Beer Laḥai-roi, 2511.—On Abimelech and Gerar, see 201f.. The assumption that Gerar was a Philistine kingdom is an anachronism (see on 1014), made also in Jb (2132) but not in E.—3a. and bless thee] a promise fulfilled in Isaac's successful husbandry (12ff.), and other tokens of the divine favour (22. 24. 28f.), with no reference primarily to the blessing of Abraham.
1a(
Greek characters) ((Hebrew characters)—(Hebrew characters)) is a redactional gloss (RJ or RJE), pointing back to
1210.—2a(Greek characters)b ((Hebrew characters)) is obviously inconsistent with 3a, and is best explained
as a gloss from the same hand as 1a(Greek characters) (KS. Ho.). Di. Gu.
al. consider it a variant from a parallel narrative of E (cf. (Hebrew characters)
with 222), to which Di. quite unnecessarily assigns also 1a(Greek characters) and 6; but the
evidence is too weak to warrant the improbable hypothesis of a second
E version of 201ff..—3b-5 an expansion in the manner of 2215-18, emphasising
the immutability of the oath to Abraham (see on 1518), and showing
many traces of late composition.
7-11. Rebekah's honour compromised.—7, 8. Isaac's
lie (as 1213 202), and the king's accidental discovery of it.—looked out at a window] possibly into a court of the palace:
cf. 2 Sa. 112.—(Hebrew characters)] exchanging conjugal caresses (see
on 216),—a play on the name Isaac. The vb. is nowhere
else construed with (Hebrew characters).—9, 10. Abimelech's rebuke of Isaac,
and the latter's self-exculpation.—thou mightest have brought guilt] Cf. 209. It is an instance of the writer's timid
handling of the theme (see below) that no actual complication
arises.—11. So stern an injunction would have been in
place in ch. 12 or ch. 20, but here it is unmotived.
That the three narratives 1210ff. 20, 267-11 are variations of a common
theme, appears not only from their close material resemblance, but also
3. (Hebrew characters)] so v.4; G Jub. read sing. The nearest analogies to this
use of pl. (which is rare and mostly late) are 1 Ch. 132, 2 Ch. 1123 =
'districts' (of Palestine).—(Hebrew characters)] see 198.—4a. The comparison with the
stars, as 155 2217.—4b, 5 almost verbally identical with 2218: note esp.
the uncommon (Hebrew characters).—5b (Hebrew characters) is made up of Priestly and Dtnic. expressions:
cf. Lv. 2646, Dt. 62 2845 3010 etc.—(Hebrew characters) denotes chiefly the service
of priests in the sanctuary, but is here used in a wider sense (cf. Lv.
1830 229, Dt. 111, Jos. 223, 1 Ki. 23, Mal. 314). The expression is highly
characteristic of P (Ho. Einl. 344).—(Hebrew characters)] [E]G + (Hebrew characters).
7. (Hebrew characters)] cf. 2922 3822, Ju. 1916.—(Hebrew characters)] a very rare and questionable
use of the word as a real inf. (dicere, not dicendo). Should (Hebrew characters) be
deleted? [E]G read (Hebrew characters).—10. (Hebrew characters)] G-K. § 106 p.—(Hebrew characters)] cons. pf.;
'thou wouldst (in that case) have brought.'—11. (Hebrew characters)] [E]G (Hebrew characters).
