), ‫‘( איליות דרתה‬the posts of the court,’ 35:17; 38:16, 18, 40), and ‫‘( חומרי דרתא‬the bases of the court,’ 38:31). The other is ‫‘( משכנא‬the tabernacle’): ‫‘( דרת משכנא‬the court of the tabernacle,’ 27:9), ‫תרע‬ ‫‘( משכנה‬the doorway of the tabernacle,’ 26:36; 33:9, 10; 35:15; 36:37; 39:38; 40:6, 29),‫‘( גו משכן‬the midst of the tabernacle,’ 33:11), ‫‘( מנה משכנה‬the utensils of the tabernacle,’ 27:19), and ‫‘( מני משכניה‬the utensils of the tabernacle,’ 31:7). Two other second members occur in two combinations each: ‫‘( חומרי תרע דרתה‬the bases of the gate of the court,’ 38:31), ‫‘( פרש תרע דרתה‬the curtain of the gate of the court,’ 35:17; 38:18; 40:8, 33), ‫‘( חזוי שמיא‬the sights of the heavens,’ 24:10), and ‫כוכבי‬ ‫‘( שמיא‬the stars of the heavens,’ 32:13). The other 27 combinations with a part-whole relationship in the construct genitive construction in TN Exodus are: ‫‘( מני מדבחה‬the utensils of the altar,’ 38:3, 30), ‫‘( גו סניא‬within the bush,’ 3:2, 4), ‫‘( תרע משריתה‬the gate of the camp,’ 32:26), ‫‘( גלגלי רידוותיה‬the wheels of his chariots,’ 14:25), ‫פלגות‬ ‫‘( סלעא‬half of a coin,’ 30:13[2], 15), ‫‘( מילי קיימא‬the words of the covenant,’ 34:28), ‫‘( חומרי תרע משכן זימנה‬the bases of the doorway of the tent of meeting,’ 38:30), ‫פרס‬ ‫‘( תרע משכנה‬the curtain of the doorway of the tent,’ 39:38), ‫‘( רום אודנה דאהרן‬the top part of the ear of Aaron,’ 29:20), ‫‘( רום אודניהון דבנוי‬the top part of the ears of his sons,’ 29:20), ‫‘( קדש קדשים‬holy of holies,’ 26:33, 34; 29:37; 30:10, 29, 36; 40:10), ‫תרע ביתיה‬ (‘the doorway of his house,’ 12:22), ‫‘( קני מנרתה‬the branches of the lampstand,’ 25:32[2], 37:18[2], ‫‘( סייפי ארעא דכנען‬the ends of the land of Canaan,’ 16:35), ‫חצר‬ ‫‘( כבדה‬the lobe of the liver,’ 29:22), ‫‘( גו אפרה‬within the meadow,’ 2:5), ‫‘( גו עמיה‬the midst of his people,’ 31:14), ‫‘( קלוות עמודיה‬the hooks of the pillars,’ 27:10, 11; 38:10, 11, 12, 17), ‫‘( גב נהרא‬the shore of the river,’ 2:3, 5; 7:15), ‫‘( חומרי בית קודשא‬the sockets of the sanctuary,’ 38:27), ‫‘( גיף ימא‬the shore of the sea,’ 14:30), ‫לוחי סטרא‬ ‫‘( דמשכנה‬the boards of the side of the tabernacle,’ 26:27[2], 36:31, 32[2]), ‫תרע משכן‬ ‫‘( זימנא‬the doorway of the tent of meeting,’ 29:4, 11, 32, 42; 38:8, 30; 40:12), ‫תרע‬ ‫‘( משכניה‬the doorway of his tent,’ 33:8, 10), ‫‘( פרי אילנא‬the fruit of the tree,’ 10:15), ‫‘( חומרי פרוכתה‬the sockets of the veil,’ 38:27), and ‫‘( ירחי שתא‬the months of the year,’ 12:2).

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN TARGUM NEOFITI I

125

7. Basic Possession There are 10 combinations in the construct genitive construction in TN Exodus whose first member is a basic possession of the second member. One first member is found in three combinations: ‫‘( בכרית פירי עללתכון‬the firstfruit of the produce of your harvest,’ 23:19), ‫‘( בכורת ארעכון‬the firstfruit of your soil,’ 34:26), and ‫‘( בכרת עבד ידיכון‬the firstfuit of the work of your hands,’ 23:16). Another first member occurs in two combinations: ‫‘( בתי שליטוי‬the houses of his servants,’ 8:20) and ‫‘( בתי שלטנך‬the houses of your servants,’ 7:28). The other combinations are: ‫‘( בכורי בעירא‬the firstborn of cattle,’ 13:15), ‫‘( פירי עללתכון‬the produce of your harvest,’ 23:19), ‫‘( סוסוות פרעה‬the horses of Pharaoh,’ 14:23; 15:19), ‫‘( לבושי בנוי‬the garments of his sons,’ 29:21[2], 31:10; 35:19; 39:41) and ‫‘( שפיע מותריא‬the abundant part of the surplus,’ 26:12). 8. Second Member Is an Abstract Noun of Quality Nine different combinations in the construct genitive construction in TN Exodus are characterized by having a second member that is an abstract noun of quality. One of the second members appears in 3 combinations: ‫‘( לבושי קדש‬garments of holiness,’ 28:2; 29:29; 31:10; 35:19, 21; 39:1), ‫‘( נכסת קדשי‬sacrifice of holiness,’ 23:18; 34:25), and ‫‘( בית קודשא‬the house of holiness,’ 30:13, 24; 38:24). All other members occur in just one combination: ‫‘( קיים עלם‬covenant of eternity,’ 12:14, 17; 27:21; 28:43; 29:9, 28; 30:21; 31:16), ‫‘( גברי חיל‬men of strength,’ 18:21, 25), ‫‘( מתנת קדשהון‬gifts of their holiness,’ 28:38), ‫‘( שכינת קודשך‬the presence of your holiness,’ 15:13), ‫‘( יום דוכרני‬the day of my remembrance,’ 32:34), and ‫‘( לבושי שמשה‬garments of service,’ 31:10; 35:19; 39:1, 40). 9. First Member Is an Abstract Noun of Quality There are 8 combinations in the construct genitive construction in TN Exodus whose first member is an abstract noun of quality. Three different first members are used. Two are used in 3 combinations: ‫‘( תקף רגז‬strength of anger,’ 11:8), ‫‘( תקף רוגזך‬the strength of your anger,’ 32:12), ‫‘( תקוף אדרע גבורתך‬the strength of the arm of your might,’ 15:16), ‫‘( שפר חקליה‬the best of his field,’ 22:4), ‫‘( שפר כרמא‬the best of his vineyard,’ 22:4), and ‫‘( שפר עולימו‬the best of the young men,’ 15:4). The other first member is used in two combinations: ‫‘( שרוי בכרית פירי עללתכון‬the beginning of the firstfruit of the produce of your harvest,’ 23:19) and ‫‘( שרוי בכורת ארעכון‬the beginning of the firstfruit of your soil,’ 34:26). 10. Definitional Attribute, Second The relationship type that has the most combinations, 48, is characterized by a second member that functions as an attribute of the first member and defines it in some way. All but two of the second members appear in only one combination. The second member ‫‘( בית קודשא‬the sanctuary’) appears in the most combinations (3): ‫כליל בית‬ ‫‘( קודשא‬the crown of the sanctuary,’ 29:6; 39:30), ‫‘( לבושי בית קודשא‬the garments of the sanctuary,’ 39:41; 40:13), and ‫‘( אפרשות בית קודשא‬the separated offering of the sanctuary,’ 36:6). The other second member occurring in more than one combination is (‘Sabbath’): ‫‘( שבת שביתה‬the Sabbath of Sabbath observance,’ 31:15; 35:2) and ‫יום‬ ‫‘( שבתה‬the day of the Sabbath,’ 31:15; 35:3).

126

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

The 43 other second members appear in just one combination: ‫שלשלת מתאמין‬ (‘chains of adding,’ 39:15), ‫‘( קל סדרי קרבא‬the sound of the battle line of war,’ 32:17), ‫‘( עובד קליעה‬work of cordage,’ 28:14, 22; 39:15), ‫‘( אדם קיימא‬the blood of the covenant,’ 24:8), ‫‘( סהדי שקר‬testimony of deception,’ 20:16; 23:1), ‫בר תמנין ותלת שנין‬ (‘son of eighty-three years,’ 7:7), ‫‘( כתב גליף‬writing of engraving,’ 39:30), ‫חובי אבהן‬ (‘the sins of the fathers,’ 34:7), ‫‘( נכסת חגא דפסחא‬the sacrifice of the Feast of the Passover,’ 34:25), ‫‘( חלבי חגי‬the fat of my feast,’ 23:18), ‫‘( מכנסי בוצה‬trousers of fine linen,’ 39:28), ‫‘( כורסי איקרי דרבון‬the throne of the glory of the Lord,’ 17:16), ‫‘( אבני טבתה‬stones of goodness,’ 35:27), ‫‘( מדור בית שכינת קודשך‬the dwelling of the place of the divine presence of your holiness,’ 15:13), ‫‘( טור בית אחסנותך‬the mountain of the house of your inheritance,’ 15:17), ‫‘( דודבת בישרא‬pots of meat,’ 16:3), ‫עגל מסכה‬ (‘calf of metal,’ 32:4, 8), ‫‘( קל גברין דנצחין בקרבא‬the sound of men victorious in war,’ 32:18), ‫‘( עדוני צפרא‬the time of the morning,’ 14:24), ‫‘( כסף סכומי עם כנישתה‬the silver of the number of the people of the congregation,’ 38:25), ‫‘( קטם אתונא‬ash of the oven,’ 9:10), ‫‘( קל מקלסין בפלחנא נכריה‬the sound of those praising in foreign worship,’ 32:18), ‫‘( לחם אפיא‬the bread of the presence,’ 25:30; 35:13; 39:36), ‫‘( כסף פורקניה‬silver of his redemption,’ 30:16), ‫‘( אדם נכסת קדשי‬the blood of the sacrifice of holiness,’ 23:18; 34:25), ‫‘( נכסת קודשיכון‬the sacrifice of your sacrifice,’ 29:28), ‫‘( גליף חקיק‬engraving of a seal,’ 39:14, 30), ‫‘( אייקר שכינתיה דייי‬the glory of the presence of the Lord,’ 24:16, 17; 40:34, 35, 38), ‫‘( בית שכינת קודשך‬the house of the presence of your holiness,’ 15:13), ‫‘( אדם חטאתה דכיפוריה‬the blood of the sin offering of atonement,’ 30:10), ‫שמהת שתתה‬ (‘the names of the six,’ 28:10), ‫‘( מלפי אומנוון‬teachers of skill,’ 35:35), ‫חפיי משכיה דדכרי‬ (‘the covering of skin of rams,’ 39:34), ‫‘( חפוי משכין דססגונין‬the covering of skins of vermillion,’ 26:14; 36:19; 39:34), ‫‘( שמהת בני ישראל‬the names of the sons of Israel,’ 1:1’ 28:9, 11, 21, 29; 39:6, 14), ‫‘( שמהת בנוי דלוי‬the names of the sons of Levi,’ 6:16), ‫‘( אומנות אבנא‬the craft of stone,’ 31:5; 35:33), ‫‘( סדרי קרבא‬the battle line of war,’ 32:17), ‫‘( קל חלשין דמתנצחין בקרבא‬the sound of weak men being conquered in battle,’ 32:18), ‫‘( נגרות קיסא‬carpentry of wood,’ 31:5; 35:33), ‫‘( מני פלחן משכנה‬utensils of the service of the tabernacle,’ 39:40), and ‫‘( שם מימריה דייי‬the name of the word of the Lord,’ 34:5). 11. Definitional Attribute, First There are 4 combinations in the construct genitive construction in TN Exodus whose first member is a definitional attribute of the second member. One first member is used in two combinations: ‫‘( סכומי עם כנישתה‬the number of the people of the congregation,’ 38:25), and ‫‘( סכומי משכנה‬the number of the tabernacle,’ 38:21). The other two first members occur in a single combination: ‫‘( שום טעון‬the name of the idols,’ 23:13) and ‫‘( רחיק רגז‬distant of wrath,’ 34:6). 12. Objective Genitive There are 18 combinations expressed in the construct genitive construction in TN Exodus for which the second member serves as an object of the first member. Half of the combinations have a first member that has to do with ‘work’: ‫‘( עובד ציור‬work of embroidery,’ 26:36; 27:16; 28:39; 36:37; 38:18; 39:29), ‫‘( עבידת בית קודשא‬the labor of the sanctuary,’ 36:4; 38:24), ‫‘( פלחן בית קודשא‬the work of the sanctuary,’ 36:1, 3), ‫‘( פלחן משכנה‬the service of the tabernacle,’ 39:40), ‫‘( עבדת משכנה‬the work of the

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN TARGUM NEOFITI I

127

tabernacle,’ 39:32), ‫‘( עבידת פלחן בית קודשא‬the labor of the work of the sanctuary,’ 36:1, 3), and ‫‘( עבידת פולחנא‬the labor of the work,’ 35:24). One first member is used in 4 combinations: ‫‘( פתחי וולדא‬opener of the womb,’ 13:12, 15; 34:19), ‫פתחי וולדה‬ ‫‘( דבעירא‬opener of the womb of the cattle,’ 13:12), ‫‘( פתחיי וולדה דתורא‬opener of the womb of ox,’ 34:19), and ‫‘( פתחי וולדא דחמרא‬opener of the womb of a donkey,’ 13:13; 34:20). The 7 other combinations are: ‫‘( מלי תריהון‬the words of both of them,’ 22:8), ‫‘( נטורי פיקודיא‬the keepers of commandments,’ 20:6), ‫‘( מכס פסחא‬the slaughtering of the Passover sacrifice,’ 12:27), ‫‘( פרקון נפשיה‬the redemption of his life,’ 21:30; 30:12), ‫‘( חפוי רישיהון‬overlaying their tops,’ 38:17, 19), ‫‘( כנישת מימיהון‬the gathering of their water,’ 7:19), and ‫‘( עבדי עבידתה‬the performers of the work,’ 36:8). 13. Explicative Genitive Thirteen combinations in the construct genitive construction in TN Exodus have a second member that somehow explains or develops the first member. Four of the first members concern work: ‫‘( עובד לבן דסנפרינון‬the work of the brick of sapphire,’ 24:10), ‫‘( עובד מצדה דנחש‬the work of the net of bronze,’ 27:4; 38:4), ‫‘( פלחן משכן זימנא‬the work of the tent of meeting,’ 30:16), and ‫‘( עבידת משכן זימנא‬the work of the tent of meeting,’ 35:21). The 10 other combinations do not share any first or second members: ‫‘( קהל כנישתא דבני ישראל‬the assembly of the congregation of the sons of Israel,’ 12:6), ‫‘( עם כנישתה‬the people of the congregation,’ 38:25) ‫‘( ספר קיימא‬the book of the covenant,’ 24:7), ‫‘( גברי דן‬the men of Dan,’ 31:6), ‫‘( עננית טלא‬covering of dew,’ 16:13, 14), ‫‘( ענן איקר שכינתה דייי‬the cloud of the glory of the presence of the Lord,’ 40:38), ‫‘( זמן ירחא דאביבא‬the appointed time of the month of Abib,’ 23:15), ‫קטרת בסמניה‬ (‘incense of spices,’ 25:6; 30:7; 31:11; 35:8, 15, 28; 37:29; 39:38; 40:27), and ‫גזירת‬ ‫‘( אורייתא דפסחא‬the decree of the Torah of the Passover,’ 12:43). 14. Direction, Second Two combinations in the construct genitive construction in TN Exodus have a second member that indicates a direction. Both have ‫‘( ארח‬way’) as a first member: ‫ארח‬ ‫‘( ארעהון דפלישתיי‬the way of the land of the Philistines,’ 13:17) and ‫‘( ארח מדברא‬the way of the wilderness,’ 13:18). 15. Material Although the adjunct genitive construction is normally used when the second member denotes the material composition of the first member, there are 5 such combinations in the construct genitive construction in TN Exodus. The precious metals ‫‘( דהב‬gold’) and ‫‘( כסף‬silver’) are used as second members in one combination each: ‫‘( מאני דהב‬utensils of gold,’ 12:35; 35:22) and ‫‘( מאני כסף‬utensils of silver,’ 12:35). The other three members occur in just one combination: ‫‘( סדור לחם‬arrangement of bread,’ 40:23), ‫‘( סידור לחם אפיא‬the arrangement of the bread of presence,’ 25:30; 35:13; 39:36), and ‫‘( צבע זהורי טבא‬color of good scarlet,’ 25:4; 26:1, 31; 28:5, 6, 8; 35:6, 25, 35; 38:23; 39:3).

128

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

16. Nominal Attribute, First There are 5 combinations in the adjunct genitive construction in TN Exodus whose first member functions as a nominal attribute of the second member. Three of the combinations have ‫‘( מנין‬number’) as a first member: ‫‘( מניין יומכון‬the number of your day,’ 23:26), ‫‘( מנין כפשין‬the number of souls,’ 12:4), and ‫‘( מניין נפשתיכון‬the number of your souls,’ 16:16). The other two combinations are: ‫‘( קפדות רוח‬annoyance of spirit,’ 6:9) and ‫‘( שייר פליטתה‬remainder of what has escaped,’ 10:5). 17. Nominal Attribute, Second There are two combinations in the construct genitive construction in TN Exodus that have a second member that serves as a nominal attribute of the first member. Those combinations are: ‫‘( רוח חכמה‬a spirit of wisdom,’ 28:3) and ‫‘( גיפוף פשך‬rim of a handbreadth,’ 25:25; 37:12). 18. Special Relationship Sixteen combinations in the adjunct genitive construction in TN Exodus have a special relationship. That is, the first member relates to the second member in an official capacity or in some inherent societal relationship. The first member employed by the most combinations is ‫‘( רברבני‬leaders’). It is used in the following 6 combinations: ‫‘( רברבני כנישתא‬the leaders of the congregation,’ 16:22), ‫‘( רברבני אדומאי‬the leaders of the Edomites,’ 15:15), ‫‘( רברבני עשרה‬the leaders of tens,’ 18:21, 25), ‫‘( רברבני חמשן‬the leaders of fifties,’ 18:21, 25), ‫‘( רברבני מאוון‬the leaders of hundreds,’ 18:21, 25), and ‫‘( רברבני אלפין‬the leaders of thousands,’ 18:21, 25). ‫‘( אלה‬God’) is used as a first member in 3 combinations: ‫‘( אלה אבהתן‬the God of our fathers,’ 15:2), ‫אלה אבהתהון‬ (‘the God of their fathers,’ 4:5), and ‫‘( אלה אבהתכון‬the God of your fathers,’ 3:13, 15, 16). Seven other combinations with a special relationship in the construct genitive construction are found in TN Exodus: ‫‘( בכרת חצדה דחטיא‬the firstfruit of the wheat harvest,’ 34:22), ‫‘( חכימי ישראל‬the wise ones of Israel,’ 24:9), ‫‘( תקיפי מואביי‬the strong ones of the Moabites,’ 15:15), ‫‘( חכימי עמא‬the wise ones of the people,’ 19:7), ‫סרכי בנוי‬ ‫‘( דישראל‬the commanding officers of the sons of Israel,’ 5:19), ‫‘( בכורי בני אנשא‬the firstborn ones of the sons of man,’ 13:13), and ‫‘( בכורי בניכון‬the firstborn ones of your sons,’ 22:28; 34:20). B3. Classification of Combinations Used in the Adjunct Genitive Construction by the Syntactic Relationship between Members

There are 229 combinations cast in the adjunct genitive construction in TN Exodus. Even though this construction does not claim the most combinations (the construct genitive construction has 265 combinations), it appears to be the unmarked construction in TN Exodus. It seems to function as the default construction in TN Exodus. Two of the most common uses of the adjunct genitive construction are to express combinations that have ‫‘( ייי‬the Lord’) as the second member and to denote material composition. Those two categories are described below.

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN TARGUM NEOFITI I

129

1. Divine Name While there are no combinations with ‫‘( ייי‬the Lord’) as the second member in the construct genitive construction in TN Exodus, and 7 in the cataphoric genitive construction, there are 9 in the adjunct genitive construction. When the divine name is the second member, the Targumist most often expresses it in the adjunct genitive construction to show deference to the Lord. The relativizer ‫ ד‬serves as a screen between the Lord’s name and the first member. The combination that occurs the most times (5) in construction b in TN Exodus is ‫‘( שכינתה דייי‬the shekinah of the Lord,’ 16:7, 10; 40:34, 35, 38). Another combination occurs 4 times ‫‘( אפרשתה דייי‬the separated offering of the Lord,’ 30:15; 35:5, 21, 24). One other combination appears 3 times: ‫‘( פתגמיא דייי‬the words of the Lord,’ 4:28; 24:3, 4). Three combinations appear twice in TN Exodus: ‫‘( מלאכא דייי‬the angel of the Lord,’ 3:2; 14:19), ‫שמה דייי‬2 (‘the name of the Lord,’ 20:7; 30:14), and ‫‘( בית מוקדשא דייי‬the temple of the Lord,’ 23:19; 34:26). The other 3 combinations occur a single time: ‫‘( רוגזא דייי‬the anger of the Lord,’ 4:14), ‫‘( אוריתא דייי‬the law of the Lord,’ 13:9), and ‫‘( שבועתא דייי‬the oath of the Lord,’ 22:10). 2. Material Composition The adjunct genitive construction is the preferred construction in TN Exodus when the second member denotes the material constitution of the first member. This is especially true when the second member is a precious metal. ‫‘( נחשא‬bronze’) is the second member for 7 combinations. The combination occurring the most times is ‫קנקלא דנחשא‬ (‘the grating of bronze,’ 35:16; 38:5, 30; 39:39). Three other combinations appear twice in the adjunct genitive construction in TN Exodus: ‫‘( כיור דנחש‬a laver of bronze,’ 30:18; 38:8), ‫‘( מצדה דנחש‬the net of bronze,’ 27:4; 38:4), and ‫‘( מדבחה דנחשה‬the altar of bronze,’ 38:30; 39:39). The other 3 combinations occur a single time: ‫פורפין דנחש‬ (‘clasps of bronze,’ 26:11), ‫‘( עזקין דנחש‬rings of bronze,’ 27:4), and ‫חמרין דנחש‬ (‘sockets of bronze,’ 26:37). The precious metal ‫‘( דהב‬gold’) is used even more times as a second member in the adjunct genitive construction in TN Exodus. It appears in 14 combinations in TN Exodus. It occurs the most times in the combination ‫‘( עזקין דדהב‬rings of gold,’ 25:12, 26; 28:23, 26, 27; 30:4; 37:3, 27; 39:19, 20). ‫‘( דהב‬gold’) is employed 8 times in the combination ‫‘( כליל דדהב‬molding of gold,’ 25:11, 24, 25; 30:3; 37:2, 11, 12, 26). Three combinations are used 3 times each in the adjunct genitive construction in TN Exodus: ‫‘( זגונין דדהב‬bells of gold,’ 28:33, 34[2]), ‫‘( פורפין דדהב‬clasps of gold,’ 26:6; 36:13; 39:16), and ‫‘( מדבחה דדהבא‬the altar of gold,’ 39:38; 40:5, 26). Two other combinations are employed twice: ‫‘( מנין דדהב‬vessels of gold,’ 3:22; 11:2) and ‫קדשייא‬ ‫‘( דדהבא‬rings of gold,’ 32:2, 3). The 6 remaining combinations appear a solitary time in TN Exodus: ‫‘( שישלן דדהב‬chains of gold,’ 28:14), ‫‘( טעוון דדהב‬idols of gold,’ 20:23), ‫‘( כפרתה דדהב‬mercy seat of gold,’ 25:17), ‫‘( אנפו דדהב‬wave offering of gold,’ 35:22), ‫‘( קליעתה דדהבא‬cords of gold,’ 28:24), and ‫‘( טסי דדהבא‬sheets of gold,’ 39:3).

2

This form could also be cataphoric.

130

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

One other precious metal is used to denote the material composition of the first member in the adjunct genitive construction: ‫‘( כסף‬silver’). It is used in 4 combinations in TN Exodus: ‫‘( טעון דכסף‬idols of silver,’ 20:23), ‫‘( אפרשו דכסף‬separated offering of silver,’ 35:24), ‫‘( חומרין דכסף‬sockets of silver,’ 26:19, 32; 36:24, 36), and ‫מנין דכסף‬ (‘vessels of silver,’ 3:22; 11:2).

C. ANALYSIS BY FIRST MEMBERS This section will analyze the use of the genitive syntagm in TN based upon the use of first members (nomen regens). This analysis will use the same parameters that were used for Peshitta Exodus and TO. Number will be regarded to be determinative when distinguishing members. The state of the noun will not, however, distinguish members. Gender will be used to distinguish members in this analysis. C1. First Members That Occur in Each Construction 1. Construction a There are almost the same number of first members in the construct genitive construction as in the adjunct genitive construction. The distribution, by number and gender, of first members used in the construct genitive syntagm is shown below. 149 different first members 99 singular 78 masculine 21 feminine 50 plural 44 masculine 6 feminine

2. Construction b The adjunct genitive construction has 3 more different first members than the construct genitive construction. The distribution by number and gender is presented below. 152 different first members 109 singular 74 masculine 35 feminine 43 plural 32 masculine 11 feminine

3. Construction c The cataphoric genitive construction has less than half as many different first members as the construct genitive construction and the adjunct genitive construction. The distribution of first members according to number and gender is presented below.

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN TARGUM NEOFITI I

131

67 different first members 35 singular 23 masculine 12 feminine 32 plural 22 masculine 10 feminine C2. First Members That Only Occur in One Construction 1. Construction a One hundred seventeen different first members are used exclusively in the construct genitive construction. The first member that occurs in the most combinations (6) is ‫‘( רברבני‬leaders’). It occurs in the following combinations in the construct genitive construction in TN Exodus: ‫‘( רברבני כנישתא‬the leaders of the congregation,’ 16:22), ‫‘( רברבני אדומאי‬the leaders of the Edomites,’ 15:15), ‫‘( רברבני עשרה‬the leaders of tens,’ 18:21, 25), ‫‘( רברבני חמשן‬the leaders of fifties,’ 18:21, 25), ‫‘( רברבני מאוון‬the leaders of hundreds,’ 18:21, 25), and ‫‘( רברבני אלפין‬the leaders of thousands,’ 18:21, 25). These combinations form a special relationship. The first member used exclusively in the construct genitive construction with the next greatest number of combinations in TN Exodus is ‫‘( תרע‬doorway/gate’). It is used in 6 part-whole combinations: ‫תרע דרתה‬ (‘the gate of the court,’ 27:16; 35:17; 38:15, 18, 31, 40; 40:8, 33), ‫‘( תרע משכנה‬the doorway of the tabernacle,’ 26:36; 33:9, 10; 35:15; 36:37; 39:38; 40:6, 29), ‫תרע ביתיה‬ (‘the doorway of his house,’ 12:22), ‫‘( תרע משכן זימנא‬the doorway of the tent of meeting,’ 29:4, 11, 32, 42; 38:8, 30; 40:12), ‫‘( תרע משכניה‬the doorway of his tent,’ 33:8, 10), and ‫‘( תרע משריתה‬the doorway of the camp,’ 32:26). The first member (‘number’) is used only in the construct genitive construction in TN Exodus and appears in 5 combinations. In each combination it is an attribute that in some way defines the second member: ‫‘( מניין יומכון‬the number of your day,’ 23:26), ‫‘( מנין נפשין‬the number of souls,’ 12:4), and ‫‘( מניין נפשתיכון‬the number of your souls,’ 16:16), ‫סכומי עם כנישתה‬ (‘the number of the people of the congregation,’ 38:25), and ‫‘( סכומי משכנה‬the numbers of the tabernacle,’ 38:21). All other first members used exclusively in the construct genitive construction in TN Exodus are used in 4 combinations or less. 2. Construction b There are 98 first members that are used exclusively in the adjunct genitive construction. Of those first members used only in the adjunct genitive construction in TN Exodus, the one used in the most combinations is ‫‘( חגא‬feast’). It is used in 5 combinations: ‫‘( חגא דחצדא‬the feast of the harvest,’ 23:16), ‫‘( חגא דאכנשותא‬the feast of the ingathering,’ 23:16; 34:22), ‫‘( חגא דפסחא‬the feast of the Passover,’ 34:25), ‫חגא‬ ‫‘( דפטירייה‬the feast of the unleavened bread,’ 23:15; 34:18), and ‫‘( חגא דשבועיא‬the feast of weeks,’ 34:22). Each of the second members functions as an attribute that defines ‫‘( חגא‬feast’). There are two other first members that are employed in 4 combinations each in the adjunct genitive construction. ‫‘( ארך‬length’) functions as an abstract noun of quality in 4 combinations: ‫‘( ארכה דלוחא‬the length of the board,’

132

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

26:16; 36:21), ‫‘( ארכה דדרתה‬the length of the court,’ 27:18), ‫‘( ארכה דיריעתא‬the length of the curtain,’ 26:2, 8; 36:9, 15), and ‫‘( ארכה דיריעתא דמשכנא‬the length of the curtains of the tent,’ 26:13). The other first member used in 4 combinations exclusively in the adjunct genitive construction is ‫‘( משח‬oil’). In each of the 4 combinations, it is used with second members that function as attributes that in some way define the first member: ‫‘( משחא דרבותא‬oil of anointment,’ 25:6; 29:7, 21; 31:11; 35:8, 15, 28; 37:29; 39:38; 40:9), ‫‘( משח דרבו דקדש‬the oil of anointment of holiness,’ 30:25[2], 31), ‫משחה‬ ‫‘( דאנהרותה‬the oil of the light,’ 35:14; 39:37), and ‫‘( משח דזית‬olive oil,’ 27:20; 30:24). All other first members used exclusively in the adjunct genitive construction are employed in 3 combinations or less. 3. Construction c Thirty-eight first members are only used in the cataphoric genitive construction. The first member used in the most combinations is ‫‘( ידייא‬hands’). This body part is employed in 7 combinations in TN Exodus: ‫‘( ידיהון דרעייא‬the hands of shepherds,’ 2:19), ‫‘( ידוי דאהרן‬the hands of Aaron,’ 29:9), ‫‘( ידיהון דמצריי‬the hands of the Egyptians,’ 3:8; 18:9, 10; 14:30; 18:10), ‫‘( ידוי דמשה‬the hands of Moses,’ 17:12; 34:29; 35:29), ‫‘( ידוי דפרעה‬the hands of Pharaoh,’ 18:10), ‫‘( ידיהון דבנוי‬the hands of his sons,’ 29:9, 24), and ‫‘( ידוי דאתמר‬the hands of Ithamar,’ 38:21). Of the 14 instances of ‫ידייא‬ (‘hands’) as a first member in the cataphoric genitive construction in TN Exodus, only 3 are literal (17:12; 29:24; 34:29). The majority are used in the nonliteral or extended sense of ‘authority’ or ‘power’ or in the expression for ordination. ‫‘( זרעיין‬families’) is employed in 4 combinations to express kinship relationships: ‫‘( זרעייותיהון דבני דקרח‬the families of the sons of Korah,’ 6:24), ‫‘( זרעיותיהון דבנוי דלוי‬the families of the sons of Levi,’ 6:19), ‫‘( זרעתהון דבנוי דראובן‬the families of the sons of Reuben,’ 6:14), and ‫‘( זרעיותיהון דבנוי דשמעון‬the families of the sons of Simeon,’ 6:15). Each of the second members is a name. Another first member is used in 3 combinations. ‫‘( בעירא‬cattle’) is used with 3 different second members to denote basic possession: ‫‘( בעיריהון דמצריי‬the cattle of the Egyptians,’ 9:4, 6), ‫‘( בעיריהון דישראל‬the cattle of Israel,’ 9:4, 7), and ‫‘( בעיריהון דבני ישראל‬the cattle of the sons of Israel,’ 9:6). Each of the second members is a name. All other first members restricted to the cataphoric genitive construction in TN Exodus are used in two combinations or less. C3. First Members That Occur in Two Constructions 1. Constructions a and b There are 30 first members that occur in both the construct genitive construction and in the adjunct genitive construction. Each is described below.

i. ‫‘( קטם‬ash’) is employed in one combination with ‫‘( אתון‬oven’). The second member functions as an attribute that in some way defines the first member. This type of relationship is normally expressed in the construct genitive construction as it is in 9:10: ‫‘( קטם אתונא‬ash of an oven’). This same combination appears in 9:8 in the adjunct genitive construction: ‫‘( קטם דאתון‬ash of an oven’). It may be that upon first mention, the unmarked construction is employed while the second mention uses a marked form to indicate the aforementioned.

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN TARGUM NEOFITI I

133

ii. ‫‘( לווחי‬boards’) is used in two combinations (1x a, 1x b). The adjunct genitive construction is used twice when the second member is ‫‘( משכנא‬tabernacle’): ‫לווחי‬ ‫‘( דמשכנא‬the boards of the tabernacle,’ 26:17; 36:22). It is more common for a partwhole relationship to be expressed in the construct genitive construction: ‫לוחי סטרה‬ ‫‘( דמשכנה‬the boards of the side of the tabernacle,’ 26:27[2]; 36:31, 32[2]). iii. ‫‘( לחם‬bread’) appears in two constructions (1x a, 1x b). The construct genitive construction is normally used to express a combination whose second member functions as an attribute that in some way defines the first member as it does in the genitive construction ‫‘( לחם אפיא‬the bread of the presence,’ 25:30; 35:13; 39:36). The adjunct genitive construction expresses the explicative genitive with ‫‘( לחם‬bread’) as a first member: ‫‘( לחם דפטירין‬bread of unleavened cakes,’ 29:2).

iv. ‫‘( שישלן‬chains’) occurs in two combinations (1x a, 2x b). When the second member specifies the material composition of the first member, the adjunct genitive construction is employed: ‫‘( שישלן דדהב‬chains of gold,’ 28:14). The adjunct genitive construction is also used when the second member explicates the first member: ‫שישלתה‬ ‫‘( דקליעתה‬chains of cordage,’ 28:14). When the second member functions as an attribute that in some way defines the first member, the construct genitive construction is used: ‫‘( שלשלת מתאמין‬chains of adding,’ 39:15). v. ‫‘( פורפין‬clasps’) occurs in 4 different combinations (1x a, 3x b). In each combination for which ‫‘( פורפין‬clasps’) is the first member, the second member denotes the material composition of the first member. Therefore, as expected, the adjunct genitive construction has the most combinations (3) with 5 instances.

vi. ‫‘( ענן‬cloud’) is used in two combinations (1x a, 1x b). The adjunct genitive construction is used when the second member specifies the material makeup of the first member: ‫‘( עננא דאישתא‬cloud of fire,’ 13:21). When the second member explicates the first member, the construct genitive construction is used: ‫‘( ענן איקר שכינתה דייי‬the cloud of the glory of the presence of the Lord,’ 40:38). This combination may be expressed with the construct genitive because it is fixed in this form through repeated use.

vii. ‫‘( צבע‬color’) appears in two combinations with ‫‘( זהורי טבא‬good scarlet’). This combination occurs 15 times in the adjunct genitive construction: ‫‘( צבע דזהורי טבא‬the color of good scarlet,’ 26:36; 27:16; 28:15, 33; 35:23; 36:8, 35, 37; 38:18; 39:1, 2, 5, 8, 24, 29). The use of construction b is appropriate because the second member seems to denote the material makeup of the first member. This same combination does occur, however, 11 times in the construct genitive construction: ‫‘( צבע זהורי טבא‬the color of good scarlet,’ 25:4; 26:1, 31; 28:5, 6, 8; 35:6, 25, 35; 38:23; 39:3). viii. ‫‘( שזר‬cord’) appears in one combination with ‫‘( תכלה‬purple’). This combination occurs twice in the adjunct genitive construction: ‫‘( שזר דתכלה‬cord of purple,’ 28:28; 39:31). This is expected since ‫‘( תכלה‬purple’) specifies the makeup of the first member. It does occur once, however, in the construct genitive construction: ‫‘( שזר תכלה‬cord of purple,’ 28:37). ix. ‫‘( חפי‬covering’) is used in 3 combinations (2x a, 1x b). This first member occurs in two combinations in the adjunct genitive construction when the second member functions as an attribute that in some way defines the first member: ‫חפיי משכיה דדכרי‬ (‘the covering of the skins of rams,’ 39:34) and ‫‘( חפיי משך דססגונין‬the covering of the

134

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

skins of vermillion,’ 26:14; 36:19, 34). The lone use of ‫‘( חפי‬covering’) as a first member in the adjunct genitive construction is in ‫‘( חפיא דמשכנא‬the covering of the tent,’ 40:19). The unmarked construction is employed to communicate this combination with a part-whole relationship.

x. ‫‘( פרס‬curtain’) is employed in 3 combinations (2x a, 1x b). Each combination has a first member that is a part of the whole represented by the second member. Five instances occur in the construct genitive construction in two combinations: ‫פרס תרע‬ ‫‘( משכנה‬the curtain of the doorway of the tent,’ 39:38) and ‫‘( פרס תרע דרתה‬the curtain of the gate of the court,’ 35:17; 38:18; 40:8, 33). Three instances in one combination are cast in the adjunct genitive construction: ‫‘( פרסה דתרעה‬the curtain of the doorway,’ 35:15; 40:5, 28). It is more common to find part-whole relationships in the construct genitive construction in TN Exodus. xi. ‫‘( יום‬day’) is used in 3 combinations (2x a, 1x b). The second member (‘Sabbath’) is used twice in the adjunct genitive construction: ‫‘( יומא דשבתא‬the day of the Sabbath,’ 20:8, 11). It is later used twice in the construct genitive construction: ‫יום‬ ‫‘( שבתה‬the day of the Sabbath,’ 31:15; 35:3). Since in each case, the second member functions as an attribute that in some way defines the first member, one would expect to find it in the construct genitive construction in TN Exodus. The other instance of ‫יום‬ (‘day’) as a first member in TN Exodus is with the second member ‫‘( דוכרני‬my remembrance’), which functions as an abstract noun of quality modifying the first member: ‫‘( יום דוכרני‬the day of my remembrance,’ 32:34). This type of relationship most frequently occurs in the construct genitive construction in TN Exodus, as it does in 32:34. xii. ‫‘( בכור‬firstborn’) appears in 7 constructions (2x a, 5x b). The two instances of ‫‘( בכור‬firstborn’) as a first member in the construct genitive construction are in special relationships with the second members: ‫בכורי}ה{ בנן‬3 (‘firstborn of sons,’ 13:15) and ‫‘( בכורי}ה{ בני אנשא‬firstborn of sons of man,’ 13:15). Special relationships are

frequently expressed in construction a. The adjunct genitive construction is the primary one employed by the Targumist when ‫‘( בכור‬firstborn’) is the first member. Seven instances occur in 5 combinations: ‫‘( בכורא דשביתא‬the firstborn of the captive,’ 12:29), ‫‘( בכורא דבעירא‬the firstborn of cattle,’ 11:5; 12:29), ‫‘( בכורי דישראל‬the firstborn of Israel,’ 6:14), ‫‘( בכורא דפרעה‬the firstborn of Pharaoh,’ 11:5; 12:29), and ‫בכורה‬ ‫דאמההתה‬4 (‘the firstborn of the slave girl,’ 11:5). Each of these combinations is a special relationship. Two of the second members are proper names which are most frequently found in the adjunct genitive construction. xiii. ‫‘( בשר‬flesh’) occurs in 4 combinations (1x a, 3x b). Three instances occur in 3 different combinations in the adjunct genitive construction: ‫‘( בשרא דבר נש‬flesh of man,’ 30:32), ‫בשרה דאשלמותא‬5 (‘the flesh of the ordination,’ 29:34), and ‫בשרא דדכרא‬ (‘the flesh of the ram,’ 29:32). The sole occurrence of ‫‘( בשר‬flesh’) as a first member in Curly brackets indicate the letter was added in error. This might be cataphoric. 5 This could be cataphoric. 3 4

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN TARGUM NEOFITI I

135

the construct genitive construction is in the fixed phrase: ‫‘( בשר ערוותהון‬the flesh of their nakedness,’ 28:42). It seems that this phrase is fixed in construction a through repeated use. xiv. ‫‘( פלג‬half’) is used in 4 combinations (1x a, 3x b). Five instances of ‫‘( פלג‬half’) as a first member in the adjunct genitive construction are found in 3 combinations in TN Exodus: ‫‘( פלגא דדמא‬half of the blood,’ 24:6[2]), ‫‘( פלגא דליליא‬half the night,’ 11:4; 12:29), and ‫‘( פלגות דימא רבא‬the middle of the great sea,’ 15:8). Each of these are partwhole relationships that could also be expressed in the construct genitive construction as the sole combination of ‫‘( פלגא‬half’) as a first member in construction a: ‫פלגות סלעא‬ (‘half a coin,’ 30:13[2], 15). xv. ‫‘( ראש‬head/top’) appears in 7 combinations (5x a, 2x b). The first member ‫‘( ראש‬head’) is used in 3 combinations in a nonliteral or extended way to denote a top: ‫‘( ריש רמתא‬the top of the hill,’ 17:9, 10), ‫‘( ריש ירחין‬head of months,’ 12:2), and ‫ריש‬ ‫‘( טורא‬the top of the mountain,’ 19:20; 34:2). ‫‘( ריש‬head’) is also used in an extended sense in the expression for a census: ‫‘( ראש סכומיהון דבני ישראל‬the sum of the totals of the sons of Israel,’ 30:12). It is used in one combination to denote a literal body part: ‫‘( ריש תורא‬the head of the bull,’ 29:10, 19). The use of ‫‘( ראש‬head/top’) in the construct genitive construction is primarily nonliteral. In the adjunct genitive construction, ‫‘( ראש‬head/top’) is used one time in a literal sense and once in a nonliteral way: ‫‘( ראשה דדיכרא‬the head of the ram,’ 29:15) and ‫‘( ריש די טורא‬the top of the mountain,’ 24:17).

xvi. ‫‘( ביתא‬house’) is used in 11 combinations (8x a, 3x b). When ‫‘( ביתא‬house’) appears as a first member in the construct genitive construction, it has a nonliteral, extended sense: ‫‘( בית שכינת קודשך‬the house of the shekinah of your holiness,’ 15:13), ‫‘( בית אבתהון‬the house of their fathers,’ 6:14; 12:3), ‫‘( בית כנישת מימיהון‬the place of the gathering of their water,’ 7:19), ‫‘( בית מוקדשא‬house of sanctuary,’ 23:19), ‫בית אחסנותך‬ (‘the house of your inheritance,’ 15:17), ‫‘( בית ישראל‬the house of Israel,’ 40:38), ‫בית‬ ‫‘( יעקב‬the house of Jacob,’ 19:3), and ‫‘( בית שעבודא‬the house of slavery,’ 13:3, 14; 20:2). When the adjunct genitive construction is employed, ‫‘( ביתא‬house’) most frequently denotes a literal house, as it does in two combinations in TN Exodus: ‫ביתא‬ ‫‘( דגברא‬the house of the man,’ 22:6) and ‫‘( ביתא דחבריה‬the house of his neighbor,’ 20:17). ‫‘( ביתא‬house’) is used a single time in construction b with a nonliteral sense: ‫ביתה דלוי‬6 (‘the house of Levi,’ 2:1). xvii. ‫‘( דיירי‬inhabitants’) appears in 3 combinations (1x a, 2x b). One fixed phrase occurs 3 times in the construct genitive construction: ‫‘( דיירי ארעא‬the inhabitants of the land,’ 23:31; 34:12, 15). This phrase appears to be cast in construction a through repeated use. The two combinations that take the adjunct genitive construction are similar, but have proper names in their second members: ‫‘( דיירי דארעא דפלשת‬the inhabitants of the land of Philistia,’ 15:14) and ‫‘( דיירי דארעא דכנען‬the inhabitants of the land of Canaan,’ 15:15). Since proper names are more commonly found as second

6

This could be cataphoric.

136

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

members in the adjunct genitive construction, it could be that this factor made the Targumist select the b construction.

xviii. ‫‘( טור‬mountain’) is used in 3 combinations (1x a, 2x b). There is one instance of ‫‘( טורא‬mountain’) as a first member in the construct genitive construction that has a second member that functions as an attribute that defines the first member: ‫טור בית‬ ‫‘( אחסנותך‬the mountain of the house of your inheritance,’ 15:17). The 11 instances of ‫‘( טור‬mountain’) as a first member in the adjunct genitive construction each have a second member that explicates the first member: ‫‘( טורא דחורב‬the mountain of Horeb,’ 33:6) and ‫‘( טורא דסיני‬the mountain of Sinai,’ 19:11, 18, 20, 23; 24:16; 31:18; 34:2, 4, 29, 32). It is common for an explicative genitive to take the unmarked construction, especially when the second member is a proper name.

xix. ‫‘( שמה‬name’) appears in 5 combinations (2x a, 3x b). When the second member is ‫‘( ייי‬the Lord,’ 20:7; 30:14), the adjunct genitive construction is used: ‫שמה‬ ‫‘( דייי‬the name of the Lord’). The Targumist does not use the construct genitive construction when ‫‘( ייי‬the Lord’) is the second member. Only the adjunct genitive construction and the cataphoric genitive construction are employed to place a deferential screen between ‫‘( ייי‬the Lord’) and the first member. In the other two combinations, the first member functions as a definitional attribute: ‫‘( שמה דחדא‬the name of one,’ 1:15) and ‫‘( שמה דתנייתא‬the name of the second’). The two combinations in the adjunct genitive construction have a first member that functions as a defining attribute and a second member that is a defining attribute, respectively: ‫‘( שום טעון‬the name of the idols,’ 23:13) and ‫‘( שם מימריה דייי‬the name of the word of the Lord,’ 34:5). Both of these relationship types are frequently expressed in construction a.

xx. ‫‘( עם‬people’) is used in two combinations (1x a, 1x b). The combination in the construct genitive construction has a second member that explicates the first member: ‫‘( עם כנישתה‬the people of the congregation,’ 38:25). It is common for the explicative genitive to appear in the construct genitive construction. The lone occurrence of ‫עם‬ (‘people’) in the adjunct genitive construction is in the phrase ‫עמה דארעא‬7 (‘the people of the land,’ 5:5). This appears to be a fixed phrase cast in construction b through repeated use. xxi. ‫‘( אפרשתה‬separated offering’) occurs in 3 combinations (1x a, 2x b). One combination in the adjunct genitive construction has ‫‘( ייי‬the Lord’) as the second member: ‫‘( אפרשתה דייי‬a separated offering of the Lord,’ 30:15; 35:5, 21, 24). The Targumist only uses constructions b and c when ‫‘( ייי‬the Lord’) is the second member. In this way, he places a screen between ‫‘( ייי‬the Lord’) and the first member. The second combination in the adjunct genitive construction has a second member that defines the material composition of the first member: ‫‘( אפרשו דכסף‬a separated offering of silver,’ 35:24). This relationship regularly takes construction b in TN Exodus. The sole occurrence of ‫‘( אפרשתה‬separated offering’) as a first member in the construct genitive construction is with a second member that functions as an attribute that defines the

7

This could be cataphoric.

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN TARGUM NEOFITI I

137

first member: ‫‘( אפרשות בית קודשא‬a separated offering of the sanctuary,’ 36:6). This relationship most frequently takes construction a in TN Exodus.

xxii. ‫‘( חמרין‬sockets’) appears in 4 combinations (2x a, 2x b). When the second member denotes the material composition of the first member, the adjunct genitive construction is employed, as expected: ‫‘( חמרין דנחש‬sockets of bronze,’ 26:37) and ‫‘( חומרין דכסף‬sockets of silver,’ 26:19, 32; 36:24, 36). Otherwise, the construct genitive construction is employed: ‫‘( חומרי בית קודשא‬the sockets of the sanctuary,’ 38:27) and ‫‘( חומרי פרוכתה‬the sockets of the veil,’ 38:27). Both of these combinations have a partwhole relationship which is frequently expressed in the construct genitive construction. xxiii. ‫‘( אבנין‬stones’) occurs in two combinations (1x a, 3x b). The adjunct genitive construction is most frequently employed when ‫‘( אבנין‬stones’) is the first member. It is used in 3 different combinations where the second member functions as an attribute that defines the first member in some way: ‫‘( אבנין דדוכרן‬stones of memorial,’ 28:12; 39:7), ‫‘( אבניה דאשלמותא‬the stones of setting,’ 35:27), and ‫‘( אבנין דאשלמן‬stones of settings,’ 25:7; 35:9). The sole occurrence of ‫‘( אבנין‬stones’) as a first member in the construct genitive construction is in the combination: ‫‘( אבני טבתה‬good stones,’ 35:27). Here, too, the second member is an attribute that defines the first member. This relationship is commonly expressed in the construct genitive construction.

xxiv. ‫‘( תקף‬strength’) is used in 4 combinations (3x a, 1x b). The 3 combinations that take the construct genitive construction employ ‫‘( תקף‬strength’) as an abstract noun of quality: ‫‘( תקף רגז‬the strength of anger,’ 11:8), ‫‘( תקף רוגזך‬the strength of your anger,’ 32:12), and ‫‘( תקוף אדרע גבורתך‬the strength of the arm of your might,’ 15:16). The construct genitive construction is frequently used to express combinations whose first member is an abstract noun of quality. The sole occurrence of ‫‘( תקף‬strength’) as a first member in the adjunct genitive consruction is in the combination: ‫תקףא דעננא‬ (‘the strength of the cloud,’ 19:9).

xxv. ‫‘( לוחין‬tablets’) appears in 4 combinations (1x a, 2x b). When the second member specifies the material composition of the first member, the adjunct genitive construction is employed in each case but one: ‫‘( לווחין דאבן‬the tablets of stone,’ 31:18) and ‫‘( לוחין דאבנין‬the tablets of stones,’ 34:1, 4[2]). The lone use of ‫‘( לווחוי‬tablets’) as a first member in the construct genitive construction when the second member denotes the material makeup of the first member is in the following combination: ‫לווחוי אבניא‬ (‘the tablets of stone,’ 24:12). This should be regarded as an exception. xxvi. ‫‘( משכן‬tent’) is used in two combinations (1x a, 1x b). The construct genitive construction is used to express the fixed phrase ‫‘( משכן זימנא‬the tent of meeting,’ 28:34; 39:4, 10, 11, 30, 32, 42, 44; 30:16, etc.). The phrase seems to be fixed in this form through repeated use. The sole occurrence of ‫‘( משכן‬tent’) as a first member in the adjunct genitive construction is with a second member that is an abstract noun of quality modifying the first member: ‫‘( משכנה דסהדותא‬the tent of the testimony,’ 38:21).

xxvii. ‫‘( מנין‬vessels’) occurs in 7 combinations (5x a, 2x b). For each of the 4 instances in which ‫‘( מנין‬vessels’) is employed as a first member in the adjunct genitive construction, the second member is a precious metal denoting the material composition of the first member: ‫‘( מנין דדהב‬vessels of gold,’ 3:22; 11:2) and ‫מנין דכסף‬ (‘vessels of silver,’ 3:22; 11:2). This is expected since combinations whose second

138

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

member specifies the material makeup of the first member are most frequently in construction b. There are 3 instances in which the second member is a precious metal and the construct genitive construction is employed: ‫‘( מאני דהב‬vessels of gold,’12:35; 35:22) and ‫‘( מאני כסף‬vessels of silver,’ 12:35). All but one of the other uses of construction a involve combinations with a part-whole relationship: ‫‘( מני מדבחה‬the vessels of the altar,’ 38:3, 30) and ‫‘( מני משכניה‬the vessels of the tent,’ 31:7). It is expected that part-whole relationships are cast in the construct genitive construction in TN Exodus. The remaining combination in construction a has a second member that is an abstract noun of quality: ‫‘( מני פלחן משכנה‬the vessels of the service of the tabernacle,’ 39:40). This type of relationship is frequently expressed in construction a by the Targumist.

xxviii. ‫‘( חכימיא‬wise ones’) is used in 6 different combinations (3x a, 2x b). Both construction a and b are used to express a special relationship with ‫‘( ישראל‬Israel’) as the second member: ‫‘( חכימי ישראל‬the wise ones of Israel,’ 24:9) and ‫חכימיא דישראל‬ (‘the wise ones of Israel,’ 3:6, 18; 17:5, 6; 18:12; 12:2124:1). No difference in meaning is obvious. The adjunct genitive construction seems to be preferred for this combination. Construction b is employed to express another related special relationship: ‫‘( חכימיא דבני ישראל‬the wise ones of the sons of Israel,’ 4:29). One other special relationship is expressed in the construct genitive construction: ‫‘( חכימי עמא‬the wise ones of the people,’ 19:7). In the remaining combination in construction a, the first member is an adjective modifying the second member: ‫‘( חכימי לבה‬wise ones of heart,’ 31:6; 36:28). Both of these relationship types are normal for construction a. xxix. ‫‘( אעין‬wood’) is used in one combination with ‫‘( שטין‬acacia’). This combination most frequently occurs in the adjunct genitive construction, as it does 20 times in TN Exodus: ‫‘( אעין דשטין‬wood of acacia,’ 25:5, 10, 13, 23, 28; 26:15, 26; 27:1, 6; 30:5; 36:20, 31; 37:1, 4, 10, 15, 25, 28; 38:1, 6). It appears only twice in the construct genitive construction: ‫‘( אעי שטין‬wood of acacia,’ 35:7, 24). While both of these uses of construction a occur in the same chapter, there is no clear reason why the Targumist selects this construction over the adjunct genitive construction.

xxx. ‫‘( עבידה‬work’) appears in 3 combinations (2x a, 1x b). The following two combinations are found in construction a in TN Exodus: ‫‘( עבדת משכנא‬the work of the tabernacle,’ 39:32) and ‫‘( עבידת משכן זימנא‬the work of the tent of meeting,’ 35:21). There is only one combination with ‫‘( עבידה‬work’) as a first member in the adjunct genitive construction: ‫‘( עבידה דנגר‬work of a carpenter,’ 35:35). 2. Constructions a and c Seven first members are employed by the construct genitive construction and by the cataphoric genitive construction. Each is discussed below.

i. ‫‘( סרכייה‬commanding officers’) occurs in one combination with ‫‘( בני ישראל‬the sons of Israel’). This combination is a concrete special relationship. The Targumist usually prefers the cataphoric genitive construction over the construct genitive construction to express such a relationship. It appears twice in construction c and once in construction a in TN Exodus: ‫‘( סרכיהון דבני ישראל‬the commanding officers of the sons of Israel,’ 5:14, 15) and ‫‘( סרכי בנוי דישראל‬the commanding officers of the sons of

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN TARGUM NEOFITI I

139

Israel,’ 5:19). The cataphoric genitive construction is used twice in close proximity, while the construct genitive construction is used afterward.

ii. ‫‘( אדניה‬ears’) is used in two combinations (1x a, 1x c). In both instances in which ‫‘( אדניה‬ears’) is used as a first member, it denotes literal ears. It is used once in the construct genitive construction (‫אדני נשיכון‬, ‘the ears of your wives,’ 32:2) and once in the cataphoric genitive construction (‫אודניהון דבנוי‬, ‘the ears of his sons,’ 29:20). While human body parts are often used in a nonliteral way in the construct genitive construction, ‫‘( אדניה‬ears’) is not used that way in TN Exodus. iii. ‫‘( בתין‬houses’) appears in 4 combinations (2x a, 2x c). In each of the 4 combinations, ‫‘( בתין‬houses’) is used in a literal sense: ‫‘( בתי שלטנך‬the houses of your servants,’ 7:28), ‫‘( בתי שליטוי‬the houses of his servants,’ 8:20), ‘‫‘( בתיהון דמצרא‬the houses of the Egyptians,’ 8:17), and ‫‘( בתיהון דבני ישראל‬the houses of the sons of Israel,’ 12:27). The cataphoric genitive construction is employed when the second member is a proper name.

iv. ‫‘( פם‬mouth’) is used in 5 combinations (4x a, 1x c). In each of the 4 combinations in the construct genitive construction that has ‫‘( פם‬mouth’) as a first member, it is used in a nonliteral, extended sense: ‫‘( פם סירה‬the mouth/opening of the breastplate,’ 28:32; 39:23), ‫‘( פם מיכליה‬the mouth of his eating,’ i.e. ‘what a person will eat,’ 12:4; 16:16, 18, 21), ‫‘( פם מעילה‬the mouth/opening of the robe,’ 39:23), and ‫פם‬ ‫‘( ראשה‬the mouth/opening of its top,’ 28:32). In the one combination in the cataphoric genitive construction, ‫‘( פם‬mouth’) is used in a more literal way: ‫‘( פמיה דמשה‬the mouth of Moses,’ i.e. ‘the command of Moses,’ 38:21).

v. ‫‘( בנין‬sons’) is used in 18 different combinations (4x a, 14x c). The cataphoric genitive construction is most frequently employed when ‫‘( בנין‬sons’) is the first member. For each combination, the second member is a proper name. The following 14 combinations are found in TN Exodus: ‫‘( בנוי דאהרן‬the sons of Aaron,’ 28:1, 40), ‫בנין‬ ‫‘( דדן‬the sons of Dan,’ 35:34; 38:23), ‫‘( בניהון דעבריהון‬the sons of the Hebrews,’ 2:6), ‫‘( בנוי דישראל‬the sons of Israel,’ 1:7; 5:19; 6:26), ‫‘( בנוי דגרשון‬the sons of Gershon,’ 6:17), ‫‘( בנוי דיצהר‬the sons of Izhar,’ 6:21), ‫‘( בנוי דיהודה‬the sons of Judah,’ 31:2; 35:30; 38:22), ‫‘( בנוי דקהת‬the sons of Kohath,’ 6:18), ‫‘( בנוי דקרח‬the sons of Korah,’ 6:24[2]), ‫‘( בנוי דלוי‬the sons of Levi,’ 6:16, 19; 32:23), ‫‘( בנוי דמררי‬the sons of Merari,’ 6:19), ‫בנוי‬ ‫‘( דראובן‬the sons of Reuben,’ 6:14[2]), ‫‘( בנוי דשמעון‬the sons of Simeon,’ 6:15[2]), and ‫‘( בנוי דעזיאל‬the sons of Uzziel,’ 6:22). The construct genitive construction is employed for the frequently used fixed phrase, ‫‘( בני ישראל‬the sons of Israel,’ 1:1, 9, 12, 13; 2:23, 25, etc.). Construction a also expresses the following 3 fixed phrases: ‫‘( בני אנשא‬sons of man,’ 13:13, 15), ‫‘( בני בנין‬sons of sons,’ 34:7), and ‫‘( בני שתהון‬the sons of their year,’ 29:38). These phrases seem to be fixed in the construct genitive construction through repeated use. vi. ‫‘( מימר‬word’) is used in two combinations (1x a, 1x c). When ‫‘( ייי‬the Lord’) is used as a second member, the cataphoric genitive construction is employed: ‫ממריה דייי‬ (‘the word of the Lord,’ 15:26; 17:1; 34:5). ‫‘( ייי‬the Lord’) is not used as a second member in the construct genitive construction. The Targumist puts a screen between the first member and ‫‘( ייי‬the Lord’) by always placing it in the adjunct genitive construction or the cataphoric genitive construction. The sole occurrence of ‫מימר‬ (‘word’) as a first member in the construct genitive construction is in the fixed phrase

140

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

‫‘( מימר פתגמיא‬the utterance of the words,’ 34:27). Fixed phrases are routinely expressed in the construct genitive construction.

vii. ‫‘( פלחן‬work’) is used in 4 combinations (3x a, 1x c). The construct genitive construction is used when the second member is the object of the head noun: ‫פלחן‬ ‫‘( משכן זימנא‬the work of the tent of meeting,’ 30:16), ‫‘( פלחן בית קודשא‬the work of the sanctuary,’ 36:1, 3), and ‫‘( פלחן משכנה‬the work of the tabernacle,’ 39:40). Objective genitive relationships are frequently expressed in the construct genitive construction. The other instance of ‫‘( פלחן‬work’) as a first member is in the cataphoric genitive construction: ‫‘( פלחניון דלווי‬the work of the Levites,’ 38:21). 3. Constructions b and c Twelve first members occur in both the adjunct genitive construction and in the cataphoric genitive construction. Each is analyzed below. i. ‫‘( מדבח‬altar’) is used as the first member in 6 combinations (5x b, 1x c). In all but one instance, the adjunct genitive construction is employed. It is used in 3 combinations in consruction b in which the second member denotes the material composition of the first member: ‫‘( מדבחה דנחשה‬the altar of bronze,’ 38:30; 39:39), ‫‘( מדבחה דדהבא‬the altar of gold,’ 39:38; 40:5, 26), and ‫‘( מדבח דאבנין‬the altar of stones,’ 20:25). The adjunct genitive construction is most frequently used when the second member denotes the material composition of the first member. The other two combinations in construction b have second members that function as attributes that in some way define the first member: ‫‘( מדבחה דעלתה‬the altar of burnt offering,’ 30:28; 31:9; 35:16; 38:1; 40:6, 10, 29) and ‫‘( מדבחא דקטרתא‬the altar of incense,’ 30:27; 37:25). Although this relationship type is most common in the construct genitive construction, it can also be expressed in the adjunct genitive construction. The lone occurrence of ‫‘( מדבח‬altar’) as a first member in the cataphoric genitive construction is 31:8: ‫‘( מדבחיה דקטרת‬the altar of incense’). There is no obvious reason why construction c was selected over the adjunct genitive construction. ii. ‫‘( משמע‬hearing’) is used in two combinations (1x b, 1x c). The cataphoric genitive consruction has two instances with ‫‘( משמע‬hearing’) as the first member: ‫‘( משמעהון דעמא‬the hearing of the people,’ 11:2; 24:7). In both instances, the first member is a nominalized predicate of which the second member is the subject. This relationship type is sometimes expressed in construction c. The sole occurrence of ‫‘( משמע‬hearing’) as a first member in the adjunct genitive construction is also in a nominalized predicate combination: ‫‘( משמעא דבניכון‬the hearing of your sons,’ 10:2). The adjunct genitive construction is used when ‫ משמעין דבניכון‬denotes a future action that will be repeated. The two instances that employ the cataphoric genitive construction are a part of actions that take place immediately and may be viewed as more concrete by the Targumist.

iii. ‫‘( לב‬heart’) is used as the first member in 4 combinations (1x b, 3x c). When ‫לב‬ (‘heart’) is used as a first member in TN Exodus, it is employed in a nonliteral, extended sense of the seat of thinking and emotions. It is used in three combinations in the cataphoric genitive construction: ‫‘( לבהון דמצריי‬the heart of the Egyptians,’ 14:17), ‫‘( לביהון דשליטוי‬the heart of his officials,’ 10:1), and ‫‘( לביה דפרעה‬the heart of Pharaoh,’ 10:20; 11:20). When the second member is (‘Pharaoh’), it most frequently appears in

THE USE OF GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN TARGUM NEOFITI I

141

the adjunct genitive consruction: ‫‘( לבא דפרעה‬the heart of Pharaoh,’ 7:3, 13, 14, 22; 8:15; 9:7, 12, 35; 14:4, 8). When the second member is singular, it appears that the adjunct genitive construction is preferred. iv. ‫‘( טעון‬idols’) appears in 4 combinations (3x b, 1x c). When the second member denotes the material composition of the first member, as expected, the adjunct genitive construction is employed: ‫‘( טעון דכסף‬idols of silver,’ 20:23), ‫‘( טעוון דדהב‬idols of gold,’ 20:23), and ‫‘( טעוון דמתכה‬idols of metal,’ 34:17). The lone combination with ‫טעון‬ (‘idols’) as a first member in the cataphoric genitive construction is a special relationship: ‫‘( טעוותיהן דמצריי‬the idols of the Egyptians,’ 8:22[2]; 12:12). In every instance but two where ‫‘( מצריי‬Egyptians’) is used as a second member, the cataphoric genitive construction is employed. v. ‫‘( דין‬judgment’) is used in 3 different combinations (2x b, 1x c). Two of the combinations with ‫‘( דין‬judgment’) as a first member seem to be fixed phrases. One is expressed in the adjunct genitive construction, the other in the cataphoric genitive construction: ‫‘( דין דמלין‬judgment of words,’ 24:14) and ‫‘( דנהון דבנתה‬the judgment of the daughters,’ 21:9). Although it is not obvious why each construction is used, the fixed phrases were probably set in a particular construction through repeated use. The other combination in the unmarked construction, b, has an objective genitive relationship: ‫‘( דינא די צריכה‬the judgment of the poor,’ 23:6). The second member serves as the object of the first member. This relationship type is sometimes cast in the adjunct genitive construction.

vi. ‫‘( ארע‬land’) is used in 7 different combinations (5x b, 2x c). The adjunct genitive construction is most frequently employed when ‫‘( ארע‬land’) is the first member. It appears in 5 combinations with second members that are proper names, 4 of which are singular toponyms: ‫‘( ארעא דכנען‬the land of Canaan,’ 6:4; 15:15; 16:35), ‫‘( ארעא דמצרים‬the land of Egypt,’ 5:12; 6:26, 28’ 7:4, etc.), ‫‘( ארעא דמצריי‬the land of the Egyptians,’ 7:3; 10:15), ‫‘( ארעא דגשן‬the land of Goshen,’ 8:18; 9:26), and ‫ארעא‬ ‫‘( דפלשת‬the land of Philistia,’ 15:14). The cataphoric genitive construction is used whenever the second member is either ‫‘( כנענאי‬the Canaanites’) or ‫‘( פלישתיי‬the Philistines’): ‫‘( ארעהון דכנענאי‬the land of the Canaanites,’ 3:8, 17; 13:5, 11) and ‫ארעהון‬ ‫‘( דפלישתיי‬the land of the Philistines,’ 13:17).

vii. ‫‘( מרא‬owner’) is used in 3 combinations (1x b, 2x c). In each of the 3 instances with ‫‘( מרא‬owner’) as a first member, the combination is a special relationship. It is used twice in two different combinations in the cataphoric genitive consruction: ‫מריה‬ ‫‘( דתורא‬the owner of the ox,’ 21:28) and ‫מרה דביתא‬8 (‘the owner of the house,’ 22:7). The lone occurrence of ‫‘( מרא‬owner’) as a first member in the adjunct genitive construction is ‫‘( מרא דגובא‬the owner of the pit,’ 21:34). All 3 are employed in the apodosis of a conditional stipulation. Since all 3 combinations have a special relationship, there is no detectable reason why they should be in different genitive constructions.

8

This could be adjunct.

142

GENITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARAMAIC

viii. ‫‘( עיזקא‬ring’) is used in one combination with ‫‘( אפודה‬the ephod’) as the second member. The lone occurrence of ‫‘( עיזקא‬ring’) as a first member in the unmarked construction is in 28:28: ‫עיזקא דאפודה‬9 (‘the ring of the ephod’). This combination is expressed a single time in the cataphoric genitive construction: ‫עזקיה‬ ‫‘( דאפודה‬the ring of the ephod,’ 39:21). The adjunct genitive construction is used in an imperatival context while the cataphoric genitive construction is employed by the Targumist when he describes something that took place. The context in which the cataphoric genitive construction is employed may be viewed as more concrete to the Targumist than the imperatival context. ix. ‫‘( ים‬sea’) is used in two different combinations (1x b, 1x c). When the second member is a proper name, the cataphoric genitive construction is employed: ‫ימהון‬ ‫‘( דפלישתאי‬the sea of the Philistines,’ 23:31). When the second member is an attribute that in some way defines the first member, the adjunct genitive construction is used in three instances: ‫‘( ימא דסוף‬sea of reed,’ 13:18; 15:4; 23:31).

x. ‫‘( סטר‬side’) is used in 5 combinations (4x b, 1x c). The adjunct genitive construction is most frequently used when ‫‘( סטר‬side’) is the first member. It is used in 3 combinations in construction b to form a part-whole relationship with its second member: ‫‘( סטרה דמשכנא‬the side of the tabernacle,’ 26:13, 20, 25, 27, 32, 35; 36:31, 32), ‫‘( סטרא דיריעתה‬the side of the curtain,’ 26:4, 5, 10[2], 11[2], 12, 17), and ‫סיטרה‬ ‫‘( דאפודה‬the side of the ephod,’ 39:19). The other instance in the adjunct genitive construction has a second member that is a direction: ‫‘( סטרא דדרומיא‬the side of the south,’ 27:9). The sole instance in the cataphoric genitive construction expresses a partwhole relationship: ‫‘( סיטריה דמשכניה‬the side of the tabernacle,’ 26:26).

xi. ‫‘( סטרין‬sides’) occurs in 7 combinations (4x b, 3x c).The cataphoric genitive construction is used three times when ‫‘( סטרין‬sides’) is the first member. Each of the three combinations have a part-whole relationship: ‫‘( סיטרוי דמשכנה‬the sides of the tabernacle,’ 26:23; 36:28), ‫‘( סטרוי דארונא‬the sides of the ark,’ 25:14; 37:5), and ‫סיטרוי‬ ‫‘( דחושנא‬the sides of the breastpiece,’ 28:23, 24, 26; 39:16, 17, 19). All of the second members concern the tabernacle and its furnishings. Four combinations are found in the adjunct genitive construction. All four combinations have a part-whole relationship: ‫‘( סטרין דמשכנה‬the sides of the tabernacle,’ 26:27), ‫‘( סטריה דמדבחא‬the sides of the altar,’ 27:7; 38:7), ‫‘( סטריה דכפרתה‬the sides of the mercy seat,’ 25:18; 37:7), and ‫סטרין‬ ‫‘( דיריעתה‬the sides of the curtain,’ 36:17). The cataphoric genitive construction and the adjunct genitive construction seem to be fairly evenly used when expressing part-whole relationships with ‫‘( סטרין‬sides’) as the first member. xii. ‫‘( פתגמיא‬words’) is used in one combination with ‫‘( ייי‬the Lord’) as the second member. This combination occurs 3 times in the adjunct genitive construction: ‫פתגמיא‬ ‫‘( דייי‬the words of the Lord,’ 4:28; 24:3, 4). The same combination appears a single time in the cataphoric genitive construction: ‫‘( פתגמוי דייי‬the words of the Lord,’ 9:21). Since ‫‘( ייי‬the Lord’) is found as a second member in both constructions, the Targumist seems

9

This reading is corrupt—has to be ‫עיזק>ת