Page:Introductory Hebrew Grammar- Hebrew Syntax (1902).djvu/183

 sworn כי is often repeated, 2 S. 2:27; 3:9; 15:21, 1 K. 1:30, Jer. 22:24, Gen. 22:16. In כי אם  the אם   is sometimes merely conditional, that, if, 1 S. 14:39, Jer. 22:24, cf. Deu. 32:40. In other cases the use of כי אם  is peculiar. (1) 2 S. 3:35 with 2 K. 3:14 seems to show that the use of כי  in the oath was customary without ref. to the pos. or neg. nature of the thing sworn (apod.). The כי , which may be repeated, merely adds force to the whole statement. (2) On the other hand, in such passages as Jud. 15:7, 1 K. 20:6, 2 S. 15:21, the אם  seems pleonastic. Its idiomatic use may in some way add force to the כי , though the origin of the idiom is difficult to trace. It can scarcely be the same use of אם  as occurs after a neg. or exception, but ( = “yes, if”).

INTERROGATIVE SENTENCE

§ 121. The interrog. sent. may be nominal or verbal. See exx. below. — The interrogation may be made without any particle, by the mere tone of voice. 2 S. 18:29 שָׁלוֹם לַנַּעַר  is the child well? 2 S. 11:11 וַֽאֲנִי אָבוֹא אֶל־בֵּיתִי   and shall I go to my house? 1 S. 21:16 חֲסַר מְשֻׁגָּעִים אָֽנִי  am I in want of madmen? Gen. 18:12; 27:24, Jud. 14:16, 1 S. 16:4; 22:7, 15; 25:11, 2 S. 9:6; 16:17; 19:23; 23:5, 1 K. 1:24; 21:7, Jon. 4:11, Song 3:3. Less frequently in neg. sent., 1 S. 20:9, 2 K. 5:26, Job 2:10. Omission of the particle is most common in animated speech, as when any idea is repudiated, and particularly when pron. is expressed; cf. Jud. 14:16, 2 S. 11:11, 2 K. 19:11, Jer. 25:29, Ez. 20:31, Jon. 4:11.

§ 122. When a particle is used it is generally put at the head of the clause, Gen. 3:11. The simple question is oftenest made by הֲ  (Gr. § 49). Gen. 4:9 הֲשֹׁמֵר אָחִי אָנֹֽכִי  am I my brother’s keeper? 24:58 הֲתֵֽלְכִי עִם הָאִישׁ הַזֶּה   wilt thou go with this man? Gen. 18:17; 43:27, 29; 45:3, 2 S. 7:5. — So before יֵשׁ  and אַיִן   ; Gen. 24:23 הֲיֵשׁ בֵּית אָבִיךְ מָקוֹם לָנוּ לָלִין   is there room for us to lodge in the house of