וַיַּקְטֵל, and so וְ ··· יִקְטֹל = וַיִּקְטֹל. Job. 5:11; 28:25, Is. 29:16, Ps. 22:22; 27:10; 44:10, Job 3:25b; 4:11, Jer. 44:22.[1] 2. The simple impf. forms without vav may be equivalent to the convers. forms where the latter might have stood, viz. at the head of the clause, so that יַקְטִיל, יַקְטֵל = וַיַּקְטֵל and יִקְטֹל = וַיִּקְטֹל, Ps. 8:7; 18:12; 44:11; 81:8; 138:3; 139:13, Hos. 6:1. 3. The simple impf. forms (without vav in the clause) may be equivalent to the convers. forms in the middle of a clause, just because there the vav conv. forms could not stand, the vav necessarily falling away! Ps. 32:5; 60:12; 114:3. Cf. Hitzin on Ps. 32:5; 30:9; 39:4; 116:3, Jer. 15:6; 44:22.
The exx. cited by Ew. indicate that he proceeds virtually on the same principles. 1. Ps. 69:22 impf. disjoined from vav (in secution to vav impf.). 2. Ps. 78:15 no vav but impf. at head of the clause where vav conv. impf. might have stood. So. v. 26, 49, 50. 3. Ps. 81:7 no vav in the clause and impf. (after perf.) not at the head. So Ps. 106:18; 107:6, 13. Driver admits of two cases: 1. Separation of vav by tmesis, but only with strictly modified form (יַקְטֵל &c.). And 2. strictly modified form at head of clause without vav. If the principle be admitted at all, however, it will be necessary to go further, because the strictly modified forms are so few, and even they are not always employed.
In regard to 1, 3 of Hitz. above, it is certain that the presence or absence of a preceding vav has no effect on the usage of impf. in the middle of a clause.
It is not unnatural that in rapid and vigorous speech the vav might drop off when the verb stands at the head of a clause, particularly among other vav impf. forms, as Ps. 78:15, 26. Comp. Ps. 106:17 with Nu. 16:32; 26:10; Hos. 6:1, Pr. 7:7. Cf. Ps. 18:12, 14, 16, 38, 39, 44, with the same verses in 2 S. 22.
Rem. 6. In some cases vav impf. is pointed as simple vav, e.g. Is. 10:13 וְאסיר, וְאוריד, 43:28 וַֽאחלל, 48:3; 51:2;
- ↑ Hitz. extends the principle to prose, e.g. Deu. 2:12, Jos. 15:63, 2 S. 2:28 (on Job 20:19).
