Tag Archives: Numbers 8:2

Lighting the Grammar: A Dialogue on יָת and Ritual Syntax in Onkelos (Numbers 8:2)

מַלֵּיל עִם אַהֲרֹן וְתֵימַר לֵיהּ בְּאַדְלָקוּתָךְ יָת בּוֹצִינַיָּא לָקֳבֵיל אַפֵּי מְנָרְתָא יְהוֹן מְנָהֲרִין שִׁבְעָא בוֹצִינַיָּא׃ (Numbers 8:2, Targum Onkelos) Speak with Aharon and say to him: “When you kindle the lamps, opposite the face of the menorah, the seven lamps shall give light.” Apprentice and Master Scribe: A Ritual Grammar Lesson Apprentice: Master, I was copying from Onkelos, and in Numbers 8:2, I saw this word יָת — the direct object marker. But why here? Isn’t the verb clear enough? Master: Ah, young scroll-rider, listen well.… Learn Hebrew
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