Page:Introductory Hebrew Grammar- Hebrew Syntax (1902).djvu/98

 experiences with wild beasts), Am. 4:7, 8 (a drought), 1 K. 5:6–8 (Solomon’s menage).

Rem. 1. (1) The story is generally introduced by וְהָיָה  and it used to be, followed by אִם   or כִּי   with perf. (simple perf. Nu. 11:8), sometimes without והיה  (Jud. 2:18); or by freq. impf. Ex. 33:7. (2) Details are often introduced or a new start made in the narrative by והיה. (3) When vav is disjoined from the verb the simple freq. impf. is employed. (4) The writer does not always consistently continue vav perf. or freq. impf., but falls into simple narrative with vav impf., &c., 1 S. 2:16, Jud. 6:4; 12:5, 6. The passage 1 S. 17:34 seq. is freq., וַיקם  having the force of a vigorous supposition (when he rose up).

The use of vav perf. as freq. is exceedingly free; it may occur in any connexion, introducing an additional trait or an entirely new fact. Is. 6:3 וְקָרָא זֶה אֶל־זֶה  and one cried (continuously) to the other; 2 S. 12:16 וּבָא וְלָן וְשָׁכַב   and he went in and lay all night (the child died on 7th day). 1 S. 7:16 וְהָלַךְ  and he used to go yearly (following a historical narrative); 1 K. 9:25 וְהֶֽעֱלָ׳ה שׁ׳   and Sol. offered thrice a year (a new point). 1 S. 16:23; 27:9, 1 K. 4:7, 2 K. 3:4, cf. Gen. 37:3.

§ 55. Vav perf. continues verbal forms belonging to the sphere of impf., or equivalent to it in meaning, as (a) imper. coh., juss.; (b) infin.; (c) ptcp.

(a) 1 S. 8:22 שְׁמַע בְּקוֹלָם וְהִמְלַכְתָּֽ  listen to their voice, and appoint a king; 1 K. 2:31 פְּגַע־בּוֹ וּקְבַרְתּוֹ   fall upon him, and bury him. Gen. 6:14; 19:2; 45:19, Ex. 18:19–22, 1 S. 12:24; 15:3, 18, 2 S. 19:34, 1 K. 2:36; 17:13, Jer. 25:15. So after inf. abs. as general imper. (§ 88 b), Deu. 1:16; 31:26, Jer. 32:14. Cohort., Gen. 31:44 נִכְרְתָה בְרִית וְהָיָה לְעֵד  let us make a cov. and it shall be a witness; Ru. 2:7. After juss., Ex. 5:7 הֵם יֵֽלְכוּ וְקֽשְׁשׁוּ תֶבֶן  let them go themselves, and gather straw. 1 K. 1:2; 22:13. Gen 1:14; 28:3.

(b) Infin. — In ref. to fut., 2 K. 18:32 עַד־בֹּאִי וְלָֽקַחְתִּי