Page:A critical and exegetical commentary on Genesis (1910).djvu/129



functions are stated with perfect clearness in $16-18$: (a) to give light upon the earth, (b) to rule day and night, and (c) to separate light from darkness. I am disposed to think that $14b$ was introduced as an exposition of the idea of the vb., and that $15aœ?]$ was then added to restore the connexion. Not much importance can be attached to the insertions of G (v.i.), which may be borrowed from v.$17f.$.

20-23. Sixth work: Aquatic and aërial animals.—Let the waters swarm with swarming things—living creatures, and let fowl fly, etc.] The conjunction of two distinct forms of life under one creative act has led Gu. to surmise that two originally separate works have been combined in order to bring the whole within the scheme of six days. Ben. (rendering and fowl that may fly) thinks the author was probably influenced by some ancient tradition that birds as well as fishes were produced by the water (so Ra. and IEz. on 2$19$). The conjecture is attractive, and the construction has the support of all Gk. Vns. and V; but it is not certain that the verb can mean "produce a swarm." More probably (in connexions like the present: see Ex. 7$28$ [J] [EV 8$3$], Ps. 105$30$) the sense is simply teem with, indicating the place or element in which the swarming creatures abound, in which case it cannot possibly govern as obj.— has a sense something like 'vermin': i.e. it never denotes 'a swarm,' but is always used of the creatures that

20.  ] On synt. see Dav. § 73, R. 2. The root has in Aram. the sense of 'creep,' and there are many passages in OT where that idea would be appropriate (Lv. 11$29. 41-43$ etc.); hence Rob. Smith (RS$2$, 293), 'creeping vermin generally.' But here and Gn. 8$17$ 9$7$, Ex. 1$7$ 7$28$, Ps. 105$30$ it can only mean 'teem' or 'swarm'; and Dri. (Gen. 12) is probably right in extending that meaning to all the pass. in Heb. Gn. 1$20f.$, Ex. 7$28$, Ps. 105$30$ are the only places where the constr. with cog. acc. appears; elsewhere the animals themselves are subj. of the vb. The words, except in three passages, are peculiar to the vocabulary of P.—But for the fact that never means 'swarm,' but always 'swarming thing,' it would be tempting to take it as st. constr. before (G, Aq. V). As it is, has all the awkwardness of a gloss (see 2$19$). The phrase is applied once to man, 2$7$ (J); elsewhere to animals,—mostly in P (Gn. 1$21. 24. 30$ 9$10. 12. 15. 16$, Lv. 11$10. 46$ etc.).— ] The order of words as in v.$22$, due to emphasis on the new subj. The use of descriptive impf. (G, Aq. ΣΘV) is mostly poetic, and for reasons given above must here be refused.—] = 'in