Page:Introductory Hebrew Grammar- Hebrew Syntax (1902).djvu/186

 the reply the word that takes up the point of the question usually stands first, being emphatic. Gen. 24:23; 27:19, 32; 29:4, 1 S. 17:58.

Interrog. sentences are made also by interr. pron. (§ 7, and the exx.), and by various particles. See Rem. 6.

Rem. 1. The disjunctive question very rarely has הֲ  in second clause, Nu. 13:18; sometimes אוֹ  Job 16:3; 38:28, 31, Mal. 1:8, Ecc. 2:19; and sometimes simple זְ  Job 13:7; 38:32.

Rem. 2. In animated questions particles of interr. are sometimes accumulated, Gen. 17:17 or shall Sarah — shall one 90 years old bear? Jud. 14:15, Ps. 94:9; or repeated 1 S. 14:37; 23:11; 30:8, 2 S. 5:19.

In Job 6:13 Nu. 17:28 the double הַאִם  seems = nonne? In Nu. תַּמְנוּ לִגְוֹעַ  means we are finished dying = are all dead (Jos. 4:11, 1 S. 16:11, 2 S. 15:24), therefore: are we not dead to a man? (cf. v. 27). If האם  were a stronger form of ה  , the sense would be: are we to die (have died) to a man? but such a meaning of האם   does not suit Job 6:13.

Rem. 3. In the forms הֲכִי  is it that? הֲלֹא כִי   is it not that? כי   adds force to the question. 2 S. 9:1; 13:28, Job 6:22, cf. Deu. 32:30. Sometimes הֲכִי  vividly posits a fact as ground for a real or supposed inference. Gen. 27:36 is it that they called his name Jacob ? = well has he been called, &c.; 29:15, cf. 1 S. 2:27, 1 K. 22:3.

Rem. 4. The interrogation often co-ordinates clauses when other languages would subordinate; Is. 50:2 ''why am I come and there is no man? = why, when I am come, is there'', &c. 2 S. 12:18, 2 K. 5:12, Is. 5:4, Am. 9:7, Job 4:2, 21; 38:35.

Rem. 5. The form of question is much used as a strong expression of declinature, repudiation of an idea, or deprecation of a consequence. Gen. 27:45, 1 S. 19:17, 2 S. 2:22; 20:19, 1 K. 16:31, 2 Chr. 25:16, Ecc. 5:5.

Rem. 6. Some other interrog. particles:

(a) ''Why? wherefore? לָֽמָּה , וְלָֽמָּה   , לָמָֽה   ; מַדּוּעַ   , וּמדוע   ; why not?'' לָמָּה לא   , מַדּוּעַ לא. — 1 S. 19:17 לָמָּה כָּכָה רִמִּיתִנִי  why hast