| Title | The Pronunciation of וּרְכְז ִ ת (Num. 15.40) in Rabbinic Sources and in Light of Phoenician* |
|---|---|
| Contributor | Gary A. Rendsburg (author) |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.11647/obp.0463.08 |
| Landing page | https://www.openbookpublishers.com/books/10.11647/obp.0463/chapters/10.11647/obp.0463.08 |
| License | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ |
| Copyright | Gary A. Rendsburg; |
| Publisher | Open Book Publishers |
| Published on | 2025-03-07 |
| Long abstract | The article explores the pronunciation of the word תִזְכְּרוּ in Numbers 15.40, as discussed in Rabbinic sources and through comparative analysis with Phoenician linguistic evidence. The Rabbinic concern with precise articulation, particularly regarding the voiced sibilant /z/, is examined through texts like the Talmud Yerushalmi and Maimonides’s Mishneh Torah. This scrutiny aimed to avoid ambiguity in meaning, such as conflating the intended ‘remember’ with alternative interpretations like ‘earn’ or ‘stop up’. The study links this Rabbinic emphasis on phonological clarity to Phoenician texts, where a historical shift from /z/ to /s/ in cognate words is observed. By situating the discussion geographically and culturally in the Western Galilee and Phoenician regions, the analysis highlights the interplay of linguistic traditions in shaping Hebrew phonological norms. |
| Page range | pp. 223–258 |
| Print length | 36 pages |
| Language | English (Original) |
| Landing Page | Full text URL | Platform | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| https://www.openbookpublishers.com/books/10.11647/obp.0463/chapters/10.11647/obp.0463.08 | Landing page | https://books.openbookpublishers.com/10.11647/obp.0463.08.pdf | Full text URL |
Gary A. Rendsburg (PhD, New York University) is Blanche and Irving Laurie Professor of Jewish History, Rutgers University. His research interests include biblical literature; the history of ancient Israel; the historical development of the Hebrew language; the relationship between ancient Egypt and ancient Israel; Dead Sea Scrolls; post-biblical Judaism; medieval Hebrew manuscripts. His recent publications include How the Bible Is Written. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2019; ‘Notes on the Hebrew Names of the Planets, as Transmitted by Epiphanius of Salamis’, Journal of Ancient Judaism 15 (2024).