(1 Ki. 1129).—9. Yahwe opens the inquisition, as in 39, with
a question, which Cain, unlike Adam, answers with a
defiant repudiation of responsibility. It is impossible to
doubt that here the writer has the earlier scene before his
mind, and consciously depicts a terrible advance in the
power of sin.—10. Hark! Thy brother's blood is crying to me, etc.] (
Hebrew characters) denotes strictly the cry for help, and specially
for redress or vengeance (Ex. 2222. 26, Ju. 43, Ps. 1076. 28
etc.). The idea that blood exposed on the ground thus
clamours for vengeance is persistently vivid in the OT
(Jb. 1618, Is. 2621, Ezk. 247. 8, 2 Ki. 926): see RS2, 4175. In
this passage we have more than a mere metaphor, for
it is the blood which is represented as drawing Yahwe's
attention to the crime of Cain.—II. And now cursed art thou from (off) the ground] i.e., not the earth's surface, but
the cultivated ground (cf. v.14, and see on 25). To restrict
it to the soil of Palestine (We. Sta. Ho.) goes beyond the
necessities of the case.—which has opened her mouth, etc.]
a personification of the ground similar to that of Sheol in
Is. 514 (cf. Nu. 1632). The idea cannot be that the earth
is a monster greedy of blood; it seems rather akin to the
primitive superstition of a physical infection or poisoning
of the soil, and through it of the murderer, by the shed
blood (see Miss Harrison, Prolegomena, 219 ff.). The
ordinary OT conception is that the blood remains uncovered
(cf. Eurip. Electra, 318 f.). The relation of the
two notions is obscure.—12. The curse 'from off the
ground' has two sides: (1) The ground will no longer yield its strength (Jb. 3139) to the murderer, so that even if he
wished he will be unable to resume his husbandry; and
not recognised by the Mass., supports this view of the text. To emend
(Hebrew characters) (Ols. al.) or (Hebrew characters), (Hebrew characters) (Gk.) is less satisfactory.—9. (Hebrew characters)] [E] (Hebrew characters).—10.
On the interjectional use of (Hebrew characters), see G-K. § 146 b; Nö. Mand. Gr. p. 482.—(Hebrew characters)]
[E] (Hebrew characters), agreeing with (Hebrew characters) (?).—11. (Hebrew characters) . . . (Hebrew characters)] pregnant constr.,
G-K. § 119 x, y, ff. This sense of (Hebrew characters) is more accurately expressed by
(Hebrew characters) in v.14, but is quite common (cf. esp. 2739). Other renderings, as
from (indicating the direction from which the curse comes) or by, are
less appropriate; and the compar. more than is impossible.—12. (Hebrew characters)]
juss. form with (Hebrew characters) (G-K. § 109 d, h; Dav. §§ 63, R. 3, 66, R. 6); fol-
