Yerach ben yomo | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
cantillation | |||||||
Sof passuk | ׃ | paseq | ׀ | ||||
etnachta | ֑ | segol | ֒ | ||||
shalshelet | ֓ | zaqef qatan | ֔ | ||||
zaqef gadol | ֕ | tifcha | ֖ | ||||
rivia | ֗ | zarqa | ֘ | ||||
pashta | ֙ | yetiv | ֚ | ||||
tevir | ֛ | geresh | ֜ | ||||
geresh muqdam | ֝ | gershayim | ֞ | ||||
qarney para | ֟ | telisha gedola | ֠ | ||||
pazer | ֡ | atnah hafukh | ֢ | ||||
munach | ֣ | mahapakh | ֤ | ||||
merkha | ֥ | merkha kefula | ֦ | ||||
darga | ֧ | qadma | ֨ | ||||
telisha qetana | ֩ | yerah ben yomo | ֪ | ||||
ole | ֫ | illuy | ֬ | ||||
dehi | ֭ | 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
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
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
Book | Number of appearances |
---|---|
Torah | 1[4] |
Genesis | 0[4] |
Exodus | 0[4] |
Leviticus | 0[4] |
Numbers | 1[4] |
Deuteronomy | 0[4] |
Nevi'im | 3[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
External links
- Recordings of rare trop
References
- ^ Biblia Hebraica Leningradensia By Aaron ben Moses Ben-Asher, page 22
- ^ Chanting the Hebrew Bible By Joshua R. Jacobson, page 76
- ^ a b c http://www.koltorah.org/volume-19/summer-issue
- ^ a b c d e f Concordance of the Hebrew accents in the Hebrew Bible: Concordance ..., Volume 1 By James D. Price, page 6
- ^ a b Concordance of the Hebrew accents in the Hebrew Bible: Concordance ..., Volume 1 By James D. Price, page 5
- ^ Weisberg, David. “The Rare Accents of the Twenty-One Books.” The Jewish Quarterly Review, vol. 56, no. 4, ser. 2, 1966, p. 321