Page:Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar (1910 Kautzsch-Cowley edition).djvu/498

   shall we go... or shall we forbear? Cf. also, and J. Barth, , i. 13 ff.

The particular uses are as follows:—

(a) The particle stands primarily before the simple question, when the questioner is wholly uncertain as to the answer to be expected, and may be used either before noun-clauses, e.g.   another brother? for  cf. , ; for ; for   (but in  for  read  with ); for , &c.; or before verbal-clauses, e.g.  hast thou considered  my servant Job? In other cases  (= num?) is used before questions, to which, from their tone and contents, a negative answer is expected, e.g.  if a man die,  indeed live again? Sometimes a question is so used only as a rhetorical form instead of a negative assertion, or of a surprised or indignant refusal, e.g.  (in the parallel passage , &c.);   am I my brother’s keeper? cf. , and the two passages where is used before the infinitive (,  ; on both, see § 113 ee, with the note).—On the other hand, in  for  (after ) read.

Rem. 1. A few passages deserve special mention, in which the use of the interrogative is altogether different from our idiom, since it serves merely to express the conviction that the contents of the statement are well known to the hearer, and are unconditionally admitted by him. Thus, surely thou hast eaten;   prop. is it so that one names? &c., i.e. of a truth he is rightly named Jacob; verily thou art my brother;, , I S 2:27 I did indeed, &c.; 20:37,  ye know surely...; , .—In  (cf. ) a surprising communication is introduced in this way (by ) in order to show it to be absolutely true, and in  a concession is expressed by , &c. Finally, we may include the formula of quotation  or  equivalent to surely it is, they are written (the latter in, , and very often elsewhere in the books of Kings and Chronicles), synonymous with the simple formula of assertion  , and  , , ,.

Of very frequent occurrence also are questions introduced by, which really contain an affirmation and are used to state the reason for a request or warning, e.g. turn thee aside... wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? i.e. otherwise I will (or must) smite, &c.; cf. , and Driver on the passage; ; also, ; , , ,.