לְקָחַ֫נִי, while in Gn 2 it is not resumed at all. This suppression of the retrospective pronoun[1] takes place especially when it (as in Gn 2) would represent an accusative of the object, or when it would be a separate pronoun representing a nominative of the subject in a noun-clause, e.g. Gn 1 הַמַּ֫יִם אֲשֶׁר מִתַּחַת לָֽרָקִיעַ the waters, those, under the firmament, &c. In negative sentences, however, the retrospective pronoun is not infrequently added, e.g. Gn 17 הוּא; 7:2 הִיא; 1 K 9 הֵ֫מָּה; Dt 20 הֵ֫נָּה; but cf. also אֲשֶׁר הוּא חַי Gn 9. The addition of הִיא in a verbal clause, 2 K 22, is unusual.
The very frequent omission of the retrospective pronoun is noticeable in cases where the predicate of the qualifying clause is a verbum dicendi, e.g. Nu 10 we are journeying unto the place, אֲשֶׁר אָמַר יָהוָֹה אֹתוֹ אֶתֵּן לָכֶם that place, the Lord said (of it), It will I give to you; cf. Nu 14, Ju 8, 1 S 9, 23, 24:5, 1 K 8, Jer 32.
[c] 2. When the substantive, followed by אֲשֶׁר and the qualifying clause, expresses an idea of place, it may also be resumed by the adverbs of place שָׁם there, שָׁ֫מָּה thither, מִשָּׁם thence, e.g. Gn 13 אֲשֶׁר־הָיָה שָׁם אָֽהֳלֹה עַד־הַמָּקוֹם unto the place, that one, his tent had been there, i.e. where his tent had been; cf. Gn 3 מִשָּׁם, Ex 21 שָׁ֫מָּה. But even in this case the retrospective word may be omitted, cf. Gn 35, Nu 20, Is 64, where שָׁם would be expected, and Gn 30, Nu 13, 1 K 12, where שָׁ֫מָּה would be expected.—When the appositional clause is added to a word of time, the retrospective pronoun is always omitted, e.g. 1 S 20 for all the days, אֲשֶׁר בֶּן־יִשַׁי חַי those—the son of Jesse is living (in them); cf. Gn 45, Dt 1, 9, 1 K 11; see Baumann, op. cit., p. 33.
[d] 3. If the governing substantive forms part of a statement made in the first or second person, the retrospective pronoun (or the subject of the appositional clause) is in the same person, e.g. Gn 45 I am Joseph, אֲשֶׁר־מְכַרְתֶּם אֹתִי he—ye sold me, i.e. whom ye sold; Nu 22, Is 49; 41:8 thou, Jacob, אֲשֶׁר בְּחַרְתִּ֫יךָ he—I have chosen thee; Jer 33, Ec 10 f.; Gn 15 I am the Lord, אֲשֶׁר הֽוֹצֵאתִ֫יךָ he—I brought thee out, &c., Ex 20 (Dt 5).
[e] (2) Not depending (adjectivally) on a governing substantive, but itself expressing a substantival idea. Clauses introduced in this way may be called independent relative clauses. This use of אֲשֶׁר is generally rendered in English by he who, he whom, &c. (according to the context), or that which, &c., or sometimes of such a kind as (qualis), cf. Ex 14 b, and in a dependent relative clause Is 7. In reality, however, the אֲשֶׁר is still a demonstrative belonging to the construction of the main clause as subject or object, or as a genitive dependent on a noun or preposition, e.g. Nu 22 אֲשֶׁר תָּאֹר יוּאָר iste—thou cursest (him)—is cursed, i.e. he whom thou cursest, &c.; Ex 22;[2] אֲשֶׁר as object, Gn 44,
- ↑ The instances in which, instead of a retrospective pronoun, the main idea itself is repeated (Gn 49, 50, Jer 31) are most probably all due to subsequent amplification of the original text by another hand.
- ↑ The absolute use of אֲשֶׁר is very peculiar in the formula אֲשֶׁר הָיָה דְבַר יי׳ אֶל־ this (is it)—it came as the word of the Lord to..., Jer 14, 46, 47, 49.
