thee, but we will not kill thee. 2 S. 24:24, Deu. 7:26; 13:10; 21:14, and often, 1. S. 6:3, 1 K. 11:22, Am. 9:8, Is. 28:28, Jer. 32:4; 34:3. Supposition (very common): Ex. 21:5 וְאִם אָמֹר יֹאמַר הָעֶבֶד but if the slave should say. Jud. 11:30, Ex. 22:3, 11, 12, 16, 22, Jud. 14:12, 1 S. 1:11; 20:6, 9, 21, 2 S. 18:3. So concession: Gen. 31:30 וְעַתָּה הָלֹךְ הָלַכְתָּ well, thou hast gone off because, &c. (but why steal my gods?). 1 S. 2:30. In questions: Gen. 24:5 הֶֽהָשֵׁב אָשִׁיב אֶת־בִּנְךָ am I, then, to bring back? 37:8, 10 הֲמָלֹךְ תִּמְלֹךְ עָלֵינוּ shalt thou rule (forsooth) over us? 43:7 הֲיָדֹעַ נֵדַע כִּי יֹאמַר were we (then) to know? Nu. 22:30, 37, 38, Jud. 11:25, 1 S. 2:27, 2 K. 18:33, Is. 50:2, Jer. 26:19, Ez. 14:3; 18:23, Zech. 7:5.
The peculiar emphasis of inf. abs. is well felt when a speaker gives a report regarding circumstances, or repeats (directly or indirectly) the words of another, or his own thoughts. Gen. 43:3, 7, Jud. 9:8; 15:2, 1 S. 10:16; 14:28, 43; 20:3, 6, 28; 23:22, 2 S. 1:6. Also when restrictive particles, אַךְ, רַק, are used, Gen. 27:30; 44:28, Jud. 7:19.
(b) In negative sent. inf. abs. precedes the neg. Is. 30:19 בָּכוֹ לֹא־תִבְכֶּה thou shalt not weep. Jud. 15:13 above, Ex. 8:24; 34:7, Deu. 21:14, Jud. 1:28, 1 K. 3:27; Am. 3:5; Jer. 6:15; 13:12. With אַל, 1 K. 3:26, Mic. 1:10. Exceptions occur mostly when a denial is given to previous words, Gen. 3:4, Am. 9:8, Ps. 49:8.
(c) When placed after its verb inf. abs. has often the same force as when before it. 2 K. 5:11 אָמַרְתִּי אֵלַי יֵצֵא יָצוֹא I thought, He will (certainly) come out unto me. Nu. 23:11, 2 S. 3:24; 6:20, Jer. 23:39, Dan. 11:10, 13. In this case inf. abs. is sometimes strengthened by גם. Gen. 46:4 וְאָֽנֹכִי אַֽעַלְךָ גַם־עָלֹה I will also bring thee up; 31:15, Nu. 16:13. Inf. abs. always stands after imper. and ptcp., Nu. 11:15 הָרְגֵנִי־נָא הָרֹג kill me rather (at once); Jer. 22:10
