02-17-2020, 07:37 PM
There is no rule that prevents long vowels from appearing in open and accented syllables.
The rule deals with unaccented syllables only, and there are obvious exceptions.
The rule says that in unaccented syllables, closed syllables will take short vowels and open syllables will take long vowels.
open = long
closed = short
However, there are clear exceptions. Look at the form הֶעָרִים "the cities" and הֶהָרִים "the mountains." We should expect long syllables under ה at the beginning of each word, since it is unaccented and open. However, we just place meteg there to indicate the exception. הֶֽעָרִים and הֶֽהָרִים. Similarly, we would expect בָּתִּים to be read as bottim, but it's battim. We indicate this vowel also with meteg: בָּֽתִּים.
Notice the difference between פָּגְעוֹ poḡʿô, the infinitive construct with personal suffix, meaning "his striking him," and פְּגָעוֹ pəḡāʿô, the qal perfect 3ms with personal suffix, meaning "he struck him."
The rule deals with unaccented syllables only, and there are obvious exceptions.
The rule says that in unaccented syllables, closed syllables will take short vowels and open syllables will take long vowels.
open = long
closed = short
However, there are clear exceptions. Look at the form הֶעָרִים "the cities" and הֶהָרִים "the mountains." We should expect long syllables under ה at the beginning of each word, since it is unaccented and open. However, we just place meteg there to indicate the exception. הֶֽעָרִים and הֶֽהָרִים. Similarly, we would expect בָּתִּים to be read as bottim, but it's battim. We indicate this vowel also with meteg: בָּֽתִּים.
Notice the difference between פָּגְעוֹ poḡʿô, the infinitive construct with personal suffix, meaning "his striking him," and פְּגָעוֹ pəḡāʿô, the qal perfect 3ms with personal suffix, meaning "he struck him."