The colometry of Hebrew verse and the Masoretic accents : evaluation of a recent approach (part II)

Abstract

In this paper the recent use of the Masoretic accentuation as means to establish the colometry in Hebrew verse is evaluated. A comparison of different studies referring to these accents demonstrates that such reference is made in rather ad hoc fashion, whereas the accents are not always interpreted in consistent manner. For that reason in this paper an attempt is made to give systematic description of the Masoretic accentuation with regard to its use for the colometry of Hebrew verse. In the present part (Part I) the accents were studied and it has been shown that (1) the accents function according to system which might also provide guideline for the colometry of the text; (2) the colometry of texts from the poetic books in studies referring to the Masoretic accentuation agrees to large extent with these findings; whereas it was demonstrated that the colometry of diverging passages (e.g. Pss 68 and 110) also could be read according to the Masoretic accentuation; (3) reference to a major disjunctive is not sufficient, the value of an accent depends on its position within the complete syntax of Masoretic accents. Part II will deal with the use of the system of accentuation in the so-called prose books (or Twenty-one Books).