Yerach ben yomo

Summary

Yerach ben yomo
יֵרֶח בֶּן יוֹמ֪וֹ ֪ הָי֪וּ
cantillation
Sof passuk ׃   paseq ׀
etnakhta/atnakh ֑   segol ֒
shalshelet ֓   zaqef qaton ֔
zaqef gadol ֕   tifcha/tarkha ֖
rivia/ravia’ ֗   zarqa ֘
pashta ֙   yetiv ֚
tevir ֛   geresh/gerish ֜
geresh muqdam [de] ֝   gershayim/shenei gerishin ֞
karnei pharah ֟   telisha gedola/talsha ֠
pazer (gadol) ֡   atnah hafukh [de] ֢
munakh/shofar holekh ֣   mahapakh/shofar mehupakh ֤
merkha/ma’arikh ֥   merkha kefula/terei ta’amei ֦
darga ֧   qadma ֨
telisha qetana/tarsa ֩   yerah ben yomo ֪
ole ֫   illuy ֬
dehi [de] ֭   zinor ֮

Yerach ben yomo (Hebrew: יֵרֶח בֶּן יוֹמ֪וֹ, with variant English spellings, also known as Galgal), is a cantillation mark that appears only one time in the entire Torah (Numbers 35:5), and once in the Book of Esther. In these occurrences, it is followed immediately by a Karne parah, another mark that is found only once in the entire Torah.[1] The symbol for this trope is an upside-down Etnachta.[2]

The Hebrew words יֵרֶח בֶּן יוֹמ֪וֹ‎ translate into English as day-old moon. Its alternate name גלגל‎ translates into English as sphere.

In the Torah edit

The rare trope sound in the Torah appears in Numbers 35:5 on the word Alpayim (אלפים‎, two-thousand), which is followed by an equally exclusive Karne Parah on the word B'amah (באמה‎, cubit), in the first of four occurrences of this phrase in the verse. In each of the phrase's four appearances, a different set of trope. The Yerach ben yomo followed by the Karne Parah is found on the first of these four instances. On the other three, respectively, are a Kadma V'Azla, a Munach Rivi'i, and a Mercha Tipcha.[3]

This is representative of the way mitzvot are performed in real life. When one first performs a mitzvah, being a new experience, it is performed with great enthusiasm. The unusual trope signify the one-time occurrence of the mitzvah being a new experience. The second instance is on a Kadma-V'Azla, a note that is recited highly, showing that the high is still alive. The third is on a Munach-Rivi'i, a note that is going downward, showing that enthusiasm is going down. The fourth and final occurrence being on a Mercha-Tipcha, a common set that are recited in a lazy mode as if they are basically being recited without a melody, show the monotony of performing a mitzvah after performing it so many times.[3]

Altogether, this verse shows the importance of performing a mitzvah that must be performed regularly, despite its monotony. It is an encouragement to bring new light into each time one performs a mitzvah in order to renew the excitement, and even when one cannot do so, to perform the mitzvah regardless.[3]

In the Book of Esther edit

There is a lesser-known occurrence of the Yerach ben yomo in the Book of Esther, at Esther 7:9. This is found on Haman. In Orthodox Jewish tradition, the Book of Esther is read twice on Purim, and parsha of Masei which includes verse 35:5 is read only once per year, so the recitation of the Yerach ben yomo in Esther therefore is read more often.

Total occurrences edit

Book Number of appearances
Torah 1[4]
   Genesis 0[4]
   Exodus 0[4]
   Leviticus 0[4]
   Numbers 1[4]
   Deuteronomy 0[4]
Nevi'im 6[5]
Ketuvim 9[5]

The yerach ben yomo + karne para phrase occurs a total of 16 times according to the Leningrad Codex. They are:[6]

  • אלפים באמה Numbers 35:5
  • ויהושע בן–נון Joshua 19:51
  • היו בן–שאול 2 Samuel 4:2
  • ואשר על–העיר 2 Kings 10:5
  • הארץ הזאת Jeremiah 13:13
  • ואמרו אליך Jeremiah 38:25
  • ולאחזת העיר Ezekiel 48:21
  • אשר–עשה המן Esther 7:9
  • לאלה שמיא Ezra 6:9
  • ועיניך פתוחות Nehemiah 1:6
  • ינער האלהים Nehemiah 5:13
  • היו לפנים Nehemiah 13:5
  • ועמסים על–החמרים Nehemiah 13:15
  • המשרתים את–המלך 1 Chronicles 28:1
  • לערי יהודה 2 Chronicles 24:5
  • לבני העם 2 Chronicles 35:7

Melody edit

 

External links edit

  • Recordings of rare trop

References edit

  1. ^ Biblia Hebraica Leningradensia By Aaron ben Moses Ben-Asher, page 22
  2. ^ Chanting the Hebrew Bible By Joshua R. Jacobson, page 76
  3. ^ a b c "Summer Issue - Kol Torah". www.koltorah.org. Archived from the original on 2010-06-30.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Concordance of the Hebrew accents in the Hebrew Bible: Concordance ..., Volume 1 By James D. Price, page 6
  5. ^ a b Concordance of the Hebrew accents in the Hebrew Bible: Concordance ..., Volume 1 By James D. Price, page 5
  6. ^ Weisberg, David. “The Rare Accents of the Twenty-One Books.” The Jewish Quarterly Review, vol. 56, no. 4, ser. 2, 1966, p. 321