15-22. The heir of the Covenant.—The promise of the
birth of Isaac is brought into connexion with the main idea
of the chapter by the assurance (19. 21) that the covenant is
to be established with him and not with Ishmael.—15.
Sarai's name is changed to Sarah. The absence of an etymological
motive is remarkable (v.i.).—16b. In G, Jub., V and
S, the blessing on Sarah is by slight changes of text turned
into a blessing on the son whose birth has just been foretold
(v.i.). The MT, however, is more likely to be correct.—17.
Abraham's demeanour is a strange mixture of reverence
and incredulity: "partim gaudio exultans, partim admiratione
extra se raptus, in risum prorumpit" is Calvin's
comment. It is P's somewhat unnatural clothing of the
traditional etymology of Isaac ((
Hebrew characters), v.19); cf. 1812 (J), 216 (E).—18.
The prayer, O that Ishmael might live before thee!—under
Thy protection and with Thy blessing (Hos. 62)—is a
fine touch of nature; but the writer's interest lies rather in
the 'determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God,' which
overrides human feeling and irrevocably decrees the election
munity, or by God in His providence. The interpretation seems to have
varied in different ages. Ex. 3113f. clearly contemplates the death
penalty at the hands of the community; while Lv. 179f. 20{3. 6} point as
clearly to a divine interposition. The probability is that it is an archaic
juridical formula for the punishment of death, which came to be used
vaguely "as a strong affirmation of divine disapproval, rather than as
prescribing a penalty to be actually enforced" (Dri.). See Sta. GVI,
i. 421 f.; Ho. p. 127 f.—(Hebrew characters)] pausal form for (Hebrew characters) (G-K. § 29 q).
15. (Hebrew characters) (G (Greek characters)) and (Hebrew characters) (G (Greek characters))] According to Nö. (ZDMG, xl.
183, xlii. 484), [LOTE: **] is an an old fem. termin. surviving in Syr. Arab. and
Eth. On this view (Hebrew characters) may be either the same word as (Hebrew characters), 'princess'
([root] (Hebrew characters)), or (as the differentiation of G suggests) from [root] (Hebrew characters), 'strive,'
with which the name Israel was connected (Gn. 3229, Ho. 124: see
Rob. Sm. KM2, 34 f. [Nö. dissents]). On Lagarde's (Mitth. ii. 185)
attempt to connect the name with Ar. šaray = 'wild fertile spot,' and so
to identify Abraham (as 'husband of Sarai') with the Nabatean god
Dusares (ḏū-ššaray), see Mey. INS, 269 f., who thinks the conjecture
raised beyond doubt by the discovery of the name Šarayat as consort of
Dusares on an inscr. at Boṣra in the Ḥaurân. The identification remains
highly problematical.—16. (Hebrew characters)] [E] (Hebrew characters). So G Jub. VS,
which consistently maintain the masc. to the end of the v.—17. (Hebrew characters)—(Hebrew characters)]
a combination of the disjunctive question with casus pendens; see G-K.
§ 150 g.
