prep. ל, which expresses the direction of the action of governing verb, has in usage greatly superseded the simple inf. when obj.; Gen. 18:29 וַיֹּסֶף עוֹד לְדַבֵּר, 11:8; 13:16. This inf. with ל has become almost a simple verbal form, and appears often as subj. in the nominal sent., 1 S. 15:22, 2 S. 18:11, Is. 10:7 with 28:19, Mic. 3:1, Ps. 118:8, Pr. 21:9 with 25:24. Cf. Hab. 2:14.
Rem. 1. It is usually the whole clause rather than the mere inf. that is grammatical subj.; comp. the forcible phrase 2 S. 14:32. The inf. cons. is too little nominal to be subj. to a verb: in 2 S. 22:36 rd. with Ps. 18:36 וענוָתך; 1 K. 16:31 הֲנָקֵל is ptcp., cf. 1 S. 18:23. In 2 S. 24:13 נֻֽסְךָ is loosely appended to preceding words. Is. 37:29 שַֽׁאֲנַנְךָ if text right may be an ex., or adj. used substantively (vocalisation varies). Ps. 17:3 זַמֹּתִי if inf. is scarcely subj. to following verb. On the other hand the fem. inf. tends to be a real noun, and may be subj. to a verb, Pr. 10:12. — It is rare that the mas. form of inf. is construed as fem. (neut.), 1 S. 18:23, Jer. 2:17 with 2:19.
Rem. 2. Deu. 25:2 בִּן הַכּוֹת worthy of a beating (adjudged the bastinado) is peculiar, cf. 1 S. 20:31.
§ 91. Government by inf. cons. — (a) The agent or subj., which usually immediately follows inf., is in the gen. Gen. 2:4 עֲשׂוֹת יהוה Jehovah’s making; 19:16 בְּחֶמְלַת י׳ עָלָיו in Jehovah’s pitying him. Gen. 16:16; 24:11, Ex. 17:1, Deu. 1:27, 1 K. 10:9. So with suff., Gen. 3:19 עַד שֽׁוּבְךָ אֶל־הָֽאֲדָמָה until thy returning to the ground, 3:5; 39:18.
When separated from inf. by intervening words the subj., with a looser construction, must be supposed to be in the nom.; Is. 20:1 בִּשְׁלֹחַ אֹתוֹ סַֽרְגוֹן when Sargon sent him. Gen. 4:15, Nu. 24:23, Deu. 4:42, Jos. 14:11, Jud. 9:2, 1 S. 16:16, 2 S. 18:29, Is. 5:24, Jer. 21:1, Ez. 17:10, Ps. 51:2; 56:1; 76:10; 142:4, Pr. 1:27; 25:8, Job 34:22.
(b) The inf. cons. puts its obj. in the same case as the verb does from which it is derived, i.e. acc. or gen. through
