Page:A critical and exegetical commentary on Genesis (1910).djvu/403

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superhuman knowledge of the great blank in Abraham's life, and conveys a first intimation of the real nature of the visitors. See Gu.'s fine exposition, 172 f.; and contrast the far less delicate handling of an identical situation in 2 Ki. 413-16.—9. The question shows that Sarah had not been introduced to the strangers, in accordance probably with Hebrew custom (Gu.).—10. I will return] The definite transition to the sing. takes place here (see on v.3). In the original legend the pl. was no doubt kept up to the end; but the monotheistic habit of thought was too strong for Hebrew writers, when they came to words which could be properly ascribed only to Yahwe.—On (Symbol missingHebrew characters), v.i.Sarah was listening] with true feminine curiosity; cf. 275. The last two words should probably be rendered: she being behind it (the tent or the door); cf. the footnote.—11. A circumstantial sentence explaining Sarah's incredulity (v.12).—after the manner of women (cf. 3135)] "quo genere loquendi verecunde menses notat qui mulieribus fluunt" (Calv.); G (Symbol missingGreek characters); V muliebria.—12. Sarah laughed ((Symbol missingHebrew characters)) within herself] obviously a proleptic explanation of


9. (Symbol missingHebrew characters)] G (Symbol missingHebrew characters) (wrongly).—(Symbol missingHebrew characters)] The superlinear points (cf. 165) are thought to indicate a reading (Symbol missingHebrew characters).—10. (Symbol missingHebrew characters)] This peculiar phrase (recurring only v.14, 2 Ki. 416f.) is now almost invariably rendered 'at the (this) time, when it revives,' i.e., next year, or spring (so Ra. IEz.; cf. Ges. Th. 470; G-B.14, 202 a; BDB, 312 a; Ew. Gr. § 337 a; G-K. § 118 u; Kö. S. § 387 e); but the sense is extremely forced. It is surprising that no one seems to suspect a reference to the period of pregnancy. In NH (Symbol missingHebrew characters) means a woman in child-birth (so perhaps (Symbol missingHebrew characters) in Ex. 119 [Ho. ad v.]); and here we might point (Symbol missingHebrew characters) or (Symbol missingHebrew characters), rendering 'according to the time of a pregnant woman,' or 9 months hence. (Symbol missingHebrew characters) in v.14 is no obstacle, for (Symbol missingHebrew characters) is simply the time determined by the previous promise, and there is no need to add (Symbol missingHebrew characters) (G after 1721). 2 Ki. 416 ((Symbol missingHebrew characters)) does present a difficulty; but that late passage is modelled on this, and the original phrase may have been already misunderstood, as it is by all Vns.: e.g. G (Symbol missingGreek characters); TO 'at a time when you are living'; S 'at this time, she being alive'; V tempore isto, vita comite. Ba. also points as constr., but thinks (Symbol missingHebrew characters) an old name for spring.—(Symbol missingHebrew characters)] GS read (Symbol missingHebrew characters).—(Symbol missingHebrew characters)] [E] (Symbol missingHebrew characters); so G (Symbol missingGreek characters). MT is perhaps a neglect of the Qĕrê perpet ((Symbol missingHebrew characters)).—11. (Symbol missingHebrew characters)] cf. 241, Jos. 131 231. 2, 1 Ki. 11.—(Symbol missingHebrew characters)] Ba. Kit. more smoothly, (Symbol missingHebrew characters).—12. (Symbol missingHebrew characters)(Symbol missingHebrew characters)] G (Symbol missingGreek characters) presupposes an impossible text (Symbol missingHebrew characters). The change is perhaps alluded to in