Page:Introductory Hebrew Grammar- Hebrew Syntax (1902).djvu/144

 of the action of previous verb, is used with inf. cons. in a weaker sense (like gerund in do) to explain the circumstances or nature of a preceding action. This gerundial (adverbial) use is very common. 1 S. 14:33 הָעָם הֹטִאים לֶֽאֱכֹל עַל־הַדָּם    the people are sinning in eating with the blood; 1 K. 5:23 תַּֽעֲשֶׂה אֶת־חֶפְצִי לָתֵת לֶחֶם בֵּיתִי     thou wilt do my desire in giving (so as to give) bread for my house. Gen. 18:25; 19:19; 29:26; 34:7; 43:6, 1 S. 12:17, 19; 19:5; 20:20, 2 S. 14:20, 1 K. 8:32; 14:8; 16:19. So the frequent לֵאמֹר    saying. Similarly in explanation of a comparison, Gen. 3:22, 2 S. 14:25, Is. 21:1, Ez. 38:16, Pr. 26:2, 1 Chr. 12:8. — Jos. 22:26 is peculiar if text right. Is. 44:14 לִכֵרֹת    text dubious.

§ 94. The inf. with ל    is also used as a circumscription in various senses of the imperfect. (a) As a periphrastic fut. Gen. 15:12 וַיְהִי הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ לָבוֹא    and it was, the sun was about to set, Jos. 2:5. Is. 38:20 י׳ לֵהֽוֹשִׁיעֵנִי    ''Je. is (ready, about) to save me''. Is. 10:32, Jer. 51:49, Ps. 25:14; 49:15, Pr. 19:8, Ecc. 3:15, 1 Chr. 9:25. — In 1 S. 14:21 rd. סָֽבֵבוּ גם־המה    they also turned to be. (b) As a gerundive, in the sense of is to be, must be, ought to be. 2 K. 4:13 מֶה לַֽעֲשׂוֹת לָךְ הֲיֵשׁ לֵדַבֶּר־לָךְ    ''what is to be done for thee? should one speak for thee'' to the king? 2 K. 13:19 לְהַכּוֹת חָמֵשׁ אוֹ־שֵׁשׁ פְּעָמִים    percutiendum erat. Is. 5:4, Hos. 9:13, Ps. 32:9; 49:15, Job 30:6, 2 S. 4:10. Or in the sense of can be, Jud. 1:19, 2 S. 14:19 ( אשׁ    = יֵשׁ     ). — The consn. in Gen. 15:12, Jos. 2:5 appears to be as 1 S. 7:10, 2 S. 2:24, 1 K. 20:40, 2 K. 2:11, and often, the vb. was being understood.

§ 95. The negative inf. is formed — (a) Usually by particle בִּלְתִּי    with ל    , as Gen. 3:11 צִוִיתִיךָ לְבִלְתִּי אֲכָלאמִמֶּנּוּ     I commanded thee not to eat of it, Deu. 4:21, 1 K. 11:10. This particle negatives inf. in its various uses, e.g. when it expresses purpose, Gen. 4:15; 38:9, and frequently in its