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Page:A critical and exegetical commentary on Genesis (1910).djvu/309

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(9) (Symbol missingHebrew characters) ([E] (Symbol missingHebrew characters), G (Symbol missingGreek characters), in accord with 1 Ch. 117 MT (Symbol missingHebrew characters))] perhaps connected with Mons Masius,—(Symbol missingGreek characters) of Ptol. (v. 18. 2) and Strabo (xi. xiv. 2),—a mountain range N of Nisibis now called Ṭûr-'Abdîn or Ḳeraǧa Dagh (Bo. Del. Par. 259, Di. al.). The uncertainty of the text and the fact that the Ass. monuments use a different name render the identification precarious. Jen. (KIB, vi. 1, 567) suggests the mountain Māšu of Gilgameš ix. ii. 1 f., which he supposes to be Lebanon and Anti-Libanus. The Mât Maš of KIB, ii. 221, which has been adduced as a parallel, ought, it now appears, to be read mad-bar (KAT3, 1912; cf. Jen. ZA, x. 364).


31, 32. P's closing formula for the Shemites (31); and his subscription to the whole Table (32).

The Table of J.

IX. 18a, X. 1b. Introduction. See pp. 182, 188.


A slight discontinuity in v.1 makes it probable that 1b is inserted from J. If so, it would stand most naturally after 918a (Di.), not after 19. It seems to me that 19 is rather the Yahwistic parallel to 1032 (P), and formed originally the conclusion of J's Table (cf. the closing formulæ, 1029 2223 254).


8-12. Nimrod and his empire.—The section deals with the foundation of the Babylonio-Assyrian Empire, whose legendary hero, Nimrod, is described as a son of Kush (see below). Unlike the other names in the chapter, Nimrod is not a people, but an individual,—a Gibbôr or despot, famous as the originator of the idea of the military state, based on arbitrary force.—8. The statement that he was the first to become a Gibbôr on the earth implies a different conception from 64. There, the Gibbôrîm are identified with the semi-divine Nephîlîm: here, the Gibbôr is a man, whose personal prowess and energy raise him above the common level of humanity. The word expresses the idea of violent, tyrannical power, like Ar. ǧabbār.


If the (Symbol missingHebrew characters) of v.6f. be Ethiopia (see p. 200 f.), it follows that in the view of the redactor the earliest dynasty in the Euphrates valley was founded by immigrants from Africa. That interpretation was accepted even by Tuch; but it is opposed to all we know of the early history of Baby-*


8. (Symbol missingHebrew characters) ((Symbol missingGreek characters))] The Heb. naturally connects the name with the [root] (Symbol missingHebrew characters) = 'rebel' (TJ, Ra. al.): see below, p. 209.—(Symbol missingHebrew characters)] 'he was the