§ 163.Adversative and Exceptive Clauses.

a

1.After negative sentences (especially after prohibitions) the antithesis (but) is introduced by ~ai yKi, e. g. 1 S 8:19 and they said, Nay, but we will have a king over us; y Ps 1:2, &c.; frequently also by yKi alone, e. g. Gn 18:15, 19:2, or even simply connected with w>, Gn 17:5, hy"h'w> as perfect consecutive; 42:10; cf. Ex 5:18.

b

Rem. Sometimes the negation is only virtually contained in the preceding sentence, e. g. in the form of a rhetorical question (Mi 6:3 f.) or of conditions which are to be regarded as not having been fulfilled (Jb 31:18); yKi or ~ai yKi in such cases becomes equivalent to nay, rather.

c

2.Exceptiveclauses, depending on another sentence, are introduced by yKi ~p,a,ñ except that, and (again after negative sentences, see a above) ~ai yKi1 unless; especially ~ai yKi with the perfect (equivalent to unless previously) after imperfects which contain a declaration, e.g. Gn 32:27; I will not let thee go, except thou hast previouslyblessed me; Lv 22:6, Is 55:10, 65:6, Am 3:7, Ru 3:18. Finally, ~ai yTil.Bi unless, Am 3:4 (with perfect after a rhetorical question), or simply yTil.Bi Gn 43:3 with a noun-clause, except your brother be with you; Is 10:4 after a rhetorical question, witha verbal-clause.

d

Rem. The principal statement, to which ~ai yKi appends an exception, must sometimes be supplied from the context; thus, Gn 40:14 (I desire nothing else) except that thou remember me, equivalent to only do thou remember, &c. (cf. § 106 n, note 2; but it is probably better to read %a; for yKi). Cf. Mi 6:8, where ~ai yKi, equivalent to nothing but, is used before an infinitive, and Jb 42:8, equivalent to only, before a noun. Similarly when ~ai yKi after an oath introduces an emphatic assurance, e. g. in 2 K 5:20 as the Lord liveth (I can do nothing else) except I run after him, &c.; cf. 2 S 15:21 Keth., Jer 51:14, Ru 3:12 Keth., and even without the oath, Ju 15:7; cf. the Rem. on c.

Footnotes:

1[1] Very probably this use of ~ai yKi arises from the original meaning for if, surely if (yKi in an affirmative sense); so evidently in Ex 22:22 as a forcible resumption of the preceding ~ai. Thus, e.g. Ju 15:7 is simply surely when I have been avenged of you, after that I will cease, equivalent to, I will not cease, until I have, &c. When the exception follows, an ellipse must be assumed, e.g. Ru 3:18 surely(or for) when he has finished it(then the man will rest). It is far less natural to assume such an ellipse with ~ai yKi but(before entire clauses as before single nouns); see a above.