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Posting for another friend.
When does Lashon Hakodesh (throughout Tanach) use "ויחלם" (and he dreamed") by itself and when is "ויחלם חלום" ("and he dreamed a dream") used?
It seems that most of the time in Tanach, the double usage is found, and if so, why? (This is essentially part of the above question.)
Some examples of the first case:
- Bereishis 28:12
- Bereishis 41:5
Some examples of the second case:
- Bereishis 40:5
- Devarim 13:2
- Shoftim 7:13
- Daniel 2:1
I have a feeling that the double expression is used in a similar way as the rhetorical device known as "epizeuxis" (See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epizeuxis). Rashi alludes to this idea in his commentary on Genesis 22:11 in which he comments that the doubling of Avraham's name is a sign of affection. Perhaps one could argue that in each of the cases of the double language of יחלום חלום the dream being dreamt is particularly dear to the dreamer or important to the narrative; whereas when the single expression יחלום is used the dream is not central to the narrative or a as of yet of unknown meaning and therefore not particularly dear to the dreamer.
Seems to me that when it is doubled, the phrase is referring to the act of dreaming itself, regardless of the content. When it is singular, the content of the dream is described, therefore, it is dealing directly with the content of the dream, as opposed to the doubled instances. Shoftim: There are two topics. The fact that he dreamt, and the content of the dream, and that is why it says twice והנה. Daniel: He is referring only to the act of dreaming.
