Days of Future Past
Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying, Joshua 1:1 NASB
It came about – Once more I ask you recall that odd Hebrew verb tense called the waw-conversive. You remember the discussion from Genesis 3:10 where Adam says (in translation), “I was afraid.” We pointed out that this particular form of the verb (“to be”) is really a future tense (“I will be afraid”) but the addition of the prefix consonant Vav switches the tense from future to past (“I was afraid”). The literal rendering could incorporate this switch, reading the text as though Adam is saying all at once, “I was afraid, I am afraid, and I will be afraid.” My point was this: the waw-conversive captures not just the event but also the change in psychological identity. Something has happened to Adam so that he no longer views himself as whole. Now he knows fear, not just as a momentary experience but as a continuing reality.
Welcome to the club.
Well, the same verb tense is involved in the opening of the book of Joshua. The Hebrew is va-yahi, a Vav attached to the future tense of the verse hāyâ. So the verse really says, “It will be [was],” read as a past tense but written as a future tense. The translators have embellished it a little with “it came about” where “and it was” would suffice. While the idea is correct, this embellishment disguises the essential connection with the Vav, so the reader has no idea that the real verb is future, now read as past. Truthfully, there’s not much a translator could do with something like this without a long footnote, and the Bible doesn’t have footnotes. So the translator tries to set up the story of Joshua as if he were writing a non-fiction narrative rather than a report. In the process, we lose track of the incredible difference between our view of chronology and the Hebrew view of chronology, for you will notice, on reflection, that the Hebrew idea of the past is essentially a modified future. Around and around we go. Cycles upon cycles on the spiraling experience of temporality.
It should come as no surprise at all that Hebrew views the events of Man as if what happens now is but a slice of what will happen and has already happened. This is not fatalism, because as the wheel turns the contact with the world changes. But nevertheless, the past isn’t quite as fixed as we thought since it is the future viewed in connection (the Vav means “and”). What is abundantly clear is this: whatever you did, do, or will do is all intimately interwoven. There are no isolated events, no individual scenarios, no “islands in the stream.” Joshua’s story is, in some way, our story. His past is our future. God connects all the dots.
It took the oddity of an attached “and” to help us see the future as the past. Now, back to the future.
Topical Index: vav-conversive, vav, and it was, va-yahi, hāyâ, Joshua 1:1
“Cycles upon cycles on the spiraling experience of temporality” Hmmm. Sounds familiar. Thank you Skip for re-opening the comment section. I, for one, have greatly missed the community and the opportunity to share. It is said that absence makes the heart grow fonder, but I think that was a mistranslation of the original (as you so often point out);it should have been absence makes the heart flounder. Thanks for throwing me a life preserver. NOW back to the future indeed.
Thank you for opening the discussion forum
Yes, thank you, Skip and Mark! What a blessing! Is there anything we can do to keep this from getting overwhelming for you again? Or additional cost that needs supported to keep it up?
I can’t speak for Skip but commenting this time around is a little different. First, only people that do “contribute” are allowed to comment. Not that it’s about rewarding someone for it but rather to make sure that those who do engage in the commenting are actually “Willing” to be apart of the whole journey. So, no, it isn’t necessary for someone to give “more” unless they want to. Because yes, certainly there are additional costs associated with EVERYTHING that happens on this website. Most wouldn’t even realize the time, money, and efforts it takes to keep a smooth-running website that receives about 20,000 visits a month. I mean just the security issues alone that are necessary is unbelievable.
Secondly, what was exhausting before was dealing with people that don’t really want to have a conversation. They’d rather just try to prove themselves right and Skip or someone else wrong. That’s not helpful. And those that primarily engaged in that behavior were probably not “contributing” to the community in other ways.
It’s important to also know that Skip just isn’t able to respond to every comment. Especially in a timely fashion. But, if he can, or feels it’s important too, he will. As you know, Skip is way more interested in YOU putting in the effort into working/walking out your journey instead of having someone else do it for you.
Lord willing, things will work out with the commenting this time.
Thank you, Mark. Yes, I have built and run my own website for years. Most probably have no idea how much time and effort it takes. I pretty much gave up on keeping my website current even though it relates directly to my business/income because it is just too overwhelming – just trying to keep up with all the changes all the time. A HUGE THANK YOU for all you do. You are a true treasure for our community!