Page:A critical and exegetical commentary on Genesis (1910).djvu/263

 Somewhat similar details are given of the ship of Utnapištim (p. 176). Asphalt is still lavishly applied in the construction of the rude boats used for the transport of naphtha on the Euphrates (see Cernik, quoted by Suess, The Face of the Earth, 27).—15. Assuming that the cubit is the ordinary Heb. cubit of six handbreadths (about 18 in.: see Kennedy, DB, iv. 909), the dimensions of the ark are such as modern shipbuilding has only recently exceeded (see Ben. 140); though it is probably to be assumed that it was rectangular in plan and sections. That a vessel of these proportions would float, and hold a great deal (though it would not carry cannon!), it hardly needed the famous experiment of the Dutchman Peter Janson in 1609-21 to prove (see Michaelis, Oriental, und Exeget. Bibliot. xviii. 27 f.).—16. The details here are very confused and mostly obscure. The word  is generally rendered 'light' or 'opening for light,'—either a single (square) aperture (Tu.), or "a kind of casement running round the

al.) suppose it to contain the root of, 'cypress,' a wood used by the Phœn. in shipbuilding, and by the Egypt. for sarcophagi (De.).—] Lagarde's conjecture, (OS$1$, ii. 95), has been happily confirmed from Philo, Quæst. in Gen. ii. 3 (loculos loculos: see Bu. 255), and from a Palest. Syr. Lectionary (Nestle, cited by Ho.). On the idiom, see G-K. § 123 e.—] also, = 'bitumen' (GVST$O$), Ar. ḳufr, Aram. [Aramaic: **], Ass. kupru (used in the Bab. Flood-*story). The native Heb. word for 'bitumen' is (11$3$ 14$10$, Ex. 2$3$).—15. ] G .—16. ] G  (rdg. ?); all other Vns. express the idea of light (Aq. , Σ. , V fenestram, S, 'windows,' T$O$ ). They connected it (as Aq. shows) with, 'noon day'; but if means properly 'summit' (see G-B.; BDB, s.v.), there seems nothing in Heb. to connect the root with the idea of light. The meaning 'back' is supported by Ar. ẓahr.—] The suff. may refer either to the (whose gender is unknown: cf. Kön. S. p. 163) or to the : the latter is certainly most natural after . The prevalent explanation—that the cubit indicates either the breadth of the light-opening, or its distance below the roof (see Di.)—is mere guess-work. Bu. (following We.) removes the first three words to the end of the v., rendering: "and according to the cubit thou shalt finish it (the ark)": Di. objects that this would require . Ball reads, "and for its (the ark's) whole length thou shalt cover it above"; Gu.: , "and on a pivot (see Is. 6$4$) thou shalt make it (the roof) revolve,"—a doubtful suggestion.