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 superhuman knowledge of the great blank in Abraham's life, and conveys a first intimation of the real nature of the visitors. See Gu.'s fine exposition, 172 f.; and contrast the far less delicate handling of an identical situation in 2 Ki. 4$13-16$.—9. The question shows that Sarah had not been introduced to the strangers, in accordance probably with Hebrew custom (Gu.).—10. I will return] The definite transition to the sing. takes place here (see on v.$3$). In the original legend the pl. was no doubt kept up to the end; but the monotheistic habit of thought was too strong for Hebrew writers, when they came to words which could be properly ascribed only to Yahwe.—On, v.i.—Sarah was listening] with true feminine curiosity; cf. 27$5$. The last two words should probably be rendered: she being behind it (the tent or the door); cf. the footnote.—11. A circumstantial sentence explaining Sarah's incredulity (v.$12$).—after the manner of women (cf. 31$35$)] "quo genere loquendi verecunde menses notat qui mulieribus fluunt" (Calv.); G ; V muliebria.—12. Sarah laughed within herself] obviously a proleptic explanation of

9. ] G (wrongly).—] The superlinear points (cf. 16$5$) are thought to indicate a reading .—10. ] This peculiar phrase (recurring only v.$14$, 2 Ki. 4$16f.$) is now almost invariably rendered 'at the (this) time, when it revives,' i.e., next year, or spring (so Ra. IEz.; cf. Ges. Th. 470; G-B.$14$, 202 a; BDB, 312 a; Ew. Gr. § 337 a; G-K. § 118 u; Kö. S. § 387 e); but the sense is extremely forced. It is surprising that no one seems to suspect a reference to the period of pregnancy. In NH means a woman in child-birth (so perhaps  in Ex. 1$19$ [Ho. ad v.]); and here we might point  or, rendering 'according to the time of a pregnant woman,' or 9 months hence. in v.$14$ is no obstacle, for is simply the time determined by the previous promise, and there is no need to add (G after 17$21$). 2 Ki. 4$16$ does present a difficulty; but that late passage is modelled on this, and the original phrase may have been already misunderstood, as it is by all Vns.: e.g. G ; T$O$ 'at a time when you are living'; S 'at this time, she being alive'; V tempore isto, vita comite. Ba. also points as constr., but thinks an old name for spring.—] GS read .—] [E] ; so G. MT is perhaps a neglect of the Qĕrê perpet .—11. ] cf. 24$1$, Jos. 13$1$ 23$1. 2$, 1 Ki. 1$1$.—] Ba. Kit. more smoothly, .—12. —] G presupposes an impossible text. The change is perhaps alluded to in