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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
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34 2012
Gorgias Press LLC, 954 River Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA www.gorgiaspress.com Copyright © 2012 by Gorgias Press LLC
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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ְ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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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̇ (‘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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.’
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‘( 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.
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̈
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,
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̈
‘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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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‘( 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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̈
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
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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.
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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.
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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).
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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.
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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
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(‘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
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̈
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)
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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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.
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(‘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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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‘( 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),
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‘( 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
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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,’
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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
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(‘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
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‘( 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
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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).
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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;
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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
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‘( 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
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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
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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.’
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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
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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
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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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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
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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
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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:
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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‘( 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.
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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
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(‘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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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.
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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,’
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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
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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,’
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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“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
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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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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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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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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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(‘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
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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).
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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).
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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
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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).
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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,’
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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.
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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‘( 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
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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.
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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