I actually came back here hoping to find a long discussion on את. Reading your introduction to Nahmanides in The Commentators Bible volume of Genesis, I was struck by his remark that “bereshit bara elohim” can be broken up i to a hitpael phrase “ ba-rosh yitbare’ elohim” for God created Himself. Interesting notion to ponder, but can we carry the idea to the second partof the verse? Can the “ate” and “va are” be considered prepositions here, maybe “with” or are they corre tly read only as direct object markers?
Sorry, I'm not really understanding your question. את can always be read as the preposition "with" if you have a mind to do that. If you are asking how the spaces might be moved to change the wording, I don't recall ever seeing a way to do that in the second half of the verse. I don't know whether Nahmanides had one in mind.
Sorry Professor, my comment posted before I could edit out my typos. I read the entry for את in my 1970’s era BDB looking for my answer, but am left unsure.
Any insight ypu can give about this observation by Nahmanides would be very much appreciate.
I actually came back here hoping to find a long discussion on את. Reading your introduction to Nahmanides in The Commentators Bible volume of Genesis, I was struck by his remark that “bereshit bara elohim” can be broken up i to a hitpael phrase “ ba-rosh yitbare’ elohim” for God created Himself. Interesting notion to ponder, but can we carry the idea to the second partof the verse? Can the “ate” and “va are” be considered prepositions here, maybe “with” or are they corre tly read only as direct object markers?
Sorry, I'm not really understanding your question. את can always be read as the preposition "with" if you have a mind to do that. If you are asking how the spaces might be moved to change the wording, I don't recall ever seeing a way to do that in the second half of the verse. I don't know whether Nahmanides had one in mind.
Sorry Professor, my comment posted before I could edit out my typos. I read the entry for את in my 1970’s era BDB looking for my answer, but am left unsure.
Any insight ypu can give about this observation by Nahmanides would be very much appreciate.
That was my question, thank you!