INTRODUCTION
The vav consecutive is a verbal construction composed of a vav conjunction followed by an imperfect or perfect form of a classical Hebrew verb root. When formed with the imperfect, the verb form is frequently altered in some respect from the normal imperfect spelling and vocalization; when formed with the perfect, spelling and vocalization are generally unchanged, but the stress accent is moved to the last syllable if not already there. Invariably, the vav consecutive form, perfect or imperfect, must be the first word in its clause. Such forms occur abundantly in narrative literature of Classical Hebrew but appear much less frequently or not at all in poetic or hymnic literature.
One will find all this information along with details of meaning, formation, vocalization, etc., in essentially every Classical Hebrew grammar, but such reference books have no information at all about what purpose this construction served within a text. It is unique to Classical Hebrew among all of the other ancient Semitic languages, and it dropped out of use in Hebrew documents from the Mishnaic period to the present time. (It may never have been a dominant characteristic of the spoken language.) A fundamental aspect of linguistic change is that languages tend to become simpler in forms and structures over time. (E.g., the English subjunctive construction has almost completely dropped out of use over the past 50 years, and it is now flagged as an error by most word processors.) Any vav consecutive with the imperfect (perfect) could be replaced immediately with a simple perfect (imperfect) of the same verb root with no change in semantic content. Consequently, the presence of this form in a text is either structural, stylistic, or both; semantically it is an unnecessary form. If its significance is structural, then the alternation between a string of vav consecutive clauses and any other verbal construction may signal a structural division within the flow and development of a narrative.
ASSUMPTIONS
We have no extensive narrative textual manuscripts dating earlier than those of the Qumran library. Biblical texts from this library conform fairly closely to the forms and textual traditions preserved in the Massoretic Text. We have no real idea what these texts may have looked like as original autographs or 1000 years earlier than Qumran, as the case may be. At any rate, we do know that common availability and access to books (scrolls) was a rarity until the invention of the printing press. Up to that time even those who were literate seldom had personal possession of many books, because their cost was prohibitively high. As a result most people obtained information by listening to public readings of individual books or passages from books. (An example of this practice is found in Nehemiah chapter 8.)
Modern printed texts of the Hebrew Bible all include book divisions, chapter divisions, paragraph divisions, and verse divisions. These divisions were added (or retained) by the Massorites along with vowel points and accents to facilitate reading by people who were not specialists in this art. I possess a kosher scroll of Ruth, and it consists of four columns with just a single closed paragraph break at verse 4:1 – there are no other structural marks in this text. My printed Massoretic Text has just one closed paragraph break at verse 4:18. For the most part, I expect that all of the biblical texts were originally written as a sequence of unbroken columns from beginning to end. They were produced by one or more scribes for individuals who had been specially trained for reading such texts – the general public never had access to text archives. Therefore, I expect to find within the consonantal Hebrew text clues that indicate how it is to be read and understood. A general characteristic of Classical Hebrew is that the beginning and end of phrases and clauses are fairly easy to identify, but identifying the beginning and end of sentences, and especially paragraphs, are much more difficult to identify with certainty. This difficulty is readily apparent by examining the differences in textual divisions (phrases, sentences, paragraphs) present in the multitude of modern translations. In part this difficulty is due to the difference in linguistic structure of Indo-European languages versus Classical Hebrew. Indo-European languages permit a far greater variety of subordinating structures than are available in Hebrew, so sentence structure is typically more grammatically complex than corresponding structures in Hebrew. Translating a text clause by clause as it exists in Hebrew would result in an unacceptable translation for modern readers, so creating a more complex sentence structure in translations is a practical necessity.
Spoken language includes a combination of verbal, visual, and linguistic cues to indicate when a speaker wants to transition from one topic to another. The particular combination of cues available is unique to each language and culture. In written texts – especially ancient written texts – only grammatical/linguistic cues remain. Since ancient texts were so labor intensive to produce, one would expect them to be written with the most formal expression of the language available at the time. Specialists who had been trained to recognize linguistic cues within the written text would then understand how to read it. Native speakers of the language who had not been so trained might have no clue. My fundamental assumption is that the original text of narratives used vav consecutive forms, which have no real semantic reason to exist, as one fundamental clue for the structural development within the text. A string of vav consecutive clauses would indicate the portion of a narrative that formed a unit, like a paragraph; and a break in that string by a different syntactic construction may indicate a transition within the narrative to a new topic.
SAMPLE TEXT
Below is a portion of chapter 1 from Ruth. Except for vowel points, I have reformatted it to appear as close as possible to the kosher scroll. Chapter and verse numbers have been eliminated along with the soph pasuq at the end of each verse. A person trained in reading such a text would be able to do so with only moderate difficulty; those familiar only with a completely pointed text would likely find the task much more difficult.
wäø;tVvIa◊w a…wñh b$Dawøm yâédVcI;b ‹r…wgDl h#∂d…wh◊y MRj∞Rl tyªE;bIm vy%Ia JKRl∏´¥yÅw X®r¡DaD;b b™Do∂r y¶Ih◊yÅw My$IfVpOÚvAh fâOpVv ‹yEmyI;b y#Ih◊yÅw
MRj™Rl ty¶E;bIm My$It∂rVpRa ‹NwøyVlIk◊w NwôølVjAm —wy∞DnDb_y`EnVv M¶Ev◊w y%ImFoÎn w°ø;tVvIa ·MEv◊w JKRl&RmyIlà∫a vy∞IaDh M∞Ev◊w wy`DnDb y¶EnVv…w
MyIvÎn M#RhDl …wâaVcˆ¥yÅw Dhy`RnDb y¶EnVv…w ay™Ih r¶EaDÚvI;tÅw y¡ImFoÎn vy∞Ia JKRl™RmyIlTa tDm¶D¥yÅw M`Dv_…wyVh`I¥yÅw b™Dawøm_yédVc …wañøbÎ¥yÅw hó∂d…wh◊y
NwóøyVlIk◊w NwâølVjAm M™Rhy´nVv_MÅg …wt…wñmÎ¥yÅw My`InDv rRc¶RoV;k M™Dv …wbVv¶E¥yÅw t…wúr ty™InEÚvAh M¶Ev◊w h$DÚp√rDo ‹tAjAa`Dh M§Ev twYø¥yIbSaáøm
b$Dawøm hâédVcI;b ‹hDoVm`Dv y§I;k b¡Dawøm yâédVÚcIm bDv™D;tÅw Dhy$Rtø;lAk◊w ‹ayIh M∂q§D;tÅw;h`DvyIaEm…w Dhyä®dDl◊y y¶EnVÚvIm h$DÚvIa`Dh ‹rEaDÚvI;tÅw
hÎnVk∞AlE;tÅw h¡D;mIo Dhy™Rtø;lAk y¶E;tVv…w hD;m$Dv_hDt◊yDh r∞RvSa ‹MwøqD;mAh_NIm a#ExE;tÅw MRj`Dl M™RhDl t¶EtDl w$ø;mAo_tRa ‹hÎwh◊y dôåqDp_y`I;k
; [cAo∞Ay] hRcSoÅy h¡D;mIa ty∞EbVl h™DÚvIa hÎnVb$OÚv hÎnVk∞El Dhy$Rtø;lAk y∞E;tVvIl ‹yImFoÎn rRmaôø;tÅw há∂d…wh◊y X®r¶Ra_lRa b…wävDl JK®r$®;dAb
;h¡DvyIa ty∞E;b h™DÚvIa h$Dj…wnVm Î Na∞RxVm…w M$RkDl ‹hÎwh◊y N§E;tˆy yáîdD;mIo◊w My™ItE;mAh_MIo M¢RtyIcSo rªRvSaA;k dRs$Rj ‹MRkD;mIo h§Dwh◊y
hD;m¶Dl y$AtOnVb hÎnVbâOv ‹yImFoÎn rRmaôø;tÅw K`E;mAoVl b…wävÎn JK¶D;tIa_yI;k ;h¡D;l_hÎn√r™Amaø;tÅw hÎny`R;kVbI;tÅw N™Dlwøq hÎna¶RÚcI;tÅw N$RhDl q∞AÚvI;tÅw
hÎnVbôOv y§I;k vy¡IaVl twâøyVhIm yI;t◊näåqÎz y¶I;k Î NVk$El ‹yAtOnVb My`IvÎnSaAl M™RkDl …wñyDh◊w y$AoEm`V;b ‹MyˆnDb y§Il_dwáøo`Ah y¡I;mIo hÎnVk™AlEt
—N∞EhDlSh hÎnY´gDo`E;t ‹NEhDlSh …wl$∂;d◊gˆy r∞RvSa dAo£ My`InDb yI;t√d¶AlÎy M™Ag◊w vy$IaVl ‹hDl◊y‹A;lAh yIty§IyDh M∞A…g hYÎwVqIt y∞Il_v‰y ‹yI;t√r‹AmDa
N$Dlwøq hÎn∞RÚcI;tÅw h`Dwh◊y_dÅy y™Ib h¶DaVxÎy_y`I;k M$R;kIm ‹dOaVm y§Il_rAm_y`I;k y#AtOnV;b l∞Aa vy¡IaVl twâøyTh y™I;tVlIbVl hÎn√r#E;bAcV;t
Dhy¡RhølTa_lRa◊w h™D;mAo_lRa JK$E;tVmIb◊y hDb∞Dv ‹h´…nIh rRma#ø;tÅw;h`D;b h∂qVbñ∂;d t…wër◊w ;h$DtwømSjAl ‹hDÚp√rDo q§AÚvI;tÅw dwóøo hÎny™R;kVbI;tÅw
r§RvSaAb…w K#ElEa y%IkVlE;t r°RvSa_lRa yI;k JKˆyó∂rSjAaEm b…wâvDl JK™Eb◊zDoVl y$Ib_yIo◊…gVpI;t_lAa t…wr rRmaôø;tÅw JK`E;tVmIb◊y yñérSjAa yIb…wäv
Py$IsOy hâOk◊w JyIl h¶Dwh◊y h°RcSoÅy ·hO;k r¡Eb∂;qRa M™Dv◊w t…w$mDa ‹yIt…w‹mD;t r§RvSaA;b y`DhølTa JKˆy™Ahøla´w y$I;mAo JK∞E;mAo Ny$IlDa yˆny‹IlD;t
hÎnVk∞AlE;tÅw Dhy`RlEa r¶E;bådVl läå;dVjR;tÅw ;h¡D;tIa tRk∞RlDl ay™Ih tRx¶R;mAaVtIm_y`I;k a®r›E;tÅw JK`EnyEb…w y¶InyE;b dyäîrVpÅy t‰w$D;mAh y∞I;k
y`ImFoÎn tañøzSh hÎn√r™Amaø;tÅw N$RhyElSo ‹ryIoDh_lD;k MôOhE;tÅw MRj$Rl ty∞E;b ‹hÎn‹DaøbV;k y#Ih◊yÅw MRj¡Dl ty∞E;b hÎn™Daø;b_dAo M$RhyE;tVv
Mä∂qyér◊w yI;tVk$AlDh h∞DaElVm ‹yˆnSa dáOaVm y™Il yöå;dAv r¶AmEh_yI;k a$∂rDm ‹yIl Î Naô®rVq y¡ImFoÎn y™Il hÎnañ®rVqI;t_lAa N$RhyElSa rRmaâø;tÅw
h§D¥yIbSawø;mAh t…w°r◊w y#ImFoÎn bDv∞D;tÅw y`Il oáår¶Eh yäå;dAv◊w y$Ib hÎn∞Do ‹hÎwhy`Aw y$ImFoÎn ‹yIl hÎnaô®rVqIt hD;m∞Dl h¡Dwh◊y yˆn∞AbyIvTh
b¡Dawøm yâédVÚcIm hDb™DÚvAh ;h$D;mIo ‹;hDtD;lAk
STRUCTURED TEXT OF RUTH
Below the entire book of Ruth has been formatted as shown above, but I have structured it into paragraphs on the basis of linguistic cues present in the text. I have kept the soph pasuq marks in the text to indicate where and how frequently my expected paragraph breaks deviate from the Massoretic verse divisions. To facilitate assessment I have color coded structural elements that make up the text:
- Vav consecutive clauses (blue). This includes only the primary independent clause; subordinate clauses are assigned a different color.
- Independent verbal clauses without vav consecutive (orange).
- Subordinate clauses (grey).
- Clauses with participle as finite verb (green).
- Verbless clauses (black without bold).
- Direct speech (red).
wäø;tVvIa◊w a…wñh b$Dawøm yâédVcI;b ‹r…wgDl h#∂d…wh◊y MRj∞Rl tyªE;bIm vy%Ia JKRl∏´¥yÅw X®r¡DaD;b b™Do∂r y¶Ih◊yÅw My$IfVpOÚvAh fâOpVv ‹yEmyI;b y#Ih◊yÅw
MRj™Rl ty¶E;bIm My$It∂rVpRa ‹NwøyVlIk◊w NwôølVjAm —wy∞DnDb_y`EnVv M¶Ev◊w y%ImFoÎn w°ø;tVvIa ·MEv◊w JKRl&RmyIlà∫a vy∞IaDh M∞Ev◊w :wy`DnDb y¶EnVv…w
M#RhDl …wâaVcˆ¥yÅw :Dhy`RnDb y¶EnVv…w ay™Ih r¶EaDÚvI;tÅw y¡ImFoÎn vy∞Ia JKRl™RmyIlTa tDm¶D¥yÅw :M`Dv_…wyVh`I¥yÅw b™Dawøm_yédVc …wañøbÎ¥yÅw hó∂d…wh◊y
NwâølVjAm M™Rhy´nVv_MÅg …wt…wñmÎ¥yÅw :My`InDv rRc¶RoV;k M™Dv …wbVv¶E¥yÅw t…wúr ty™InEÚvAh M¶Ev◊w h$DÚp√rDo ‹tAjAa`Dh M§Ev twYø¥yIbSaáøm
hâédVcI;b ‹hDoVm`Dv y§I;k b¡Dawøm yâédVÚcIm bDv™D;tÅw Dhy$Rtø;lAk◊w ‹ayIh M∂q§D;tÅw :;h`DvyIaEm…w Dhyä®dDl◊y y¶EnVÚvIm h$DÚvIa`Dh ‹rEaDÚvI;tÅw
h¡D;mIo Dhy™Rtø;lAk y¶E;tVv…w hD;m$Dv_hDt◊yDh r∞RvSa ‹MwøqD;mAh_NIm a#ExE;tÅw :MRj`Dl M™RhDl t¶EtDl w$ø;mAo_tRa ‹hÎwh◊y dôåqDp_y`I;k
; h¡D;mIa ty∞EbVl h™DÚvIa hÎnVb$OÚv hÎnVk∞El Dhy$Rtø;lAk y∞E;tVvIl ‹yImFoÎn rRmaôø;tÅw :há∂d…wh◊y X®r¶Ra_lRa b…wävDl JK®r$®;dAb
h™DÚvIa h$Dj…wnVm Î Na∞RxVm…w M$RkDl ‹hÎwh◊y N§E;tˆy :yáîdD;mIo◊w My™ItE;mAh_MIo M¢RtyIcSo rªRvSaA;k dRs$Rj ‹MRkD;mIo h§Dwh◊y
‹yImFoÎn rRmaôø;tÅw :JK`E;mAoVl b…wävÎn JK¶D;tIa_yI;k ;h¡D;l_hÎn√r™Amaø;tÅw :hÎny`R;kVbI;tÅw N™Dlwøq hÎna¶RÚcI;tÅw N$RhDl q∞AÚvI;tÅw ;h¡DvyIa ty∞E;b
yI;t◊näåqÎz y¶I;k Î NVk$El ‹yAtOnVb hÎnVbôOv :My`IvÎnSaAl M™RkDl …wñyDh◊w y$AoEm`V;b ‹MyˆnDb y§Il_dwáøo`Ah y¡I;mIo hÎnVk™AlEt
hÎn√r#E;bAcV;t
y™Ib h¶DaVxÎy_y`I;k M$R;kIm ‹dOaVm y§Il_rAm_y`I;k y#AtOnV;b l∞Aa vy¡IaVl twâøyTh y™I;tVlIbVl hÎnY´gDo`E;t ‹NEhDlSh …wl$∂;d◊gˆy r∞RvSa dAo£
hDb∞Dv ‹h´…nIh rRma#ø;tÅw :;h`D;b h∂qVbñ∂;d t…wër◊w ; h$DtwømSjAl ‹hDÚp√rDo q§AÚvI;tÅw dwóøo hÎny™R;kVbI;tÅw
JKˆyó∂rSjAaEm b…wâvDl JK™Eb◊zDoVl y$Ib_yIo◊…gVpI;t_lAa t…wr rRmaôø;tÅw :JK`E;tVmIb◊y yñérSjAa yIb…wäv
M™Dv◊w t…w$mDa ‹yIt…w‹mD;t r§RvSaA;b :y`DhølTa JKˆy™Ahøla´w y$I;mAo JK∞E;mAo Ny$IlDa yˆny‹IlD;t
;h¡D;tIa tRk∞RlDl ay™Ih tRx¶R;mAaVtIm_y`I;k a®r›E;tÅw :JK`EnyEb…w y¶InyE;b dyäîrVpÅy t‰w$D;mAh y∞I;k
‹ryIoDh_lD;k MôOhE;tÅw MRj$Rl ty∞E;b ‹hÎn‹DaøbV;k y#Ih◊yÅw MRj¡Dl ty∞E;b hÎn™Daø;b_dAo M$RhyE;tVv
y™Il yöå;dAv r¶AmEh_yI;k a$∂rDm ‹yIl Î Naô®rVq y¡ImFoÎn y™Il hÎnañ®rVqI;t_lAa N$RhyElSa rRmaâø;tÅw
oáår¶Eh yäå;dAv◊w y$Ib hÎn∞Do ‹hÎwhy`Aw y$ImFoÎn ‹yIl hÎnaô®rVqIt hD;m∞Dl h¡Dwh◊y yˆn∞AbyIvTh
b¡Dawøm yâédVÚcIm hDb™DÚvAh ;h$D;mIo ‹;hDtD;lAk
tAj™AÚpVvI;mIm lˆy$Aj rwâø;bˆ…g vyIa£ ;h#DvyIaVl [oâådwøm] o∂;d¨yVm yImFoÎnVlá…w :MyáîrOoVc ry¶IxVq t™A;lIjVtI;b MRj$Rl ty∞E;b …waD;b£ hD;m#Eh◊w
r¶RvSa r›AjAa My$IlF;bIvAb h∞DÚfƒqAlSaÅw h®dDÚcAh a§D…n_hDkVl`Ea y#ImFoÎn_l`Ra h˝Î¥yIbSawø;mAh t…w°r ·rRmaø;tÅw :zAoáO;b wäømVv…w JKRl¡RmyIlTa
Dh$®rVqIm r®q∞I¥yÅw MyóîrVxO;qAh yäérSjAa h$®dDÚcA;b fâé;qAlV;tÅw ‹awøbD;tÅw JKRl§E;tÅw :y`I;tIb y¶IkVl ;h™Dl rRmañø;tÅw wy¡DnyEoV;b N™Ej_aDxVmRa
:JKRl`RmyIlTa tAj¶AÚpVvI;mIm r™RvSa zAo$ObVl ‹h®dDÚcAh tôåqVlRj
w$ørSoÅnVl ‹zAo‚O;b rRmaôø¥yÅw :h`Dwh◊y ñÔKVk®rDb◊y wäøl …wrVmañø¥yÅw M¡RkD;mIo h∞Dwh◊y MyäîrVxwø;qAl rRmañø¥yÅw MRj$Rl ty∞E;bIm aD;b£ zAo#Ob_h´…nIh◊w
ay$Ih hÎ¥yIbSawáøm hô∂rSoÅn r¡Amaø¥yÅw MyäîrVxwø;qAh_lAo b¶D…xˆ…nAh rAo¢A…nAh NAoGÅ¥yÅw :taáøΩzAh hñ∂rSoÅ…nAh y™ImVl MyóîrVxwíø;qAh_lAo b™D…xˆ…nAh
‹dw#ømSoA;t`Aw awâøbD;tÅw MyóîrVxwø;qAh yäérSjAa My$îrDmFo`Db y∞I;tVpAsDa◊w aÎ…n_hDfƒqAlSa rRma#ø;tÅw :b`Dawøm hñédVÚcIm y™ImFoÎn_M`Io hDb¶DÚvAh
‹yIkVlE;t_lAa y#I;tI;b V;tAo∞AmDv aw¬ølSh t…w%r_lRa zAo°O;b ·rRmaø¥yÅw :f`DoVm tˆy™A;bAh ;h¶D;tVbIv h¢Rz hD;t$Ao_dAo◊w ‹r®q‚O;bAh z§DaEm
tVk∞AlDh◊w N…wrOxVqˆy_rRvSa hô®dDÚcA;b JKˆy˝ÅnyEo :y`DtOrSoÅn_MIo NyäîqD;b√dIt hñOk◊w h¡RΩzIm yäîr…wbSoAt añøl M¢Ag◊w r$EjAa hâ®dDcV;b ‹fOqVlIl
`…wäbSaVvˆy r¶RvSaEm ty›ItDv◊w My$IlE;kAh_lRa ‹V;tVkAlDh◊w t#ImDx◊w JK¡Eo◊gÎn y∞I;tVlIbVl MyäîrDo◊…nAh_tRa yIty¢I…wIx awñølSh N$RhyérSjAa
y™IkOnDÆa◊w yˆn$éryI;kAhVl ‹ÔKy‹‰nyEoV;b N§Ej yIta°DxDm ·Ao…w;dAm wy#DlEa rRmaâø;tÅw hDx√r¡Da …wj™A;tVvI;tÅw DhyY‰nDÚp_lAo ‹ lOÚpI;tÅw :MyáîrDo◊…nAh
; yIb◊zAo`A;tÅw JK¡EvyIa twâøm yäérSjAa JK$EtwømSj_tRa ‹tyIcDo_rRvSa lôO;k y#Il d˝Å…gUh d∏´…gUh h$Dl rRmaâø¥yÅw ‹zAo‚O;b NAo§A¥yÅw :h`D¥yîrVkÎn
J JK¡ElFoDÚp h™Dwh◊y M¶E;lAv◊y :MwáøvVlIv lwñømV;t V;tAoäådÎy_aøl r¶RvSa M›Ao_lRa y$IkVl∞E;tÅw K$E;t√dAlwáøm ‹X®r‹Ra◊w JK#E;mIa◊w JKy∞IbDÆa
N°Ej_aDxVmRa rRmaø;tÅw :wy`DpÎnV;k_tAj`A;t twñøsSjAl ta™D;b_rRvSa l$Ea∂rVcˆy y∞EhølTa hÎwh◊y M§IoEm h#DmElVv JK%E;t√rU;kVcAm y°IhVt…w
rRmaø¥yÅw :ÔKy`RtOjVpIv t™AjAaV;k hY‰yVh`Ra aâøl ‹yIkOnDa◊w ÔK¡RtDjVpIv b∞El_lAo t√r™A;bîd y¶Ik◊w yˆn$D;tVmAj`In y∞I;k ‹yˆnOdSa ÔKy§RnyEoV;b
My$îrVxwíø;qAh d∞A…xIm ‹bRv‹E;tÅw XRmóOjA;b JK™E;tIÚp V;tVl¶AbDf◊w MRj$R;lAh_NIm tVl∞AkDa◊w ‹MølSh y`IvôO…g lRk#OaDh t∞EoVl zAo%Ob h°Dl
MyöîrDmFo`Dh NyªE;b M∞A…g r#OmaEl wy%∂rDo◊n_tRa zAo°O;b ·wAx◊yÅw fóé;qAlVl M∂q™D;tÅw :r`AtO;tÅw o™A;bVcI;tÅw lAkañø;tÅw y$Il∂q ;h∞Dl_fD;bVxˆ¥yÅw
fñé;qAlV;tÅw :;h`Db_…wrSo◊gIt añøl◊w h™DfV;qIl◊w M¶R;tVbÅzSoÅw My¡ItDbV…xAh_NIm h™Dl …w;lñOvD;t_lOv M¢Ag◊w :Dh…wámyIlVkAt añøl◊w fäé;qAlV;t
;h™DtwømSj a®r¶E;tÅw ry$IoDh awâøbD;tÅw ‹aDÚcI;tÅw :MyáîrOoVc h¶DpyEaV;k y™Ih◊yÅw hDf$é;qIl_rRvSa t∞Ea ‹fO;bVjA;tÅw b®r¡DoDh_dAo hä®dDÚcA;b
V; ‹Mwø¥yAh tVfôå;qIl h°OpyEa ;h%DtwømSj ;h°Dl rRmaø;tÅw :;h`DoVbDÚcIm h∂r™Itwøh_rRvSa t¶Ea ;h$Dl_NR;tI;tÅw ‹aExwø;tÅw hDfóé;qIl_rRvSa t∞Ea
yItyªIcDo r°RvSa vyIaDh M§Ev rRma#ø;tÅw w$ø;mIo hDtVcDo_rRvSa t§Ea ;h#DtwømSjAl d∞E…gA;tÅw JK…wúrD;b JKäéryI;kAm y¶Ih◊y ty$IcDo hÎn∞Da◊w
My¡ItE;mAh_tRa◊w My™I¥yAjAh_tRa w$ø;dVsAj b∞AzDo_aøl ‹rRvSa hYÎwhyAl a…wh JK…wõrD;b h#DtD;lAkVl y%ImFoÎn rRma°ø;tÅw :zAoáO;b Mwäø¥yAh wöø;mIo
MyôîrDo◊…nAh_MIo y#AlEa r∞AmDa_yI;k —M∞A…g h¡D¥yIbSawø;mAh t…wêr rRmaäø;tÅw :a…wáh …wn™ElSaø…g`Im vy$IaDh ‹…wn‹Dl bwõør∂q y#ImFoÎn ;h∞Dl rRma¬ø;tÅw
y§I;k y#I;tI;b bwâøf h¡DtD;lA;k t…wêr_lRa y™ImFoÎn rRmañø;tÅw :y`Il_rRvSa ry™Ix∂;qAh_lD;k t¶Ea …w$;lI;k_MIa d∞Ao Ny$IqD;b√dI;t ‹yIl_rRvSa
MyäîrOoVÚcAh_ry`IxVq twñølV;k_dAo f$é;qAlVl ‹zAo‚O;b twõørSoÅnV;b qA;b√dI;tÅw :r`EjAa hñ®dDcV;b K™Db_…wo◊…gVpˆy añøl◊w wy$DtwørSo∞An_MIo ‹yIaVx`Et
:JK`Dl_bAfy`Iy r¶RvSa AjwäønDm JK¢Dl_v®;qAbSa a¬ølSh yI;tI;b ;h¡DtwømSj y∞ImFoÎn ;h™Dl rRmañø;tÅw :;h`DtwømSj_tRa bRv™E;tÅw My¡IÚfIj`Ah ry∞IxVq…w
—V;tVx∞Aj∂r◊w :hDl◊y`D;lAh MyäîrOoVÚcAh N®rñO…g_tRa hö®rOz a…w#h_h´…nIh wy¡DtwørSoÅn_tRa ty™IyDh r¶RvSa …wn$D;tVoådáOm ‹zAo‚Ob añølSh h#D;tAo◊w
lñOkTaRl wäøtø;lA;k d¶Ao vy$IaDl y∞Io√dÎ…wI;t_lAa N®róO…gAh [V;t√dâårÎy][◊w] yI;t√dårÎy◊w JKˆy™AlDo [JKˆy¢AtølVmIc] JKEtølVmIc V;tVmªAc◊w tVk#AsÎw
[V;tVb¡DkDv][◊w] yI;tVbDkDv◊w wy™Dtøl◊…g√rAm ty¶I;lˆg◊w ta¢Db…w M$Dv_bA;kVvˆy r∞RvSa ‹MwøqD;mAh_tRa tAo‹ådÎy◊w w#øbVkDvVb y∞Ihyˆw :twáø;tVvIl◊w
cAo›A;tÅw N®róO…gAh d®r™E;tÅw :h`RcTo`Ra [y™AlEa] () yñîrVmaø;t_rRvSa löO;k Dhy¡RlEa rRmaäø;tÅw :Ny`IcAoA;t r¶RvSa t™Ea JK$Dl dy∞I…gÅy ‹a…wh◊w
l¶AgV;tÅw f$D;lAb aâøbD;tÅw h¡DmérSoDh h∞ExVqI;b b™A;kVvIl a›øbÎ¥yÅw w$ø;bIl b∞Afyˆ¥yÅw ‹V;tVv´¥yÅw zAoôO;b lAka∏ø¥yÅw :;h`DtwømSj hD;t™A…wIx_rRvSa lñOkV;k
t¡Da_yIm rRmaäø¥yÅw :wy`Dtøl◊…g√rAm tRb™RkOv h$DÚvIa h∞E…nIh◊w t¡EpD;lˆ¥yÅw vy™IaDh dñårTj‰¥yÅw hDl◊y$A;lAh y∞IxSjA;b ‹yIh◊yÅw :b`D;kVvI;tÅw wy™Dtøl◊…g√rAm
y$I;tI;b Ô‹hÎwhy`Al V;t§Aa h°Dk…wrV;b rRmaGø¥yÅw :hD;t`Da l™Eaøg y¶I;k $ÔKVt∞DmSa_lAo ‹ÔK‹RpÎnVk §D;tVcårDp…w K$RtDmSa t…wêr ‹yIkOnDa rRma#ø;tÅw
‹yI;tI;b h#D;tAo◊w :ry`IvDo_MIa◊w läå;d_MIa My$îr…wj∞A;bAh ‹yérSjAa tRk#Rl_yI;tVlIbVl NwóøvaîrDh_NIm NwëørSjAaDh JKñé;dVsAj V;tVb¢AfyEh
MYÎnVmDa y∞I;k ‹hD;tAo◊w :V;t`Da lˆy™Aj tRv¶Ea y¢I;k y$I;mAo rAo∞Av_lD;k ‹Ao‹édwøy y§I;k JK¡D;l_hRcTo`Ra yäîrVmaø;t_rRvSa lñO;k y$Ia√ry∞I;t_lAa
a°øl_MIa◊w l$Da◊gˆy ‹bwøf JK¶ElDa◊gˆy_MIa ‹r®q‚O;bAb h§DyDh◊w hDl◊y#A;lAh —yˆny∞Il :yˆ…n`R;mIm bwõør∂q l™Eaø…g v¶Ey M¢Ag◊w yIkóOnDa l™Eaøg MIa y¶I;k
r®q$O;bAh_dAo [‹wøyDtwøl◊…g√rAm] wDtøl◊…g√rAm b§A;kVvI;tÅw :r®qáO;bAh_dAo y™IbVkIv h¡Dwh◊y_yAj yIkäOnDa JKy¶I;tVlAa◊g…w JK¢ElFa`DgVl X¬OÚpVjÅy
yIbDh rRmaGø¥yÅw :N®ráO…gAh h™DÚvIaDh hDa¶Db_yI;k o$ådÎ…wˆy_lAa ‹rRma‹ø¥yÅw …wh¡Eoér_tRa vy™Ia ry¶I;kÅy [M®r¢Rf][V;b]. MwørVfI;b M∂q›D;tÅw
‹awøbD;tÅw :ry`IoDh aäøbÎ¥yÅw Dhy$RlDo tRv∞D¥yÅw ‹MyîrOoVc_vEv dDm§D¥yÅw ;h¡D;b zRjaâø;tÅw h™Db_yˆzFj`Ra◊w JKˆy¢AlDo_rRvSa tAjªAÚpVfI;mAh
hR;l™EaDh MyñîrOoVÚcAh_vEv rRma›ø;tÅw :vy`IaDh ;h™Dl_hDc`Do r¶RvSa_lD;k t¢Ea ;h$Dl_d‰…g°A;tÅw y¡I;tI;b t∞Aa_yIm rRmaäø;tÅw ;h$DtwømSj_lRa
lâOÚpˆy JKy™Ea Ny$Io√d`E;t r∞RvSa dAo£ y$I;tIb y∞IbVv ‹rRma‹ø;tÅw :JK`EtwømSj_lRa Mä∂qyér yIawñøbD;t_lAa [y$AlEa] () r∞AmDa yI;k£ y¡Il. NAt∞Dn
:Mwáø¥yAh r™Db∂;dAh h¶D;lI;k_MIa_y`I;k vy$IaDh fOqVvˆy aôøl y∞I;k r¡Db∂;d
y¡InOmVlAa y∞InølVÚp häOÚp_hDbVv h∂r…wñs rRmaöø¥yÅw zAo$O;b_rR;bî;d r∞RvSa ‹rEbOo l§Eaø…gAh h∏´…nIh◊w ~MDv bRv∞E¥yÅw rAoAÚvAh h∞DlDo zAo°Ob…w
r¶RvSa h$®dDÚcAh ‹tåqVlRj l$Eaø…gAl ‹rRma‹ø¥yÅw :…wb`Ev´¥yÅw hóOp_…wbVv rRmaâø¥yÅw ry™IoDh y¶EnVqˆΩzIm My¢IvÎnSa h¬∂rDcSo jå;qˆ¥yÅw :b`Ev´¥yÅw rAs™D¥yÅw
d‰g¶Rn h´nVq r#OmaEl ∞ÔK◊n◊zDa hªRl◊gRa yI;t√r%AmDa y∏ˆnSaÅw :b`Dawøm hñédVÚcIm hDb™DÚvAh y$ImFoÎn hâ∂rVkDm JKRl¡RmyIlTaRl …wny™IjDaVl
hä®dDÚcAh Ny§Ea y∞I;k [‹hDo√d`Ea][◊w] oådEa◊w y#I;l h∂dy∞I…gAh l%Aa◊gˆy a°øl_MIa◊w l$Da◊…g ‹ lAa◊gI;t_MIa ~yI;mAo y∞EnVqˆz d‰g∞Rn◊w MyIbVvO¥y`Ah
t…wêr tEaEm…w ñÔKVtwønVq_MwøyV;b zAo$O;b rRmaâø¥yÅw :l`Da◊gRa y¶IkOnDa rRmaäø¥yÅw ÔKyó®rSjAa y™IkOnDa◊w lw$øa◊gIl ‹ÔKVt`Dl…wz y¡ImFoÎn d∞A¥yIm
lAk…wa aôøl l#Eaø…gAh rRmaâø¥yÅw :wáøtDlSjÅn_lAo t™E;mAh_MEv MyñîqDhVl [hDtyYˆn∂q] yItyˆn∂q ‹tE;mAh_tRv`Ea h§D¥yIbSawø;mAh
:láOa◊gIl l™Ak…wa_aøl y¶I;k y$ItD;lUa◊…g_tRa ôÔ‹hD;tAa KVl_lAa◊…g y¡ItDlSjÅn_tRa ty™IjVvAa_NRÚp y$Il_[lDa◊g][Il]_lwøa◊gIl
…wh¡EoérVl N∞AtÎn◊w wäølSoÅn vy¢Ia P¶AlDv r$Db∂;d_lD;k M∞E¥yåqVl ‹h∂r…wmV;tAh_lAo◊w h§D;l…wa◊…gAh_lAo l%Ea∂rVcˆyV;b My∏ˆnDpVl ·taøz◊w
M#DoDh_lDk◊w My˝ˆnéq◊ΩzAl zAo°O;b ·rRmaø¥yÅw :wáølSoÅn PäølVvˆ¥yÅw JK¡Dl_h´nVq zAoäObVl l¢Eaø…gAh rRma¬ø¥yÅw :l`Ea∂rVcˆyV;b hä∂d…woV;tAh tañøz◊w
:y`ImFoÎn d™A¥yIm NwóølVjAm…w NwäøyVlIkVl r¶RvSa_lD;k t¢Ea◊w JKRl$RmyIlTa`Rl r∞RvSa_lD;k_tRa yIty‹ˆn∂q y§I;k MwYø¥yAh ‹MR;tAa MyôîdEo
t¬érD;kˆy_aøl◊w w$øtDlSj∞An_lAo tE;mAh_MEv MyôîqDhVl h#DÚvIaVl y∞Il yItyªIn∂q Nw%ølVjAm tRv°Ea ·hÎ¥yIbSaø;mAh t…wêr_tRa M∞Ag◊w
MyóîdEo My™Inéq◊ΩzAh◊w rAo¢AÚvA;b_rRvSa MªDoDh_lD;k …w%rVma∏ø¥yÅw :Mwáø¥yAh M™R;tAa MyñîdEo wóømwøqVm rAo∞AÚvIm…w wy™DjRa M¶IoEm t¢E;mAh_MEv
lˆy∞Aj_hEcSoÅw l$Ea∂rVcˆy ty∞E;b_tRa ‹MhyE;tVv …wônD;b r°RvSa ‹hDaElVk…w — l§Ej∂rV;k K#RtyE;b_lRa h∞DaD;bAh h%DÚvIaDh_t`Ra h∏Îwh◊y ·NE;tˆy
N§E;tˆy r°RvSa oårG‰ΩzAh_NIm hó∂d…why`Il r™DmDt hñ∂dVlÎy_rRvSa X®r$RÚp ty∞EbV;k ‹ÔKVty`Eb y§Ihyˆw :MRj`Dl ty¶EbV;b M™Ev_a∂rVq…w hDt$∂rVpRaV;b
Nwäøy∂rEh ;h¢Dl h¶Dwh◊y N°E;tˆ¥yÅw Dhy¡RlEa aäøbÎ¥yÅw h$DÚvIaVl wâøl_yIhV;tÅw ‹t…wr_tRa zAoôO;b j°å;qˆ¥yÅw :taáøΩzAh hä∂rSoÅ…n`Ah_NIm $ÔKVl ‹hÎwh◊y
wäømVv añér∂;qˆy◊w Mwóø¥yAh l™Eaø…g JK¢Dl ty¶I;bVvIh aâøl rRvSa hYÎwh◊y JK…wêrD;b y$ImFoÎn_l`Ra ‹MyIvÎ…nAh hÎn√r§Amaø;tÅw :N`E;b dRl¶E;tÅw
‹ayIh_rRvSa w;t$ådDl◊y ‹JKRt‹AbEhSa_rRvà≈a JK§EtD;lAk y∞I;k K¡EtDbyEc_tRa l™E;kVlAkVl…w vRpY‰n by∞IvEmVl JKDl hÎy§Dh◊w :l`Ea∂rVcˆyV;b
w°øl hÎna®rVqI;tÅw …:t‰n`RmOaVl wäøl_yIhV;tÅw ;h$∂qyEjVb wh∞EtIvV;tÅw ‹dRl‹‰¥yAh_tRa y§ImFoÎn j°å;qI;tÅw :My`InD;b h™DoVbIÚvIm K$Dl hDbwâøf
:d`Iw∂d y¶IbSa y™Avˆy_yIbSa a…wñh d$Ebwøo ‹wømVv h`Dnaô®rVqI;tÅw y¡ImFoÎnVl N™E;b_dA;l¨y
‹b∂dÎny`I;mAo◊w :bá∂dÎny`I;mAo_tRa dy¶Ilwøh Mä∂r◊w M$∂r_tRa dy∞Ilwøh ‹NwørVxRj◊w :NwíørVxRj_tRa dy¶Ilwøh X®r™RÚp X®r$DÚp twêødVlwø;t ‹hR;l‹Ea◊w
‹dEbOo◊w :d`Ebwøo_tRa dy¶Ilwøh zAoäOb…w zAo$O;b_tRa dy∞Ilwøh ‹NwømVlAc◊w :h`DmVlAc_tRa dy¶Ilwøh NwäøvVjÅn◊w Nw$øvVjÅn_tRa dy∞Ilwøh
:d`Iw∂;d_tRa dy¶Ilwøh y™Avˆy◊w y$Dvˆy_tRa dy∞Ilwøh
DISCUSSION
As is clearly evident from the color coded text above, the vast majority of the book is made up of dialog, and in every case each successive speech is introduced by a vav consecutive verb form. The content of the individual speeches constitutes a direct object to the verb that introduces it. As a result the details of their internal structure have no real bearing on the structure of the narrative itself. The overall flow of the narrative is produced by a continuous sequence of vav consecutive clauses. The first vav consecutive clause sets the time frame and aspect for the narrative, and each successive vav consecutive clause links to its predecessor until the sequence is broken by an independent clause without a vav consecutive form. Such a clause indicates that the previous sequence is concluded and a new topic or aspect of the narrative is about to begin. On this basis the book of Ruth is structured as follows:
- Verse 1:1 - 1:22a. This section describes how Naomi ended up in Moab, when and why she determined to return to Judah with Ruth, and the situation that existed at the time of their return.
- Verse 1:22b - 2:3. This short section introduces Boaz as Naomi's close relative and describes how and why Ruth ended up on Boaz' barley field.
- Verse 2:4 - 3:18. This section constitutes most of the overall narrative. It describes how Ruth finds unexpected favor from Boaz while gleaning in his field, so Naomi prompts her to seek him as kinsman redeemer for both her and Naomi.
- Verse 4:1 - 4:6. This section describes the meeting between Boaz, the other kinsman, and the elders of the village. Boaz offers the other, nearer, kinsman first option to redeem Naomi and Ruth; he refuses, so Boaz redeems.
- Verse 4:7 - 17. This section describes the ceremony in which the nearer kinsman refuses to redeem Naomi and Ruth, and Boaz does so, taking Ruth as wife. It concludes with the birth of Ruth's son, who became the grandfather of David.
- Verse 4:18 - 22. This section contains the genaelogy of Peretz down to David.
CONCLUSION
I began with the presumption that some form of structural subordination at the discourse level should exist within the consonantal text apart from the traditional chapter and paragraph forms that are present in modern printed texts. This presumption was based on the further presumption that the original text consisted of a single column written on one or more panels of a scroll without any structural form for paragraph divisions. In point of fact, this is almost exactly what appears in my kosher scroll of Ruth. In such a case one would normally expect some linguistic cues for how to understand the overall flow for the narrative.
The interplay between sequences of vav consecutive clauses and independent clauses without a vav consecutive form provide just such structure. Because the vav consecutive form is never semantically necessary, its presence was surely consciously and carefully contrived. The resulting narrative structure on the basis of this analysis is both reasonable and fits the narrative quite well. This, of course does not prove that this mode of structuring a narrative equates to fundamental discourse architecture for Hebrew at the time the book of Ruth was composed. However, if this form of narrative structure is found to occur in other books of the bible, the combination of books that exhibit this structure will provide some evidence both for narrative discourse architecture at a particular point of time and possibly some indication on how narrative discourse architecture developed over time.
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