•'
THE HEBREW ACCENTS
OP THE
(DHBD K"
THE HEBREW ACCENTS
OF THE
of
BY
AETHUR DAVIS
WITH A NEW INTRODUCTION.
495761
Y\. 8.
LONDON:
MYERS & CO., BOOKSELLERS ROW, STRAND.
1900.
LONDOF :
PRINTED BY WERTHEIMER, LEA AND CO, CIRCUS PLACE, LONDON WALL.
THE HEBKEW ACCENTS.
INTRODUCTION.
The Hebrew Accents; — the origin, the development, the history, the function of these symbols, is the purpose of the following pages.
There is a well-known rule laid down by the famous and keen-sighted Rabbi Abraham Ibn Ezra (12th Cen- tury) ra^n xh D'&y&n B>WS ^y iuw B>WB hi
vStf J?£E>n fcCh if? " No interpretation can be adopted unless in accord with the massoretic punctuation."
The sacred writings — Torah, Prophets and Hagio- grapha — were written in archaic style, the letters were unaccompanied by vowel or punctuative signs. Certain letters were surmounted with aureole or tittle and a few letters were dotted above with filTlpX as in Deut. xxix. 28. (There are ten places in the Torah where a letter or group of letters is so dotted, and according to Midrash, these fi*nip3 betoken occult interpretations of the text.) Isolated irregularities — such as a large or small or defective letter — were
rigidly reproduced ; nothing was added, nothing was taken away.
Inside the sacred text there was naught to indicate the way in which it was traditionally recited, beyond the slight guidance afforded by the matres lectionis 1, *, X. The reading of the text was taught orally, and thus was it handed down from generation to generation. It was — in the quaint language of the Talmud— ^Dfc PlPD*? PO^PI " a Mosaic tradition re- ceived on Sinai." The accents and the vowel system are an integral part of the Massorah. The Massorah is the magic key that at once opens the sealed letters of the sacred text, and casts them in the grip of fetters, so that not a jot or tittle shall pass away. Verses, words, and letters are counted, all variations and peculiarities are noted, and the number of times they occur. The middle words or letters of a book are recorded, and every phenomenon, redundancy or defi- ciency is rigidly preserved and reproduced.
Punctuation is governed by the length of each individual verse, and some explanation of the scheme involved in the main and sub-divisions of the text, may not be out of place, though it is impossible to deal exhaustively with the subject in these pages.
The manuscript scroll of the Torah is dissected only by variously prescribed blank spaces.
(a) Between the " Five Books "— D^fiD (a blank space, the equivalent of four lines.)
(6) Between the paragraphs (a blank space on the line of the text).
There are 669 blank paragraph spaces : —
290 are open — fil PllfiS (the blank space occurring
at the end of a line).
379 are closed — ni/JDIHD (the blank space occur- ring in the middle of a line).
The terms PinifiS and Pl/blHD apply respectively to the dividing blank spaces, but the name is also given to the paragraphs so divided from the following ones.
(e) 5845 verses— D^DS.
The manuscript unpunctuated scroll of the Law contains no space indicative of the division into verses. The space of "a hair's breadth" between each letter, and the equivalent in space of " a small letter " between each word, is adhered to throughout the text.
The massoretic text is written after this pattern, but symbols are introduced into the blank spaces, thus : fi or D, depending upon it being nPllfiS — open or PT/blfiD — closed.
In the same fashion certain of these blank spaces are marked thus: £ 5 £ or D D D indicating 54 sections fiVEHS. (The eleventh and twelfth fiVEHS are not divided by space or symbol.)
There is a further general division of the whole Tcrah into 154 pericopes — D^TTD, to regulate, pro- bably, the reading of the Law in the synagogue in accordance with a three years' cycle instead of the annual cycle generally adopted at present. These divisions are not visible in the text, and are known only by massoretic rubrics.
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The 5,845 verses are indicated by a small vertical line drawn under the accentuated letter of the last word.
The divisions of the other books of the Bible are less complex, and, for the student's purpose, the main facts may be set forth in a tabulated form : —
No. of Sections. No. of Verses.
D'HTD D^plDQ
Joshua ... ... ... 14 ... 656
Judges 14 ... 618
Samuel 34 ... 1506
Kings 35 ... 1534
Isaiah 26 ... 1295
Jeremiah 31 ... 13C5
Ezekiel 29 ... 1273
Twelve Minor Prophets 21 ... 1050
Psalms (150 Psalms) ... 19 ,.. 2527
Proverbs 8 ... 915
Job ... 8 ... 1070
Canticles 117
Ruth 85
Lamentations ... ... 154
Ecclesiastes 4 ... 222
Esther ... 5 ... 166
Daniel 7 ... 357
Ezra (including Nehemiah) 10 ... 688 Chronicles ... ... 25 ... 1565
The foregoing figures are taken from the Massorah collected by Jacob ben Chayim.
The remark made above, regarding the divisions termed DHID, relates also to these books of the Bible.
9
They are not indicated by symbols, and are known only by massoretic rubrics. Possibly they were of liturgical, but not of exegetical value. Various spaces between groups of verses appear in the massoretic Bible, similar to the nniJ"l£ and HDIfiD of the Penta- teuch, but the Massorah does not include any list or enumeration of them, and their existence can be pre- served only by the care of the copyist. It was, how- ever, of imperial importance that every letter and word should be reproduced and cast into faultless verses — D^plDS.
The "chapters" of modern Hebrew and English Bibles are absolutely unknown to the Masso rites. They were introduced at a later period by non-Jewish scholars to facilitate the work of reference. The stu- dent of the Hebrew Bible, whether from the tradi- tionally exegetical, or higher critical standpoint, should free himself from the intrusion and embarrassment of these arbitrary " chapters/'
The Massorah, transformed from an oral tradition into a written and stereotyped code, once and for all defined and fixed, to which nothing extraneous might be added, would suggest finality. Wherefore, then, has a whole literature grown round the subject of the massoretic punctuation ?
The massoretic text of the Bible and the rubrics which control it, t display the phenomena which enable the reader to recite the Scriptures in accor- dance with the traditional melodies and punctuation ; but the scientific insight into the laws controlling the
10
selection of a particular accent, and the various sequences of accents, can be acquired only by a critical examination and comparison of the phenomena presented by the text. To evolve systematic rules which would elucidate the principles which guided the Massorites in punctuating the text, has been the aim and object of scholars who have written treatises upon this subject.
It must not be supposed, when at last the Massorah was written down, that one copy of the Bible con- tained the whole of the ponderous apparatus. Each Bible contained only so much as the copyist cared to include. The Massorah in the margin of each textual page frequently took the form of enigmas, with reference to Biblical verses, the force of which could not easily be seen.
The schools of the Massorites in Tiberias flourished from two or three centuries B.C. down to the fifth or sixth of the common era, and the massoretic writings continued to accumulate for many generations without any effort being made to collect and combine the disjecta membra into one harmonious whole. Briefly, it may be said — ignoring certain efforts in this direction — the herculean task was achieved by Jacob ben Chayim. This indefatigable scholar collected a huge number of massoretic manuscripts, and after years of examination and comparison, deciphered the puzzles and evolved in systematic order the treasures of the Massorah. In 1524 Jacob ben Chayim's great
11
Hebrew Bible appeared with the Massorah parva in the columns and the Massorah magna in the upper and lower margins and at the end of the Sacred Book. The Massorah collected by Jacob ben Chayim remains the classical and standard work, the model for sub- sequent Hebrew Bibles, and is the " Massoretic Text " of authority.
Long before the collection of the massoretic frag- ments by Jacob ben Chayim, the special treatment of the accents commenced. Probably the first work was that attributed to Aaron ben Asher at the beginning of the tenth century. From that time to the present, the subject has been the theme of many writers. The following must not be regarded as a complete list : —
Aaron ben Asher (work attributed to) rniD/bPl; Ben Balam (works attributed to) K")p&n and n"fcK D'TfiD 'J 'J&JJD "JJft?; Rabbenu Gersham, Menachem, Jekutiel, Elias Levita, David Kimchi, Simon the Punctator, Moses the Punctator, Jacob ben Meir, Meir ben Todros, Menachem ben Solomon, Joseph Zarka, Joseph Sassoon, Menachem di Lanzano, Kalonymos, Senior, Solomon Norzi, Heidenheim, Baer, Wickes.
There are three distinct systems of punctuation :—
(a) The Babylonian, which relates to all the twenty-four books of the Bible, and which— together with its vowel points — is less complex than those of the Palestinian Schools.
(b) The Palestinian system employed for the "Twenty-one Books" of the Bible, and
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(c) The system for the "Three Books " Job, Proverbs and, Psalms, commonly known as n"£tf , (initial letters of the Hebrew names of the books).
The scheme of the Palestinian schools, in regard to vowel points and punctuation, was adopted by the Massorites. "We can therefore dismiss the Babylonian with the remark that those interested in examining it, should inspect the manuscript specimens in the British Museum. Although the following pages relate to the accents of the "Twenty-one Books," it may not be inopportune to make some observations about the symbols [of the three so-called poetical books of the Bible, Job, Proverbs and the Psalms. (The prologue and epilogue of Job are punctuated with the accents of the " Twentj^-one Books.") Ben Asher includes these accents in his work. Many of the names employed by him are unknown to later writers, and are somewhat difficult to identify. The standard authority on this set of accents is the work attributed to Ben Balam, and all subsequent writers take their cue from him.
This system is exceedingly obscure, it is indeed one of signs and wonders. Some scholars have attempted to dispel the obscurity enveloping this set of accents, but their elaborate rules to explain the assumed theory of transformation and sub- stitution of accents, lead the student into a labyrinth of intricacies ; and excellent and ingenious as these rules may be, they do not suffice to explain numerous
13
exceptions and difficulties. Some writers have adopted the opinion that these accents are less ancient than those of the " Twenty-one Books," but this theory involves the hypothesis that the " Three Books " were originally accentuated in the same way as the "Twenty-one Books" by the Palestinian Massorites, as in the case of the Babylonian system, and that, at a period when they sought to retain every atom of the traditional apparatus, they boldly and bodily exchanged an old for a new system of punctuation. Ben Asher, in his description of the symbols of the " Three Books," declares " these are ancient things " — a paraphrase from I Chron. iv. 22, D^p'Hj; D'llTTl.
It is related that some Sephardic congregations, have preserved the traditional musical value of these accents, but if we may disregard this allegation, we may conclude that the melody of this punctuative scheme is a lost chord.
It is interesting to compare Psalm xviii. with the recension in II. Samuel xxii., and Psalm cv. 1-15 with I. Chron. xvi. 8> 22, annotated with the accents of the " Three Books " and the " Twenty-one Books " respectively. Here we might reasonably expect to discover our Rosetta Stone, but we are woefully disappointed. Psalm cv. offers few textual variations compared with I. Chron. xvi., but there is not absolute parallelism, and the textual variations be- tween Psalm xviii. and II. Samuel xxii. are numerous
14
moreover, even where verses are identical, such verses are so short and the range of accents is consequently so restricted, that the hope of finding a key to the mystery has to be abandoned. Hence it is not strange that most scholars have left the decipherment of the accents of the " Three Books " until all other problems of the universe have been solved.
It may be interesting to glance at the work assigned to Ben Asher, to which I have before referred, as probably the first treatise on the special subject of the accents. Ben Asher's book is, for us, a sphinx : it mutters like an ancient oracle. To solve its riddles is difficult; the whole book is penned in rhythmic rhyme, the opening clause runs thus : —
D'&iBn 127 D'JP D'&jnon 110 TTD D*mn DW Dn&i D^top DPID Dwipa
: D Win hw DIPS D'Mm D'^QJ *M DWJW The order of the symbols' secret lore, The twelve designed Like to fixed stars of yore, These great, these small; Each beautifully linked, nor hid at all. Uttered by those of understanding mind; Set in the way of wisdom, sealed withal.
Elsewhere a clause concludes thus : —
nrn pon nnrn TOD >£& m hy anp&n hi
tnrr x
15
Through Scripture writ clear By Scribe and by Seer, The symbol set here Shall not disappear.
And thus throughout its weird, wild leaves. I will conclude this description with a snap-shot at the sphinx as she proposes he'r enigma of the "Twelve Stars "—or symbols— of the " Three Books."
pun * Dnuj Dne> rubw : n^i ws D'ainn vh\ D^top * Dnsina srb JTJDIKI • oniax pjj njniK * D'ppru "i^j; D^^ 0^3 j
* pm -i ^» * pn ib ^^ty : pro * pbo iS *y^i : pfi iTia v^ab rnu ib ^^n : pbn ib ^^ Dn^b^ni * pbrr 16 * t)pn iS ^^ : mn^ai ^iiina TOM JDXW
mip« bpa
niia 4 miya DJ?^ ^M 4 nn * mny «S Dna * nino nposi : ruin vn« dy * niijn wie nn^i : * rtajn m n^i : mai' Dna xini * n:n^* niaiD nr i
16
pn :nWn itnsni *r6ijn TIWI
Those left of the accents be eight, revealed
Within three books of the Scripture's field,
By wisdom and understanding sealed.
Eight mighty princes, spoken all
With throat and tongue ; and four in thrall,
Enlinked, not mighty men, but small.
Twelve by statute when all are told :
Four making music, and eight that unfold
Exceeding sweet singing; lo, these things, how old!
K
He, called Chizzer, is set at the head, Girt like a strong man with power inbred, All through the three books scattered and spread.
* K
The second is Rethek ; chained he Of lip and tongue ; and it cannot be That he shall be broken hastily.
N
The third is Therets, with him for aye Doth pleasing harmony hold sway, Upbuilding the breaches on the way.
The fourth Salek ;* and lo, for this Among the accents no part there is, Yet amid three is a portion his.
* It is not amongst the accents of the " Twenty-one Books," but found only in the "Three Books."
17
The fifth is Natzeach, set in state,
With a hand upheld and a finger straight,
Mighty and honourable and great.
N
The sixth is Tokef, that riseth high, And looketh forth with a watchful eye, In two ways powerful to espy.
K
A
The seventh Toref with an upward bent
And a tearing finger forward sent :*
With the third one and the fourth one blent.
£
The eighth Gazer that hath display Of a staff and a dot in set array. Girt at the head and placed midway, t
IK and IK
Shophar Harab amid the rest Moveth ever upon his quest, Turning east and turning west.
IN
Piskah is set in order right ; From thence he will not disunite, Dwelling always full in sight.
* Ben Asher probably describes the Toref or Athnachta found in some manuscripts with one claw or finger, i.e. two dashes forming an acute angle.
f The dash over the first letter and the dot over the tone syllable.
b
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Muttach he turneth about with a cry, Camped with his brethren, changed constantly, Yet numbered among their company.
And Niach* falling and rising once more About a word — now he mounteth o'er, Now to the right hand he may soar.
This is theirt order set : Meuleh, Yored v'Oleh, Poneh and Toleh, Bin and Haskeel and Memuleh. Who is wise will observe their way.
With the exception of enclitics, which are connected to the following word by a hyphen, every word in the Hebrew Bible has its pausal or con- nective sign (or signs), chanted upon the tone syllable. The Reader acquires the knowledge by vocal tuition; and although in recent years, he is permitted to use the punctuated text in chanting the Prophets and Hagiographa, this license is not taken in publicly reciting the Law. In chanting from the scroll of the Torah, he must know, from memory, the vowel sounds, and the musical note,
* It is not clear if fVO or r6iyi "11 IT»J is the name of the accent, or if it is an accent at all. According to Heidenheim it is an instruction.
f Viz. : the connective accents.
%* The English rendering of these verses and of the three Hebrew lines in the middle of page 14 is the work of my daughter, Nina Davis.
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or musical phrase, for every word, and the syllable upon which it falls. The melodies to which the different books of the Bible are chanted vary; some are in the major, others in the minor key, or, to be precise, in ancient keys approximating to the modern major and minor; the musical phrases retaining their technique, or general characteristic, under these varied treatments. The n*)3MO or musical phrases admit of an infinite variety of expression, and, in the oriental sense of punctuation, breathe into the Sacred Text a wealth of meaning or "flavour" DJftD. (Such indeed is the name of the H3MO in its punctuative capacity.) The true artist, who has mastered his subject, cannot fail to weld PG\33 and DJftO into one harmonious link, and consciously, or unconsciously, he delivers the Sacred Text with unerring skill and accuracy. The emotions, which the ancient records excite, have thus full vent. Didactic vigour, pathos, death, life, song of war and victory, the prophet's burden, the captive's wail, the sob, the sigh ; all these and more touch harpstrings of the Neginah song.
Are parallel verses of the Bible punctuated with identical sets of accents ?
The question is so frequently asked, that a few explanatory words may be of service to the student. It is important in the first place, to determine whether such verses are parallel, from the punctator's plane of vision. On page 15 I have indicated
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that an additional syllable may require a change of accent. Identical verses are punctuated with identical series of accents. In Numbers chap. vii. 12-83, there are twelve paragraphs enumerating the offerings of the princes at the dedication of the Tabernacle. These paragraphs are parallel in the sense that the text is identical, so far as the nar- ration of the offerings and the closing verses are concerned; and the series of accents are identical, but there are slight textual variations in the headings of the first, second, eleventh and twelfth paragraphs, which involve a slight variation of the accents employed in the first, eleventh and twelfth, but not in the second heading. Many passages may be carelessly supposed to be parallel, which if closely examined, side by side, will be found to present slight textual variations which the punctator would not consider parallel. In Isaiah xvi. 6, the following verse will be found :
-*h imrun faix^ imaw nto x
-
• ^3 P
And in Jeremiah xlviii. 29 :
ijteyi iniaa nfc& rwu
These two verses, with their curious alliteration, — perhaps an echo from some older prophet — present several textual variations, but from the punctator's stand-point, they are parallel, and are identically punctuated. The foregoing examples will suffice, to
21
demonstrate that parallel verses are subject to parallel punctuation, but some special knowledge is needed to determine which verses are technically parallel.
It does not however follow, that the Massorites were bound by hard and fast rules, which admitted of no latitude whatever; evidence to the contrary is afforded by the Ten Commandments, Exodus xx. and Deut. v.
In both recensions the first, second, fourth, sixth, seventh and eighth Commandments possess two sets of accents, }vSj?n D^tO and pHDHH OJffi, the former, which is fuller of musical variations, is employed in the public reading of the Law, the latter privately. The two recensions of the Commandments thus present the phenomenon of four different sets of accents. The two sets JV7J? and flftHD for each recension respectively > can be employed, because the text of these seven Commandments has been set in two different ways in regard to verses or and the reason why neither JV7J? nor of the two recensions correspond, is that the textual variations claim different punctuative treatment.
In the effort to discover the origin of the massoretic system of punctuation, care must be exercised not to start upon an expedition like the " Quest of the Holy Grail." The stream must be traced to the visible source, but the primary forces remain hidden.
The accentual system, like grammar, is a science which has for its object the laws which regulate
22
the expression of the language, which hitherto were instinct, though not yet elaborated into defined and written rules. We cannot therefore reasonably expect to discover in the Talmud, more than scattered and vague testimony of the existence of the system.
The Bible speaks of scribes and seers, of prophets and singers.
The vigour and elegance of their rhetoric, the charm and poetry of their composition, the pathos and grandeur of their utterances, are unsurpassed by anything in ancient or modern literature.
There was a latent, yet potent force, swaying the sacred penmen.
The Totem concept was instinct in the rude breast of the savage before he tattooed the impress upon his skin. The bamboo, fantastically carved by the Indian, is but the reflex of his brain picture. The landscape, veiled in darkness, waits only sunrise to cast its beauty upon the retina. Something akin to this imagery underlies the mystic words of the rabbis in their allusions to the punctuation of the Sacred Text as " a tradition of Moses from Sinai," or as " a divine revelation to primeval man." Such phrases — not infrequently met with in hagadic literature — are no childish utterances of simple- minded pietists, as suggested by some writers ; rather are they indications which connote deep thought, and insight into large problems.
23
In Nehemiah viii. 8, the following verse occurs
The Talmud Nedarim 37, B., interprets these words :
'JY IfcTlp'1) " They read the Text," etc.
KnfiJb " Which they explained by a paraphase into the vernacular " (Aramaic).
/3W DlfeD "And divided it into. verses and para- graphs."
fcnpMl Wl'l "And they made the Text clear by rendering it according to the accents."
If the Rabbinical interpretation is regarded as Mid- rashic and failing in exegetical value, it, at least, proclaims the fact that the punctuative system was esteemed at the period when the gloss was made.
It must not be assumed that the date of Talmudic traditions can be fixed by ascertaining the period when the spokesmen lived. Traditions, recorded in the name of certain Tanaim and Amoraim of the Mishna and Gemara, were handed down through successive generations ; it is consequently difficult or impossible to fix the date of their inception.
The word fl^i) is found in the superscriptions of Psalms iv., vi., liv., lv., Ixvii. and Ixxvi.
According to some authorities rttVO was a musical instrument, but the weight of opinion is that the word related to melody or musical punctuation. The verb p2 is generally employed as touching or playing a
24
stringed instrument, but the noun Pl^IO is used also for song or chant. The word appears in many parts of the Bible ; for example, in the body of Ps. Ixxvii. 7 ; Isaiah xxxviii. 20 ; Lam. v. 14 and iii. 14 ; Job xxx. 9 ; Hab. iii. 19.
If we may adopt the hypothesis that the musical and accentual functions of the symbols were insepa- rable, we may discover in the word M^IO of the Bible an embryonic, but no silent witness of the source from which the system flowed.
The following passage occurs in Talmud Megilla 32A:—
rwi n&'jtt vhi Ktipn hi pnv /tai I&K
airon vS mar
Saith Kabbi Jochanan, " He who reads [Scripture] without melody, or learns [the Oral Law] without song, to him the verse applies, and even I have given them statutes which are not good."
The Tosefoth gloss on this runs thus : " They were accustomed to learn the Oral Law with song, because they learnt it by heart, and the chant aided them to commit it to memory." Even at the present time the student of Talmud reads Mishna and Gemara to a sing-song chant, with a swing and ring about it, which is both quaint and impressive.
In Nedarim 37 A and B, there is a Talmudic debate relating to the payment for teaching the science of the accents in their punctuative function
25
; and in Chagiga 6B, a discussion occurs upon the interpretation of a verse in Exodus xxiv. 5, in which the question arose as to the object of the debate, since no point of the Halacha was involved. Mar Jutra explained that it was essential to know the correct interpretation in order to read the passage accurately, with the proper punctuation — p*)D^7 D^lbJ^D. The Rabbi's pronouncement is valuable testi- mony of the fact that there was a traditional way of reading the Bible text, by which the verses were divided by logical pauses, but it does not prove the existence of any written and recognised system of accents.
In Berachoth 62A there is a reference to the teacher of the accents in the terms *DJ?tD PD HKI^^ PHin " he indicated the accents of the Torah with it [his right hand]." Some scholars have assumed that this means, " the teacher sketched the symbols in the air." Rashi's comment on the passage does not seem to support this interpretation. Rashi relates that he has seen teachers from Palestine waiving the hand when teaching the vowel points of the *")SD and the modulation of the musical phrases of the rOMO. Probably signals were given after the style of a modern choirmaster to guide the_ pupil in regard to the modulation of the musical phrases, but it is not clear what signals were made in reference to vowel points.
Erubin 53 A, last ten lines, draws a comparison
26
between the accurate pronunciation of the Judseans and the inaccuracy of the Galileans, also between the zeal of the Judseans, who adopted artifices of mnemonics fcOft^D, in order to retain in memory what they learnt, and the Galileans who did not. Some scholars have understood this term iOJ^D (sign) to refer to the accents of the Torah. I prefer to interpret the term Torah, as employed in this passage, as relating to the Oral Law and the word fcO/^D as relating to mnemonics —composed of the initial letters of Rabbinical dicta now scattered in various places in the " webs " of the Talmud, but originally learnt by heart and in sequence. Elias Levita (1468) in his exposition of the Massorah — " Massoreth Ha-Massoreth " expresses his opinion that the accents were unknown until after the close of the Talmud, and declares emphatically that there is no allusion by name to the vowel points and accents throughout Talmud and Midrash.
The accentual system is probably a development from very small beginnings. The verses once defined by the vertical line under the tone syllable of the last word, would suggest the propriety of marking the dichotomy by indicating the half -verse by a modified vertical line with antennae turned right and left — (or vertical line with one finger only, as it was originally marked) then further modifications of the vertical
line and combinations of dots, as * J_ _ and other
i ? '
symbols would be devised until a complete system
27
would be gradually developed, marking every grada- tion of pausal, and connective value, revealing with precision the traditional way of reciting the text.
The nomenclature of the accents — partly Hebrew, partly Aramaic — does not disclose their origin, but both the names and designs of the symbols are signi- ficant of their punctuative and musical power. A few examples may serve to illustrate this proposition : pi?D, cessation or break; rOHK, pause; tf^il, rest.
| | • AT : v • :
The three accents represented by dots, viz. : 7i3D S|pT and y*51> are indicated, in regard to their relative pausal value, according to the combination of dots, three, two and one respectively, and their musical characteristics are implied by their names: 713D, a bunch of grapes — suggestive of the sweetness of its musical phrase of four notes : £]DT , a support — of the nature afforded to something drooping — has a musical phrase of three staccato notes; ^5""), a res^ — has a phrase of four notes descending. The theory of a dual meaning being reflected by the names and designs of the accents is, in a large measure, sup- ported by Ben Asher in his definition of the symbols, e.g., the accent ^113, scattering — is traditionally rendered by four short notes ascending, three descen- ding, one high long sustained note falling away by two short notes. The symbol seems to reflect this musical variation or "scattering" phrase. The vertical line may represent the ascending scale of four notes, and the return — to the junction of the
28
hook — the descending three notes. The curve or hook, the high long sustained note, down which the closing two notes fade away. Ben Asher describes it thus :
ITS
Pazer doth soar on air,
Then downward doth repair;
With swelling tone and fair
Disperseth to his lair.
Again HJflft, the name for which, according to Ben Asber, is *")£1fc^, a ram's horn trumpet, indicated by two lines at an angle, is described by him thus :
The image well portrays Shophar: Like low of herds of shor u'phar* 'Tis music sighing oft, -afar.
In Ben Asher's definition of the accents of the " Three Books " — reproduced in these pages — similar allusions to the designs and music of the accents occur. The accents are hieroglyphics, or perhaps may more appropriately be regarded as ideographic symbols.
* Oxen.
THE HEBEEW ACCENTS
OP THE
TWENTY-ONE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE.
SIMPLE SHEVA, SILENT AND VOCAL.*
SHEVA (:) is vocal at the beginning and silent at the end of a word.
Two shevas cannot occur at the beginning of a word, and two shevas at the end of a word are both silent, as J;l$?.l, though originally the second may have been vocal.
Sheva in the midst of a word is vocal under seven conditions, indicated under the seven letters forming the mnemonic term T'H3 D'^ft viz. :
After a long or short vowel followed by metheg. Examples:
After a short vowel which has taken the place of a shera, simple or compound.
• The reason for prefacing the subject of this work with the rules regarding Sheva, is explained on page vii. of the Introduction.
B
Examples : fi instead of ^fc, from twfc ; HJ3 instead of Htt, from DHtt. '
From the plural ^tpj?!, singular Cjbg!.
Before either of the above six letters without dagesh lene.
Example:
After a conjunctive accent, employed as a substitute for metheg in a word with two accents.
Example: DW8?p.
OIHK ^IDi) 3
After an accent thrown back from the ultimate to the penultimate syllable,
Example : m 'ftTh.
Under the first of double letters. Examples;
Under a letter with dagesh forte Examples:
(These examples include )"I3 N1&? and J?3 fcOfc?, and are pronounced ^2 I 3G?
The same rule applies when sheva is under a letter •which should have dagesh, but which by traditional usage has dropped it.
Examples:
Sheva in the middle of a word is silent under two conditions, indicated under the two letters forming the mnemonic term .
After every short vowel not included in the rules, under (£) and (p) page 1.
Examples:
After a long or short vowel accompanied by an accent.
Examples:
B2
1.
ACCENTS,
THERE are in Hebrew two kinds of accents, con- junctive and distinctive.
The object of the accents is threefold : — To mark the tone syllable, to show the relation of words to each other, and to serve as signs of cantilla- tion in chanting the Scriptures.
DISTINCTIVE ACCENTS, D'p'
There are eighteen disjunctive or distinctive accents, divided into four grades, each grade being composed of accents upon a sliding scale.
TABLE OF DISTINCTIVE ACCENTS.
First power ...... K mHK K
Second
„
Third
„
& rhuhw K
Fourth „
^s M
4. CONNECTIVE ACCENTS,
There are eight connective accents, all of the same power, but employed in connection with different distinctive accents in accordance with rules (para- graph 18).
5. TABLE OF CONNECTIVE ACCENTS.
p ITV K r
I v -v 0 «
It is important to note that some of the accents are always attached to the last letter of a word and others to the first. Their proper position is indicated in the foregoing tables. It therefore follows, that what has been said in paragraph 1 in respect to the accents marking the tone syllables, calls for some explanation, which will be found in the various paragraphs where the accents are treated individually. It will suffice here to state briefly, that should one of those accents which is not moveable, but subject to fixed laws of position, fall upon a letter which would create a conflict between such fixed laws and the proper accentuation of the word, the latter necessity takes precedence, by such accent being
6
exchanged for its "equivalent" or "substitute" which. can be attached to the tone syllable, and thus the claim holds good " that the accents mark the tone syllable " (see paragraphs 7 and £7), etc. ; yet this
lii ^
claim must be qualified in regard to /13D Kpl!
rbm «^p and na&jp KE^P,
These four accents are immoveable, being fixed in the positions indicated, and the tone syllable of the words to which they are attached can only be ascer- tained by a knowledge of the rules of punctuation.
In some modern Hebrew Bibles the same plan of
\ doubling the accent, as in the case of Xfrfc^B (para-
graph 7), has been adopted in order to mark the tone;
.». but this method is not general. Example : ^jnftfcO is
correctly pointed, but the tone being T$J pp, this can
A A
be indicated as above named, thus; ^H^NI.
7.
Ntpfc^§ is always written over the last letter of a word, and when the tone is on the previous syllable, this is shown by doubling the accent, thus :
fn *D Via
8.
\
N£*]f? is written over the tone syllable, but should
% this be the first syllable, N£p*Tp cannot be placed over
the first letter, unless preceded by
7 9.
'TV is written before the first letter of a word.
• :<
10.
nft is written under the tone syllable.
11.
3 is written over the tone syllable. When the word is accented A$?pp, the accent is called £H5, when accented Jn?fi the accent is called N/K.
is sometimes called ^ ?V and
13.
$ is sometimes called
14.
D is generally attached to *, but this is unsup- ported byMassorah.
15.
n?bp Kg^l is included in the « Table of Con- nective Accents " (paragraph 5). Yet in " Table of
8
the Connective and Distinctive Accents in Order of
Consecution " (paragraph 19), we find Jljtpp NB^vJjl posing as a distinctive accent. This anomaly is thus explained :
It is a connective accent in regard to the following rule : If a word ending with one of the letters K'"]JT and having a distinctive accent is followed by a word beginning with one of the letters H"^ T'JQ, such letter takes a dagesh, except in the case of
Tiptop Xfey vJH ; for this accent, though otherwise dis- tinctive, ranks in this respect as a connective
accent. Example : Gen. i. £6, D*H Hin^ ^T.V
In this sense ri^tDp N&? v)l is a connective accent, but in regard to the laws of punctuation it is a distinctive
accent. It is the filUS of £H3 and tf/T^, and never appears unless followed by the connective accent
16.
TABLE OF THE DISTINCTIVE ACCENTS IN ORDER OF POWER.
.... w:ri ^nsb tbp-ftpr
• : VT : - | T JT II-T
..... ehji4 wotr ......
17. THE REMAINING SEVEN ACCENTS.
njlpp N&r?J;l may be added to the above table. They are mostly substitutes, as will be explained.
18.
TABLE SHOWING THE EESPECTIYE RELA- TIONSHIP BETWEEN CONNECTIVE AND DISTINCTIVE ACCENTS.
jttE ministers to all the distinctive accents, excepting . . . pyD and NHiSb ministers to .....
and
|b(5 X^n precedes ...... .
ministers to p^D NHgt? Nt:^3 "l£fi and ministers to
10
19.
TABLE OF THE CONNECTIVE AND DIS- TINCTIVE ACCENTS IN ORDER OF CONSECUTION.
Distinctive.
ovrwa
Connective.
Distinctive.
Distinctive.
Distinctive.
rn
H
£3 T
n
IT t t
(I t f
P"n
rn rn
11
ORDER OF THE DISTINCTIVE ACCENTS.
20.
is the principal distinctive accent, and is the equivalent of a full stop. It is employed at the end of a verse. Its minister or connective accent is Xp""]E, that is to say, the preceding word, if connected to the one following, is accompanied by XIHftj an(i its rflHB is NHSDtp, that is to say, the word preceding, if requiring a distinctive accent, is always XJlS^?* which is the rflPl3 or smaller distinctive in regard to pY?. Should a member of a verse consist of two words, the last having p^D, the preceding word must be accompanied by KHSb, whether the sense requires a distinctive or a connective accent.
Example : tTtt y&*) n/blMHI STK (Gen. ix. 20).
pY? and NPl$tp appear in five places in one word. Example : ipnPp (Lev. xxi. 4).
mav aPPear alone in the last word of a verse, such word being a member of a verse in itself.
Example : NfilH pjl (Lev. xiii. 18).
12
If the last member of a verse is composed of three
words, the last word with p*l7D is directly preceded by its minister or by its less distinctive, according as the sense requires.
Examples : pKH MM D^H (Gen. i. 1), or n^T » Vl? (Gen. xxii. 14).
21.
is second in power, and is employed at the end of the first member of a verse consisting of two complete members.
Its minister is HJ^, and its n^HS or less distinctive is KPl$t?.
Should the member of the verse only consist of two words, the last having rOHX, the preceding word must be accompanied by KHBtp, whether the sense requires a distinctive or a connective accent.
Example: tttfl K (Lev. xix. 11).
fl^N may appear in a word, such word itself con- stituting a member of a verse.
Example : IfcK'l (Exod. xxxiii. 14) ;
and n^nNt and XH^tp may both appear in the same word,
Example : DJa (Num. xxviii.
13
D is the third distinctive in rank, and marks the end of the first member of a verse consisting of three members, n,Dfitf and pyD following at the end of the second and third members respectively.
Example :
yh MTI pwi ems* TDK D&TI ^ cm
». T ^ : • : | AT : • : JT T : - v~ -: '•• : • : i r
pKH l^pa (Gen. xlviii. 16).
I V |T T -.-J ;v: V /
It happens sometimes that the first member of the verse with TttD is followed by the second member in parenthesis.
Example :
:n Pttjpo-'3
. (Deut. iii. 19),
The words D^S ^ nij?fi-%3 %WTT are in paren- thesis.
D never comes after H^ri5jj>, and never before Nrififck or NPISC) Wp^lb, nor*' before 1*^ unaccom- panied by ^S|T!'
14
Its minister is HJ^, and its fi^n3 or less distinctive is SjTjT.
23.
t)pT is next in power and its place is before KH^t? as its IHV or major, that is to say, it is placed over a word having NH3tp in advance, and requiring a distinctive accent of greater power.
PjDT is found in three forms, viz. :
and
which are equal in power and are employed in accord- ance with the following rules :
If the word requiring tjDT also needs metheg in the first syllable of the word itself, the latter gives place
to the connective accent 1"0^> and |tpD &]DJ is em- ployed.
Example: Drnjft . (Deut. iii. 19).
Exceptions to this rule are : if the metheg is directly preceded by a syllable with a n^HB or less distinctive, it is not changed into HD^, but the metheg remains.
Example: HTPin JTfTj (Lev. vii. 31).
So also if the first syllable to which metheg is attached is followed by a letter from which a dagesh
15
has been dropped, or is followed by a guttural, in both cases the metheg is retained.
Examples: BJOKp PON"iy (Exod. xvi.
D'iurtt tofyw (Num. xiii. 33).
If the word with t]pT does not require metheg ; if there are three syllables before the one with fc]DT, or two syllables with one vocal sheva, or two vocal shevas
: i
and one syllable, then tjT Nt0^5 is employed.
Examples: Df
If the conditions specified above do not apply, then g employed.
Examples:
(for only to simple, not to compound sheva, does this rule apply).
The foregoing rules only apply to a word with which is not preceded by a word with a connective accent. If preceded by a word with a connective
:
accent this must be HJIID if the word with *T is a
16
short word (that is to say, with only one syllable be- fore the accent).
Examples : D'llN
JL T ; -
but if the word with S]pT is a long word, that is to say, if it has before the accented syllable, two syllables, or one syllable with a metheg followed by vocal sheva,
then the preceding word has
Examples: DH^IS Tb1 pjH JlNTSl.
Notwithstanding, if the word connected to the one with £]PT is preceded by a word with a less distinctive accent, then the accent is HD^, although the word with JtJD &]J2J is a long one, and the word which stands before it has
Examples : ni'n *!« 3 (Deut. i. 33), Drmtf ^K {rt^N (Gen. xxiv. 1
T T ; ~ J* "; •• V; \
precedes the last word of a verse as ex- plained. Should the word preceding the last one re-
17
quire a connective accent, then if the last word be a short one, that is to say, having only one syllable before the tone, the connective accent immediately precedes the last word, and Xn?tD is attached to the word before.
Example : pjjO XV V\Wri} (Gen. i. 22).
If the last word be a long one, that is to say, con- taining two syllables, or one syllable with metheg before the tone, then the word immediately preceding the last
word has XfiStp and is preceded by a word with or one of its two equivalents (see paragraph 23).
Example: mSJ pN3 W71 ^ (Exod. xviii. 3).
IT • : T ) vvv : • • T j- V. ./
Notwithstanding, if the sense demands that the word preceding the last should be marked with a connective accent proper, although the last word is "long," the connective accent is supplied.
Example : DWP! Wl Vflrfl (Gen. i. 20).
25.
is the fourth and least of the D
Two of these accents do not appear in succession even
c
18
with a connective accent between them unless there be some kind of break in the sense, or that the verse con- tain some qualifying expression. (For further elucida- tion see paragraph 35.)
Example :
(Lev. xxii. 3).
Two D^^T) are admissible in this sentence, the meaning being without the break : DpJTVT? $*$ /3. Its minister is
If two connected words precede, both have and if the former has a slightly distinctive sense it has , that is to say m^ and I 'DS.
Example : TYDN fltt I Tg (Exod. xxxiv. 7).
Sometimes the minister H^l/ft is preceded by D^KHlj ajid sometimes by D.^HJ and H??^
Examples ; ^3£p ^H? (Dent. xvi. 1).
nWn D^nn I rosriia ^ (Deut. ix. 5).
v •• T j- j- ; • ; • \ J
Sometimes the minister HJIIb immediately precedes the word with an(^ tne former word has
, Example : ir i SH (Exod. xii. 48).
19
. f Its JTinS is &JHL3 or one of its two equivalents (i.e.,
gha or *&»)•
There are seven instances where
p*D|D is employed in the place of *V*3l«
KjTlT is the njgto of UD, and therefore pre-
co
cedes it as its J"ti)"lS. Sometimes one Nplt follows another, providing generally ^5*1 is before them This rule applies to all the D'Ofc^p, that one may follow another with ^11: before them. Three D^^p cannot occur in any case in succession, with the exception of NtO^S. The minister of fijTlT generally is H^, but in some places it is tfp"J??. In one place (Isa. xlv. 1) &P*]! occurs before ^3*1.
'P^B is the rWft of, and therefore precedes,
as its jvns.
c 2
20
Its substitute is ^f\ see « Table of Distinctive
Accents In Order of Power"), that is to say, KD§ is always placed over the last letter of a word excepting when preceded by a word with a connective accent, or by a word with &)J5'5, when it can stand over the first letter.
Examples : JlPQI n PtfVri (Gen. i. 2),
(Isaiah Ixvi. 23
but should Kb3 fall upon a word which is requiring the tone on the first letter, and the word is not preceded by one with a connective accent, then
the Kt0^5 is changed into its substitute ^fi\
Example: JH. gnp 3B^ (Gen. i. 11).
Care should be taken to distinguish between which is always written over the last letter of the
word with the exceptions noted (and in which cases
% • it is doubled as shown), and XDHp, the connective
accent which is written over the tone syllable.
Example: PlJP! DVH DtfM (Gen- vii
The first (') is Xplp, the second (') is Its minister is ^Hft, if there be a syllable between it and «ID^S,
Example : nnK DIDZj^X (Num. xxiii. 13) ;
21
but if no syllable intervenes its minister is
Example : \ filTH (Gen. i.
28.
Tpfl is the r\Wti of N(1§)lp, and therefore precedes it as its rtth3.
Its minister is ^^3' un^er tne following condi- tions : —
If there are two syllables between NyTVl. and T^ft. Example: ^ D^ (Gen. vL 19).
If there be one syllable and a vocal sheva between them.
Example : Igh DJjl (Job i. 1). If there be one syllable with metheg between them. Example ; 3JJ3£ Hip (Jos. xxiv. 32).
If I p*D$ be between them.
Example : h\Q\ I b^D (Gen. xvii. 13).
22
If the foregoing conditions do not exist, then the minister of TJ-I is
Examples : WU 1^« n« TO.
J. • 3- T ;v -: %••)•.• ) j"
There are thirteen exceptional places, where the minister of 'VJlfi is tfjFFl where these conditions do not exist, and there are seventeen instances where H/^M Kp^?? is employed in the place of *VJ?fi, not- withstanding the former is treated as a connective accent.
B| is the rttPib of »V'3, and therefore pre- cedes it as its
:!, D^ll and X/J^ are of equal power, and the choice of the one employed depends upon the fol- lowing conditions ; —
If this accent should fall upon a word whose accent is yiffo, and is preceded by a word with a connective accent (but not over the first letter), K/W is employed, preceded by
Example : MD 3o?l (Num. xxxiii
23
If the word is not preceded by one with a con-
nective accent, and the word itself requires metheg,
% %
then tf??*lp takes the place of metheg, and K^lp and
fcs?TK appear over the word, providing tfb'lp is not thrown on the first letter.
Example : 'jiO (Amos ii. 9).
If the word is not one in which metheg can ap-
". pear, D?BH;l is employed,
Example : J?l?l (Exod. xviii. 1),
the reason being that K/TX is never used unless preceded by tfbHp, and EHjj cannot be used when
the word is JTlpP, hence D^&?H3 is employed ; and if the word be preceded by one with a connective sense, the minister is H^ft,
Example : M" HJ) (Num. xii. 8),
\
for K£*!p is not marked over the first letter of a
* • L
word except after Hjltpp N^yJp,
Example : ^tbEH & »3 (Gen. ii. 5),
because Jll|t?jp K^v^ only appears followed by N/b*]p, in which case fcflblp stands in place of HJ^Jb, and
24
*$TK in the place of d?gh;l. This rule only holds good if K/W is followed by one of the three first D\5fcTp, but if ^y\ follows, then the word takes d^^JJ, although its construction admits of metheg,
Examples : WTK $ fcN'l (Gen. xi. 3), Ttt WgB 'iifcO (Deut. x. 10),
the reason being that N??*!p an^ ^vl^ ^n a word preceding *?^5*1j are not admissible unless a word intervenes with a connective accent and also a metheg,
Example : W) /jn1! (Deut. vii. 13).
Words pointed with Q^I-5 and metheg are frequently followed by Np^B, and sometimes by
Examples ; Vt^f &$ *$$ (Gen. xlii. 28).
zvh pn r\rh pspxn ^ (Exod. v. 7).
The foregoing rules determine which equivalent of viz., K/TX or dJKnil, takes its place when the word is y^F/b^ but when the word is 7*S?fA ^T5
25
itself is employed, and its minister is tf*1p, provided it can be employed otherwise than over the first letter.
Example : Dntfb 1OTV1 (Exod. xiv. 9),
but should the minister fall upon the first letter of the word, then H^ft is employed.
Example: MBTlJPI HPin (Isa. Ix. 17).
If no word with a connective accent precede, and
•» . '
the word itself admits of metheg, then Nb*|p and EHi!
^
appear over the same word, Nib*!p taking the place of metheg.
Example : MDfc fr^tf (Deut. xxv. 19).
(The makkeph connecting the two words, tf?p*]p is not considered to stand over the first letter.)
The same remark applies to NJb*Tp and X7li$ over a word preceded by one connected with makkeph.
Example: DnlTK).
If the word does not admit of metheg, then appears alone.
Example; W^
26
3 and its two equivalents cannot precede one of the P*0fc^p unless a word with, a minister intervenes,
Example : *f HK £ ^hT S^Tp? C10611*- xxiii- 22), or unless metheg intervenes,
Example: DjVK¥ifc-nN nfeto ^fr??! (Num. xxxiii. 2).
30.
and n^ri} Nfc^n are the two t the former being a greater distinctive than the latter.
Their place is before feSHJl and its two equivalents, also before the other three superior D^&?£ as explained below.
It will be seen from the " Table of Connective and Distinctive Accents in Order of Consecution " that although nSnS K&rSn is a Wh& it stands in the
column (*irP) as a greater distinctive than the smallest
. i of the D'O&^D, i.e., BHlj and its two equivalents, and
P that ^ITS stands in the column (*1J"IV) as a greater dis-
27
tinctive than J"P*n3 tf$ vJ;), and is consequently greater
. i than fc^Hil and its two equivalents.
•"1/IT5 X&^v^ is °nly employed when followed by one of the four D^G^D, and it cannot precede llj^/b with Wy\ unless fe^jj or one of its two equivalents
tr.
intervene, and as D?G5HII is not used over a word of one syllable preceding one of the D is employed as a substitute.
Example: nTWt HXQft Dy (Gen. xxxi. 32).
In the ordinary order of consecution the word D$7 would have D?gh3. If ^^] follows, D^gh5 stands, as nSnj «^]|1 cannot precede Wy\.
Example: ^^ Bhha *5 (Deut. xvi. 1).
If the word is of one syllable and a vocal sheva, D^gHl! stands, although followed by one of the d
Example: f^p MVT 1^« ^ (Num. ix.
31.
It will be seen from paragraph 15 in what sense
28
. f lP3? tf£"7P is included amongst the connective
accents, and how otherwise (in regard to punctuation) it is a distinctive accent. It will also be seen (para-
graph 29) that it only occurs directly followed by
^ Nft*lP, and in the " Table of Connective and Dis-
tinctive Accents in Order of Consecution" it will be
found in the column of DWH5 as the r^PllS or less
• ' (L distinctive preceding KH3 or X7TK.
Examples : 'fl tf-H JBH (Gen. xlviii. 16).
If B5HJI should fall upon a word not requiring tf^lf? before it, but which should be directly preceded by its fiinS (Mibfp fctt^pft), in view of the rule that the latter can only be employed followed by tfblp, this sequence takes precedence, and HllDp fctt? vp is
thrown back one degree nearer the beginning of the
> sentence ; thus the minister ^5*]p is employed instead
of the mriS (Pljtojp N^?W), and the previous word must have n5t?p K^ V^, although the sense may re- quire a connective accent.
Example ; DWrnSi K^HH D1*3 "IDJJ (Gen. xxx. 35).
29 Otherwise the accents would be as follows : —
Win,
In other cases the difficulty is met by substituting
for
The fixed rule that Kll and X7TK must be pre- ceded by NfcHp, and that J"]|top N&T7J;! cannot appear
^
unless followed by N£p*Tp, needs care on the part of the student, where this sequence is met, to determine whether the sense of the passage agrees with the punctuation, or if this has yielded in favour of the fixed rule of the sequence, in which latter instance
. !
he will consider i"l3tpp N^v^ as a conjunctive accent and K*T as a distinctive accent,
Example of the sequence in order of the proper punctuation of the words :
:87! p1! (Deut. iv. 9). Example of the exceptional sequence.
^ t|DV DnS |M (Gen. xlvii. 17).
30
or Piyifc with I p*pa, is the smallest of the DTfiPlfi, and its place is always before
foUowed by W
All words in a sentence which precede
"1??, or n-l&jp K^J-l, and which require S or less distinctive accents, are marked with
Example :
Should words precede the three above-named accents which require greater distinctives than these are, bu* of less distinctive power than a J"0|5fyp following, then
H
each of such preceding words takes ^13.
Example: mnfcn ^ D.H JD^ NJ?"D« n^H (Exod. iv. 9).
Should a word precede these three accents which requires a greater distinctive than these are, and also
greater than a POfc^ft following, then *&y\ is em- ployed.
31 Example :
'in ^jgp ~u iS nripS NIS^ D'hSaj np?n i IK
iv. 34)?
If a word precede these three accents which requires a greater distinctive than these are, and also greater than a p£ which follows, then jtpj5 &)pj is employed.
Example :
nn a
p (Gen. xxxi. 52).
It may here be noted that sometimes rn|5 ^) employed as a substitute for *!]£ or and its minister is 125V
SHORT RULES FOR PUNCTUATING.
1. Find how many members are contained in the verse.
2. If the verse has but one member the last dis- tinctive is generally pyD.
32 3. If the verse contains two members. FOPtf con
} AT ; •.•
eludes the first member, D the second.
4. If the verse contains three members, /*UD con- cludes the first member, njHX the second, and p^D the third.
5. After setting the great distinctives to the members, read the whole verse from the beginning, mentally pairing the words, commencing with the first one, then repeat the operation, commencing with the second word. By this method it will be readily determined whether the first word should be connected to, or separated from the second, and so on through the whole verse. Over each word to be connected to the following one, place the mark ^ , and over each word to be separated from the following one, place the sign I .
This process applied to the verse below will show that the first pairing of /frOH ^]{v7ftn is inadmissible, and that the second pairing, commencing with the second word, is accurate in the result.
It must be borne in mind that three words must not follow in succession without a distinctive accent, between the first and second, or between the second and third; hence the word ^N/^H will have a dis- tinctive accent and ^fcOJl will be connected to *PK by a minister.
The exception to this rule will be found fully ex-
33
\> t/f
plained in paragraph 32 (in respect to ^TS, J"fi and
<*
p'Tlj and in paragraph 34.
Having thus determined which words of the mem- bers of a verse require distinctive and which connec- tive accents, the selection of the proper ones will be made in accordance with the rules of consecution con- tained in these pages.
Example :
rhS MTI pnic^i Dmsx TDK D#I *&& bni
: VT » *•:• | A* » *• JT T : - v- -; ^- : • : v T
H (Gen. xlviii. 16).
It is hardly necessary to point out that these " Short Kules for Punctuating " are intended only for practice, but the real object in acquiring a knowledge of the art is to understand the Massoretic text of the Hebrew Scriptures.
34.
EXPLANATION OF THE "TABLE OF
CONNECTIVE AND DISTINCTIVE ACCENTS
IN OEDER OF CONSECUTION"
(Paragraph 19).
It will be observed that this table shows various dis- tinctive accents in the two columns headed respectively
D
34
")JV and *\r\V, which precede the columns of distinc- tives, D^DSft, connectives, DTn£>D, and less distinc-
Supposing that a word requires a distinctive accent of greater degree than one directly following, but of less degree than the one further onward, this is called ITV, which, for want of a better English equi- valent, may be termed comparatively distinctive.
Example : l! 'p3 OSfc W$\ (Exod. i.
The word W>J! requires a greater distinctive than the word ^$2?, but a less distinctive than the word
TWyfP. The sense would indicate that ^5>fc should have a connective accent, but must be marked with Xn$p in accordance with the rule noted in paragraph 80.
jllV Supposing that a word requires a distinctive accent of greater degree than the one directly fol- lowing, and also greater than the one further onward, this distinctive accent is called ^IHV, or major,
Example :
yy nWn osston £ 1^1 (Num. xxii. 9).
The word ^ requires a less distinctive than the word X/1, and the word *l?pS*l requires a greater distinctive
35
than the word *£, and also a greater distinctive than the word PTpXH.
It may here be pointed out that if the word *£ stood alone, its greater distinctive, as shown in the table, would be *V*5*!i but this sequence does not hold good
in the case of a phrase including a ^IHV, as is the
P case in our example, where the IJIV"^"?— concerns
itself only with the distinctive XPl3!p, and ignores the intervening less distinctive l^?^.
With these remarks the table will be understood and the sequence appear clear.
D>jrp§jb Q'rntffc D^rnna inj inv
Great Distinctives. Ministers. Distinctives. Distinctives. Distinotives.
thus *"tfV and IHV apply to all the distinctive accents excepting the great distinctives p^D and H.JJ1X.
Before the D*?/9 there is no distinction between TJV and TTIV, the 1JV before the D^S^ being P)pT or its two equivalents, and the ^fiV before them being likewise tjDT and its two equivalents, for it is a general rule that where two of the same distinctive accents are in juxtaposition, the former is a greater distinctive than the latter, hence t|j5j repeated before the &*?/£, the first is ^IMV. the second
" *
V V
D 2
36
Example ;
nnxn DP (Exod. xviii. 3).
The word *\ti$ is more distinctly disconnected than
the word W*Pl, and the word DKHll more so than IftK.
There is no difference consequently between *")JV and
riV excepting before the DOPfc and W
. The mnS before the D^DD is KHStD. The
T | VT : -
before the DWO is the il^KO attached to each as indicated in the Table.
A PO&^D is not employed unless followed by its (excepting Nb^'S? and under conditions speci- fied in paragraph 35), but a \?fo is used without its P0&?/b (excepting /DD, which never appears unaccom- panied by its POGftb, Np^JT). The n^S before the first
r
three D^fc^D is ^5 or one of its two equivalents.
Example :
irra D^n*] j a^n (Esther m. is).
Between the n^O and Hin^ a minister must inter- vene unless the j"OE?Jb is attached to a word with metheg preceded by a syllable.
Should neither condition exist, then the W*\% or its
37
equivalent is deposed in favour of the minister of the following p^DM, thus the POtPD is preceded by two ministers.
Example : pL^S Iflfc ^??] (Lev- iiL 5>
The usual form would be IH TOPp?) with
t (the equivalent of BH-D> but in deference to the fore-
going rule the N^TX gives place to the minister
> **H?n??j and Kp*lp is left in position ; thus two ministers
precede the Jl^D.
The J^na before the fourth PtiB>& Bhi is
Example : DJJ1 n*p WV\ (Gen. i. 26). The JtiriS before the D^^S^ is
The *tfV and ITJV before the D*0 (excepting is t)p{. Example :
nneten jw JIN] v^-n«i n^jpn (Exod. xxxv. is).
The first ftjpj being a greater distinctive than the second, due to its position of precedence, concerns itself only with the second P]pJ, and ignores the inter- vening
38
The "in; before the first three D^B>» is W^}, for although it is of less power than the three greater D*D /£, it is of greater power than the D^&PD.
Example : }PQ1 }PlH nrVH pKHI (Gen. i. 2).
T JT : |T | %• T T : V
The ^IJT before the fourth rWfc, Bhj is not its
but
Example: IDIT (Gen. xviii. 28).
The ^JlV before the D^ft (that is to say, the accent of greater power before the i"GfcTD following and also
greater than the *J /D following the Pl3&?/b) is C|DT and its two equivalents, for as it must be of greater power
than the *] ?ft it follows that it must be t|DT, and it concerns itself only with the "1^^ following in advance, and ignores the intermediate PGfe?£.
The "IJV before the WtTJV (that is to say, the accent of greater power than the W*?W following but of less power than the POfe^fc following the wh&) is
The in? before the tW*» (that is to say the accent of greater power than the £^ v£J following, and also greater than the fti&?Jb following the £"7^) is the same as the ")JTV and IJlV before a H^^, and the intermediate less distinctive* are ignored.
If a greater distinctive be required than the following, fcjT must be employed, and all the less dis-
39
tinctive accents intervening are considered only as if they were ministers.
If a less distinctive be required than the "pft fol-
lowing, Wy\ is employed as the 'TTP before a
Note that if the WW be H^H:! XE"7fi then the
*UT is not fl7njl tf^yJ;), because two IfJl cannot
P come together, in which case the *")fV is ITS.
* . f
This rule also applies to n|t?p W yfl. See par. 32.
Example : P&y tDPlBfa ^8 D1?5 (Lev- vi- 18)-
The foregoing will serve to explain the meaning of the letters £"YT in the Table in the column
which letters stand for t)pt ^5*1 ^.1? the three accents of greater power, one of which is required before the D^ vfc^, dependent upon the rules and con- ditions set forth.
35.
It has been stated (paragraph 34) that a !"l3fePD is not used unless followed by a *]%, yet if one of the three greater D*0&^ft be preceded by an accent of greater power, which in its turn is preceded by one of still greater power but of less power than the *]/^ following, in this case two similar D^fe^ft precede the *]% according to the rule that when two of the same accents follow in juxtaposition, the first
40
is more powerful than the second, and in this case the accent preceding the two D^fc^Jb is ^51 (as the "))V before a rtiB>fc).
In this way the D^&?Jb may follow each other preceded by Wll.
Example :
bkr\ pa ^an (Gen. i. T>
This order of sequence in regard to the D^&^Jb is not altered, even if a small distinctive intervene.
Example :
rn^n-n^ (Lev. ix. T).
) : IT - v V /
The reason being that ^V*1?1! cannot be employed in
\ the place of the first XW$ over HJl^n as the IJ^J
before a ("Ofc^ft, because two D^V^^l cannot be in juxtaposition, jtpp P|pT cannot be employed instead of ^?1 over Hj because it would be of greater
power than the second tjDT over ^H7y, whereas an accent of less power is required than this *]/£, therefore two D^&PJb are employed in juxtaposition,
preceded by ty^], ignoring the smaller p*D£ib (d?gh|) which intervenes.
41
In the same manner the sequence of two similar preceded by Wy] is not altered if a smaller intervenes between the an(^ the first
Example :
nr TnSx » Tp'Sin "$« Tirm (Deut. viii. 2).
dv I j>v v: JT; ) t f v -: | v v - V
If a smaller |TD££ come between two D^&?D, then
> the first PDfe?£ is always Ktpfc^S, even if the second one
is not, and without ^jHT following. Example :
fef P&K;; -ira; wx mpaa u^xn (Deut.xii. is).
The rule would indicate that the word D1p£p? should be marked with ^5*1* but this becomes inadmissible on account of the preceding word having this accent, which cannot follow in juxtaposition, and in view of
CM C^
this, the accent should be tf?*]!, the same as the Np^!
\f «>
following, but as &wTX intervenes ^P^l gives place to
The same rule applies if two D^JYlt^D intervene between two of the three greater D^G^Ib, that is to say, the first rora is
42 Example :
}£$> DnS r&rn nriN rrcs r/?n np^f jj
(Lev. viii. 26).
The rule would require HllX to be marked with
'V'?"] as the inj of the D^fc, but of less power than the *]?£ following, but this order is impeded by the
preceding ^51? so that the proper accent for HH^ would be ^Iptt, to agree with the Tpft following, but as two Q^nifc^lb intervene, the first H^/b is changed
into
Should three words precede a POfc^ft, each one of greater power than the one following, but of less power
than the *J /£ in advance, then the first word has ^51*
the second W£>, and the third 5").
The same order of consecution is observed if four or
five words precede a *p£ with its POtPlb; thus the set of accents would be, the first W^f], the second KW3,
the third *iP!H, the fourth and fifth two D^^Jb, and
should a smaller distinctive or two D^rH^ft intervene,
> then the first of the last two D*0fc?ft is always
36.
It has been stated (paragraph 34) that the before the three greater D^S?D is K^j|^ and that the
before BhS is n»p KB^bw.
43
. f If two or three words precede EHS, each one being
marked with an accent of smaller power than the one following, and consequently of smaller power than the
EH;!, and after the Bhll one of the three greater D^&Pfi
follows, then the &JHJ1 is changed into the Tr\Wti of the
If two or three words precede VT\$,, which is fol- lowed by one of the greater D'Ofc^ft, each one marked with an accent of greater power than the one following,
but of less power than the rOfc^fo following the
then B! is preceded by its 1JV (Tlnj Kfi), or
by rUtOp KB^fi, and the Ktf^fi by its "tfV (ITS),
TH M
and ^TiS by another ^ITS, which, due to its position, is
a *1JT to its fellow, according to the rule that when two similar accents occur in juxtaposition, the first is to the second.
Example :
n
37.
The rules contained in the foregoing paragraphs refer chiefly to consecution ; it remains to show upon what fixed principles the original selection of an accent rests which gives rise to the train or set of accents by which the member or verse is punctuated,
44
The subject has a greater distinctive than the dis- tinctive following (unless the latter concludes the verse).
Example : IflK mimX JTV Dn&ni (Gen. iv. 1).
A : • JT - v ' v T T T JT : V
Explanation : 1 WK requires ftiflK. The Table, No. 19, will show that the ITWO of rOHK is TO£, and that its n^HS is KH99- So far the sequence is found in order. It only leaves the pointing of the subject D*TtfP!}, which under the rules just specified requires a greater distinctive than the distinctive following, but of less power than the *lD'p closing the passage, and which Table 19 indicates to
be *)|3T.
Should the stress obviously rest upon some word other than the subject, the latter is pointed with a smaller distinctive than the one following,
Example: tt, DPl-DKTlN T13 ^ (Gen- xxiv- l)>
| - VT T : - v I !-•• ->T|- V
*Vj3ft being employed as the 111113, or smaller dis- tinctive, before KPl^D, instead of a greater one, because the stress is to be laid, not upon the subject, but upon the object /D.
Again, if the subject is incomplete, per se, having some qualification following, it is marked with either a rflPlB or a
Example :
rdpn d? tVn3^ n?^n-S$? &$r\\ (Lev. vi. 5).
45
38.
Of two nouns in juxtaposition or otherwise closely connected, the first is marked with a
Examples : fi&KI tStf
|T T : v Jv
This rule is not absolute.
Examples : TO?| JHJ (Gen. viii. 22).
t (Gen. x. i4>
Should the first noun be preceded by a word with a , then it is marked with a small distinctive, the of the distinctive following.
If a noun and verb appear together, whichever pre- cedes takes a
Examples : Tl PDJI (Num. xxxii. 42).
^I (Gen. xv. 3).
but should the verb after the noun attach itself to a word following, then the noun takes a distinctive.
Example : D£V \ DITQN'] (Gen. xviii. 16).
If the verb is attached to a personal pronoun fol- lowed by a noun with one of the ^3/3, or if the noun is attached to a personal pronoun followed by a verb,
46
the first word under these conditions takes a distinctive accent.
Examples: HDM 1JVDJ *TB>$ (Deut. xxxiii. 8). fe>? fiBhr?5? (Num. xix. 5).
39.
Of three similar nouns in succession, the first takes , the second a
Examples :
The same rule applies to three verbs in succession. Example: V|?l nj^) Vl# (Jer. xxv. 27).
But should the second noun or verb be more akin to the third than the first, then the first takes a T and the second a
Example : TUT] £>n^ P? (^eut. xxviii. 51). PII ^|1^n VH (Gen. viii. 5).
Thus it will be found when mention is made of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, in reference to the covenant, takes a p^DSD, but in other passages a
47
40.
Of four similar nouns in succession, the first takes a mG?£, the second a jTDSft (HIPIS), the third a and the fourth a greater distinctive.
Example : lEfl H| fiStf ] ft (Exod. i. 4).
41.
Of five similar nouns in succession, the first takes a rr\Wfo, the second a p^Dfift, the third a greater p' the fourth a mfe?Jb, and the fifth a greater
Example: TW) ]\^} *1T\A] ]W] $W (Gen. xlvi. 10).
But if the fourth be more akin to the third, than it is to the fifth, then the third takes a J"n&?£, and the fourth a greater p^D^D than the second, and the fifth takes a greater p*D£)£ than the fourth.
Example :
^narn r\wn:y\ ihjrrt ^DDS (jos. xxii. 8).
Of two nouns in succession, the first being in takes a m&?£, as explained (paragraph 18), but if
48
preceded by another noun in H^ftD the first takes a and the second a
Examples : BH3H M^ltf ftfc (Exod. xxxvi. 1).
(Num. ii. 3).
•.••>•.• V /
If the first be in J"fl^lbD and the third be a word qualifying the second, the first takes a p^D£fo and the second a
Example : B'l D^$? l^H (Isa. xvii. 12).
If the third qualifies the first word, the first takes a m&y/b and the second a i
Example: nlfclrmN njfl) (2 Sam. xvii. 14).
This rule will explain the apparent anomaly that in Dent, xxviii. 61 the phrase is written Pnirin *")3p3 n^jfn, because the third word qualifies or applies to the second, and therefore must be HN-in (feminine), and the word preceding takes a rnfc^ft, whereas in Deut. xxix. 20 the phrase is written H-TH Pniflri ^ISDS, be- cause the third word applies to the first, therefore it must be masculine, and the first takes a rPl&^ft and the second a p^DSD.
If the first noun be in Hl^DD to the second, and the third has "VQlin Y"), then the first takes a rftfPfo and the second a
Example : DTI ^W Hp^ (Mai. iii. 4).
49
If three nouns in filD'lbD precede a fourth word, the first takes a p*D£/b— "HlV, the second a the third a
Example : BHJ3PI rngB *lb )VlpS (Num. iii. 32)
If the first be in fil^DD followed by the second with VI expressed or understood, the first takes a , the second a ^Dfitt, and the third a
Example: Min pHlF DmiK VlStf (Exod. iii. 16).
v-:p: 'T : • *T T : - :•• v: > y
If the second word be in JTO^&D to the third, and the fourth has TQnP! VI, then the first takes a ^ the second a m&?£, and the third a
Example : B^ l nT 7" (Exod. iii. 8).
43.
Every member of a verse containing three words, one being a verb governing the other two words, the verb takes a rn&^ft, the first of the other two words a , and the second a greater
Example : $111 ^HM PUVp (Gen. i. 2).
If the verb be in the plural and the other two words in the singular, then the verb takes a
Example : }hn«1 H^tt fofagj (Num. xx. 10).
50
If the first word be a verb and the second a noun in D to the third, or if the third qualifies the second, then the verb takes a TD££ and the first noun a
Example : JH ^3 yjl (Amos iii. 15).
Of two nouns followed by a verb, the first takes a
Example ; JlTlfD PHJI £ (Joel ii. 10).
Of two verbs followed by a noun, the first verb takes and the second a JYlPlS)
Example : " niHWrtl n-KO (Gen. xxiv. 48).
AT |- «.-.--: |- : v |T \, :• \r V
But if the first verb only serves to qualify the second and does not attach itself to the noun following, then the first verb takes a p'DS.ft and the second a and the noun a
Example: JTp ITJ? TYirn l&^5 (Gen. xxiv. 46).
If the noun takes a JYlfc^, then the verb preceding takes a p^DSD, and the first verb a greater jTDSD.
Example :
pnK'SN1) nTO'S« \XE*\ ^*l (Num. xiii. 26). If the second verb be without "YDPin VI, then the
51
first takes a fTWti, although it only qualifies the second.
Examples : B pH (Deut. ii. 31). D ItflJ (Deut. ii. 24).
This rule is not absolute. Examples ; pWr «5f1: (Ex. xvii. 9); m$ Itflj?) (Gen. xliii. 13).
If the infinitive mood comes before or after another verb, the first takes a rHB'lb, the second a p'
44.
Personal pronouns, prepositions and conjunctions, take a JVlB'D if the word following takes a and ceee versa.
Example: D
If a personal pronoun is redundant, that is to say, if a pronoun in a separate form is added to the pro- noun included in the verb, it takes a p*DS/D, whether another *DSJ& follows or otherwise.
Examples :
(Gen. xiii. 1).
jjn^] ^ nAfij ninn-Sx n^i (Gen. vi. is).
E 2
52
45.
It will be seen by a reference to paragraphs 20, 21 and 22, that a D1DS or verse may contain one, two or three DH/btflb or members.
A 1£N£ in its turn may be one self-contained, gram- matically complete sentence, or it may be composed of several smaller periods, termed
Example :
few
yt (Gen. vi. 20).
- • : V /
This p^Da contains two D^I^X^, the first one ends with the words ^in^Jb/ Hp1!^!!, and contains three smaller periods, or DS1HK.
The same rules apply to the punctuating of a composed of two, three, or more D*Hltf, as to a composed of two, three, or more words (see paragraphs 38 to 41), excepting that in the latter case where the word would take a rn&^D, in the former case the con- cluding word of the 1SK would take a DlPia p'DSft; hence in the example cited the first *HX takes a p^D3D
mna (Trn), the second jtpp t)p{, the third mn«.
53
The same deviation explained in regard to the punctuating of words akin to each other, applies in the same way to the DH^X of a *V2Kfo akin to each other.
Example: lrf\ npflTl TH1] jH (Deut. vii. 19).
The two latter Q^Dtf being more akin to each other
than to the first, the first ^X takes a greater distinc-
% . tive than the second, the first Ktpfc^S, due to its
position of precedence, being of greater power than the second.
46.
Every Ifttfft with one *1^X containing the principle and other D>taOtf containing the details, the former takes a greater distinctive.
A ^£XD in the midst of a pIDS, which in English would be in parenthesis, requires a greater distinctive after it than the distinctive closing the previous
1DKO.
Example :
:n njja (Deut. iii. 19).
54
The "Q^ between d20p£^ and. ^-^!! ig in paren- thesis. This explains the sequence of accents.
47.
The preceding rules for punctuating words, periods, members, and verses, would be incomplete if the earlier paragraphs, in which the position of the accents in regard to the letters to which they are attached for the object of marking the tone syllable, were not supplemented by some attempt to set out the principles which govern this pointing.
48.
Every word excepting those followed by the Hebrew hyphen. ^)j5^ (")> must have an accent, which is either attached to the ultimate syllable, and is then called or to the penultimate, and is then called
49.
The tone cannot fall upon : —
1. The half-syllable KJ^, simple or compound.
2. A short vowel which has taken the place of the first of a double Nl^ at the beginning of a word (unless the accent is ^YlPlX ^D3, as ^BTI WV).
55
3. The short vowel
4. A final syllable containing one of the three letters 'ntf added pleonastically.
Example: HSH ttJK J|H3 ^h ffyfa NflBDK
The additional final *TV is not included in this rule,
e.g., j
5. A final H employed instead of a preceding /, as
6. The antepenult.
50.
In a word of two syllables, one with a long the other with a short vowel, the long vowel takes precedence and has the tone, excepting in such cases as are ex- plained in paragraph 51.
51.
Nouns (and the participles of all conjugations without pronominal suffixes) take the accent according to the following regulations : —
If the last syllable has a long vowel (with excep- tions named in paragraph 49), whether it be an open or closed syllable, it takes the accent, and the word
If the last syllable has a short vowel, and is a closed
56
syllable preceded by an open syllable with a long or short vowel, the accent falls upon the penult syllable, and the word is WpO, as Bhjj *1M 1VT H^M;
If the short final vowel has been changed from a long vowel, as in the case when a noun is in the con- struct state, then the word is Jnp£?, as H^DH JVltfO-
When feminine nouns ending in PI preceded by j*Dp, and having the accent on the last syllable, are changed into the construct state, fi taking the place of H and njlB the place of j^?P> the accent remains
Nouns which are /*J/pP in the absolute by reason of a long vowel preceding a short syllable, as become J? J?P in the construct state, as
If the closed short final syllable be preceded by
another closed short syllable, the word is Jnpfi, as 7H3'
Nouns ending in Pi preceded by /I^D, although a
long vowel may go before, are JTjpD, as POD
, but if the final /UD is preceded by a short open
syllable, the word is TJ? p£?, as
The term PINT!} PO means a letter which, although without a vowel, retains its consonant power, such as the letters ^ and D in D*l5^-
The term "tf^D? H3 is applied to the letters V'1PI&$ when without a vowel and without any consonant power, that is to say, when they are completely silent, such
as the K in N3, the PI in PlO, the 1 in 1 7, and the *
• ^ in 7.
57
52.
Verbs without pronominal suffixes are j according to the following conditions :
In the past, future, infinitive, and imperative, the accent falls upon the second letter of the root, e.g.,
In forms with tfllj? under the second letter of the root, the accent falls upon the third letter, as PHpfe^ ^fcfe?; but if -the NJ^ gives place to a vowel when the verb is in pause, the accent falls upon the second letter, and the word is Vj/plb, as from rnttt? PHD^, and inversely, if through the addition of a final syllable, the second letter of the root loses its vowel and takes KJfc^, the accent falls upon the third letter, as from
Forms ending in Dft and JH are always y\?tif as I£n5^> other persons in the past tense with VI, that is with 1 conversive, throw the accent forward from the second to the third letter of the root, as from 'FTtin 'JVlSn1!, and from rPDK tt?3KL
' :•»- • j- : - • :' T : j- T JT : - |T :
Exceptions to this rule are verbs ending in tf or H (i.e., verbs *pN TW W, and «"n t'tf? ^Hi), which with 1 conversive retain the accent on the second letter of the root in the conjugation 7p, as Jltf^D5) H^^ ; but in conjugations where the second letter takes the vowel Pl'TX, the accent is thrown forward, as n
'
58
conjugations Y'l J"*J? ^H3, as Dip, and the as ^30, which in conjugation lose the second letter of the root, the accent falls upon the first letter, as ftftjp. Pi 3D; but in forms carrying three syllables the accent falls upon the second root-letter, as fVDD ^HI^P.
Forms of a verb in the future (which have the accent on the second radical) if preceded by 1 con- versive become 7*5? jp?? in the following cases : —
as
The conjugation SjJM in the
In the conjugation 7$)5, of verbs whose second letter is either of the TyfiPlK, as &W} ;
In the conjugations 7p and Aj®"!, of verbs whose first letter is N (K"5 TG), as "llbN*l, or whose first letter is ' ('"£ Ttf), as t)DW 3BJ3, or whose second letter is 1 (V3 Tli), as 3^*1 U$J5> or whose second and third
letters are the same (D v)£D), as 7^*5 > or whose last letter is H (TfS ^W), as J^l ||5^. %"
But in other verbs in which a silent fcOtj^ or pJH £'JH would follow the accent thus thrown back, then the accent remains upon the ultimate syllable, although the word is preceded by 1 conversive, as
This is in deference to the rule that an accent thrown back, ^IHK ^D3, cannot be followed by either frO^ or
pin &FI. T
; The following are always JHpP by traditional usage,
although with 1 conversive,
59
Verbs also whose first letter is * (V/S ^)"0) preceded by the prefixes f'TTtf, with 1 conversive, remain ]l*hti in Sp, as }#»! Spn
The foregoing rules regarding throwing the accent back one degree do not apply to verbs in the first person of the future with 1 conversive, in which cases the accent remains on the ultimate syllable, as ""IpSO ptf J, excepting in the following words : y$, nor do they apply where the word is in pause, as
53.
Nouns and verbs with pronominal suffixes are Jn?D or A$JpD according to the following conditions:
The word is JTjpD with the suffixes —
JO Dn p DD JT Dr 1 PT, \ \, as-
a D^pfl a^ np? D^T nin na^i rirra Dn»n3 nps.
|JV " |T JV " |T | JTJ T ;
The word is /^p-P with the following suffixes :
ID jn Dn n JIH ^ ^,as—
Words with the suffix "?[, if preceded by K), are !J7 1?D, as ^"OT ; if preceded by a vowel, are /
J
60
54.
The importance of understanding the laws which determine the tone syllable, cannot be over-estimated, for the accents not only indicate the accurate punc- tuation of the word, but sometimes they are the only signs by which two words, otherwise precisely alike,
can be distinguished. For example, in TO &&} PHD ^
pyPI (1 Sam. xxx. 6). The word PHJb punctuated T^JfPp, indicates that it is the preterite feminine of the root "nib, of the form D vIM ; whereas in the phrase 'PI ^ HK PHp (1 Kings xiii. 26), the word PHD, punctuated JHp/b indicates that it is the preterite masculine of the root PHD of the form Pi"/ *Pt3. PlPlp^l Pl7Pl¥ (Esther viii. 15) punctuated T!?pp is
the preterite feminine; PlPl??b> D^IPI DK (Ps. cxiii. 9) punctuated JTjpP is the participle feminine.
PQfc? HJ<3 PlSD punctuated T J/plb are the preterite feminines of the conjugation 7p, but punctuated J?7pP they are the feminine participles.
^^<HP( r\y% (Ps. v. £) punctuated /^/'P is the im- perative masculine with euphonic PI, whereas H^5 ^tf (Prov. viii. 14) punctuated J7 jp'P is a feminine noun.
.... ._ vls. ix. 1) punctuated TJJTp is the feminine imperative of 7p ; V^p DV7 punctuated ^jp^? (Zeph, iii. 8) is the infinitive with the suffix.
61
55.
On account of the difficulty of enunciating two accented syllables in juxtaposition, an accent cannot follow another without a vowel or vocal fcOfc^ between them.
A word may have two accents, one being a H^^fi,
the other a |TD£.!D, provided a vocal fcO!p* or a vowel
• '• .
is between them, as in the words
the first accent having the power of a
In the case of two words in juxtaposition, the former carrying a rD&fo and being J? jp£p, and the latter having the accent upon the first syllable, the collision of the two accents is avoided by the one upon the last syllable of the first word being thrown back one degree, and is then called
Examples : The word X*lp being JHpp, and the word H/v /^pto, when written together they are punctuated PIT7
An accent which has become *YiPttf IPD3 is subject to a partial loss of power, and then takes the power of a 3fi£, for the operation of TUltf 3"iD^ only takes place in regard to two words connected by a mfc^ft, and resembles the case of two accents falling upon one
62
word. The accent thus thrown back frequently falls upon the third syllable before the accent in the second word,
(Ps. xix. 8), '113 HJb^nib (idem),
which is the place of the 3fift, therefore the rules which apply to HH£p likewise apply to an accent
There are seven exceptions to the foregoing rules, where the sequence of two tone syllables is per- missible : —
(1.) In the case of two words, the first carrying a jTDSfc, as nnjj ytiW (Gen. xxiv. 52).
(2.) In the case of two words, both having DTfl&PD, as rnj Tfjb (Lev. iv. 31).
(3.) In the case of two words, the former having two syllables, although carrying a rT\Wfo, preceded by a syllable accented with a J"n&?£) of another word ; for the object of throwing back the accent on the preceding syllable would obviously be defeated in this case, as fcttlj XW tih (Deut. xix. 6).
(4.) In the case of two words, the former a noun ending with a long vowel and 718*1} !"D (which always
requires an accent), as fcOil 7J1V (Lev. xxv. 10), and WH TiH^ (Lev. xiii. 17). Should the first word be a verb, the accent is ^IH^ ^DJ, but as a final long vowel followed by HK^i J"0 must have the accent,
63
such long vowel, in the case of a verb, is changed for a short one, as 17 *)$!£*! (Gen. xxv. 21).
(5.) In the case of two words, the former having a
closed penultimate syllable, as 17 ft/P^I (Lev. xix. 22). If such closed penultimate syllable be preceded by an open syllable, authorities differ whether the accent can be thrown back two degrees upon the antepenult,
or if such should take ^fifc, as D^b ^1$^ (Exod. xv. 8).
(6.) In the case of two words, the former ending in DFl or jft DD or |D.
(7.) In the case of two words preceded by one
joined with S|pj&, as H^J N^D (Isa. xl. 26). Some authorities do not include this case as a valid reason for ignoring the rule of *")intf H*lD3, on account of the numerous instances which fluctuate between the rule and the exception.
56.
1. 3H£ is a small vertical line (i) which has half the power of an accent, and, as its name signifies, is a check upon the latter, supporting the unaccented syllable and restraining the accent from monopolising the whole tone. It resembles pyp, but is readily recognised, as pyp is always at the end of a verse, and 3HD is only attached to the third syllable before the accent, whether it be a long or short syllable, pro-
64
vided it is not followed by either silent #} or BH, as 'pJN DSnp ^|Sinn DJfrjj?, or to the second syllable followed by vocal R)& 'as ")#tf 3 '^H iSStf
- J T : * v -: |- • : i' : r
rn9$ *"n5J (and to certain other syllables specified in this paragraph).
2. 3HD cannot accompany a short vowel followed by a silent ' X]W or pTH tflPT. This rule is not absolute.
Examples of exceptions : (TIT (Gen. xviii. 18),
ITJT (Gen. xvii. 18), DJP'FI^I (Exod. xii. 19), DriTill (Exod. xii. 23),
and other similar forms of the verbs JTH and !"Vn, which have ^Hft attached to a short vowel fol- lowed by a silent frO^.
3H£p cannot accompany ^)tpn J*?P, even if it be the third syllable before the accent, and no silent
or pTPl WN follows. This rule is not absolute.
Examples of exceptions : vHN> (Num. xvi. 26),
Dir^riK (Num. xvi. 27), y?y£) (Hab. iii. 2).
3. In a word of three syllables, the first and second being open, and after the second syllable a vocal fcO!^, then the syllable preceding the vocal #\$ takes pre- cedence over the third syllable before the accent, and
65
has the 3ft£ ; and in a word of four syllables the third syllable before the accent takes precedence over the fourth, as ttyfif} ^NH.
4. A word of three syllables 7^7^?> *s equivalent to a word of two syllables JTVp £, and a word of four syllables y^?£? is equivalent to a word of three syl- lables Jn?^> f°r ^6 ru^es governing the pointing of 3riD are reckoned from the syllables carrying the accent.
5. In a word of two syllables, the first being open, followed by a vocal KM?, takes 3Hb, as DvTlSJ
tfflFfr
6. In a word of three syllables, the first being open, and the second syllable without a vocal K)fc^ following, the first takes 3ft£, as *JJK, and if the second be fol- lowed by vocal KJfcS', the second takes the ^HD, as
If the first syllable be a closed one and the second is not followed by vocal KM?, the 3HE does not appear at all, as Ti^H THfO, '
7. In a word of four syllables, the first being open and the second closed, the first takes 3Jl£, as
'
If the first syllable be also closed or the accent be TlTpD, the 3n£ does not appear, as CD'HI^n
own.
8. If the first syllable has vocal NM# after it and the second is an open syllable, two D^HJb appear, as DD^nb^, the first on account of the vocal fcflfc?, and
F
66
the second because it is the third syllable before the accent. This does not apply to a word of four syl- lables of the opposite construction, as QD*5?^??'
9. If the first and second syllables are open and the third be followed by a vocal X^, two D^DD appear, as TjnjJ^v, because the third syllable before a 3n!p has 3n?? in the same manner as the third syl- lable before the accent.
10. In a word of five syllables, the first being open and the two following syllables being closed, the first takes JHE, as filJIftHfinp ; but if the first two syllables are closed, and the word is TypD, then the second syllable before the accent, where 3HD would be due, being a closed syllable, 3HD does not appear, as ^nTp^l. If the first and third are open, two D^HD appear, as DH^Jlini^^, the first because it is the third syllable before the next 3H&, and the second because it is the third syllable before the accent.
11. In a word with two accents, the first a rnt^/b, the second a p^DM, the former is the substitute for 3HD, and is subject to the same rules which apply to
jna, as f ?n:3£ (Gen- xii- 3)> ^^ (Exod- viii- 17>
DynSehSD (Lev. xxiii. 17).
• t
This rule does not include tjpj tftpt^iSj which is
treated as one accent, though the KD^2 is rendered musically in the place it is pointed, and not upon the
letter with *]J5T, as IflJ (Ex. xi.), Hl (Lev.
vii. 19).
67
Two words connected by t]j?£ are considered one word in respect to 3H£, as KJtfV'3 (Deut. xxi. 10),
'v/h, and if the first word of two connected by j5/ has two syllables, the first open and the second closed, the JH^ is attached to the first, as /rVTTnSp (Gen. xxxv. 20).
12. There are some instances, in which the rules regarding the position of the accents would result in the close sequence of two accented syllables ; for example, when two words follow each other, and the first ends in a closed syllable containing a long vowel and one of the letters V/1X, the two words are connected by ^)|1???, and a 3JT1& is substituted for the accent on the preceding syllable, as l7"*Vtf$n (Num. xxi. 35).
In such cases, just as an accent has the power of a when it is employed as its substitute, so has a the same power as an accent when used as its substitute.
13. There is a species of %T\fo called K^, which appears at the right side of frOfc^, at the beginning of words, there are eighty-four such words in Scripture, e.g., $P3 (Job xix. 6), ^^pHFl (Ps. cxix. 175).
Its object appears to have been to give emphasis to the half- syllable, though many authorities ignore this symbol as unsupported by PHIDft.
14. It is important to know the rules which deter- mine the position of 3H£, for in many instances its presence distinguishes one word from another.
68
Examples : Dj?B*nj ITOT (Lam. i. 7) with Iflti, is the preterite feminine of the verb *DT.
y'TOt (Neh. xiii. 32), without 3fifc, is the impe- rative masculine with euphonic H ; moreover, the vowel f*Jpp is long in the first instance and short in the second.
1NTI (Josh. iv. 14) with 5nO, is the plural future third person; preterite with *l conversive, of the verb K*V, and the vowel p'TH is long, the second * having been dropped.
nnk ^NTI (Gen. xii. 15) without 3H£p, is the plural future third person; preterite with 1 conversive, of the verb flN*!, and the p"^Pl is short.
&T K1? (Prov. iv. 16) with JHfc is from the verb
W\ K7 (Job xxix. 22) without 3H£, is from the verb' PUB?.
57.
is a horizontal line connecting two or more words, which serves the purpose of a hyphen, and by which means words so connected are treated as one word in regard to placing accents or ^Htt, as ^?" /5? (Gen. i. 20).
Generally the first word is without an accent. If
the first word has one, it is Klp^§ before Jtpp &)pT; these
69
two accents are considered as one, as (Exod. xxi. 11).
It is for the most part monosyllables that are thus attached to the following word, as
A word connected by &]p£ to the following one, loses its individuality, and if its final syllable is a long vowel followed by a 11X13 Pl3 with the accent, the accent is dropped, and the long vowel changed into its kindred short one, as
From 3?-N3-3K! (Gen. xliv. 33). From fifi-^-jnPrn& (Gen. xv. 2).
If the first word ends with a closed syllable con- taining a long vowel which is essential, this vowel cannot be shortened, as 1 /VN^H ; nor does the long vowel change into its kindred short one if the meaning would be altered, as j^"n£~{5 (Ezek. xviii. 10).
The student will meet with some passages in Scripture, the punctuation of which does not obey the foregoing rules, and for which tradition is re- sponsible.
The Ten Commandments (Exod. xx. and Deut, v.), and the following words from Genesis xxxv. 22 —
70
vi« Btofra nnS
<v T va .• • VT : •
possess two sets of accents, and a knowledge of the laws of consecution is necessary to enable the reader to follow the set adopted.
One set — the more ornate — termed pvJ?P! DJftO, is employed in chanting the Law publicly. The other set, termed flftHm DJ?t9, is used upon other occasions. There are likewise a few anomalous instances of single words being punctuated with two accents, which do not come within the rules regarding double accents.
Examples : pV ftftl rn KJ (Num. xvii. 23),
« (Gen. L. IT).
Amongst these isolated cases are five words punc- tuated with m and
Example : M£D£ n(Gen. v. 29).
In chanting the Scriptures it is customary to render the musical power of both accents set to single words, and in the five words bearing JT'fi and fc^'")3, the musical sound of EH3 is given before that of jfD, although the setting is in the reverse order.
* ,* #### *
1DJ N7 inm 13 11^13 IPT p
fc
§
<D
tj <» -§£
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