Tag Archives: Numbers 23:1

וַאֲמַר בִּלְעָם לְבָלָק בְּנֵה לִי הָכָא שַׁבְעָא מַדְבְּחִין וְאַתְקֵן לִי הָכָא שַׁבְעָא תוֹרִין וְשַׁבְעָא דִכְרִין (Numbers 23:1 Targum Onkelos) And Bilʿam said to Balaq, “Build for me here seven altars, and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams.” Why This Verse? This verse illustrates multiple grammatical domains in action: Use of Peal vs. Aphel imperatives (בְּנֵה vs. אַתְקֵן) Definite numeral constructions with plural nouns (שַׁבְעָא מַדְבְּחִין) Construct phrase syntax (שַׁבְעָא דִכְרִין) It also reveals the ritual-literary tone of Targum Onkelos, maintaining closeness to the Hebrew while embedding subtle Aramaic flavor.… Learn Hebrew