Page:A critical and exegetical commentary on Genesis (1910).djvu/355

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like the land of Egypt] coming after like the garden of Yahwe (210-14; cf. Is. 513) it is an anti-climax, which might be excused (as Di. thinks) because the first comparison was pitched too high. But the last half of the v. seems greatly overloaded, and it is not improbable that both (Symbol missingHebrew characters)(Symbol missingHebrew characters) and (Symbol missingHebrew characters) are to be removed as glosses.—On the luxuriant fertility and abundant water-supply of the district, see HG, 483 f.; Buhl, 39; Seetzen, Reisen, i. 417.—11a. Lot departed eastward] see on 112 and the footnote infra.—12b(Symbol missingGreek characters). The immediate continuation (in J) of 11a: and moved his tent up to Sodom] the intervening words being from P (cf. (Symbol missingHebrew characters) instead of (Symbol missingHebrew characters)).—13. This notice of the sinfulness of Sodom is another anticipation of ch. 19; but it is introduced here with great effect as showing how Lot had over-reached himself by his selfish conduct.—14-17. The promise of the land is now confirmed to Abram.—14. Lift up thine eyes, etc.] the contrast to Lot's self-interested glance (v.10), while Abram, by his magnanimous surrender of his claims, had unconsciously chosen the good part.—15. It is very doubtful if the (Symbol missingHebrew characters) can be considered (with Di.) a new element of the promise as compared with 127.—16. the dust of the earth] 2814.


This solemn assurance of the possession of the land (14-17) is somewhat of a contrast to the simple promises of 122. 7; and has affinities with a series of passages which appear to represent a later phase of religious reflexion (see on ch. 15, p. 284). Other reasons are adduced for thinking that 14-17 are the work of a younger hand than the original J. (a) It is not the habit of J to cite divine oracles without a specification of the circumstances under which the theophany takes place (but see 121ff.). (b) The conception of Abram as wandering over the land is not that of Jh, who fixes his permanent dwelling-place at Hebron. (c) While Bethel commands a view of the Jordan valley, it affords no


the text is corrupt) and Sir. 3923. Should we read (Symbol missingHebrew characters)?—(Symbol missingHebrew characters)] see 1019.—(Symbol missingHebrew characters)] S (Symbol missingSyriac characters) = Tanis ((Symbol missingHebrew characters)) in Egypt (Nu. 1322, Is. 1911. 13 etc.), which is preferred by Ball, but is rather an error caused by the preceding (Symbol missingHebrew characters).—11. (Symbol missingHebrew characters) (cf. 112)] G (Symbol missingGreek characters), V ab oriente. But the only possible sense here is 'eastward'; hence Sta. (Ak. Reden, 292) and Gu. emend to (Symbol missingHebrew characters).—11b, in spite of its resemblance to 9aβ, must be assigned to P, being necessary to the completeness of that account, and because it disturbs the connexion of 11a with 12bβ.—16. (Symbol missingHebrew characters)] = 'so that' (G-K. § 166 b).—17. G adds at end (Symbol missingGreek characters)