Michel's Theory and Proverbs 1:22

Proverbs 1:22 provides a helpful example of Michel's theory at work at a spot in the text where the syntax is somewhat difficult at first glance and without the aid of Michel's theory. The verse opens with an interrogative addressed to the naive (How long, oh naive ones, must you love naivete?). The Yiqtol here is likely what Michel would call a substantial kind of modal where the action happens by necessity from the nature of the acting subject. Since the subjects are "naive" they naturally love naivete. Then a waw + X + Qatal with an inverted subject follows. At first this seems like an inexplicable switch of verbal forms. One would expect the action in 22b to continue with a modal/substantial Yiqtol, but not if one recalls Michel's theory on the reason for attaching a Qatal clause to a Yiqtol. He writes, "If a Qatal connects syndetically or asyndetically to a participle or a Yiqtol it does not continue these, but presents an explanatory fact beside it."

The Qatal in Proverbs 1:22b seems to be doing exactly that. "How long, Oh naive ones, must you love naivete, that is, how long will scoffers desire scoffing..." The "naive" and the "scoffers" are not two different groups, nor are "loving naivete" and "desiring scoffing" two separate actions. The second set of actors and actions explains more clearly what is meant by the first.

In 22c the author switches back to a substantial Yiqtol because a new action is added, namely, hating knowledge. Thus, Michel's theory helps make sense of a difficult piece of Hebrew syntax.