After discussing the relevant texts in the Old Testament, and interacting with the work of Manuel Miguens, Mary the Servant of the Lord an Ecumenical Proposal:
The study presented by Miguens is
correct in some aspects but is deficient in other areas. Miguens's conclusion
regarding Hebrew rhetorical questions is correct. Obvious statements are
presented as questions. If the statement to the question is affirmative, the
question contains a negative. If the obvious answer is a negative, the question
does not contain a negative particle. But since this is true, then Miguens
comes to an incorrect conclusion regarding the meaning of the idiom τι εμοι
και σοι. Jesus' response to his mother using the rhetorical
question τι εμοι και
σοι must expect a negative answer. I have
demonstrated this in my study of Hebrew rhetorical questions. I have shown that
the interrogative particle מָה may function as a negative in rhetorical
questions. Furthermore, my study has shown that when the idiom מַה-לְּ contains
two objects of the preposition, such as in the idiom מַה-לִּי וָלָךְ, then the
two objects are always placed at a distance from each other. This is true even
if an adversative conjunction (και or ו) is not
present. The two objects are never united in opposition to a third party or
situation. (Robert P. Miller, "Τι εμοι και σοι: John 2:4—Rebuke or Expression of
Mutual Concern?" [PhD dissertation; The Catholic University of America, 2009],
120; see pp. 54-120 for an interaction with the Old Testament passages and the
arguments of Miguens on how such relates to John 2:4)
