Page:A critical and exegetical commentary on Genesis (1910).djvu/420

 that are not done] are not sanctioned by the conventional code of morals: cf. 34$7$, 2 Sa. 13$12$ etc.—To this rebuke Abraham (as in 12$18f.$) has no reply, and Abimelech proceeds in—10 to inquire into his motive for so acting.— What possessed thee? (v.i.).—11-13. Abraham's self-exculpation, which is at the same time the writer's apology for his conduct, consists of three excuses: (1) he was actuated by fear for his life; (2) he had not been guilty of direct falsehood, but only of mental reservation; (3) the deceit was not practised for the first time on Abimelech, but was a preconcerted scheme which (it is perhaps implied) had worked well enough in other places. Whether 2 and 3 had any foundation in the Elohistic tradition, or were invented by the narrator ad hoc (Gu.), we cannot now determine.—11. There is no piety in this place] Religion was the only sanction of international morality, the gêr having no civil rights; cf. 42$18$: see Bertholet, Stellung d. Fremden, 15. Cf. 12$12$.—12. Besides, she really is my sister] Marriage with a half-sister on the father's side was frequent among the Semites (Smith, KM$2$, 191 f.), and was allowed in ancient Israel (2 Sa. 13$13$), though prohibited by later legislation (Dt. 27$22$, Lv. 18$9. 11$ 20$17$).—13. When God caused me to stray] The expression is peculiar, as if God had driven him

rashly adopted by Ba. Ho. Kit.—] G .—10. G ; so V. Ba. conj. ; Gu. . The translation given above is taken from Bacher, ZATW, xix. 345 ff., who cites many examples from NH of the idiom (lit. 'What hast thou experienced?').—11. ] [E] .—] = '[I should act otherwise] only,' etc.: a purely asseverative force (BDB) seems to me insufficiently established by Dt. 4$6$, 1 Ki. 21$25$, 2 Ch. 28$10$, Ps. 32$6$.—12. ] [E] [?], as 18$13$, Nu. 22$37$; but cf. Jos. 7$20$. These are all the occurrences in Hex.—13. ] [E]. The constr. of (pl. emin.) with pl. pred. is exceptional, though not uncommon (31$53$ 35$7$, Jos. 24$19$), and does not appear to be regulated in our present text by any principle. A tendency to substitute sing. for pl. is shown by 1 Ch. 17$21$ cpd. with 2 Sa. 7$23$; and it is probable that the change has taken place in many cases where we have no means of tracing it: see Str.$2$ 77; G-K. § 145 i. A kindred and equally inexplicable anomaly is the sporadic use of the art. with this word (so vv.$6. 17$). Both phenomena are probably survivals from a polytheistic form of the legend.—] [E] + (as 12$1$).—] determined by following relative clause; so Ex. 20$24$, Dt. 11$24$.