Page:A critical and exegetical commentary on Genesis (1910).djvu/168

 be surprised if it should prove impossible to identify Pishon and Giḥon with any known rivers: on the other hand, the mention of the well-known Tigris and Euphrates clearly shows that the form of the myth preserved in Gn. 2$10-14$ located the earthly Paradise in the unknown northerly region whence these rivers flowed. And the conclusion is almost inevitable that the myth took shape in a land watered by these two rivers,—in Babylonia or Mesopotamia (see Gressmann, ARW, x. 346 f.).

15. to till it and to guard it] To reject this clause (Bu.), or the second member (Di.), as inconsistent with 3$17ff.$ are arbitrary expedients. The ideal existence for man is not idle enjoyment, but easy and pleasant work; "the highest aspiration of the Eastern peasant" (Gu.) being to keep a garden. The question from what the garden had to be protected is one that should not be pressed.—16 f. The belief that man lived originally on the natural fruit of trees (observe the difference from 1$29$) was widespread in antiquity, and appears in Phœnician mythology. Here, however, the point lies rather in the restriction than the permission,—in the imposition of a taboo on one particular tree.—For the words of the knowledge of good and evil it has been proposed to substitute "which is in the midst of the garden" (as 3$3$), on the ground that the revelation of the mysterious property of the tree was the essence of the serpent's temptation and must not be anticipated (3$5$) (Bu. Ho. Gu. al.). But the narrative ought not to be subjected to such rigorous logical

15. The v. is either a resumption of $8b$ after the insertion of $10-14$, or a duplicate from a parallel document. It is too original to be a gloss; and since there was no motive for making an interpolation at $8b$, the excision of $10-14$ seems to lead necessarily to the conclusion that two sources have been combined.—] G + (as v.$8$).—] On the two Hiphils of  and their distinction in meaning, see G-K. § 72 ee, and the Lexx.—] G$L$ and most cursives render fem., it is better to point (see Albrecht, ZATW, xvi. 53).—16. ] G, V ei. Except in v.$A$, the word is regularly, but wrongly, treated as ''nom. pr.'' by these two Vns. from this point onwards.—17. ] Σ. . In G the vbs. of this v. are all pl. (as 3$18$).
 * G$3. 4$ and uncials omit the word.—] Since is nowhere