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Garrett_BiblicalHebrew/Supplements/ch37.html

@@ -32,6 +32,26 @@ <h2>Others</h2>
     </ul>
     <li>Please pay attention to the “Assignment Chart” on Canvas. The translation questions are taken from the list.</li>
   </ul>
+  <h2>Tips</h2>
+  <ul>
+    <li>A special function of <span class="heb" dir="rtl">אִם</span></li>
+    <ul>
+      <li>When <span class="heb" dir="rtl">אִם</span> appears in an oath, its function is special. I will quote some grammar here:</li>
+      <ul>
+        <li><cite>After an oath formula (explicit or implied) or an exclamation, <span class="heb" dir="rtl">אִם</span> is used to begin the protasis of a conditional sentence (‘if …’). But as an oath, the protasis is functioning as a declaration. When the protasis that begins with <span class="heb" dir="rtl">אִם</span> is understood as a declaration, one must reverse its positive or negative sense, meaning that a negative protasis (<span class="heb" dir="rtl">אִם לֹא</span>) is a positive declaration, and a positive protasis (<span class="heb" dir="rtl">אִם</span>) is a negative declaration. Because of this reversal, this use of <span class="heb" dir="rtl">אִם</span> is sometimes called the privative <span class="heb" dir="rtl">אִם</span>.</cite> (Beckman, John C.. Williams Hebrew Syntax, Third Edition . University of Toronto Press. Kindle Edition, §456.) </li>
+      </ul>
+      <li>In the textbook, p. 294, the Reading passages, 1 Kgs 17:1, we see this construction. Elijah said to Ahab:</li>
+      <ul>
+        <li><cite><span class="heb" dir="rtl">אִם־יִהְיֶ֛ה הַשָּׁנִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה טַ֣ל וּמָטָ֑ר כִּ֖י אִם־לְפִ֥י דְבָרִֽי</span></cite></li>
+        <li>Because of the <span class="heb" dir="rtl">אִם</span> at the beginning of the clause, the sentence should be translated as:</li>
+        <ul>
+          <li><cite>There will be no dew or rain these years unless according to my word (by my word).</cite></li>
+          <li>Elijah is essentially saying: <cite>There will be no dew or rain these years unless I say it will rain.</cite> (Of course, Elijah has no power to do it by himself. He was sent by God to give the prophecy.)</li>
+        </ul>
+      </ul>
+    </ul>
+  </ul>
+
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