of Israel (19).—19a. Comp. the language with 1611, and observe
that the naming of the child is assigned to the father.—20.
(Hebrew characters)] a remote allusion to the popular explanation of
(
Hebrew characters), 'May God hear' (cf. 1611 2117). Ishmael is to be
endowed for Abraham's sake with every kind of blessing,
except the religious privileges of the covenant.—twelve princes] (cf. 2516) as contrasted with the 'kings' of 6. 16.—22.
The close of the theophany.—(
Hebrew characters)—(
Hebrew characters) as 3513.
23-27. Circumcision of Abraham's household.—23. on that very day (cf. 713)] repeated in v.26. Throughout the section, P excels himself in pedantic and redundant circumstantiality of narration. The circumcision of Ishmael, however, is inconsistent with the theory that the rite is a sign of the covenant, from which Ishmael is excluded (Ho. Gu.).—25. thirteen years old] This was the age of circumcision among the ancient Arabs, according to Jos. Ant. i. 214. Origen (Eus. Præp. Ev. vi. 11:[1] cf. We. Heid.2 1753); and Ambrose (de Abrah. ii. 348) give a similar age (14 years) for the Egyptians. It is possible that the notice here is based on a knowledge of this custom. Among the modern Arabs there is no fixed rule, the age varying from three to fifteen years: see Di. 264; Dri. in DB, ii. 504b.
Circumcision is a widely diffused rite of primitive religion, of whose
introduction among the Hebrews there is no authentic tradition. One
account (Ex. 424f.) suggests a Midianite origin, another (Jos. 52ff.) an
Egyptian: the mention of flint knives in both these passages is a proof
of the extreme antiquity of the custom (the Stone Age).[2] The anthro-
19. (Hebrew characters)] 'Nay, but,'—a rare asseverative (4221, 2 Sa. 145, 2 Ki. 414,
1 Ki. 143) and adversative (Dn. 107. 21, Ezr. 1013, 2 Ch. 14 193 3317) particle.
See the interesting note in Burney, Notes on Kings, p. 11; and
cf. König, ii. 265.—(
Hebrew characters)] G (
Greek characters) appears
to imply a preceding clause (
Greek characters), which is found in many
cursives. This is probably the correct reading.—20. (
Hebrew characters)] G (
Greek characters).—24.
(
Hebrew characters)] [E] (
Hebrew characters).—(
Hebrew characters)] The Niph. is here either refl. or pass.; in 25 it
is pass.—26 (
Hebrew characters)] irreg. pf. Niph.; G-K. § 72 ee. S takes it as act.
([root] (
Hebrew characters)?) with Ishmael as obj.; and so G in v.27 ((
Greek characters)).