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From: Russell Hendel <rhendel@saber.towson.edu>
Date: Sun, 8 Oct 2000 12:49:36 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: RE: Biblical Hyphens

Mark Symons writes (v33n65)

>>There are many similar parallels where you wouldn't expect a hyphen
and this consideration may be relevant in those cases also e.g. "Az
Yashir-Moshe Uvney Yisrael" ( with a hyphen between Yashir and
Moshe). This may imply that Moshe was so closely linked to the singing
it was as though the singing had so completely taken over Moshe that it
became part of his being so to speak.>>

I have answered this question on Mail Jewish several times in the past.
Hyphens serve TWO PURPOSES: a) Closeness of meaning (as Mark notes) b)
units of breathing.

Very often a hyphen will just make breathing or enunciating certain
phrases easier even though in terms of meaning it should not be there. A
good reference is Mordechai Breuers book Cantillations, Chapter 7.

Russell Jay Hendel; Phd ASA
Moderator Rashi is Simple
http://www.RashiYomi.Com