passion, which impels him to the crime that draws down
the curse. As a characterisation of the tribe, this will
mean that Reuben had a double share of the 'frenetic'
Bedouin nature, and wore out his strength in fierce warfare
with neighbouring tribes. If the outrage on his father's
honour (v.4) have historic significance (see below), it must
denote some attack on the unity of Israel which the collective
conscience of the nation condemned. It is to be noted that
the recollection of the event has already assumed the
legendary form, and must therefore reach back to a time
considerably earlier than the date of the poem (Gu.).—3b, 4a.
exceeding . . . excel] No English word brings out the
precise force of the original, where the [root] (
Hebrew characters) occurs three
times in a sense hovering between 'exceed' and 'excel.'
The idea of excess being native to the root, the renderings
pride and fury are perhaps preferable to 'dignity' and
'power,' 3c as well as 4 being understood sensu malo, as a
censure of Reuben.—4b. Then . . . went up] A corrupt text:
3a. (Hebrew characters) (Dt. 2117, cf. Ps. 7851 10536)] Not (Greek characters) (GΘ),
still less principium doloris mei (V from (Hebrew characters), 'trouble'; so Aq. Σ.); but
'best part of my virility' (STO). On (Hebrew characters), see p. 12; (Hebrew characters) as Hos. 124.—3b.
G (Greek characters); V prior in donis, major in imperio.—(Hebrew characters) (abst. pro concr.) might mean 'excess' (Aq. Σ.), or 'superiority'
(V), or 'remnant' (S; so Peters, p. 100): whether it is here used in
a good sense or a bad (for the latter, cf. Pr. 177) depends on the meaning
assigned to the next two words.—(Hebrew characters)] Lit. 'lifting' (G Aq. ΣΘS),
several times means 'exaltation'; but in Hab. 17 it has distinctly the
sense of 'arrogance,' the idea preferred above. To read (Hebrew characters), 'turbulence'
(Gu.), is unnecessary, and (Hebrew characters), 'destruction' (Peters), gives a wrong
turn to the thought.—(Hebrew characters)] Pausal for (Hebrew characters), 'power,' but the sense of 'fury'
is supported by v.7, Is. 253.—4. (Hebrew characters)—(Hebrew characters)] G (Greek characters);
Aq. (Greek characters) . . . (Greek characters); Σ. (Greek characters) . . . (Greek characters);
V effusus es sicut aqua, non crescas; S (Syriac characters).
The comparison to water is ambiguous; and it is doubtful if we may
introduce the simile of water 'boiling over' (ΣG and many moderns).
The image may be that of a wild rushing torrent,—a fit emblem of the
unbridled passion which was Reuben's characteristic (so TO).—(Hebrew characters)] [E]
(Hebrew characters). Though the other Vns. also have 2nd pers. we cannot assume that
they read so; and the analogy of v.3 leads us to expect another abst.
pro concr. The noun is (Greek characters); the ptcp. occurs Ju. 94, Zeph. 34, with
the sense 'reckless' or 'irresponsible' (cf. (Hebrew characters), Jer. 2332). In Arab. the
[root] means 'be insolent,' in Aram. 'be lascivious': the common idea is
