sworn כי is often repeated, 2 S. 2:27; 3:9; 15:21, 1 K. 1:30, Jer. 22:24, Gen. 22:16. In כי אם the אם is sometimes merely conditional, that, if, 1 S. 14:39, Jer. 22:24, cf. Deu. 32:40. In other cases the use of כי אם is peculiar. (1) 2 S. 3:35 with 2 K. 3:14 seems to show that the use of כי in the oath was customary without ref. to the pos. or neg. nature of the thing sworn (apod.). The כי, which may be repeated, merely adds force to the whole statement. (2) On the other hand, in such passages as Jud. 15:7, 1 K. 20:6, 2 S. 15:21, the אם seems pleonastic. Its idiomatic use may in some way add force to the כי, though the origin of the idiom is difficult to trace. It can scarcely be the same use of אם as occurs after a neg. or exception, but ( = “yes, if”).
INTERROGATIVE SENTENCE
§ 121. The interrog. sent. may be nominal or verbal. See exx. below. — The interrogation may be made without any particle, by the mere tone of voice. 2 S. 18:29 שָׁלוֹם לַנַּעַר is the child well? 2 S. 11:11 וַֽאֲנִי אָבוֹא אֶל־בֵּיתִי and shall I go to my house? 1 S. 21:16 חֲסַר מְשֻׁגָּעִים אָֽנִי am I in want of madmen? Gen. 18:12; 27:24, Jud. 14:16, 1 S. 16:4; 22:7, 15; 25:11, 2 S. 9:6; 16:17; 19:23; 23:5, 1 K. 1:24; 21:7, Jon. 4:11, Song 3:3. Less frequently in neg. sent., 1 S. 20:9, 2 K. 5:26, Job 2:10. Omission of the particle is most common in animated speech, as when any idea is repudiated, and particularly when pron. is expressed; cf. Jud. 14:16, 2 S. 11:11, 2 K. 19:11, Jer. 25:29, Ez. 20:31, Jon. 4:11.
§ 122. When a particle is used it is generally put at the head of the clause, Gen. 3:11. The simple question is oftenest made by הֲ (Gr. § 49). Gen. 4:9 הֲשֹׁמֵר אָחִי אָנֹֽכִי am I my brother’s keeper? 24:58 הֲתֵֽלְכִי עִם הָאִישׁ הַזֶּה wilt thou go with this man? Gen. 18:17; 43:27, 29; 45:3, 2 S. 7:5. — So before יֵשׁ and אַיִן; Gen. 24:23 הֲיֵשׁ בֵּית אָבִיךְ מָקוֹם לָנוּ לָלִין is there room for us to lodge in the house of
