(More) On the Precative Qatal in Lamentations 3.56-61: Updating the Argument. (June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stone, Mark Preston
• Is Part Of: Journal for the study of the Old Testament. Volume 45:Number 4(2021:Jun.)
• Page Start: 493
• Page End: 514
• Publication Date: 2021-06
• Subjects: Lamentations -- cognitive linguistics -- grammaticalization -- precative qatal -- biblical Hebrew poetry -- biblical Hebrew verbs; 221.605
• DOI: 10.1177/0309089220963423
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0309-0892

Abstract

The rhetorical movement throughout Lamentations 3 is difficult to describe and scholars disagree on how to characterize the acrostic poem. Much hinges on how we interpret the sequence of qatal verbs throughout 3.56-61. Most scholars understand this section as a Danklied, and so translate the qatal forms in the past tense. Another option is to understand the qatal verbs as precatives, expressing a wish or command. However, this is a contested form in the linguistic study of classical Hebrew. Many Lamentations scholars cite this uncertainty in arguments against a precative reading of Lam. 3.56-61. This article builds a fresh case for understanding the precative qatal as rhetorically and linguistically plausible. After working through the rhetorical arguments that support this reading, special attention is given to a recent argument in favor of the precative hypothesis from linguist Alexander Andrason. Brief comments are also offered on the oral-performative dimension of this interpretation.