Page:Introductory Hebrew Grammar- Hebrew Syntax (1902).djvu/175

 9:14, 2 Chr. 16:9. Cf. § 31, and on 1 S. 4:15, Mic. 4:11. § 116.

2. Agreement of Compound Subject

§ 114. When the subj. is compound, consisting of several elements joined by and. — (a) When subj. is first the verb is usually plur., and so the pred. in nominal sent. 2 S. 16:15 וְאַבְשָׁלוֹם וכל־הָעָם בָּאוּ  Abs. and all the people came; Gen. 8:22; 18:11. But sometimes the verb is sing., agreeing either with the word next it or with the chief element of the complex subj., or the several parts of subj. all forming one conception: 2 S. 20:10 Joab and Abishai his brother רָדַף  pursued. Hos. 4:11 whoredom and wine and new wine יִקַּח־לְב  take away the understanding. Hos. 9:2, Deu. 8:13. Neh. 5:14 אֲנִי וְאַחַי לֹא אָכַלְתִּי. 2 S. 3:22, Est. 4:16. If parts of the subj. be of different genders pred. is usually mas., Gen. 18:11, but cf. Jer. 44:25.

(b) When the pred. is first it perhaps oftenest agrees in gend. and numb. with the element of the subj. which is next it; but it may be in plur. When the subj. has once been mentioned following verbs are in plur. Gen. 31:14 וַתַּעַן רָחֵל וְלֵאָה וַתּאֹמַרְנָה  R. and L. answered and said; Nu. 12:1 וַתְּדַבֵּר מִרְיָם וְאַֽהֲרֹן ··· וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ  Mir. and Aaron spoke and said; Gen. 3:8 וַיִּתְחַבֵּא הָֽאָדָם וְאִשְׁתּוֹ  hid themselves. Gen. 7:7; 9:23; 21:32; 24:50, 55; 33:7; 44:14, Jud. 5:1; 8:21, 1 S. 11:15; 18:3; 27:8, 1 K. 1:34, 41. — Pl. Gen. 40:1, Nu. 20:10; 31:13, Ex. 5:1; 7:20. Or it may be mas. sing. (§ 133 b), Joel 1:13.

(c) When the subj. is a pron. and noun, the pron. must be expressed whether verb be sing. or plur. Gen. 7:1 בֹּא־אַתָּה וכל־בֵּֽיתְךָ  go thou and all thy house, Jud. 7:10, 11. Jud. 11:38 וַתֵּלֶךְ הִיא וְרֵֽעוֹתֶיהָ  she and her companions