superhuman knowledge of the great blank in Abraham's
life, and conveys a first intimation of the real nature of the
visitors. See Gu.'s fine exposition, 172 f.; and contrast the
far less delicate handling of an identical situation in
2 Ki. 413-16.—9. The question shows that Sarah had not
been introduced to the strangers, in accordance probably
with Hebrew custom (Gu.).—10. I will return] The definite
transition to the sing. takes place here (see on v.3). In the
original legend the pl. was no doubt kept up to the end;
but the monotheistic habit of thought was too strong for
Hebrew writers, when they came to words which could be
properly ascribed only to Yahwe.—On (
Hebrew characters), v.i.—Sarah was listening] with true feminine curiosity; cf. 275. The
last two words should probably be rendered: she being behind it (the tent or the door); cf. the footnote.—11. A
circumstantial sentence explaining Sarah's incredulity (v.12).—after the manner of women (cf. 3135)] "quo genere
loquendi verecunde menses notat qui mulieribus fluunt"
(Calv.); G (Greek characters); V muliebria.—12. Sarah laughed
((Hebrew characters)) within herself] obviously a proleptic explanation of
9. (Hebrew characters)] G (Hebrew characters) (wrongly).—(Hebrew characters)] The superlinear points (cf. 165) are
thought to indicate a reading (Hebrew characters).—10. (Hebrew characters)] This peculiar phrase (recurring
only v.14, 2 Ki. 416f.) is now almost invariably rendered 'at the
(this) time, when it revives,' i.e., next year, or spring (so Ra. IEz.;
cf. Ges. Th. 470; G-B.14, 202 a; BDB, 312 a; Ew. Gr. § 337 a; G-K.
§ 118 u; Kö. S. § 387 e); but the sense is extremely forced. It is surprising
that no one seems to suspect a reference to the period of pregnancy.
In NH (Hebrew characters) means a woman in child-birth (so perhaps (Hebrew characters) in Ex.
119 [Ho. ad v.]); and here we might point (Hebrew characters) or (Hebrew characters), rendering
'according to the time of a pregnant woman,' or 9 months hence. (Hebrew characters)
in v.14 is no obstacle, for (Hebrew characters) is simply the time determined by the previous
promise, and there is no need to add (Hebrew characters) (G after 1721). 2 Ki. 416
((Hebrew characters)) does present a difficulty; but that late passage is modelled on
this, and the original phrase may have been already misunderstood, as
it is by all Vns.: e.g. G (Greek characters); TO 'at a time
when you are living'; S 'at this time, she being alive'; V tempore isto, vita comite. Ba. also points as constr., but thinks (Hebrew characters) an old name for
spring.—(Hebrew characters)] GS read (Hebrew characters).—(Hebrew characters)] [E] (Hebrew characters); so G (Greek characters).
MT is perhaps a neglect of the Qĕrê perpet ((Hebrew characters)).—11. (Hebrew characters)]
cf. 241, Jos. 131 231. 2, 1 Ki. 11.—(Hebrew characters)] Ba. Kit. more smoothly, (Hebrew characters).—12.
(Hebrew characters)—(Hebrew characters)] G (Greek characters) presupposes an
impossible text (Hebrew characters). The change is perhaps alluded to in
