Page:A critical and exegetical commentary on Genesis (1910).djvu/437

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for the writer of the Code; though it is not easy to determine of what nature that interest was (see the closing note).


Source.—That the chapter belongs to P is proved (a) by allusions in later parts of the Code (259f. 4929ff. 5013); (b) by the juristic formalism and redundancy of the style; (c) by the names (Symbol missingHebrew characters); and the expressions (Symbol missingHebrew characters), 4; (Symbol missingHebrew characters), 4. 9. 20; (Symbol missingHebrew characters), 6; (Symbol missingHebrew characters), 17. 20; (Symbol missingHebrew characters), 18 (see the notes; and cf. Di. Ho. Gu.). Against this we have to set the (Symbol missingHebrew characters) of v.4, which is never elsewhere used by P.—At the same time it is difficult to acquiesce in the opinion that we have to do with a 'free composition' of the writers of P. The passage has far more the appearance of a transcript from real life than any other section in the whole of P; and its markedly secular tone (the name of God is never once mentioned) is in strong contrast to the free introduction of the divine activity in human affairs which is characteristic of that document. It seems probable that the narrative is based on some local tradition by which the form of representation has been partly determined. A similar view is taken by Eerdmans (Komp. d. Gen. 88), who, however, assigns the chapter to the oldest stratum of Gen., dating at latest from 700 B.C. Steuernagel (SK, 1908, 628) agrees that ch. 23 is not in P's manner; but thinks it a midrashic expansion of a brief notice in that document.[1]


1, 2. The death of Sarah.2. Ḳiryath-’Arba‘] an old name of Hebron, v.i.(Symbol missingHebrew characters)] not 'came,' but went in—to where the body lay.—to wail . . . weep] with the customary loud demonstrations of grief (Schwally, Leben n. d. Tode, 20; DB, iii. 453 ff.).


1. After (Symbol missingHebrew characters) it is advisable to insert (Symbol missingHebrew characters) (Ba. Kit.: cf. 479. 28). The omission may have caused the addition of the gloss (Symbol missingHebrew characters) at the end (wanting in G).—2. (Symbol missingHebrew characters) (G (Symbol missingGreek characters))] The old name of Hebron (Jos. 1415, Ju. 110), though seemingly in use after the Exile

  1. Sayce's contention (EHH, 57 ff.), that the incident 'belongs essentially to the early Babylonian and not to the Assyrian period,' is not borne out by the cuneiform documents to which he refers; the correspondences adduced being quite as close with contracts of the later Ass. kings as with those of the age of Ḫammurabi. Thus, the expression 'full silver' (v.9) is frequent under Sargon and subsequently (KIB, iv. 108 ff.); under the first Babylonian dynasty the phrase is 'silver to the full price' (ib. 7 ff.). The formula for 'before' (a witness) is, in the earlier tablets, maḫar; in the later, pân,—neither the precise equivalent of those here used ((Symbol missingHebrew characters) and (Symbol missingHebrew characters)). There remains only the expression 'weigh silver,' which does appear to be characteristic of the older contracts; but since this phrase survived in Heb. till the latest times (Zec. 1112, Est. 39), it is plain that nothing can be inferred from it. Sayce has not strengthened his case by the arguments in ET, 1907, 418 ff.; see Dri. 230, and Addenda7, XXXVII f.]