The plur. of lifeless objects and living creatures, not persons, may be treated as gramm. collect., and joined with sing. fem.
1. Agreement of Simple Subject
§ 113. (a) When subj. precedes the pred. there is in general agreement in gend. and numb., whether the subj. be person or thing. Gen. 15:12 וְתַרְדֵּמָה נָֽפְלָה and a sleep fell; v. 17 הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ בָּאָה the sun was gone down; 16:1. But exceptions occur; Mal. 2:6 עַוְלָה לֹא־נִמְצָא evil was not found. Gen. 15:17, Ex. 12:49, Jer. 50:46, Zech. 6:14, cf. v. 7, Job 20.26.
(b) When pred. precedes, while agreement in gend. and numb. is usual, esp. when subj. is personal, the verb is often in 3 sing. mas., even though the subj. be plur. or fem. This is common with היה to be. The subj. having once been mentioned, however, following verbs are in proper agreement. Gen. 1:14 יְהִי מְאֹרֹת וְהָיוּ let there be lights, and let them be signs. Is. 17:6 וְנִשְׁאַר־בּוֹ עֹֽלֵלוֹת there shall be left gleanings; 2 K. 3:26 חָזַק מִמֶּנּוּ הַמִּלְחָמָה the battle was too strong for him, cf. v. 18. Deu. 32:35; Is. 13:22; 24:12, Jer. 36:32. Nu. 9:6 וַיְהִי אֲנָשִׁים אֲשֶׁר הָיוּ, 1 K. 11:3 וַיְהִי־לוֹ נָשִׁים שָׂרוֹת he had wives, princesses, 700. The mas. is apt to be used for 3 pl. fem. impf.; 1 K. 11:3 וַיַּמּוּ נָשָׁיו את־לִבּוֹ his wives perverted his mind; 2 S. 4:1 וַיִּרְפּוּ יָדָיו his hands were paralysed (cf. Zeph. 3:16), Jud. 21:21, Jos. 11:11, Is. 19:18, Jer. 13:16, Ez. 23:42, Hos. 14:7. Gen. 20:17; 30:39. Song 6:9. Imper., Is. 32:11, Hos. 10:8, Zeph. 3:16. — 1 S. 1:2, Jud. 20:46, Gen. 35:5, 1 Chr. 2:22; 23:17, 22.
(c) Subjects in dual are necessarily joined with plur. pred., verb or ptcp. Gen. 48:10 עֵינֵי ישׂ׳ כָּֽבְדוּ מִזִּקֶן the eyes of Israel were dim from age. 2 K. 21:12; 22:20. Is. 1:15, Mic. 7:10. Ptcp., 1 S. 1:13, 2 S. 24:3, Is. 30:20, Hos.
