Page:A critical and exegetical commentary on Genesis (1910).djvu/395



Pal. 41). It is quite a plausible supposition, though the thoroughness of the redaction has effaced the proof of it, that was peculiar to J and  to E.—Outside of Gen. (with the exception of the citations 1 Ch. 1$27$, Neh. 9$7$) the form Abraham alone is found in OT.

6. The promise of kings among Abraham's descendants is again peculiar to P (35$11$). The reference is to the Hebrew monarchy: the rulers of Ishmael are only 'princes' (, v.$20$), and those of Edom (36$40$) are styled —7. to be to thee a God] The essence of the covenant relation is expressed by this frequently recurring formula. It is important for P's notion of the covenant that the correlative 'they (ye) shall be to me a people,' which is always added in other writings (ex. Ezk. 34$7$), is usually omitted by P (ex. Ex. 6$45$, Lv. 26$45$). The bĕrîth is conceived as a self-determination of God to be to one particular race all that the word God implies, a reciprocal act of choice on man's part being no essential feature of the relation.—8. land of thy sojourning] 28$h$ 36$33$ 37$38$ 47$12. 45$, Ex. 6$41$ (all P).

9-14. The sign of the Covenant.—To the promises of vv.$13$ there is attached a single command, with regard to which it is difficult to say whether it belongs to the content of the covenant (v.$17f.$), or is merely an adjunct,—an external mark of the invisible bond which united every Jew to Yahwe ($23$): see p. 297. The theme at all events is the institution of circumcision. The legal style of the section is so pronounced that it reads like a stray leaf from the book of Leviticus (note the address in 2nd p. pl. from $4$ onwards).—9. And God said] marks a new section (cf. $7$), being the antithesis to in $22$.—keep my covenant]  is opposed to, 'break,' in $1. 33$; hence it cannot mean 'watch over' (Valeton), but must be used in the extremely common sense of 'observe' or 'act according to.' The question would

6. ] S = ; see on 15$20$.—8. ] a common word in P; elsewhere only Ps. 2$11$, Ezk. 44$24$, 1 Ch. 7$28$.