59:4, 13, Pr. 25:4, 5. Or prep. Is. 7:15 מָאוֹס בָּרָע וּבָחוֹר בַּטּוֹב to refuse evil and choose good. It is not followed by gen. either of noun or pron.
Rem. 1. 1 S. 1:9 is the only ex. of inf. abs. with prep. (text dubious). The inf. abs. tends, however, to become a real noun (Job 25:2, Lam, 3:45), and may take prep. when so used, Is. 30:15, and also when used adverbially, Neh. 5:18. The inf. cons. hiph. is occasionally pointed like inf. abs., e.g. Deu. 32:8, Jer. 44:19, 25, which introduces some uncertainty (Deu. 26:12, Neh. 10:39 should perhaps be read pi.). Inf. abs. as obj. seems to occur first in Is.
§ 85. Use of inf. abs. — The inf. abs. is used first, along with the forms of its own verb, to add emphasis. In this case it stands chiefly before its verb, but also after it. Secondly, it is used adverbially to describe the action of a previous verb. And, thirdly, it is used instead of the finite or other inflected forms of the verb.
§ 86. Use along with its own verb. — (a) When before its verb the kind of emphasis given by inf. abs. may be of various kinds, e.g. that of strong asseveration in promises or threats; that of antithesis in adversative statements; the emphasis natural in a supposition or concession; and that of interrogation, particularly when the speaker is animated, and throws into the question an intonation of surprise, scorn, dislike, &c. Such shades cannot be reproduced in translation. Occasionally such a word as indeed, surely (Gen. 2:17), forsooth (37:8), of course (43:7), at all (Hos. 1:6), &c., may bring out the sense, but oftenest the kind of emphasis is best expressed by an intonation of the voice.
Ex. of asseveration: Gen. 2:17 מוֹת תָּמוּת thou shalt (surely) die! 16:10; 18:10, 2 S. 5:19. Frequently in injunctions; Ex. 21:28 סָקוֹל יִסָּקֵל הַשּׁוֹר the ox shall be stoned, 23:4, Deu. 12:2, and often. Antithesis: Jud. 15:13 לֹא כִּי אָסֹר נֶֽאֱסָרְךָ וְהָמֵת לֹא נְמִיתֶךָ nay, we will bind
