Joshua 14

I am not sure that Caleb is high on my list of heroes. See the next chapter from last December. His resolute faith is noted, but the degree of its attractiveness is muted by the bartering of his daughter. I hope moderns, at least in the so called western world, do not desire a return to such an ownership model of human relationships. Not everything that is Biblical is desirable or even good. Distinguishing good and evil is a part of our calling.

Perhaps it is significant that Caleb seeks preferential treatment for his chosen hill from Joshua, rehearsing his claim to Joshua perhaps against the lot falling to anyone else. It was a political move not exactly according to lot, but according to obligation. Perhaps he was a strongman, a manipulator, and one who had learned by force to get his own way. Not unlike many today, some more subtly than others. I note that while the land had some rest from war, it was temporary as usual.

The Prince of Peace does not play the card of moral force, nor the card of I'm right and you're wrong, not the card of physical force. Does he have any cards? Yes: the care of others, the preference for the poor and dispossessed, and the card of unintended consequences. Where's my Tarot pack?

I do not resolve ambiguity with my reading. What is quiet from war? Who conquered whom - see the next chapter? Were they quiet because everyone was dead or dispossessed? Was the land then productive? It seems Caleb dispossessed Arba (4) and his children. Maybe they made a deal after extensive slaughter. The word is not rest (נוה, from which Noah), but quiet (שׁטק, no-one famous by that name that I am aware of). Admittedly one could mean the same as the other.

Joshua 14		Fn		Min	Max	Syll
וְאֵ֛לֶּה אֲשֶׁר־נָחֲל֥וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן אֲשֶׁ֨ר נִֽחֲל֜וּ אוֹתָ֗ם אֶלְעָזָ֤ר הַכֹּהֵן֙ וִיהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ בִּן־נ֔וּן וְרָאשֵׁ֛י אֲב֥וֹת הַמַּטּ֖וֹת לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל	1		And these are what the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, that Eleazar the priest had them inherit, (and Joshua child of Nun, and the first parents of the branches of the children of Israel).	3d	4C	19 32
בְּגוֹרַ֖ל נַחֲלָתָ֑ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוָּ֤ה יְהוָה֙ בְּיַד־מֹשֶׁ֔ה לְתִשְׁעַ֥ת הַמַּטּ֖וֹת וַחֲצִ֥י הַמַּטֶּֽה	2		By lot their inheritance, as Yahweh commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine branches and the half branch.	3e	4C	7 23
כִּֽי־נָתַ֨ן מֹשֶׁ֜ה נַחֲלַ֨ת שְׁנֵ֤י הַמַּטּוֹת֙ וַחֲצִ֣י הַמַּטֶּ֔ה מֵעֵ֖בֶר לַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן וְלַ֨לְוִיִּ֔ם לֹֽא־נָתַ֥ן נַחֲלָ֖ה בְּתוֹכָֽם	3		For Moses had given the inheritance of two branches and a half branch from beyond Jordan, and to the Levites he did not give an inheritance among them.	3e	4C	24 12
כִּֽי־הָי֧וּ בְנֵֽי־יוֹסֵ֛ף שְׁנֵ֥י מַטּ֖וֹת מְנַשֶּׁ֣ה וְאֶפְרָ֑יִם וְלֹֽא־נָתְנוּ֩ חֵ֨לֶק לַלְוִיִּ֜ם בָּאָ֗רֶץ כִּ֤י אִם־עָרִים֙ לָשֶׁ֔בֶת וּמִ֨גְרְשֵׁיהֶ֔ם לְמִקְנֵיהֶ֖ם וּלְקִנְיָנָֽם	4		Because the children of Joseph were two branches Manasseh and Ephraim, so they gave no share to the Levites in the land except their cities for settlement and their outlands for their livestock and for their acquisitions.	3c	4C	16 32
כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוָּ֤ה יְהוָה֙ אֶת־מֹשֶׁ֔ה כֵּ֥ן עָשׂ֖וּ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַֽיַּחְלְק֖וּ אֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ	5		As Yahweh commanded Moses, so undertook the children of Israel, and they divided the land.	3e	4C	18 8
וַיִּגְּשׁ֨וּ בְנֵֽי־יְהוּדָ֤ה אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁ֙עַ֙ בַּגִּלְגָּ֔ל וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֔יו כָּלֵ֥ב בֶּן־יְפֻנֶּ֖ה הַקְּנִזִּ֑י אַתָּ֣ה יָדַ֡עְתָּ אֶֽת־הַדָּבָר֩ אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֨ר יְהוָ֜ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֣ה אִישׁ־הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים עַ֧ל אֹדוֹתַ֛י וְעַ֥ל אֹדוֹתֶ֖יךָ בְּקָדֵ֥שׁ בַּרְנֵֽעַ	6		And the children of Judah made overture to Joshua in Gilgal, and Caleb, child of Jepunah the Qenizite, said to him, You yourself know the thing that Yahweh spoke to Moses, the man of God, over my agency and over your agency in Qadesh-Barnea.	3c	4C	30 39
בֶּן־אַרְבָּעִ֨ים שָׁנָ֜ה אָנֹכִ֗י בִּ֠שְׁלֹחַ מֹשֶׁ֨ה עֶֽבֶד־יְהוָ֥ה אֹתִ֛י מִקָּדֵ֥שׁ בַּרְנֵ֖עַ לְרַגֵּ֣ל אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ וָאָשֵׁ֤ב אֹתוֹ֙ דָּבָ֔ר כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר עִם־לְבָבִֽי	7		A child of a forty year span I was,when Moses sent me, the servant of Yahweh, from Qadesh-Barnea to survey the land, and I returned him a word as was with my heart.	3d	4C	33 14
וְאַחַי֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָל֣וּ עִמִּ֔י הִמְסִ֖יו אֶת־לֵ֣ב הָעָ֑ם וְאָנֹכִ֣י מִלֵּ֔אתִי אַחֲרֵ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהָֽי	8		And my kin who went up with me made the heart of the people dissolve, but I myself fully followed after Yahweh my God.	3e	4B	15 15
וַיִּשָּׁבַ֣ע מֹשֶׁ֗ה בַּיּ֣וֹם הַהוּא֮ לֵאמֹר֒ אִם־לֹ֗א הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר דָּרְכָ֤ה רַגְלְךָ֙ בָּ֔הּ לְךָ֨ תִֽהְיֶ֧ה לְנַחֲלָ֛ה וּלְבָנֶ֖יךָ עַד־עוֹלָ֑ם כִּ֣י מִלֵּ֔אתָ אַחֲרֵ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהָֽי	9		And Moses swore in that day, saying, Without fail, the land on which your foot finds its way, to you will be for an inheritance, and to your children for evermore, because you fully followed after Yahweh my God.	3c	4C	40 12
וְעַתָּ֗ה הִנֵּה֩ הֶחֱיָ֨ה יְהוָ֣ה ׀ אוֹתִי֮ כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבֵּר֒ זֶה֩ אַרְבָּעִ֨ים וְחָמֵ֜שׁ שָׁנָ֗ה מֵ֠אָז דִּבֶּ֨ר יְהוָ֜ה אֶת־הַדָּבָ֤ר הַזֶּה֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־הָלַ֥ךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר וְעַתָּה֙ הִנֵּ֣ה אָנֹכִ֣י הַיּ֔וֹם בֶּן־חָמֵ֥שׁ וּשְׁמוֹנִ֖ים שָׁנָֽה	10		And now behold, Yahweh has kept me alive as he spoke these forty five years, ever since Yahweh spoke this word to Moses when Israel walked in the wilderness, and now behold I am today a child of eighty five years.	3e	4C	51 18
עוֹדֶ֨נִּי הַיּ֜וֹם חָזָ֗ק כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֙ בְּי֨וֹם שְׁלֹ֤חַ אוֹתִי֙ מֹשֶׁ֔ה כְּכֹ֥חִי אָ֖ז וּכְכֹ֣חִי עָ֑תָּה לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה וְלָצֵ֥את וְלָבֽוֹא	11		Yet I today am as resolute as in the day Moses sent me. As my power then, so my power now, to war or to go forth or to come in.	3e	4C	28 10
וְעַתָּ֗ה תְּנָה־לִּי֙ אֶת־הָהָ֣ר הַזֶּ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא כִּ֣י אַתָּֽה־שָׁמַעְתָּ֩ בַיּ֨וֹם הַה֜וּא כִּֽי־עֲנָקִ֣ים שָׁ֗ם וְעָרִים֙ גְּדֹל֣וֹת בְּצֻר֔וֹת אוּלַ֨י יְהוָ֤ה אוֹתִי֙ וְה֣וֹרַשְׁתִּ֔ים כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהוָֽה	12		And now give me this mount that Yahweh spoke of in that day, for yourself, you heard in that day that the Anaqim were there and great enclosed cities. Maybe Yahweh is with me, and I will dispossess them as Yahweh spoke.	3e	4C	21 40
וַֽיְבָרְכֵ֖הוּ יְהוֹשֻׁ֑עַ וַיִּתֵּ֧ן אֶת־חֶבְר֛וֹן לְכָלֵ֥ב בֶּן־יְפֻנֶּ֖ה לְנַחֲלָֽה	13		And Joshua blessed him, and he assigned Hebron to Caleb child of Jepunah as inheritance.	3c	4A	8 17
עַל־כֵּ֣ן הָיְתָֽה־חֶ֠בְרוֹן לְכָלֵ֨ב בֶּן־יְפֻנֶּ֤ה הַקְּנִזִּי֙ לְֽנַחֲלָ֔ה עַ֖ד הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה יַ֚עַן אֲשֶׁ֣ר מִלֵּ֔א אַחֲרֵ֕י יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל	14		So Hebron became for Caleb child of Jepunah the Qenizite as inheritance to this day, in that fully he followed Yahweh the God of Israel.	3e	4C	25 17
וְשֵׁ֨ם חֶבְר֤וֹן לְפָנִים֙ קִרְיַ֣ת אַרְבַּ֔ע הָאָדָ֧ם הַגָּד֛וֹל בָּעֲנָקִ֖ים ה֑וּא וְהָאָ֥רֶץ שָׁקְטָ֖ה מִמִּלְחָמָֽה	15		Now the name Hebron before, was 'the town of four'. Humanity magnified among the Anaqim it was, and the land was quiet from war.	3c	4C	22 10

Numbers 14

Whose story can you tell? This is a question that has occurred to me as a parent and foster-parent of children of other races. Their stories intertwine with mine, but they are not mine to tell. For a long time, I felt Torah is not my story, and that is still true, but it is a deeply cherished story, so I should learn it even if it is only mine by analogy.

This chapter requires some study of the use of אם לא, and אם alone. This is a complex connector with many shades of connection. אם by itself is if. But it is often used it seems, with negative conditional overtones. Then I think, why add the negative again?  It almost sounds like the warning my mother might have given me with a wagging finger, but by then it is too late for repentance. Is it ever too late for such? Who is skilled at avoiding consequences?

I am not the first person to find this exercise difficult.

• Here are the Latin equivalents: an, num, si, quodsi, etsi, quamvis, o si, utinam, cum, dum, quando 
• and their English reductions: or, whether, if, if, although, although, oh if only, would, with, while, when. 

None of these catches the spirit of the examples in this chapter. The אם here is more like the negative use of אל, it will not be that..., or perhaps without doubt if the contextualized negative is implied. Or just not. It seems a cop out to me to reduce one word to another. It feels as if I am neglecting a nuance even in my woodenness.

O dear, O dear. One clue is that when there is no apodosis, then it means something other than if. Sometimes even in English, if can have negative overtones, (e.g. if pigs can fly) but perhaps better not to render such Hebrew usage with if. (Though I have done it.) It's a long ponder, and sometimes I wonder how I got this far without addressing this consideration earlier. In effect it goes along with the problem of translating prepositions, only these are conjunctions of various sorts. Language connectors are varied in intent, connotation, and nuance.

At the same time, I cannot use so many syllables. It's a one-syllable word in Hebrew, so there is only one note for it in the music. Short then! If I ever finish this task, my suggestions for glosses will include a few I have not seen in other glossaries. In this case, I think the negative is captured in the common English as if, with a negative tone. Maybe that is in one of my various glossaries. BDB gives אם as an emphatic negative (when not conditional), and with לא an emphatic affirmative. Let's see. Does that work here? See verses 23, 28, 30, 35. It looks like my Gesenius grammar might be a very good read on this subject. (O my aching synapses.)

I confess I have always had trouble with languages. I expect it comes from rule-bound learning and ruler-enforced learning in my childhood. So I have deliberately read my way into Hebrew. Eventually the questions become clear from usage, but it is a long 'eventually'.

Numbers 14		Fn		Min	Max	Syll
וַתִּשָּׂא֙ כָּל־הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה וַֽיִּתְּנ֖וּ אֶת־קוֹלָ֑ם וַיִּבְכּ֥וּ הָעָ֖ם בַּלַּ֥יְלָה הַהֽוּא	1		And all the assembly lifted up and put forth their voice, and the people wept in that night.	3e	4B	13 10
וַיִּלֹּ֙נוּ֙ עַל־מֹשֶׁ֣ה וְעַֽל־אַהֲרֹ֔ן כֹּ֖ל בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַֽיֹּאמְר֨וּ אֲלֵהֶ֜ם כָּל־הָעֵדָ֗ה לוּ־מַ֙תְנוּ֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם א֛וֹ בַּמִּדְבָּ֥ר הַזֶּ֖ה לוּ־מָֽתְנוּ	2		And they grumbled against Moses and against Aaron all the children of Israel. And all the assembly said to them, if only we had died in the land of Egypt, or in this wilderness if only we had died.	3d	4B	18 27
וְלָמָ֣ה יְ֠הוָה מֵבִ֨יא אֹתָ֜נוּ אֶל־הָאָ֤רֶץ הַזֹּאת֙ לִנְפֹּ֣ל בַּחֶ֔רֶב נָשֵׁ֥ינוּ וְטַפֵּ֖נוּ יִהְי֣וּ לָבַ֑ז הֲל֧וֹא ט֦וֹב לָ֖נוּ שׁ֥וּב מִצְרָֽיְמָה	3		And why is Yahweh bringing us to this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will be for loot. Is it not better for us to return toward Egypt?	3c	4C	32 9
וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־אָחִ֑יו נִתְּנָ֥ה רֹ֖אשׁ וְנָשׁ֥וּבָה מִצְרָֽיְמָה	4		And they said each to its kin, Let us assign a head, and let us return toward Egypt.	3e	4B	7 10
וַיִּפֹּ֥ל מֹשֶׁ֛ה וְאַהֲרֹ֖ן עַל־פְּנֵיהֶ֑ם לִפְנֵ֕י כָּל־קְהַ֥ל עֲדַ֖ת בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל	5		And Moses fell and Aaron, on their faces, in the face of all the congregation of the assembly of the children of Israel.	3d	4A	13 12
וִיהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ בִּן־נ֗וּן וְכָלֵב֙ בֶּן־יְפֻנֶּ֔ה מִן־הַתָּרִ֖ים אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ קָרְע֖וּ בִּגְדֵיהֶֽם	6		And Joshua child of Nun and Caleb child of Jepunah, from those that explored the land, ripped their garments.	3e	4B	21 5
וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ אֶל־כָּל־עֲדַ֥ת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָבַ֤רְנוּ בָהּ֙ לָת֣וּר אֹתָ֔הּ טוֹבָ֥ה הָאָ֖רֶץ מְאֹ֥ד מְאֹֽד	7		And they said to all the assembly of the children of Israel, saying, The land that we passed through to explore it, the land is good, supremely, excessively.	3e	4C	14 22
אִם־חָפֵ֥ץ בָּ֙נוּ֙ יְהוָ֔ה וְהֵבִ֤יא אֹתָ֙נוּ֙ אֶל־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֔את וּנְתָנָ֖הּ לָ֑נוּ אֶ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־הִ֛וא זָבַ֥ת חָלָ֖ב וּדְבָֽשׁ	8		If Yahweh delights in us, then he will bring us to this land and will give it to us, a land it is that is gushing with milk and honey.	3d	4C	24 11
אַ֣ךְ בַּֽיהוָה֮ אַל־תִּמְרֹדוּ֒ וְאַתֶּ֗ם אַל־תִּֽירְאוּ֙ אֶת־עַ֣ם הָאָ֔רֶץ כִּ֥י לַחְמֵ֖נוּ הֵ֑ם סָ֣ר צִלָּ֧ם מֵעֲלֵיהֶ֛ם וַֽיהוָ֥ה אִתָּ֖נוּ אַל־תִּירָאֻֽם	9	B	Surely in Yahweh do not mutiny, and you, do not fear the people of the land, for our bread they are. Departed is their shadow from themselves, but Yahweh is with us. Do not fear them.	3c	4B	23 16
וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ כָּל־הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה לִרְגּ֥וֹם אֹתָ֖ם בָּאֲבָנִ֑ים וּכְב֣וֹד יְהוָ֗ה נִרְאָה֙ בְּאֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֔ד אֶֽל־כָּל־בְּנֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל	10		And all the assembly said to pelt them with stones, and the glory of Yahweh appeared in the tent of engagement to all the children of Israel.	3e	4B	15 18
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה עַד־אָ֥נָה יְנַאֲצֻ֖נִי הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֑ה וְעַד־אָ֙נָה֙ לֹא־יַאֲמִ֣ינוּ בִ֔י בְּכֹל֙ הָֽאֹת֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשִׂ֖יתִי בְּקִרְבּֽוֹ	11		And Yahweh said to Moses, How long please will this people spurn me? And how long please will they not believe in me, in all the signs which I have done among them?	3e	4C	20 22
אַכֶּ֥נּוּ בַדֶּ֖בֶר וְאוֹרִשֶׁ֑נּוּ וְאֶֽעֱשֶׂה֙ אֹֽתְךָ֔ לְגוֹי־גָּד֥וֹל וְעָצ֖וּם מִמֶּֽנּוּ	12		I will strike them with pestilence and dispossess them, and I will make you a great nation and more numerous than they.	3e	4A	11 16
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֖ה אֶל־יְהוָ֑ה וְשָׁמְע֣וּ מִצְרַ֔יִם כִּֽי־הֶעֱלִ֧יתָ בְכֹחֲךָ֛ אֶת־הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה מִקִּרְבּֽוֹ	13		And Moses said to Yahweh, And Egypt will hear, for you have brought up, in your power, this people from within them,	3c	4B	8 21
וְאָמְר֗וּ אֶל־יוֹשֵׁב֮ הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּאת֒ שָֽׁמְעוּ֙ כִּֽי־אַתָּ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה בְּקֶ֖רֶב הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֑ה אֲשֶׁר־עַ֨יִן בְּעַ֜יִן נִרְאָ֣ה ׀ אַתָּ֣ה יְהוָ֗ה וַעֲנָֽנְךָ֙ עֹמֵ֣ד עֲלֵהֶ֔ם וּבְעַמֻּ֣ד עָנָ֗ן אַתָּ֨ה הֹלֵ֤ךְ לִפְנֵיהֶם֙ יוֹמָ֔ם וּבְעַמּ֥וּד אֵ֖שׁ לָֽיְלָה	14		And they will say to the inhabitants of this land, They hear that you, Yahweh, are within this people, that eye to eye, you, Yahweh, are seen, and your cloud stands over them, and in the standing cloud you are going before them by day, and in a pillar of fire by night.	3e	4C	24 40
וְהֵמַתָּ֛ה אֶת־הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה כְּאִ֣ישׁ אֶחָ֑ד וְאָֽמְרוּ֙ הַגּוֹיִ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־שָׁמְע֥וּ אֶֽת־שִׁמְעֲךָ֖ לֵאמֹֽר	15		So if you put this people to death as one person, then the nations will say who hear your fame, saying,	3d	4B	13 16
מִבִּלְתִּ֞י יְכֹ֣לֶת יְהוָ֗ה לְהָבִיא֙ אֶת־הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה אֶל־הָאָ֖רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־נִשְׁבַּ֣ע לָהֶ֑ם וַיִּשְׁחָטֵ֖ם בַּמִּדְבָּֽר	16		That Yahweh was not able to bring this people to the land that he swore to them, so he has butchered them in the wilderness.	3e	4B	26 7
וְעַתָּ֕ה יִגְדַּל־נָ֖א כֹּ֣חַ אֲדֹנָ֑י כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבַּ֖רְתָּ לֵאמֹֽר	17		But now please, great is the power of my Lord, as you spoke, saying,	3e	4B	11 8
יְהוָ֗ה אֶ֤רֶךְ אַפַּ֙יִם֙ וְרַב־חֶ֔סֶד נֹשֵׂ֥א עָוֺ֖ן וָפָ֑שַׁע וְנַקֵּה֙ לֹ֣א יְנַקֶּ֔ה פֹּקֵ֞ד עֲוֺ֤ן אָבוֹת֙ עַל־בָּנִ֔ים עַל־שִׁלֵּשִׁ֖ים וְעַל־רִבֵּעִֽים	18		Yahweh, slow to anger, and abundant in kindness, bearing iniquity and transgression, and as for holding innocent, he will not hold innocent, visiting the iniquity of forebears on children over three and over four generations.	3e	4C	17 25
סְלַֽח־נָ֗א לַעֲוֺ֛ן הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה כְּגֹ֣דֶל חַסְדֶּ֑ךָ וְכַאֲשֶׁ֤ר נָשָׂ֙אתָה֙ לָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה מִמִּצְרַ֖יִם וְעַד־הֵֽנָּה	19		Forgive, please, the iniquity of this people, according to the greatness of your mercy, and as you have borne this people from Egypt and till now.	3d	4C	16 18
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוָ֔ה סָלַ֖חְתִּי כִּדְבָרֶֽךָ	20		And Yahweh said, I have forgiven according to your word.	3e	4B	12
וְאוּלָ֖ם חַי־אָ֑נִי וְיִמָּלֵ֥א כְבוֹד־יְהוָ֖ה אֶת־כָּל־הָאָֽרֶץ	21		But perhaps, I, Living. And all the land will be full the glory of Yahweh.	3e	4A	5 13
כִּ֣י כָל־הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים הָרֹאִ֤ים אֶת־כְּבֹדִי֙ וְאֶת־אֹ֣תֹתַ֔י אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂ֥יתִי בְמִצְרַ֖יִם וּבַמִּדְבָּ֑ר וַיְנַסּ֣וּ אֹתִ֗י זֶ֚ה עֶ֣שֶׂר פְּעָמִ֔ים וְלֹ֥א שָׁמְע֖וּ בְּקוֹלִֽי	22	B	For all the persons that have seen my glory, and my signs that I did in Egypt, and in the wilderness, and tempted me these ten times, and do not hear with my voice,	3e	4C	29 18
אִם־יִרְאוּ֙ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר נִשְׁבַּ֖עְתִּי לַאֲבֹתָ֑ם וְכָל־מְנַאֲצַ֖י לֹ֥א יִרְאֽוּהָ	23		They will not see the land that I swore to their ancestors, and all who have spurned me will not see it.	3e	4A	16 10
וְעַבְדִּ֣י כָלֵ֗ב עֵ֣קֶב הָֽיְתָ֞ה ר֤וּחַ אַחֶ֙רֶת֙ עִמּ֔וֹ וַיְמַלֵּ֖א אַחֲרָ֑י וַהֲבִֽיאֹתִ֗יו אֶל־הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֣א שָׁ֔מָּה וְזַרְע֖וֹ יוֹרִשֶֽׁנָּה	24		But my servant Caleb, inasmuch as there is another spirit with him, and he has fully followed me, so I will have him come to the land that he entered into, and his seed will possess it.	3e	4C	22 21
וְהָֽעֲמָלֵקִ֥י וְהַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֖י יוֹשֵׁ֣ב בָּעֵ֑מֶק מָחָ֗ר פְּנ֨וּ וּסְע֥וּ לָכֶ֛ם הַמִּדְבָּ֖ר דֶּ֥רֶךְ יַם־סֽוּף	25		(And the Amalekite and the Canaanite inhabited the valley.) Tomorrow, face forward and begin your migration: the wilderness by the way of the sea of reeds.	3d	4B	16 15
וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה וְאֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֖ן לֵאמֹֽר	26		And Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,	3e	4B	15
עַד־מָתַ֗י לָעֵדָ֤ה הָֽרָעָה֙ הַזֹּ֔את אֲשֶׁ֛ר הֵ֥מָּה מַלִּינִ֖ים עָלָ֑י אֶת־תְּלֻנּ֞וֹת בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר הֵ֧מָּה מַלִּינִ֛ים עָלַ֖י שָׁמָֽעְתִּי	27		How long for this evil assembly that themselves grumble against me? The grumblings of the children of Israel, which themselves grumble against me, I have heard.	3c	4C	20 21
אֱמֹ֣ר אֲלֵהֶ֗ם חַי־אָ֙נִי֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה אִם־לֹ֕א כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבַּרְתֶּ֖ם בְּאָזְנָ֑י כֵּ֖ן אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֥ה לָכֶֽם	28		Say to them, I, Living, an oracle of Yahweh. Without fail, as you have spoken in my ears, so I will do to you.	3e	4B	22 6
בַּמִּדְבָּ֣ר הַ֠זֶּה יִפְּל֨וּ פִגְרֵיכֶ֜ם וְכָל־פְּקֻדֵיכֶם֙ לְכָל־מִסְפַּרְכֶ֔ם מִבֶּ֛ן עֶשְׂרִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה וָמָ֑עְלָה אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֲלִֽינֹתֶ֖ם עָלָֽי	29		In this wilderness let your carcasses fall and all your conscripted, to all your counted, from twenty years and upward, who grumbled against me.	3d	4B	30 8
אִם־אַתֶּם֙ תָּבֹ֣אוּ אֶל־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֤ר נָשָׂ֙אתִי֙ אֶת־יָדִ֔י לְשַׁכֵּ֥ן אֶתְכֶ֖ם בָּ֑הּ כִּ֚י אִם־כָּלֵ֣ב בֶּן־יְפֻנֶּ֔ה וִיהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ בִּן־נֽוּן	30		Not for you to enter into the land that I lifted up my hand to have you dwell in it, except Caleb child of Jepunah and Joshua child of Nun.	3e	4C	23 14
וְטַ֨פְּכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲמַרְתֶּ֖ם לָבַ֣ז יִהְיֶ֑ה וְהֵבֵיאתִ֣י אֹתָ֔ם וְיָֽדְעוּ֙ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר מְאַסְתֶּ֖ם בָּֽהּ	31		And your little ones that you have said would be despoiled, but I will have them enter, and they will know the land that you have refused to be in.	3e	4B	12 19
וּפִגְרֵיכֶ֖ם אַתֶּ֑ם יִפְּל֖וּ בַּמִּדְבָּ֥ר הַזֶּֽה	32		And as for your carcasses, you, will fall in this wilderness.	3e	4A	6 7
וּ֠בְנֵיכֶם יִהְי֨וּ רֹעִ֤ים בַּמִּדְבָּר֙ אַרְבָּעִ֣ים שָׁנָ֔ה וְנָשְׂא֖וּ אֶת־זְנוּתֵיכֶ֑ם עַד־תֹּ֥ם פִּגְרֵיכֶ֖ם בַּמִּדְבָּֽר	33	~	And your children will be pastured in the wilderness a forty year span and they will bear your prostitutions, until the completion of your carcasses in the wilderness.	3e	4C	23 8
בְּמִסְפַּ֨ר הַיָּמִ֜ים אֲשֶׁר־תַּרְתֶּ֣ם אֶת־הָאָרֶץ֮ אַרְבָּעִ֣ים יוֹם֒ י֣וֹם לַשָּׁנָ֞ה י֣וֹם לַשָּׁנָ֗ה תִּשְׂאוּ֙ אֶת־עֲוֺנֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם אַרְבָּעִ֖ים שָׁנָ֑ה וִֽידַעְתֶּ֖ם אֶת־תְּנוּאָתִֽי	34		By the count of the days that you explored the land, forty days, a day for a year, a day for a year, you will bear your iniquities a forty year span, so you will know my hindrance.	3e	4B	39 8
אֲנִ֣י יְהוָה֮ דִּבַּרְתִּי֒ אִם־לֹ֣א ׀ זֹ֣את אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֗ה לְכָל־הָעֵדָ֤ה הָֽרָעָה֙ הַזֹּ֔את הַנּוֹעָדִ֖ים עָלָ֑י בַּמִּדְבָּ֥ר הַזֶּ֛ה יִתַּ֖מּוּ וְשָׁ֥ם יָמֻֽתוּ	35		I am Yahweh. I have spoken. Without fail, this I will undertake for all this evil assembly engaged against me in this wilderness: they will be completed, and there they will die.	3d	4C	29 13
וְהָ֣אֲנָשִׁ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־שָׁלַ֥ח מֹשֶׁ֖ה לָת֣וּר אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיָּשֻׁ֗בוּ וַיַּלִּ֤ינוּ עָלָיו֙ אֶת־כָּל־הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה לְהוֹצִ֥יא דִבָּ֖ה עַל־הָאָֽרֶץ	36		And everyone that Moses sent to explore the land, and returned and made all the assembly grumble against him to bring forth defamation over the land,	3e	4C	17 24
וַיָּמֻ֙תוּ֙ הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים מוֹצִאֵ֥י דִבַּת־הָאָ֖רֶץ רָעָ֑ה בַּמַּגֵּפָ֖ה לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָֽה	37		And they died, the persons who brought forth the defamation of the land for evil, by the plague before Yahweh.	3e	4A	18 8
וִיהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ בִּן־נ֔וּן וְכָלֵ֖ב בֶּן־יְפֻנֶּ֑ה חָיוּ֙ מִן־הָאֲנָשִׁ֣ים הָהֵ֔ם הַֽהֹלְכִ֖ים לָת֥וּר אֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ	38		And Joshua child of Nun, and Caleb child of Jepunah, they lived (from those persons who went to explore the land).	3e	4B	13 18
וַיְדַבֵּ֤ר מֹשֶׁה֙ אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה אֶֽל־כָּל־בְּנֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיִּֽתְאַבְּל֥וּ הָעָ֖ם מְאֹֽד	39		And Moses spoke these words to all the children of Israel, and the people lamented very much.	3e	4C	19 8
וַיַּשְׁכִּ֣מוּ בַבֹּ֔קֶר וַיַּֽעֲל֥וּ אֶל־רֹאשׁ־הָהָ֖ר לֵאמֹ֑ר הִנֶּ֗נּוּ וְעָלִ֛ינוּ אֶל־הַמָּק֛וֹם אֲשֶׁר־אָמַ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה כִּ֥י חָטָֽאנוּ	40		And they rose up early in the morning, and they came up to the top of the hill, saying, Here we are, and we will go up to the place as Yahweh had said, because we have sinned.	3d	4B	17 21
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֔ה לָ֥מָּה זֶּ֛ה אַתֶּ֥ם עֹבְרִ֖ים אֶת־פִּ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וְהִ֖וא לֹ֥א תִצְלָֽח	41		And Moses said, Why this? You are bypassing the mandate of Yahweh. And it not will prosper.	3d	4B	16 5
אַֽל־תַּעֲל֔וּ כִּ֛י אֵ֥ין יְהוָ֖ה בְּקִרְבְּכֶ֑ם וְלֹא֙ תִּנָּ֣גְפ֔וּ לִפְנֵ֖י אֹיְבֵיכֶֽם	42		Do not ascend, because Yahweh is not among you, and you will not be a plague before your enemies.	3d	4B	12 10
כִּי֩ הָעֲמָלֵקִ֨י וְהַכְּנַעֲנִ֥י שָׁם֙ לִפְנֵיכֶ֔ם וּנְפַלְתֶּ֖ם בֶּחָ֑רֶב כִּֽי־עַל־כֵּ֤ן שַׁבְתֶּם֙ מֵאַחֲרֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה וְלֹא־יִהְיֶ֥ה יְהוָ֖ה עִמָּכֶֽם	43	~	For the Amalekite and the Canaanite are there in your presence, and you will fall by the sword. Because against such you are turned back from following Yahweh, so Yahweh will not be with you.	3e	4C	21 20
וַיַּעְפִּ֕לוּ לַעֲל֖וֹת אֶל־רֹ֣אשׁ הָהָ֑ר וַאֲר֤וֹן בְּרִית־יְהוָה֙ וּמֹשֶׁ֔ה לֹא־מָ֖שׁוּ מִקֶּ֥רֶב הַֽמַּחֲנֶֽה	44		But they were inflated and ascended to the top of the hill, but the ark of the covenant of Yahweh and Moses did not deviate from within the camp.	3e	4C	11 19
וַיֵּ֤רֶד הָעֲמָלֵקִי֙ וְהַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֔י הַיֹּשֵׁ֖ב בָּהָ֣ר הַה֑וּא וַיַּכּ֥וּם וַֽיַּכְּת֖וּם עַד־הַֽחָרְמָֽה	45		And the Amalekite descended and the Canaanite who inhabit on that hill, and they struck them and beat them almost to Utter-Destruction.	3e	4C	20 10

Jeremiah 20

Whew. I had at some point typed 13 instead of 18 as the number of verses in Jeremiah 20. So now I have 5 more verses in my data. And they are a knockout punch delivered in a style even more bitter than Job 3.

Jeremiah 20		Fn		Min	Max	Syll
וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ע פַּשְׁחוּר֙ בֶּן־אִמֵּ֣ר הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְהֽוּא־פָקִ֥יד נָגִ֖יד בְּבֵ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה אֶֽת־יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ נִבָּ֖א אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֥ים הָאֵֽלֶּה	1		And Pashur heard, (child of Immer the priest), and he was an officer and aristocrat in the house of Yahweh, Jeremiah has prophesied these words.	3e	4C	21 14
וַיַּכֶּ֣ה פַשְׁח֔וּר אֵ֖ת יִרְמְיָ֣הוּ הַנָּבִ֑יא וַיִּתֵּ֨ן אֹת֜וֹ עַל־הַמַּהְפֶּ֗כֶת אֲשֶׁ֨ר בְּשַׁ֤עַר בִּנְיָמִן֙ הָֽעֶלְי֔וֹן אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּבֵ֥ית יְהוָֽה	2		And Pashur struck Jeremiah the prophet, and he assigned him to the pillory that was at the gate of Benjamin, the higher, that was by the house of Yahweh.	3e	4C	13 27
וַֽיְהִי֙ מִֽמָּחֳרָ֔ת וַיֹּצֵ֥א פַשְׁח֛וּר אֶֽת־יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ מִן־הַמַּהְפָּ֑כֶת וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֜יו יִרְמְיָ֗הוּ לֹ֤א פַשְׁחוּר֙ קָרָ֤א יְהוָה֙ שְׁמֶ֔ךָ כִּ֖י אִם־מָג֥וֹר מִסָּבִֽיב	3		And it happened afterwards that Pashur brought forth Jeremiah from the pillory. And Jeremiah said to him, Not 'Pashur', did Yahweh call your name, but Terror-surrounding.	3d	4C	21 26
כִּ֣י כֹ֣ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֡ה הִנְנִי֩ נֹתֶנְךָ֨ לְמָג֜וֹר לְךָ֣ וּלְכָל־אֹהֲבֶ֗יךָ וְנָֽפְל֛וּ בְּחֶ֥רֶב אֹיְבֵיהֶ֖ם וְעֵינֶ֣יךָ רֹא֑וֹת וְאֶת־כָּל־יְהוּדָ֗ה אֶתֵּן֙ בְּיַ֣ד מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֔ל וְהִגְלָ֥ם בָּבֶ֖לָה וְהִכָּ֥ם בֶּחָֽרֶב	4	B	Because thus says Yahweh, Note me well. I will consign you to your own terror, and all those who love you, and they will fall by the sword of their enemies and your eyes will see. And all Judah I will give into the hand of the king of Babel, and he will exile them to Babel, and will strike them by the sword.	3d	4B	37 26
וְנָתַתִּ֗י אֶת־כָּל־חֹ֙סֶן֙ הָעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֔את וְאֶת־כָּל־יְגִיעָ֖הּ וְאֶת־כָּל־יְקָרָ֑הּ וְאֵ֨ת כָּל־אוֹצְר֜וֹת מַלְכֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֗ה אֶתֵּן֙ בְּיַ֣ד אֹֽיְבֵיהֶ֔ם וּבְזָזוּם֙ וּלְקָח֔וּם וֶהֱבִיא֖וּם בָּבֶֽלָה	5		And I will consign all this invincible city, and all its labour and all its esteem. And all the treasuries of the kings of Judah, I will consign into the hand of their enemies, and they will despoil them and take them and bring them to Babel.	3e	4B	24 30
וְאַתָּ֣ה פַשְׁח֗וּר וְכֹל֙ יֹשְׁבֵ֣י בֵיתֶ֔ךָ תֵּלְכ֖וּ בַּשֶּׁ֑בִי וּבָבֶ֣ל תָּב֗וֹא וְשָׁ֤ם תָּמוּת֙ וְשָׁ֣ם תִּקָּבֵ֔ר אַתָּה֙ וְכָל־אֹ֣הֲבֶ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁר־נִבֵּ֥אתָ לָהֶ֖ם בַּשָּֽׁקֶר	6		But you Pashur, and all the inhabitants of your house, you will go into captivity, and Babel you will enter, and there you will die, and there you will be entombed, you and all those who love you, to whom you have prophesied falsehood.	3e	4C	17 32
פִּתִּיתַ֤נִי יְהוָה֙ וָֽאֶפָּ֔ת חֲזַקְתַּ֖נִי וַתּוּכָ֑ל הָיִ֤יתִי לִשְׂחוֹק֙ כָּל־הַיּ֔וֹם כֻּלֹּ֖ה לֹעֵ֥ג לִֽי	7		You have seduced me, Yahweh and I am seduced. You have more courage than I and you are overpowering. I am a laughingstock all the day long. Everyone derides me.	3e	4C	16 13
כִּֽי־מִדֵּ֤י אֲדַבֵּר֙ אֶזְעָ֔ק חָמָ֥ס וָשֹׁ֖ד אֶקְרָ֑א כִּֽי־הָיָ֨ה דְבַר־יְהוָ֥ה לִ֛י לְחֶרְפָּ֥ה וּלְקֶ֖לֶס כָּל־הַיּֽוֹם	8		For as often as I speak, I appeal. Violence and devastation I proclaim, for the word of Yahweh is for me for a reproach, and for ridicule all the day long.	3d	4C	13 16
וְאָמַרְתִּ֣י לֹֽא־אֶזְכְּרֶ֗נּוּ וְלֹֽא־אֲדַבֵּ֥ר עוֹד֙ בִּשְׁמ֔וֹ וְהָיָ֤ה בְלִבִּי֙ כְּאֵ֣שׁ בֹּעֶ֔רֶת עָצֻ֖ר בְּעַצְמֹתָ֑י וְנִלְאֵ֥יתִי כַּֽלְכֵ֖ל וְלֹ֥א אוּכָֽל	9		Then I say, I will not remember him and I will not speak any more in his name, and it will be in my heart as fire kindled, contained in my bones, and my exasperation is nourished, and I am overpowered.	3e	4C	33 10
כִּ֣י שָׁמַ֜עְתִּי דִּבַּ֣ת רַבִּים֮ מָג֣וֹר מִסָּבִיב֒ הַגִּ֙ידוּ֙ וְנַגִּידֶ֔נּוּ כֹּ֚ל אֱנ֣וֹשׁ שְׁלוֹמִ֔י שֹׁמְרֵ֖י צַלְעִ֑י אוּלַ֤י יְפֻתֶּה֙ וְנ֣וּכְלָה ל֔וֹ וְנִקְחָ֥ה נִקְמָתֵ֖נוּ מִמֶּֽנּוּ	10	B	For I have heard the defamation of many, terror surrounding, Announce and we will announce it. Every mortal of my peace watches my halting. Maybe he will be seduced, and we will overpower him, and we will take our vengeance out of him.	3e	4C	31 19
וַֽיהוָ֤ה אוֹתִי֙ כְּגִבּ֣וֹר עָרִ֔יץ עַל־כֵּ֛ן רֹדְפַ֥י יִכָּשְׁל֖וּ וְלֹ֣א יֻכָ֑לוּ בֹּ֤שׁוּ מְאֹד֙ כִּֽי־לֹ֣א הִשְׂכִּ֔ילוּ כְּלִמַּ֥ת עוֹלָ֖ם לֹ֥א תִשָּׁכֵֽחַ	11		But Yahweh is with me as one who prevails, ruthless, so my persecutors, they will stumble and they will not overpower. They will be very ashamed for they did not have insight into their humiliation that will never be forgotten.	3d	4C	21 18
וַיהוָ֤ה צְבָאוֹת֙ בֹּחֵ֣ן צַדִּ֔יק רֹאֶ֥ה כְלָי֖וֹת וָלֵ֑ב אֶרְאֶ֤ה נִקְמָֽתְךָ֙ מֵהֶ֔ם כִּ֥י אֵלֶ֖יךָ גִּלִּ֥יתִי אֶת־רִיבִֽי	12		But Yahweh of hosts is testing a righteous one, seeing vital centres and heart. I will see your vengeance out of them, for to you I have uncovered my cause.	3e	4C	16 17
שִׁ֚ירוּ לַֽיהוָ֔ה הַֽלְל֖וּ אֶת־יְהוָ֑ה כִּ֥י הִצִּ֛יל אֶת־נֶ֥פֶשׁ אֶבְי֖וֹן מִיַּ֥ד מְרֵעִֽים	13	C	Sing to Yahweh, praise Yahweh, for he has delivered the throat of the needy from the hand of evildoers.	3d	4C	9 13
אָר֣וּר הַיּ֔וֹם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יֻלַּ֖דְתִּי בּ֑וֹ י֛וֹם אֲשֶׁר־יְלָדַ֥תְנִי אִמִּ֖י אַל־יְהִ֥י בָרֽוּךְ	14	B	Cursed the day in which I was born, the day that my mother gave birth to me, let it not be blessed.	3d	4B	10 14
אָר֣וּר הָאִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֨ר בִּשַּׂ֤ר אֶת־אָבִי֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר יֻֽלַּד־לְךָ֖ בֵּ֣ן זָכָ֑ר שַׂמֵּ֖חַ שִׂמֳּחָֽהוּ	15	B	Cursed the person that brought good news to my father, saying, Born to you is a child, male, gladness, making him glad.	3e	4C	20 7
וְהָיָה֙ הָאִ֣ישׁ הַה֔וּא כֶּֽעָרִ֛ים אֲשֶׁר־הָפַ֥ךְ יְהוָ֖ה וְלֹ֣א נִחָ֑ם וְשָׁמַ֤ע זְעָקָה֙ בַּבֹּ֔קֶר וּתְרוּעָ֖ה בְּעֵ֥ת צָהֳרָֽיִם	16		And let this man be, this very one, as the cities that Yahweh overturned, and sighed not. And let him hear an appeal in the morning, and a shout of triumph at noontide,	3d	4C	20 18
אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־ מוֹתְתַ֖נִי מֵרָ֑חֶם וַתְּהִי־לִ֤י אִמִּי֙ קִבְרִ֔י וְרַחְמָ֖הֿ הֲרַ֥ת עוֹלָֽם	17		That he did not put me to death from the womb, or that for me my mother might have been my tomb, and her womb pregnant ever.	3e	4C	9 14
לָ֤מָּה זֶּה֙ מֵרֶ֣חֶם יָצָ֔אתִי לִרְא֥וֹת עָמָ֖ל וְיָג֑וֹן וַיִּכְל֥וּ בְּבֹ֖שֶׁת יָמָֽי	18	C	Why from this womb did I emerge to see toil and sadness, and my days consumed with shame.	3e	4C	16 8

(I was actually working on Numbers 14, but it is long, so I paused to do what I thought was this short chapter. And I found myself going back to programs I had not used for over a year to load 5 more verses. And they still work! I also have updated the music files on one-drive and google-drive. It turns out I had translated part of this chapter already but only in a music file, not in the database - undisciplined! The renderings were close, but the later one has better concordance. I make similar decisions as a year ago but the system has been refined over the last year. I also reran the music stats table, and there are the expected 5 additional records.)

Links and words

A few interesting links that I hope are more than words:
Living Wittily's post on the beatitudes. His next post is good too - on yes and no. He has a Turkish spelling error in it. cun for sun.
Henry's post on reading the NT. I wonder who gets it. It's a problem in acting, not just in theology.
Andrew's post on Israel in narrative history.

And here is a word on words from Elena Ferrante, from the third volume of the Neapolitan quartet. This is an astonishing story, with Naples as a microcosm of the world.

Last night I heard the second John Albert Hall lecture. The words were so well woven into a ball, I could not imagine a question that should be asked. I could not get a knitting needle into that ball to unweave it, yet I thought the ball was empty. This is not a compliment to the speaker. Here is what I read in the novel an hour later:

... it seemed to me that I had mastered words to the point of sweeping away forever the contradictions of being in the world, the surge of emotions, the breathless speech. In short, I now knew a method of speaking and writing that - by means of a refined vocabulary, stately and thoughtful pacing, a determined arrangement of arguments, and a formal orderliness that wasn't supposed to fail - sought to annihilate the interlocutor to the point where he lost the will to object.

Silence

How music works

1978 - Bob and Di touring England in Bertie

Come on, Bob. You can't explain that in a blog post.

Deep sigh

OK - here it is - this is how the music of the Old Testament embedded in the accents of the Hebrew Bible shapes and interprets the text.

Bob is in a little car driving up a big hill like the Glastonbury Tor in the south of England. Di is outside the car because only one person at a time can fit in it. (No, Bertie made it into the Cheddar Gorge, but we did not drive up the tor.)

Shape

You probably wouldn't disagree that music has shape. Have you listened to much in the way of traditional synagogue chanting? I heard a lecture last week by Daniel Biro. It was an informative and stunning lecture. His music is available here. What he has written is very demanding. At the peak of my career, I would have had great trouble being a tenor for him. In contrast, the music I speak of, based on the key from Haïk-Vantoura's inferences (Daniel is skeptical of it) is easily learned, and though somewhat tricky to sing, it is not a marathon, and it is easy to learn to sight read directly from the accents.

Daniel began his lecture with a multiplicity of examples of differing synagogue traditions from around the world that he had painstakingly recorded. These were all of Genesis 1. What I heard in his examples would be very difficult for me to imitate. They were clearly unclear in their shape. The shape was confined to individual words, and the verses were all monotonal - a single key, a single reciting note. They have lost the overall shape of the music. The melismatic ornaments, even well sung (and I have heard, live, both well and not so well sung examples in Sabbath liturgies), will not restore the shape. The distinction that comes from the variation in reciting note is well-defined by the accents and is not observed in traditional cantillation.

Barriers to understanding,
the Glastonbury Tor in the background

A hill has shape: Some hills are a smooth rise and fall, some have cliffs, some crevasses, some terraces, some regularity and some irregularity. So it is with the music of the accents.

Two hills are never exactly alike, but their similarities can be noted. So I have pointed out the similarity of the first verse of Genesis and the first verse of Job. Does it surprise you? It shouldn't. Job is all about creation and the problem of good and evil. We still can't tell the difference. I explore this relationship to begin my story of the Bible in my book, The Song in the Night.

Here's the music of these two verses:

Job 1.1 d f e g# B ^A // B B rev,c d f g# f e
Genesis.1.1 e g# B ^A // f g# f e

With this overly simplified musical notation you can easily see the similarity of shape, even if you are not a musician. Any musician will hear immediately triad followed by the rest on the subdominant and the return to the tonic via a traditional Middle-Eastern interval. A reader of music will also hear the rhythmic storied lilt of Job in comparison with the matter of fact brooding serenity of Genesis, a brooding that continues to this day.

Thesis 1: prove me wrong or prove me right: Verses with similar sequences of accents are related to other verses with similar shape. If you hear the music - it is obvious. The refrain of Genesis is beautifully repeatedly rendered, and it was evening and it was morning, the nth day. (n:1-6).

Mid-verse rest

The presence of the Atnah
I have often pointed out on this blog that the Atnah defines the major cadence point, with a caesura for a verse. A great proportion of the time, the cadence is on a significant word in the verse. This calls for a meditation on the first part of the verse. It reinforces drama, and reinforces parallelism if it is present. It may separate subject from verb though this is not common. If a translation ignores the atnah, the verse is incorrectly interpreted.

Example at random, Numbers 14.6 e B rev,qad,z-q,g# ^A // g# e
And Joshua child of Nun and Caleb child of Jepunah, from those that explored the land, //
ripped their garments.

This musical phrase occurs in one other verse, Genesis 25:2. Can you see any connection between the verses? Here even I might argue against the problem of reading too much into the text or the music. But does Abraham go off in a direction that has unexpected consequences when he takes another wife? Just as the Israelites were going to fail to enter the land at the time described in Numbers 14.6.

When the Atnah is missing
A missing rest often is the result of emotional turmoil in the music. In the Song of Songs (see chapter 1. verses 9-17) it is the insistence of love. In the Lamentations, it is the misery of destruction of the city and the exile from the land. Chapter 5 is entirely without rest. (See the link for additional analysis of the music of Lamentations).

First note
A first note that is not the default reciting note, the tonic, indicates a connection with what is earlier. Analysis of first notes can allow some passages to be connected as a whole through the music. Proverbs 2 is an example I use in the book. The three books of truth, Psalms, Proverbs, and Job, each begin on a note other than the tonic. The only other book to do this is Deuteronomy. These reveal the books of truth as keys to the rest of the Bible, and Deuteronomy as a commentary on Torah.

Many verses in various passages begin on something other than the first note. They show linkages to previous verses. Often the verse reinforces word similarities, or interprets a consequence or states a conclusion. 3669 verses, over 15%, begin on a note other than the tonic. 19482 begin on the tonic. Look for them. They are signaled by an accent on the first syllable of the verse.

Highest / lowest recitation notes
Raising and lowering the recitation note may indicate 'tone of voice'. The patterned sequence of highest notes is an indication of musical form. Psalm 96 is a particularly good example of this.

Rhythm

I mentioned the lilt of the opening of Job. Singers should first learn movement, the pattering of hands, the drum, the pulse of the heart, or dance or gymnastics. Rhythm is fundamental to music. There is a natural pulse even to plainsong though it is irregular in its subdivisions. Rhythm is a basis for drama and engagement with the text. A simple example is Psalm 117. One can hear in the part I set for wood-block, the potential for an almost regular 7/4 time signature.

The hill we are on is a grand one, more of a mountain range than a tor. I have scarcely begun the climb. But we won't get past the fearful beast and the thorny hedgerow if we only mutter isolated verses in monotonic syllables.

This is how music works. It interprets words. In all of my recent posts, I have noted the first, highest, and lowest notes to assist the non-musician in interpreting the shape of the music.

Are there other characteristics that you can think of? You really should do the exercise below. The discovery you will make yourself is enough.

Exercise: Here are the 22 verses where the notes of the refrain from Genesis 1 are used as the closing of a verse. Are they related?
Genesis 1.5 e pas,C qad,z-q,g# B ^A // e f e g# f e
Genesis 1.8 e c d e g# ^A // e f e g# f e
Genesis 1.13 e f e g# f e
Genesis 1.19 e f e g# f e
Genesis 1.23 e f e g# f e
Genesis 1.31 e C qad,B z-q,g# ^A // e f e g# f e
Genesis 2.7 e tal,pas,ger,e rev,qad,B z-q,f g# B ^A // e f e g# f e
Genesis 35.22 e rev,C qad,B z-q,B z-q,z-g,qad,g# qad,B ^A // z-q,g# ^A // e e f e g# f e
Deuteronomy 5.20 e e f e g# f e
Deuteronomy 15.1 e f e g# f e
Deuteronomy 29.4 e f d f g# ^A // e C e qad,z-q,e f e g# f e
Judges 17.1 e f e g# f e
1 Samuel 16.14 c d g# B ^A // e f e g# f e
2 Samuel 8.10 e B B e B e tal,pas,ger,e rev,tal,pas,C qad,qad,z-q,d f g# B ^A // rev,d e f e g# f e
2 Kings 17.40 e g# ^A // d e f e g# f e
Isaiah 63.9 e B B rev,C qad,e z-q,f g# B ^A // e f e g# f e
Jeremiah 15.10 e B z-q,B rev,f d f g# ^A // e f e g# f e
Hosea 13.13 e f e g# B ^A // qad,B z-q,e f e g# f e
Ezra 2.16 e e f e g# f e
Nehemiah 7.53 e f e g# f e
Nehemiah 7.54 e f e g# f e
2 Chronicles 18.28 e c e d e f e g# f e

Jeremiah 33

Jeremiah chapters keep percolating to the top. That's fine. I know how long this book is and I wondered if I would ever finish it. Here Jeremiah flirts with atheism, and allows Yahweh to withdraw all promises, yet also insists that they will be fulfilled, but not with the traditional nation / exclusive governing model of kings. Really? What can be read here of the confusion of third person plural pronouns. It is the first time I have seen such redundancy and ambiguity of third person plural pronouns (at least as I recall at the moment). Also someone noted to me that Israel desired to be a nation, and here they themselves are allowed to assert its impossibility within the two families that Yahweh has chosen. Also here, note how the mem prefix מ may imply what would more smoothly be expressed by a negative in English.

Trying to imagine the mind of Jeremiah, a man whose word is rejected, a man who has learned his tradition, who appeals to the patriarchs and to David, (only once to Moses by name). It seems he is able to imagine denying everything he thinks he knows about propositional statements from his tradition about Yahweh yet he will not deny the compassionate character of Yahweh.

Jeremiah 33		Fn		Min	Max	Syll
וַיְהִ֧י דְבַר־יְהוָ֛ה אֶֽל־יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ שֵׁנִ֑ית וְהוּא֙ עוֹדֶ֣נּוּ עָצ֔וּר בַּחֲצַ֥ר הַמַּטָּרָ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר	1		And the word of Yahweh happened to Jeremiah a second time, when he was yet detained in the court of the cell, saying,	3c	4B	13 16
כֹּֽה־אָמַ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה עֹשָׂ֑הּ יְהוָ֗ה יוֹצֵ֥ר אוֹתָ֛הּ לַהֲכִינָ֖הּ יְהוָ֥ה שְׁמֽוֹ	2		Thus says Yahweh, her maker, Yahweh who fashioned her, to establish her. Yahweh is his name.	3d	4A	7 14
קְרָ֥א אֵלַ֖י וְאֶעֱנֶ֑ךָּ וְאַגִּ֧ידָה לְּךָ֛ גְּדֹל֥וֹת וּבְצֻר֖וֹת לֹ֥א יְדַעְתָּֽם	3		Call to me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great things and enclosed, that you do not know.	3c	4A	9 16
כִּי֩ כֹ֨ה אָמַ֤ר יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל עַל־בָּתֵּי֙ הָעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֔את וְעַל־בָּתֵּ֖י מַלְכֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֑ה הַנְּתֻצִ֕ים אֶל־הַסֹּלְל֖וֹת וְאֶל־הֶחָֽרֶב	4	~	For thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah, broken down by the ramps and by the sword,	3e	4C	28 12
בָּאִ֗ים לְהִלָּחֵם֙ אֶת־הַכַּשְׂדִּ֔ים וּלְמַלְאָם֙ אֶת־פִּגְרֵ֣י הָאָדָ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־הִכֵּ֥יתִי בְאַפִּ֖י וּבַחֲמָתִ֑י וַאֲשֶׁ֨ר הִסְתַּ֤רְתִּי פָנַי֙ מֵהָעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֔את עַ֖ל כָּל־רָעָתָֽם	5		by those who came to fight the Chaldeans and to fill them with the carcasses of the earthling, that I struck in my anger and in my heat, in that I hid my face from this city over all their evil.	3e	4C	32 18
הִנְנִ֧י מַעֲלֶה־לָּ֛הּ אֲרֻכָ֥ה וּמַרְפֵּ֖א וּרְפָאתִ֑ים וְגִלֵּיתִ֣י לָהֶ֔ם עֲתֶ֥רֶת שָׁל֖וֹם וֶאֱמֶֽת	6		Note me well, making patience ascend for her, and healing, and healing them, and I will disclose to them a petition for peace and truth.	3c	4B	15 14
וַהֲשִֽׁבֹתִי֙ אֶת־שְׁב֣וּת יְהוּדָ֔ה וְאֵ֖ת שְׁב֣וּת יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וּבְנִתִ֖ים כְּבָרִֽאשֹׁנָֽה	7		And I will turn the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel, and will build them at as the beginning.	3e	4B	18 8
וְטִ֣הַרְתִּ֔ים מִכָּל־עֲוֺנָ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר חָֽטְאוּ־לִ֑י וְסָלַחְתִּ֗י לְכָל־עֲוֺנֽוֹתֵיהֶם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר חָֽטְאוּ־לִ֔י וַאֲשֶׁ֖ר פָּ֥שְׁעוּ בִֽי	8		And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, who have sinned against me, and I will forgive all their iniquities, who have sinned against me and who have transgressed against me.	3e	4B	14 22
וְהָ֣יְתָה לִּ֗י לְשֵׁ֤ם שָׂשׂוֹן֙ לִתְהִלָּ֣ה וּלְתִפְאֶ֔רֶת לְכֹ֖ל גּוֹיֵ֣י הָאָ֑רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִשְׁמְע֜וּ אֶת־כָּל־הַטּוֹבָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר אָֽנֹכִי֙ עֹשֶׂ֣ה אֹתָ֔ם וּפָחֲד֣וּ וְרָֽגְז֗וּ עַ֤ל כָּל־הַטּוֹבָה֙ וְעַ֣ל כָּל־הַשָּׁל֔וֹם אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָֽנֹכִ֖י עֹ֥שֶׂה לָּֽהּ	9		And it will be to me for a name of joy, for praise and for adornment, for all the nations of the earth, who hear all the good that I am doing them. And they will dread and shudder over all the good and over all the peace that I make of it.	3e	4C	22 45
כֹּ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֗ה עוֹד֮ יִשָּׁמַ֣ע בַּמָּקוֹם־הַזֶּה֒ אֲשֶׁר֙ אַתֶּ֣ם אֹֽמְרִ֔ים חָרֵ֣ב ה֔וּא מֵאֵ֥ין אָדָ֖ם וּמֵאֵ֣ין בְּהֵמָ֑ה בְּעָרֵ֤י יְהוּדָה֙ וּבְחֻצ֣וֹת יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם הַֽנְשַׁמּ֗וֹת מֵאֵ֥ין אָדָ֛ם וּמֵאֵ֥ין יוֹשֵׁ֖ב וּמֵאֵ֥ין בְּהֵמָֽה	10	B	Thus says Yahweh, Yet will be heard in this place (that you are saying, It is a desert, without humanity and without beast), in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without humanity, and without inhabitant, and without beast,	3d	4C	33 31
ק֣וֹל שָׂשׂ֞וֹן וְק֣וֹל שִׂמְחָ֗ה ק֣וֹל חָתָן֮ וְק֣וֹל כַּלָּה֒ ק֣וֹל אֹמְרִ֡ים הוֹדוּ֩ אֶת־יְהוָ֨ה צְבָא֜וֹת כִּֽי־ט֤וֹב יְהוָה֙ כִּֽי־לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּ֔וֹ מְבִאִ֥ים תּוֹדָ֖ה בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה כִּֽי־אָשִׁ֧יב אֶת־שְׁבוּת־הָאָ֛רֶץ כְּבָרִאשֹׁנָ֖ה אָמַ֥ר יְהוָֽה	11	B	the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of bridegroom and the voice of bride, the voice of them who say, Give thanks to Yahweh of hosts, for Yahweh is good, for his kindness is forever, those who bring thanksgiving into the house of Yahweh, for I will restore the captivity of the land as at the beginning, says Yahweh.	3c	4C	43 17
כֹּֽה־אָמַר֮ יְהוָ֣ה צְבָאוֹת֒ ע֞וֹד יִֽהְיֶ֣ה ׀ בַּמָּק֣וֹם הַזֶּ֗ה הֶחָרֵ֛ב מֵֽאֵין־אָדָ֥ם וְעַד־בְּהֵמָ֖ה וּבְכָל־עָרָ֑יו נְוֵ֣ה רֹעִ֔ים מַרְבִּצִ֖ים צֹֽאן	12		Thus says Yahweh of hosts, Yet there will be in this place, the desert without humanity, and even beast, and in all its cities, the home of shepherds making sheep recline,	3d	4B	32 8
בְּעָרֵ֨י הָהָ֜ר בְּעָרֵ֤י הַשְּׁפֵלָה֙ וּבְעָרֵ֣י הַנֶּ֔גֶב וּבְאֶ֧רֶץ בִּנְיָמִ֛ן וּבִסְבִיבֵ֥י יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם וּבְעָרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֑ה עֹ֣ד תַּעֲבֹ֧רְנָה הַצֹּ֛אן עַל־יְדֵ֥י מוֹנֶ֖ה אָמַ֥ר יְהוָֽה	13		in the cities of the hill, in the cities of the lowly places, and in the cities of the Negev, in the cities of Benjamin, and in the places surrounding Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, ever the flock will pass through by the hands of one who is appointed, says Yahweh.	3c	4C	37 16
הִנֵּ֛ה יָמִ֥ים בָּאִ֖ים נְאֻם־יְהוָ֑ה וַהֲקִֽמֹתִי֙ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַטּ֔וֹב אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבַּ֛רְתִּי אֶל־בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וְעַל־בֵּ֥ית יְהוּדָֽה	14		Behold days are coming, an oracle of Yahweh, and I will place the good thing that I spoke to the house of Israel and over the house of Judah.	3d	4B	10 27
בַּיָּמִ֤ים הָהֵם֙ וּבָעֵ֣ת הַהִ֔יא אַצְמִ֥יחַ לְדָוִ֖ד צֶ֣מַח צְדָקָ֑ה וְעָשָׂ֛ה מִשְׁפָּ֥ט וּצְדָקָ֖ה בָּאָֽרֶץ	15		In those days and at that time, I will make grow, of David, the sprout of righteousness, and it will do judgment and righteousness in the land.	3d	4C	21 11
בַּיָּמִ֤ים הָהֵם֙ תִּוָּשַׁ֣ע יְהוּדָ֔ה וִירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם תִּשְׁכּ֣וֹן לָבֶ֑טַח וְזֶ֥ה אֲשֶׁר־יִקְרָא־לָ֖הּ יְהוָ֥ה ׀ צִדְקֵֽנוּ	16		In days those Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will dwell in trust. And this is what he will recite for her, Yahweh is our righteousness.	3e	4C	20 12
כִּי־כֹ֖ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה לֹֽא־יִכָּרֵ֣ת לְדָוִ֔ד אִ֕ישׁ יֹשֵׁ֖ב עַל־כִּסֵּ֥א בֵֽית־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל	17		Because thus says Yahweh, There will not be cut off of David a representative to sit on the throne of the house of Israel.	3e	4B	6 16
וְלַכֹּהֲנִים֙ הַלְוִיִּ֔ם לֹֽא־יִכָּרֵ֥ת אִ֖ישׁ מִלְּפָנָ֑י מַעֲלֶ֨ה עוֹלָ֜ה וּמַקְטִ֥יר מִנְחָ֛ה וְעֹ֥שֶׂה־זֶּ֖בַח כָּל־הַיָּמִֽים	18		Of the priests, the Levites, neither will there be cut off a representative from my presence, making burnt offering ascend and incense, gift, and doing sacrifice, every day.	3d	4A	15 19
וַֽיְהִי֙ דְּבַר־יְהוָ֔ה אֶֽל־יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ לֵאמֽוֹר	19		And the word of Yahweh happened to Jeremiah, saying,	3e	3g	13
כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה אִם־תָּפֵ֙רוּ֙ אֶת־בְּרִיתִ֣י הַיּ֔וֹם וְאֶת־בְּרִיתִ֖י הַלָּ֑יְלָה וּלְבִלְתִּ֛י הֱי֥וֹת יֽוֹמָם־וָלַ֖יְלָה בְּעִתָּֽם	20	C	Thus says Yahweh, If you can annul my covenant of the day and my covenant of the night, and without there being day and night in their time,	3d	4C	23 13
גַּם־בְּרִיתִ֤י תֻפַר֙ אֶת־דָּוִ֣ד עַבְדִּ֔י מִהְיֽוֹת־ל֥וֹ בֵ֖ן מֹלֵ֣ךְ עַל־כִּסְא֑וֹ וְאֶת־הַלְוִיִּ֥ם הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים מְשָׁרְתָֽי	21		even annul my covenant with David, my servant, from having his son king on his throne, and with the Levites, the priests, my ministers,	3e	4C	20 12
אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־יִסָּפֵר֙ צְבָ֣א הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וְלֹ֥א יִמַּ֖ד ח֣וֹל הַיָּ֑ם כֵּ֣ן אַרְבֶּ֗ה אֶת־זֶ֙רַע֙ דָּוִ֣ד עַבְדִּ֔י וְאֶת־הַלְוִיִּ֖ם מְשָׁרְתֵ֥י אֹתִֽי	22		as the host of the heavens cannot be counted, nor measured the sand of the sea, so I will increase the seed of David my servant, and the Levites ministering to me.	3e	4C	17 20
וַֽיְהִי֙ דְּבַר־יְהוָ֔ה אֶֽל־יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ לֵאמֹֽר	23		And the word of Yahweh happened to Jeremiah, saying,	3e	3g	13
הֲל֣וֹא רָאִ֗יתָ מָֽה־הָעָ֤ם הַזֶּה֙ דִּבְּר֣וּ לֵאמֹ֔ר שְׁתֵּ֣י הַמִּשְׁפָּח֗וֹת אֲשֶׁ֨ר בָּחַ֧ר יְהוָ֛ה בָּהֶ֖ם וַיִּמְאָסֵ֑ם וְאֶת־עַמִּי֙ יִנְאָצ֔וּן מִֽהְי֥וֹת ע֖וֹד גּ֥וֹי לִפְנֵיהֶֽם	24	B	Have you not seen what this people speak, saying, The two families which Yahweh chose by themselves?... But he has refused them. And my people he has spurned from being any more a nation in their presence.	3c	4C	32 15
כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה אִם־לֹ֥א בְרִיתִ֖י יוֹמָ֣ם וָלָ֑יְלָה חֻקּ֛וֹת שָׁמַ֥יִם וָאָ֖רֶץ לֹא־שָֽׂמְתִּי	25	C	Thus says Yahweh, If my covenant is not, day and night, the decrees of heaven and earth I do not set,	3d	4C	15 10
גַּם־זֶ֣רַע יַעֲקוֹב֩ וְדָוִ֨ד עַבְדִּ֜י אֶמְאַ֗ס מִקַּ֤חַת מִזַּרְעוֹ֙ מֹֽשְׁלִ֔ים אֶל־זֶ֥רַע אַבְרָהָ֖ם יִשְׂחָ֣ק וְיַעֲקֹ֑ב כִּֽי־אָשִׁ֥יב אֶת־שְׁבוּתָ֖ם וְרִחַמְתִּֽים	26		even the seed of Jacob, and David, my servant, I will refuse, to take from his seed to be governors, over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, for I will reverse their captivity, and I will have compassion on them.	3e	4C	33 10

Progress since last year

So you wanted to read the ancient texts in their first tongues. The puzzle is well worth the effort. But take care not to impose on it what you think it ought to say.

The puzzle divides into 7 major sections:

1. Torah
2. Former Prophets
3. Latter Prophets
4. The Twelve
5. Books of Truth
6. The Scrolls
7. Other

• Torah, the first 5 books, is 25% of the TNK by verses. I have read in Hebrew and written in English 24% of it. Lots more to do here.
• The former prophets, Joshua to Kings, is 19% by verses. I have done about 20% of it.
• The later prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, is 17% of Tanach. I have done about 24% of it. I understand Ezekiel has some affinity with John - I should look forward to that, but I have done little so far.
• The 12 (5% of the whole) I have completed. Though all completed things are relative to changes of mind.
• Of the Books of truth, Psalms and Job are completed, and Proverbs a bit. These three are 19% by verse count, and I am 88% complete. The music here is different. The length of verse is different. The verses are short, and there is an additional cadence available to the composer in the ole-veyored.
• The scrolls (3% of the whole) I have completed.
• The remaining (Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah and Chronicles) are 12% of the whole by verse, and I have done about 16% of this.

This is now the 11th year since I began to learn Hebrew. I don't think I can recall all the stats from a year ago, but I can measure where I am now and I have an undated measurement that is about a year old.

By word, there are (at present) 304,724 'words' in my database. A Hebrew word is 'a phrase'. It is a concatenation of several letters which will often include pronouns and prepositions. I do not count both qere and qetiv. (I make a decision and then put one of them aside. Generally I keep what is written, but occasionally change my mind.)

Of these words, 106,199 are part of completed chapters. So all these puzzle pieces are placed.
Of the remainder, my software has guessed by word sequence analysis (consonants only) about 162,000. Some of these guesses are better than others. The Hebrew guesswork is improving the more I complete. The Aramaic guesswork has too few examples to date.

As I complete a chapter, I decide what the root of each word is. An initial guess was made by an old algorithm years ago. Many of them are incorrect. At present 36631 puzzle pieces have not yet been turned over - there is no guess and the root may or may not be correct. I tend to associate each word with its apparent derived root, but sometimes I keep related roots separate. I also associate a semantic domain with each. At present, there are only just over 1100 complete unknowns. But any of the guesses can be wrong. Generally speaking, for completed chapters, the root + gloss is sufficient to let my software point out conflicts. But the underlying data could be improved. Adding an English root would strengthen my checking algorithms.

By chapter, this past 13 months includes about 170 chapters. The first 3 months of the year were sparse since I was writing a book. With 929 total chapters, you can see that a project like this is going to take more than 5 years. To date since 2010 I have completed 435 chapters. If I work the remaining 494 at the same rate as the last year, there are 3 years to go to a full first draft. That estimate seems to get further away. Perhaps this is the first real measurement of a year. (2015 had 111 chapters done.)

There's no real need to finish. I have no dead line. :) And who knows I might start really reading the Greek too or some non-canonical stuff and then I would get distracted from the target. I certainly expect Daniel to slow me down. I dread it. But a little fear is OK.

Book by book, 19 books are complete - including all the short ones. 20 more to go. Deuteronomy is at 69% complete with only 21 verses untouched, and 386 verses to write. 2 Kings is next at 54.2% complete with 25 verses untouched, and 417 with no draft. Jeremiah is next at 49.6%, 933 with no draft - (Jeremiah is the longest book by word count, 21,775 compared to Psalms 19,584.)

Well, that's where I am today.

			Chapters	Verses	Words
Completed			435	9,035	104,381
			46.8%	39.0%	34.3%
To do, including in process			494	13,877	158,708
				59.9%	52.1%
In process				1.0%	13.7%