Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Nir cohen - Prof. Mat." <nir AT ccet.ufrn.br>]

jim,

i suspect that the traditional reading of this phrase is wrong.
L) $LM (WNW does not mean here "he has not paid enough" but 
rather "he is not culpable enough". the entire phrase changes its meaning
drastically:

          "so far i find not enough wrong with the emorites 
          (so as to expel them from the land)." 

or

           "only by that time (when the hebrews return after 4 
           generations) will i find enough wrong with the emorites 
           (so as to expel them from the land)." 

in both versions, this gives a reason not why the emorites will be punished,
but quite the contrary, why they will be spared for four entire generations
(along with the other canaanite groups). and, indirectly and more i
mportantly (to abraham), why the returning hebrews will have to wait these
four generations. 

now, although EVERYBODY in canaan will be spared for the time being, 
only the emorites are mentioned since, as abraham's allies, only they 
had gained a "protected status".

it is interesting to follow this protected status, which during moses'
time extended to another group.

i also associate this episode with the canaanites to sodom and gomora, 
where god was willing to spare the cities for the cause of a small 
group of just people. 

nir cohen

>>> jim stinehart : But if the Biblical phrase “the Amorite”/H-)MRY meant “all
the inhabitants of Canaan”, then everyone in Canaan except the Hebrews has
been divinely judged by YHWH to be iniquitous.  Is that a sensible
interpretation of this text?  Abram has just been in an invaluable covenant
relationship with Mamre the Amorite...