Genitive Constructions in Targum Jonathan to Samuel

Abstract It is common knowledge that Classical Aramaic possesses two main devices to express the genitive. The first, the construct relation, is synthetic and involves a special form of the noun known as construct state (e.g. malkut david, “David's kingdom”). The second, analytic by nature, features the use of the particle d- and knows two variants: one that involves a proleptic pronominal suffix on the nomen regens (e.g. malkuteh d-david) and one that does not and therefore displays the nomen regens in the absolute or emphatic state (e.g. malkuta d-david). Though the expression of the genitive has previously been investigated in various types of Aramaic, the matter has never been raised with regard to the Aramaic of Targum Jonathan specifically. The present article purports to discuss the working and interactions of the genitive constructions in Targum Jonathan to Samuel. It will endeavor to identify the factors that condition their use, and attempt to demonstrate that the genitive in the Aramaic of Targum Jonathan to Samuel functions according to a largely consistent linguistic system.