So all Vns., taking (
Hebrew characters) in the sense of 'die' (Ps. 3914:
cf. Ar. halaka), though the other sense ('walk' = 'live')
would be quite admissible. To die childless and leave no
name on earth (Nu. 274) is a fate so melancholy that even
the assurance of present fellowship with God brings no hope
or joy.—2b is absolutely unintelligible (v.i.). The Vns.
agree in reading the names Eliezer and Damascus, and
also (with the partial exception of G) in the general understanding
that the clause is a statement as to Abram's heir.
This is probably correct; but the text is so corrupt that
even the proper names are doubtful, and there is only a
presumption that the sense agrees with 3b.—3. In the
absence of children or near relatives, the slave, as a member
of the family, might inherit (Sta. GVI, i. 391; Benzinger,
Arch.2 113). (Hebrew characters) is a member of the household, but not
necessarily a home-born slave ((Hebrew characters), 1414).—5. The promise
of a numerous seed (cf. 3a. 13) is E's parallel to the announcement
of the birth of a bodily heir in J (v.4).—the stars] a
favourite image of the later editors and Deuteronomy (2217
of 'steward,' which may be a mere conjecture like the (Greek characters) of Σ.
Modern comm. generally regard the word as a modification of (Hebrew characters)
(Jb. 2818?) with the sense of 'possession'—(Hebrew characters) = 'son of possession'
= 'possessor' or 'inheritor' (so Ges. Tu. KS. Str. al.); but this has
neither philological justification nor traditional support. A [root] (Hebrew characters) (in
spite of (Hebrew characters), Zeph. 29) is extremely dubious. The last clause cannot be
rendered either 'This is Eliezer of Damascus,' or 'This is Damascus,
namely Eliezer' (De.). S and TO adopt the summary expedient of
turning the subst. into an adj., and reading 'Eliezer the Damascene'
(similarly (Greek characters) in Field). It is difficult to imagine what Damascus
can have to do here at all; and if a satisfactory sense for the previous
words could be obtained, it would be plausible enough (with Hitz. Tu.
KS. al.) to strike out (Hebrew characters) as a stupid gloss on (Hebrew characters). Ball's emendation,
(Hebrew characters), 'and he who will possess my house is a
Damascene—Eliezer,' is plausible, but the sing. (Hebrew characters) with the name of a
city is contrary to Heb. idiom. Bewer (JBL, 1908, pt. 2, 160 ff.) has
proposed the reading—ingenious but not convincing—(Hebrew characters).
2a and 3a are parallels (note the double (Hebrew characters)), of which the former
obviously belongs to J, the latter consequently to E. Since 3b is J rather
than E (cf. (Hebrew characters) with v.4), it follows that 3a. 2b must be transposed if the
latter be E's parallel to 3b.—3. (Hebrew characters)] in the sense of 'be heir to': cf. 2110
(E), 2 Sa. 147, Jer. 491, Pr. 3023.—4. (Hebrew characters) (G (Hebrew characters)?)] of the father, 2 Sa.
712 1611, Is. 4819; of the mother, 2523 (J), Is. 491, Ru. 111, Ps. 716.—5.
(Hebrew characters)] in J, 1917 2429 3912. 13. 15. 18 (Jos. 219?); but also Dt. 2411 256 etc.—
