(in the not yet) earlier, before, for which מִטֶ֫רֶם is also used. On the combination of two particles to express complex ideas (e.g. אַף־כִּי added to this, that=much more), see the Syntax, § 163 f.
[b] (c) Prepositions, which with the addition of the conjunction אֲשֶׁר or כִּי together form one single conjunction, e.g. יַ֫עַן אֲשֶׁר because, prop. on account of the fact that; אַחַר אֲשֶׁר, and more frequently אַֽחֲרֵי אֲשֶׁר, after that; כַּֽאֲשֶד according as (with כְּ); עֵ֫קֶב כִּי and עֵ֫קֶב אֲשֶׁר in consequence of the fact that, for the reason that, because. Sometimes, however, the conjunction in such cases is omitted, and the preposition itself used as a conjunction, e.g. עַל־ (for עַל־אֲשֶׁר) although, Jb 16.
So, at any rate, according to our linguistic principles. It would, however, be more correct to say, that instead of the intermediary אֲשֶׁר the whole of the succeeding sentence is regarded as one substantival idea, under the immediate government of the preposition. In the same way, all prepositions governing the gerund in English may be paraphrased by conjunctions with the finite verb, see §§ 114 and 115, passim.
[c] 2. Besides those already mentioned, there are certain other small words now used as conjunctions, of which the derivation or original meaning is altogether obscure, thus אוֹ or, אִם־ if (also or before the second member of a double question), אַף also, וְ and, and others.
[d] Rem. The pointing of the וְ (originally וַ, as still before Ḥaṭeph Pathaḥ and—with a following Dageš forte—in wāw consecutive of the imperfect; cf. § 49 f) is in many respects analogous to that of the prefixes בְּ, כְּ, לְ (§ 102 d–i), but as being a weak consonant, the wāw copulative has some further peculiarities:
(a) Usually it takes simple Šewâ (וְ).
(b) Before words which begin with a guttural having a compound Šewâ, it takes the vowel with which the Šewâ is compounded (according to § 28 b), e.g. וַֽחֲכַם and be thou wise, וַֽעֲבָדִים and servants, וַֽעֱזוּז and strength, וֶֽאֱכֹל and eat thou, וָֽחֳלִי and sickness. On וֵאֽלֹהִים, וֵאֽלֹהַי &c., see § 102 d; on וַֽאדֹנַי, &c., see § 102 m; on such cases as וַעְצֹר Jb 4, cf. § 28 b.
[e] (c) Before words with simple Šewâ under the first consonant (except in the cases under f), the Wāw becomes the vowel û (cf. § 26 a), e.g. וּלְכֹל and to all, so also (except in the case under g) before the cognate labials ב, מ, פ, hence וּמֶ֫לֶךְ. On the cases in which simple Šewâ has become a Ḥaṭeph after וּ copulative (e.g. וּֽזֲהַב Gn 2), cf. § 10 g.
[f] (d) With a following יְ the וְ coalesces to form וִי according to § 24 b, as וִיהִי and let him be. On the peculiar punctuation of the wāw copulative before forms with initial Šewâ from הָיָה to be and חָיָה to live (e.g. וִֽהְיִיתֶם Jos 8, וֶֽחְיֵה Gn 20), cf. § 63 q.
[g] (e) Immediately before the tone-syllable it frequently takes Qameṣ, like בְּ, כְּ, לְ (see § 102 f), but in most cases only at the end of a sentence or clause (but cf. also וָכֹא 1 K 22), e.g. וָמֵ֖ת Ex 21 (on the other hand, in verse 20
