Page:A critical and exegetical commentary on Genesis (1910).djvu/420

that are not done] are not sanctioned by the conventional code of morals: cf. 34⁷, 2 Sa. 13¹² etc.—To this rebuke Abraham (as in 12^18f.) has no reply, and Abimelech proceeds in—10 to inquire into his motive for so acting.—(Hebrew characters) 'What possessed thee?' (v.i.).—11-13. Abraham's self-exculpation, which is at the same time the writer's apology for his conduct, consists of three excuses: (1) he was actuated by fear for his life; (2) he had not been guilty of direct falsehood, but only of mental reservation; (3) the deceit was not practised for the first time on Abimelech, but was a preconcerted scheme which (it is perhaps implied) had worked well enough in other places. Whether 2 and 3 had any foundation in the Elohistic tradition, or were invented by the narrator ad hoc (Gu.), we cannot now determine.—11. There is no piety ((Hebrew characters)) in this place] Religion was the only sanction of international morality, the gêr having no civil rights; cf. 42¹⁸: see Bertholet, Stellung d. Fremden, 15. Cf. 12¹².—12. Besides, she really is my sister] Marriage with a half-sister on the father's side was frequent among the Semites (Smith, KM², 191 f.), and was allowed in ancient Israel (2 Sa. 13¹³), though prohibited by later legislation (Dt. 27²², Lv. 18^{9. 11} 20¹⁷).—13. When God caused me to stray] The expression is peculiar, as if God had driven him

rashly adopted by Ba. Ho. Kit.—(Hebrew characters)] G (Greek characters).—10. (Hebrew characters) G (Greek characters); so V. Ba. conj. (Hebrew characters); Gu. (Hebrew characters). The translation given above is taken from Bacher, ZATW, xix. 345 ff., who cites many examples from NH of the idiom (lit. 'What hast thou experienced?').—11. (Hebrew characters)] [E] (Hebrew characters).—(Hebrew characters)] = '[I should act otherwise] only,' etc.: a purely asseverative force (BDB) seems to me insufficiently established by Dt. 4⁶, 1 Ki. 21²⁵, 2 Ch. 28¹⁰, Ps. 32⁶.—12. (Hebrew characters)] [E] (Hebrew characters)[(Hebrew characters)?], as 18¹³, Nu. 22³⁷; but cf. Jos. 7²⁰. These are all the occurrences in Hex.—13. (Hebrew characters)] [E] (Hebrew characters). The constr. of (Hebrew characters) (pl. emin.) with pl. pred. is exceptional, though not uncommon (31⁵³ 35⁷, Jos. 24¹⁹), and does not appear to be regulated in our present text by any principle. A tendency to substitute sing. for pl. is shown by 1 Ch. 17²¹ cpd. with 2 Sa. 7²³; and it is probable that the change has taken place in many cases where we have no means of tracing it: see Str.² 77; G-K. § 145 i. A kindred and equally inexplicable anomaly is the sporadic use of the art. with this word (so vv.^{6. 17}). Both phenomena are probably survivals from a polytheistic form of the legend.—(Hebrew characters)] [E] + (Hebrew characters) (as 12¹).—(Hebrew characters)] determined by following relative clause; so Ex. 20²⁴, Dt. 11²⁴.