Page:A critical and exegetical commentary on Genesis (1910).djvu/235

 regards as a deliberate variation of (4$18$) intended to suggest the wickedness of the later generations before the Flood (see above, p. 129). Lenormant (247) took it as a designation of Saggitarius, the 9th sign of the Zodiac; according to Hommel, it means 'sein Mann ist das Geschoss' (!), and is connected with the planet Mars. If the 8th name in the list of Berossus be rightly rendered 'man of Sin (the moon-god),' a more probable view would be that is a divine proper name. Hommel, indeed, at one time regarded it as a corruption of šarraḫu, said to be an ancient name of the moon-god (cf. Cheyne, EB, 625, 4412).—28-31. Lamech.—The scheme is here interrupted by the insertion of v.

29. An extract from J, preserving an oracle uttered by Lamech on the birth of Noah.—This (cf. in 2$3$) shall bring us comfort from our labour, and from the toil of our hands [proceeding] from the ground, etc.] The utterance seems to breathe the same melancholy and sombre view of life which we recognise in the Paradise narrative; and Di. rightly calls attention to the contrast in character between the Lamech of this v. and the truculent bravo of 4$23$.

There is an obvious reference backwards to 3$23f.$ (cf., —). The forward reference cannot be to the Flood (which certainly brought no comfort to the generation for whom Lamech spoke), but to Noah's discovery of vine-culture: 9$17$ (Bu. 306 ff. al.). This is true even if the hero of the Flood and the discoverer of wine were traditionally

27. After G ins. (cf. v.$20ff.$).—29. ] G [Greek: ]: hence Ball, Ki. . The emendation is attractive on two grounds: (a) it yields an easier construction with the following ; and (b) a more correct etymology of the name. The harshness of the etymology was felt by Jewish authorities (Ber. R. § 25; cf. Ra.); and We. (De gent. 38$5$) boldly suggested that in this v. is a contracted writing of = 'comforter.'—Whether  (always written defectively) be really connected with = 'rest' is very uncertain. If a Heb. name, it will naturally signify 'rest,' but we cannot assume that a name presumably so ancient is to be explained from the Heb. lexicon. The views mentioned by Di. (p. 116) are very questionable. Goldziher (ZDMG, xxiv. 207 ff.) shows that in mediæval times it was explained by Arab writers from Ar. nāḥa, 'to wail'; but that is utterly improbable.—] Some MSS and [E] have (pl.); so G, etc.