Biblical Hebrew Forum

[K Randolph <kwrandolph AT gmail.com>]

Nir:

On Fri, Oct 5, 2012 at 2:46 PM, Nir cohen - Prof. Mat. <nir AT ccet.ufrn.br> wrote:

jim,

i suspect that the traditional reading of this phrase is wrong.

“Traditional reading”???

 

L) $LM (WNW does not mean here "he has not paid enough" but
rather "he is not culpable enough".

This latter reading is the traditional reading I have heard all my life.

 

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.

A second question, is “Amorite” in this verse used as a noun or as an adjective? In other words, was there a certain perversion (whose identity was not mentioned in Genesis) that was particularly common among the Amorites, hence  was known as “the Amorite perversion”?

As far as Abram’s connections with a particular Amorite, that it was mentioned only once shows that it was probably no more than the likes of a rental agreement. That it was not a close relationship can be seen in that Abram told the king of Sodom to make a separate arrangement with Abram’s Amorite ally after the battle instead of the two acting in concert.

nir cohen

Karl W. Randolph.