Page:Introductory Hebrew Grammar- Hebrew Syntax (1902).djvu/159

 but then, naturally, in a causative sense (influence coming from), from, because of, by, as Gen. 48:10 his eyes were set מִזֹקֶן  from old age, Is. 53:5 pierced מִפְּשָׁעֵינוּ  because of our transgressions. Gen. 9:11; 16:10; 49:12, Ex. 6:9, Deu. 7:7, 1 S. 1:16, 1 K. 14:4, Is. 28:7; 40:26, Ob. 9, 10, Hos. 11:6. Cf. § 81.

(d) Prep. עַל  has the meaning above, over, upon; e.g. locally whether of motion or rest, as Gen. 2:5 had not rained עַל־הָאָרֶץ   upon the earth, 2 K. 4:34 he laid himself עַל־הַיֶּלֶד   upon the child, Gen. 24:30 he saw the bracelets עַל־יְדֵי אֲחֹתוֹ   upon the hands of his sister, Gen. 1:20 let fowl fly על־הארץ   above the earth. And in a figurative sense, Gen. 16:5 חֲמָסִי עָלֶיךָ  my wrong be upon thee, 41:33 set him על־הארץ   over the land, Jud. 3:10, 1 S. 15:17.

From these senses comes the use of על  with verbs to cover, as כִּסָּה  , to pity, spare חוּס   , חָמַל   , to burden, as Is. 1:14 הָיוּ עָלַי לָטֹרַח  they are a burden upon me, 2 S. 15:33, Job 7:20. So to express obligation, 2 S. 18:11 עָלַי לָתֶת לְךָ  it would have lain upon me to give thee, Gen. 30:28, Jud. 19:20, Pr. 7:14. With words expressing the idea of addition, Gen. 31:50 if thou take wives עַל־בְּנֹתַי  in addition to my daughters, 32:12 אֵם עַל־בָּנִים   mother with children, Gen. 28:9; 48:22, Hos. 10:14, Am. 3:15. Other uses of על  are similar, as Jud. 9:17 נִלְהַם עֲלֵיכֶם  fought for you (over, protecting), but also in a hostile sense against, Gen. 43:18 to fall upon, Gen. 34:30 to gather themselves against, 50:20 plot against, Nu. 10:9, Am. 7:9, Is. 7:5, Ps. 2:2. From the sense over (being higher) comes the meaning beside, by after to stand, sit, &c. Ps. 1:3 עַל־פַּלְגֵי־מַיִם  by the rivers of water, 2 S. 9:10 עַל־שֻׁלְחָנִי   at my table (also אל   ), Gen. 18:2 standing beside him, 16:7; 29:2; 41:1; Ex. 14:2, Is. 6:2.

From the sense upon comes the use of על  to express the condition, circumstances in which an action is performed, on which it rests or which underlie it. Here על  seems more general than ב   and has such meanings as amidst, although, notwithstanding, according to, &c. Jer. 8:18 עֲלֵי יָגוֹן  amidst trouble, Job 10:7 עַל־דַּעְתְּךָ   though thou knowest, Is. 53:9 עַל לֹא־חָמָס עָשָׂה  notwithstanding that he had done no evil, Job 16:17. 2 K. 24:3, Ps. 31:24, Jer. 6:14, Is. 38:15; 60:7.