Page:A critical and exegetical commentary on Genesis (1910).djvu/394

 descendants of Abraham. See, however, on 28$3$.—5. Abram's name is changed to Abraham, interpreted as 'Father of multitude.' Cf. Neh. 9$7$.  The equation  = []  is so forced that Di. al. doubt if a serious etymology was intended. The line between word-play and etymology is difficult to draw; and all that can safely be said is that the strained interpretation here given proves that is no artificial formation, but a genuine element of tradition. (1) The form is an abbreviation of  (Nu. 16$1$ etc.: cf., 1 Sa. 14$51$ etc., with , 1 Sa. 14$50$; , 2 Ch. 11$20. 21$, with , 1 Ki. 15$2. 10$), which occurs as a personal name not only in Heb. but also as that of an Ass. official (Abî-râmu) under Esarhaddon, 677 (see KAT$3$, 482). (2) Of, on the other hand, no scientific etymology can be given. The nearest approach to P's explanation would be found in the Ar. ruhām = 'copious number' (from a [root] descriptive of a fine drizzling rain: Lane, s.v.). De. thinks this the best explanation; but the etymology is far-fetched, and apart from the probably accidental correspondence with P's interpretation the sense has no claim to be correct.—With regard to the relation of the two forms, various theories are propounded. Hommel (AHT, 275 ff.; MVAG, ii. 271) regards the difference as merely orthographic, the being inserted, after the analogy of Minæan, to mark the long ā, while a later misunderstanding is responsible for the pronunciation. Strack and Stade (ZATW, i. 349) suppose a dialectic distinction: according to the latter, is the original (Edomite) form, of which  is the Hebraïzed equivalent. Wi. (GI, ii. 26) finds in them two distinct epithets of the moon-god Sin, one describing him as father of the gods (Sin abu ilâni), and the other 'father of the strife of peoples') as god of war (Sin ḳarib ilâni). The possibility must also be considered that the difference is due to the fusion in tradition of two originally distinct figures (see Paton, ''Syr. and''

5. ] G-K. § 121a, b; but is omitted in some MSS and in [E].