John T. Strong, «Verb Forms of sm( in Ezekiel and Lamentations», Vol. 88 (2007) 546-552
Verb forms from the root sm( are defined in the lexicons as 'to dim, darken,'
drawing upon Arabic for guidance. This definition, however, does not allow for
a consistent translation in the texts where these verb forms appear. It is proposed
here that the verb forms be understood as denominatives from the common noun
s(a and the preposition s(i, which are a part of the semantic family, indicating an
agnate relationship. This understanding is applied to the four instances in the
Hebrew Bible where these verb forms appear: Ezek 28,3; 31,8; Ezek 32,19; and
Lam 4,1. Each verse addresses a question of association or belonging. The
development of these denominative forms reflects concerns over the issue of
status for the Judean exiles in the sixth century BCE.
Verb Forms of µm[ in Ezekiel and Lamentations 547
Fundamentally, µm[ indicates an “agnate relationship†(5), which is reflected in
the lexical entries as well, and whose etymology is traced back to the concept
of “paternal uncle†(6). Most interestingly, within the Hebrew Bible µ[ is
found in the burial formula, wym[Ala πsan, meaning literally “be gathered to his
ancestors†(7). Conversely, as a noun, µ[ is used in the banishment formula,
hym[m awhh vpnh htrknw (“his soul was cut off from his peopleâ€) to indicate
expulsion from the community, perhaps with origins in the ancestor cult (8).
Additionally, the covenant formula “I will be your God, and you will be my
people†emphasizes a close family relationship, indicating that “Yahweh and
Israel would be understood henceforth as a kind of family†(9). As a collective,
µ[ indicates the general assembly of the Israelites, or of the People of the
Land of Judah (i.e., ≈rah µ[), or the post-exilic assembly (10). This survey
provides a view of the semantic range of µ[, that being a kinship association.
Simply, µ[ denotes the sense of being properly associated, indeed, genetically
belonging together. If this sense is then applied to verb forms derived from
the noun form, not only are the passages in question brought into clearer
focus, but new nuances of meaning become evident in these verses, shedding
further insight into the worldview of their authors.
I
It always seems best to move from the clearest contexts to the more
difficult, and so, Ezek 31,8 provides a good starting point for this brief study.
NRSV, NJPS, and most commentators translate µm[ in 31,8 in the sense of
comparing the specific cedar/Assyria (11) to other trees, and finding none to be
worthy of such a comparison (12). Greenberg presents a departure from the
crowd, using the root meaning of “to darken†in order to translate: “Cedars in
God’s Garden could not overshadow him†(13), which in this instance seems to
offer a less probable option. The context of chapter 31 creates a broad avenue
for our entrance to this study, for this chapter is a focused unit, which
compares Egypt to Assyria (cf. v. 31,2, ˚ldgb tymd ymAla, “To whom do you
(5) See E. LIPINski, “µ[â€, TDOT, XI, 165, 169.
´
(6) HALOT, II, 837; BDB, 766.
( ) LIPINSKI, “µ[â€, TDOT, XI, 170.
´
7
(8) LIPINSKI, “µ[â€, TDOT, XI, 171. Foreshadowing the discussion of Ezek 32,19 below,
´
connections with the ancestor cult provide an especially important nuance in regard to the
use of the µm[ in a poem that ultimate associates dead Egypt with dead Assyria.
(9) LIPINSKI, “µ[â€, TDOT, XI, 172.
´
(10) LIPINSKI, “µ[â€, TDOT, XI, 174-5.
´
(11) Many scholars emend the text to of Ezek 31,3 from rwva (“Assyriaâ€) to rwvat (“a
cypressâ€), but with no supporting evidence. As M. Odell has very clearly argued (Ezekiel
[Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary; Macon, GA 2005] 392) the MT should be
maintained, and Assyria should be read as the antecedent to the cedar of Lebanon in this
passage.
(12) See, for example, W. ZIMMERLI, Ezekiel (Hermeneia; Philadelphia 1983) II, 143
(“could not rivalâ€) and 150 (for discussion); L. BOADT, Ezekiel’s Oracles against Egypt. A
Literary and Philological Study of Ezekiel 29–32 (BibOr 37; Rome 1980) 111; D.I. BLOCK,
The Book of Ezekiel. Chapters 25–48 (NICOT; Grand Rapids 1998) 183 (“cedars … cannot
compareâ€); K.-F. POHLMANN, Das Buch des Propheten Hesekiel (Ezechiel). Kapitel 20–48
(ATD 22/2; Göttingen 2001) 421, (“kamen ihr nicht gleichâ€).
(13) M. GREENBERG, Ezekiel 21–37 (AB 22a; New York 1997) 635 and 639.