functions are stated with perfect clearness in 16-18: (a) to give light
upon the earth, (b) to rule day and night, and (c) to separate light from
darkness. I am disposed to think that 14b was introduced as an exposition
of the idea of the vb. (
Hebrew characters), and that 15aœ?] was then added to
restore the connexion. Not much importance can be attached to the
insertions of G (v.i.), which may be borrowed from v.17f..
20-23. Sixth work: Aquatic and aërial animals.—Let the waters swarm with swarming things—living creatures, and let fowl fly, etc.] The conjunction of two distinct forms
of life under one creative act has led Gu. to surmise that
two originally separate works have been combined in order
to bring the whole within the scheme of six days. Ben.
(rendering and fowl that may fly) thinks the author was
probably influenced by some ancient tradition that birds as
well as fishes were produced by the water (so Ra. and IEz.
on 219). The conjecture is attractive, and the construction
has the support of all Gk. Vns. and V; but it is not certain
that the verb can mean "produce a swarm." More probably
(in connexions like the present: see Ex. 728 [J]
[EV 83], Ps. 10530) the sense is simply teem with, indicating
the place or element in which the swarming creatures
abound, in which case it cannot possibly govern (Hebrew characters) as obj.—(Hebrew characters)
has a sense something like 'vermin': i.e. it never
denotes 'a swarm,' but is always used of the creatures that
20. (Hebrew characters) . . . (Hebrew characters)] On synt. see Dav. § 73, R. 2. The root has in Aram.
the sense of 'creep,' and there are many passages in OT where that
idea would be appropriate (Lv. 1129. 41-43 etc.); hence Rob. Smith (RS2,
293), 'creeping vermin generally.' But here and Gn. 817 97, Ex. 17 728,
Ps. 10530 it can only mean 'teem' or 'swarm'; and Dri. (Gen. 12) is
probably right in extending that meaning to all the pass. in Heb.
Gn. 120f., Ex. 728, Ps. 10530 are the only places where the constr. with
cog. acc. appears; elsewhere the animals themselves are subj. of the
vb. The words, except in three passages, are peculiar to the vocabulary
of P.—But for the fact that (Hebrew characters) never means 'swarm,' but always
'swarming thing,' it would be tempting to take it as st. constr. before
(Hebrew characters) (G, Aq. V). As it is, (Hebrew characters) has all the awkwardness of a gloss
(see 219). The phrase is applied once to man, 27 (J); elsewhere
to animals,—mostly in P (Gn. 121. 24. 30 910. 12. 15. 16, Lv. 1110. 46 etc.).—(Hebrew characters)
(Hebrew characters)] The order of words as in v.22 ((Hebrew characters)), due to emphasis on
the new subj. The use of descriptive impf. (G, Aq. ΣΘV) is mostly
poetic, and for reasons given above must here be refused.—(Hebrew characters)] = 'in
