the avenger of blood is to J (ch. 4) a truth of nature; to P
it rests on a positive enactment.—from the hand of every beast] see Ex. 2128f..—6a is remarkable for its assonances
and the perfect symmetry of the two members: (
Hebrew characters)
| (Hebrew characters). It is possibly an ancient judicial
formula which had become proverbial (Gu.). The TT?] (v.i.)
read into the text the idea of judicial procedure; others
(Tu. al.) suppose the law of blood-revenge to be contemplated.
In reality the manner of execution is left quite indefinite.—6b.
The reason for the higher value set on the life of man.
On the image of God see on 126f..—7. The section closes, as
it began, with the note of benediction.
8-17. The Covenant and its Sign.—In P as in J
(820-22) the story of the Flood closes with an assurance that
the world shall never again be visited by such a catastrophe;
and in both the promise is absolute, not contingent on the
behaviour of the creatures. In P it takes the form of a
covenant between God and all flesh,—the first of two
covenants by which (according to this writer) the relations
of the Almighty to His creatures are regulated. On the
content and scope of this Noachic covenant, see the concluding
note, p. 173 f.—9. establish my covenant] in fulfilment
of 618. P's formula for the inauguration of the covenant
is always (Hebrew characters) or (Hebrew characters) (172, Nu. 2512) instead of the
more ancient and technical (Hebrew characters).—11. The essence of the
covenant is that the earth shall never be devastated by a
Flood. Whether its idea be exhausted by this assurance
one man that of another.' The full expression would be (Hebrew characters)
(Ols.); but all languages use breviloquence in the expression of
reciprocity. The construction is hardly more difficult than in 1510
4225. 35; and an exact parallel occurs in Zec. 710. See G-K. § 139 c;
Bu. 283 ff. The (Hebrew characters) of [E] SV makes nonsense; G omits the previous
(Hebrew characters). It would be better to move the Athnach so as to commence
a new clause with (Hebrew characters).—6. (Hebrew characters)] V om.; TO (Hebrew characters): TJ is
still more explicit.—7. (Hebrew characters)] V et implete eam (as v.1). Read (Hebrew characters)
after 128 (Nestle in Ball).
10. (Hebrew characters)] 'as many as'; see on 62.—(Hebrew characters)] G om.—(Hebrew characters)] perhaps
= 'in short': cf. 2310, see G-K. § 143 e. The sense of (Hebrew characters) = 'animals'
in general, immediately after the same expression in the sense of
'wild animals,' makes the phrase suspicious (Ho.).—11. (Hebrew characters)] [E] (Hebrew characters);
