regards as a deliberate variation of (
Hebrew characters) (418) intended to suggest the
wickedness of the later generations before the Flood (see above, p. 129).
Lenormant (247) took it as a designation of Saggitarius, the 9th sign
of the Zodiac; according to Hommel, it means 'sein Mann ist das
Geschoss' (!), and is connected with the planet Mars.[1] If the 8th name
in the list of Berossus be rightly rendered 'man of Sin (the moon-god),'[2]
a more probable view would be that (Hebrew characters) is a divine proper name.
Hommel, indeed, at one time regarded it as a corruption of šarraḫu,
said to be an ancient name of the moon-god[3] (cf. Cheyne, EB, 625,
4412).—28-31. Lamech.—The scheme is here interrupted by the insertion
of v.
29. An extract from J, preserving an oracle uttered by
Lamech on the birth of Noah.—This ((Hebrew characters); cf. (Hebrew characters) in 223) shall bring us comfort from our labour, and from the toil of our hands [proceeding] from the ground, etc.] The utterance
seems to breathe the same melancholy and sombre view of
life which we recognise in the Paradise narrative; and Di.
rightly calls attention to the contrast in character between
the Lamech of this v. and the truculent bravo of 423f..
There is an obvious reference backwards to 317 (cf. (Hebrew characters), (Hebrew characters)—(Hebrew characters)).
The forward reference cannot be to the Flood (which certainly brought
no comfort to the generation for whom Lamech spoke), but to Noah's
discovery of vine-culture: 920ff. (Bu. 306 ff. al.). This is true even if
the hero of the Flood and the discoverer of wine were traditionally
27. After (Hebrew characters) G ins. (Greek characters) (cf. v.5).—29. (Hebrew characters)] G [Greek: ]:
hence Ball, Ki. (Hebrew characters). The emendation is attractive on two
grounds: (a) it yields an easier construction with the following (Hebrew characters); and
(b) a more correct etymology of the name (Hebrew characters). The harshness of the
etymology was felt by Jewish authorities (Ber. R. § 25; cf. Ra.); and
We. (De gent. 383) boldly suggested that (Hebrew characters) in this v. is a contracted writing
of (Hebrew characters) = 'comforter.'—Whether (Hebrew characters) (always written defectively) be really
connected with (Hebrew characters) = 'rest' is very uncertain. If a Heb. name, it will
naturally signify 'rest,' but we cannot assume that a name presumably
so ancient is to be explained from the Heb. lexicon. The views mentioned
by Di. (p. 116) are very questionable. Goldziher (ZDMG, xxiv. 207 ff.)
shows that in mediæval times it was explained by Arab writers from
Ar. nāḥa, 'to wail'; but that is utterly improbable.—(Hebrew characters)] Some MSS
and [E] have (Hebrew characters) (pl.); so G, etc.
- ↑ AOD [1902], 29. Here Amemphsinus is resolved into Amel-Nisin: formerly (PSBA, xv. [1892-3] 245) Hommel propounded the view now advocated by Zimmern (see next note).
- ↑ Zimmern, KAT3, 532.
- ↑ Aufs. u. Abh. ii. [1900]222. Cheyne (l.c.) relies on the fact that šarḫu ('all-powerful') is an epithet of various gods (De. Hdwb. 690 a).
