tion of the phenomenon in question must be sought than the assumption of an interweaving of a sing. and a pl. recension of the legend (see on v.1 and p. 303 below).[1] With Gu. also, we may regard the chapter as the immediate sequel to 1318 in the legendary cycle which fixes the residence of Abraham at Hebron (Jh). The conception of Abraham's character is closely akin to what we meet throughout that section of J, and differs appreciably from the representation of him in 1210-20 and 16.
1-8. The entertainment of the three wayfarers.—The
description "presents a perfect picture of the manner in
which a modern Bedawee sheikh receives travellers arriving
at his encampment. He immediately orders his wife or
women to make bread, slaughters a sheep or other animal,
and dresses it in haste; and, bringing milk and any other
provisions that he may have at hand, with the bread and
the meat that he has dressed, sets them before his guests: if
they are persons of high rank he also stands by them while
they eat" (Lane, Mod. Eg.5 i. 364: from Dri.).—1. Yahwe appeared, etc.] This introductory clause simply means that
the incident about to be related has the value of a theophany.
In what way the narrator conceived that Yahwe was present
in the three men—whether He was one of the three, or whether
all three were Yahwe in self-manifestation (De.)—we can
hardly tell. The common view that the visitors were Yahwe
accompanied by two of His angels does not meet the difficulties
of the exegesis; and it is more probable that to the
original Yahwist the 'men' were emissaries and representatives
of Yahwe, who was not visibly present (see p. 304 f.).—(
Hebrew characters)]
at the hottest (and drowsiest) time of the day
(2 Sa. 45).—2. and behold] The mysteriously sudden advent
of the strangers marks them as superhuman beings (Jos. 513),
though this makes no impression on Abraham at the time.
The interest of the story turns largely on his ignorance of
the real character of his guests.—3. The Mass. pointing
(Hebrew characters) implies that Abraham recognised Yahwe as one of
the three (Tu. De. al.); but this we have just seen to be
1. (Hebrew characters)] G (Greek characters).—In (Hebrew characters) the suff. may refer back directly to 1318 (see
on the v.).—(Hebrew characters)] G (Greek characters) M.; see on 1318.—3. Read with
- ↑ The same solution had occurred to Ball (SBOT, 1896), but was rightly set aside by him as unproved.
