Genesis

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 12:18b):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וַיֹּאמֶר מַה־זֹּאת עָשִׂיתָ לִּי

Transliteration:

wayyōʾmer ma-zōʾt ʿāśîtā lî

Translation (Wenham):

and said, “What have you done to me?

Comment by Gordon J. Wenham, Genesis 1-15 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1987):

"What have you done?" The enclitic זֹּאת gives the ordinary מַה "what" a little more emphasis. Exactly the same question was put to Eve (3:13), without the enclitic it was put to Cain in 4:10, and again in 20:9; 26:10. Foreign kings are always shocked by the patriarchs' dishonesty in such a grave matter.

Glossary (meanings in this context):

‏wayyōʾmer/וַיֹּאמֶר : consecutive ‏wa/וַ + Qal imperfect of ‏ʾāmar/‏אָמַר : and said.
‏ma/מַה : interrogative : what?
‏zōʾt/זֹּאת : feminine of demonstrative pronoun ‏zeh/‏זֶה : this.
‏ʿāśîtā/עָשִׂיתָ : Qal perfect 2 m.s. of ‏ʿāśâ/‏עָשָׂה : you have done.
‏lî/לִּי : preposition ‏lᵉ/‏לְ + pronominal suffix : to me.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 12:18c):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏לָמָּה לֹא־הִגַּדְתָּ לִּי כִּי אִשְׁתְּךָ הִוא

Transliteration:

lāmmâ lōʾ-higgadtā lî kî ʾištᵉkā hiwʾ

Translation (Wenham):

Why did you not tell me that she was your wife?

Comment by Gordon J. Wenham, Genesis 1-15 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1987):

A triplet of accusations couched as questions follow: "What ... "Why" ... "Why?" Pharaoh's sense of grievance and surprise is detectable in the Hebrew phrasing.

Glossary (meanings in this context):

‏lāmmâ/לָמָּה : why?
‏lōʾ/לֹא : [did you] not.
higgadtā/הִגַּדְתָּ : Hiphil perfect of nāgad/‏נָגַד‏ : declare.
lî/לִּי : preposition lᵉ/‏לְ + pronominal suffix : to me.
kî/כִּי : that.
hiwʾ/הִוא : she [is].
ʾištᵉkā/אִשְׁתְּךָ : noun ʾiššâ/‏אִשָּׁה + pronominal suffix : your wife.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 12:19a):

‏לָמָה אָמַרְתָּ אֲחֹתִי הִוא

Transliteration:

lāmâ ʾāmartā ʾᵃḥōtî hiwʾ

Translation (Wenham):

Why did you say, "She is my sister?"

Comment by Gordon J. Wenham, Genesis 1-15 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1987):

A triplet of accusations couched as questions follow: "What ... "Why" ... "Why?" Pharaoh's sense of grievance and surprise is detectable in the Hebrew phrasing.

Glossary (meanings in this context):

‏lāmâ/לָמָּה : preposition lᵉ/‏לְ + interrogative ‏mâ/‏מָה : (literally "for what") why?
‏ʾāmartā/אָמַרְתָּ : Qal perfect 2 m.s. of ʾāmar/‏אָמַר : did you say.
hiwʾ/הִוא : she [is].
ʾᵃḥōtî/אֲחֹתִי : noun ʾāḥôt/‏אָחוֹת + pronominal suffix : my sister.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 12:19b):

‏‏וָאֶקַּח אֹתָהּ לִי לְאִשָּׁה

Transliteration:

wāʾeqqaḥ ʾōtâh lî lᵉʾiššâ

Translation (NRSV):

so that I took her for my wife

Glossary (meanings in this context):

‏wāʾeqqaḥ/וָאֶקַּח : consecutive wā/וָ + Qal imperfect of ‏lāqaḥ/‏לָקַח : so that I took.
ʾōtâh/אֹתָהּ : direct object indicator ʾēt/‏אֵת + pronominal suffix : her.
lî/לִי : preposition lᵉ/‏לְ + pronominal suffix : to myself.
lᵉʾiššâ/לְאִשָּׁה : preposition lᵉ/‏לְ + noun ʾiššâ/אִשָּׁה : for a wife.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 12:19c):

‏‏‏וְעַתָּה הִנֵּה אִשְׁתְּךָ

Transliteration:

wᵉʿattâ hinnê ʾištᵉkā

Translation (Wenham):

Now here is your wife.

Comment by Gordon J. Wenham, Genesis 1-15 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1987):

וְעַתָּה "now" customarily introduces a decision based on the immediately preceding statements, often judicial sentences on sin. (e.g., 3:22; 4:11; 11:6; 20:7).

Glossary (meanings in this context):

‏wᵉʿattâ/וְעַתָּה : conjunction ‏wᵉ/וְ‏ + adverb ʿattâ/עַתָּה : now.
hinnê/הִנֵּה : here [is] (expresses immediacy in space or time).
ʾištᵉkā/אִשְׁתְּךָ : noun ʾiššâ/‏אִשָּׁה + pronominal suffix : your wife.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 12:19d):

‏‏‏‏קַח וָלֵךְ

Transliteration:

qaḥ wālēk

Translation (Wenham):

Take her and go.

Comment by Gordon J. Wenham, Genesis 1-15 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1987):

The sentence on Abraham is barked out in four Hebrew words. "Here ... wife ... take ... go." The very abruptness expresses Pharaoh's anger. In the event, however, Abram is only sentenced to deportation. Considering that he had feared death at Egyptian hands and that his dishonesty had involved the king in adultery, which was regarded throughout the ancient world as the "great sin" deserving the death penalty, the royal leniency is remarkable. Pharaoh implicitly acknowledges that God is protecting Abram (cf. 12:3), and he therefore takes no revenge on him. Nor does Abram respond to the rebuke. He leaves the last word to the Pharaoh, thereby acknowledging his own guilt and the justice of the royal anger.

Glossary (meanings in this context):

‏qaḥ/קַח : Qal imperative of ‏lāqaḥ/‏לָקַח : take!
‏wālēk/וָלֵךְ : Waw (pointed וָ) immediately before tone syllable at end of sentence (object ["her"] omitted since there is no ambiguity) + Qal imperative of hālak/‏הָלַךְ : go!

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 12:20a):

‏‏‏‏‏וַיְצַו עָלָיו פַּרְעֹה אֲנָשִׁים

Transliteration:

wayᵉṣaw ʿālāyw parʿō ʾᵃnāšîm

Translation (Hamilton):

Then Pharaoh put men in charge of him.

Comment by Victor P. Hamilton, Genesis 1-17 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1990):

That Pharaoh put men in charge of him is a further expression of his concern that nothing happen to Abram and his entourage to arouse further the wrath of Abram's deity against Egypt.

Glossary (meanings in this context):

‏parʿō/פַּרְעֹה : Pharaoh.
wayᵉṣaw/וַיְצַו : consecutive wa/וַ + Qal imperfect of ṣāwâ/‏צָוָה : then charged.
ʾᵃnāšîm/אֲנָשִׁים : plural of ʾîš/‏אִישׁ : men.
ʿālāyw/עָלָיו : preposition ʿal/‏עַל + pronominal suffix : concerning him.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 12:20b):

‏‏‏‏‏‏וַיְשַׁלְּחוּ אֹתוֹ

Transliteration:

wayᵉšallᵉḥû ʾōtô

Translation (Hamilton):

They sent him away.

Comment by Victor P. Hamilton, Genesis 1-17 (NICOT; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1990):

They sent him away. Abram's expulsion from Egypt is expressed by the Piel of šālaḥ. This form was used earlier when God "sent forth" Adam and Eve from the garden (3:23). It appears later in texts that describe Pharaoh's release of the Israelites from his tight hold (Exodus 6:1; 11:1; 12:33).

Glossary (meanings in this context):

‏wayᵉšallᵉḥû/וַיְשַׁלְּחוּ : consecutive ‏wa/וַ + Piel imperfect of šālaḥ/‏שָׁלַח : they sent away.
ʾōtô/אֹתוֹ : direct object indicator (‏אֵת) + pronominal suffix : him.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 12:20b):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וְאֶת־אִשְׁתּוֹ וְאֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ

Transliteration:

wᵉʾet-ʾištô wᵉʾet-kol-ʾᵃšer-lô

Translation (Hamilton):

along with his wife and all that he had.

Comment by Victor P. Hamilton, Genesis 1-17 (NICOT; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1990):

.... Unlike the Egyptians in Exodus, the Egyptians in Gen. 12:10-20 are not oppressors. Pharaoh is not cruel to Abram. .... Throughout Gen. 12―50 Egypt is a symbol of safety and provision for the patriarchs and their families. If anything, Egypt is the oppressed in Genesis.

Glossary (meanings in this context):

‏wᵉʾet/וְאֶת : conjunction ‏wᵉ/וְ + direct object indicator (‏אֵת) : along with.
ʾištô/אִשְׁתּוֹ : noun ʾiššâ/‏אִשָּׁה + pronominal suffix : his wife.
‏wᵉʾet/וְאֶת : conjunction ‏wᵉ/וְ + direct object indicator (‏אֵת) : and.
kol/כָּל : construct of kōl/‏כֹּל : all.
ʾᵃšer/אֲשֶׁר : relative : that.
lô/לוֹ : preposition lᵉ/‏לְ + pronominal suffix : [belonged] to him.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 13:1):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וַיַּעַל אַבְרָם מִמִּצְרַיִם

Transliteration:

wayyaʿal ʾabrām mimmiṣrayim

Translation (Wenham):

Then Abram went up from Egypt

Comment by Gordon J. Wenham, Genesis 1-15 (WBC; Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1987):

וַיַּעַל He went up is the usual term to describe journeys from Egypt to Canaan. One goes down to Egypt (12:10) and up to Canaan.

Glossary (meanings in this context):

‏ʾabrām/אַבְרָם : Abram.
‏wayyaʿal/וַיַּעַל : consecutive wa/וַ + Qal imperfect of ʿālâ/‏עָלָה : then went up.
‏mimmiṣrayim/מִמִּצְרַיִם : preposition min/‏מִן + noun ‏miṣrayim/‏מִצְרַיִם : from Egypt.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 13:1b):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏הוּא וְאִשְׁתּוֹ וְכָל־אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ וְלוֹט עִמּוֹ

Transliteration:

hûʾ wᵉʾištô wᵉkol-ʾᵃšer-lô wᵉlôṭ ʿimmô

Translation (Wenham):

he and his wife and all who belonged to him, including Lot

Comment by Gordon J. Wenham, Genesis 1-15 (WBC; Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1987):

"He and his wife ...." This phrase summarizing Abram's entourage in 12:20 is here expanded to include an explicit mention of Lot ("including Lot"), who is to figure so prominently in the next episode. He was last referred to in 12:5.

Glossary (meanings in this context):

‏hûʾ/הוּא : resumptive use of subject pronoun (Joüon, 146c) : he.
‏wᵉʾištô/וְאִשְׁתּוֹ : conjunction ‏wᵉ/וְ + noun ‏ʾiššâ/‏אִשָּׁה + pronominal suffix : and his wife.
wᵉkol/וְכָל : conjunction ‏wᵉ/וְ + construct of kōl/‏כֹּל : and all.
ʾᵃšer/אֲשֶׁר : relative : who.
lô/לוֹ : preposition lᵉ/‏לְ + pronominal suffix : [belonged] to him.
wᵉlôṭ/וְלוֹט : conjunction ‏wᵉ/וְ + noun ‏lôṭ/‏לוֹט : and Lot.
ʿimmô/עִמּוֹ : preposition ʿim/‏עִם + pronominal suffix : with him.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 13:1c):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏הַנֶּגְבָּה

Transliteration:

hannegbâ

Translation (Wenham):

to the Negeb.

Comment by Gordon J. Wenham, Genesis 1-15 (WBC; Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1987):

"To the Negeb." Cf. 12:9 when Abram approached from the north. In the middle Bronze Age 1, there was more settlement in the Negeb than in subsequent eras, and it has been noted that the only references to the patriarchs' presence there is in the Abraham cycle (...).

Glossary (meanings in this context):

hannegbâ/‏הַנֶּגְבָּה : definite article + negeb/‏‏נֶגֶב + directional ending ‏ה : to the Negeb.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 13:2):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וְאַבְרָם כָּבֵד מְאֹד בַּמִּקְנֶה בַּכֶּסֶף וּבַזָּהָב

Transliteration:

wᵉʾabrām kābēd mᵉʾōd bammiqneh bakkesep ûbazzāhāb

Translation (Wenham):

Now Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold.

Comment by Gordon J. Wenham, Genesis 1-15 (WBC; Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1987):

כָּבֵד "Rich, severe." The use of the same term in speaking of Abram's wealth and of the famine (12:10) invites the comparison of his situation at the beginning of the two episodes. ‏מִקְנֶה "livestock" covers all sorts of animals that are herded (...). "Silver and gold" is the first mention of patriarchal financial assets. It seems likely that Abram is reckoned to have acquired this as a result of his Egyptian sojourn, perhaps by way of compensation for the pharaonic adultery (...). The Israelites were also given silver and gold before leaving Egypt (...). So in this respect too, Abram's departure from Egypt foreshadows the exodus.

Glossary (meanings in this context):

wᵉʾabrām/‏וְאַבְרָם : conjunction wᵉ/וְ + name ʾabrām/‏אַבְרָם : now Abram.
kābēd/‏כָּבֵד : [was] rich.*
mᵉʾōd/‏מְאֹד : adverb : very.
bammiqneh/‏בַּמִּקְנֶה : prep. bᵉ/‏‏בְּ + definite article + noun (‏מִקְנֶה) : in livestock.
bakkesep/‏בַּכֶּסֶף : prep. bᵉ/‏‏בְּ + definite article + noun (‏‏כֶּסֶף) : in silver.
ûbazzāhāb/‏וּבַזָּהָב : conj. û/‏וּ + prep. bᵉ/‏‏בְּ + definite article + noun (‏‏‏זָהָב) : and in gold.

*כָּבֵד is an adjective in both 13:2 and 12:10 (per HALOT); the form/spelling of the adjective is the same as the Qal perfect of the verb.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 13:3a):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וַיֵּלֶךְ לְמַסָּעָיו מִנֶּגֶב

Transliteration:

wayyēlek lᵉmassāʿāyw minnegeb

Translation (JPS):

and he proceeded by stages from the Negeb

Comment by Gordon J. Wenham, Genesis 1-15 (WBC; Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1987):

לְמַסָּעָיו "By stages" is a term used elsewhere in the Pentateuch only of the stopping places of the Israelites in the wilderness, e.g. Exod 17:1; Num 10:12, etc.

Comment by Nahum M. Sarna, The JPS Torah Commentary: Genesis (Philadelphia: The Jewish Publication Society, 1989):

by stages....Compare 12:9. He moved from one watering place to another.

Glossary (meanings in this context):

wayyēlek/‏וַיֵּלֶךְ : consecutive wa/‏וַ + Qal imperfect of hālak/‏‏הָלַךְ : and he went.
lᵉmassāʿāyw/‏לְמַסָּעָיו : preposition lᵉ/‏לְ + plural of masaʿ/‏‏מַסַּע + pronominal suffix : by (according to) his daily marches (HALOT) / his journeyings (BDB).
minnegeb/‏מִנֶּגֶב : preposition min/‏‏מִן + noun negeb/‏‏נֶגֶב : from the Negeb.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 13:3b):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וְעַד־בֵּית־אֵל עַד־הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר־הָיָה שָׁם אָהֳלֹה [אָהֳלוֹ] בַּתְּחִלָּה בֵּין בֵּית־אֵל וּבֵין הָעָי

Transliteration:

wᵉʿad-bêt-ʾēl ʿad-hammāqôm ʾᵃšer-hāyâ šām ʾohᵒlō [ʾohᵒlô] battᵉḥillâ bên bêt-ʾēl ûbên hāʿāy

Translation (JPS):

as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been formerly, between Bethel and Ai

Comment by Bruce K. Waltke, Genesis (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2001):

the place [māqôm]. This is better translated "the sacred site" (see 12:6).
tent. this is a nomad-pilgrim's residence (see 13:6).

Glossary (meanings in this context):

wᵉʿad/‏וְעַד : conjunction wᵉ/‏וְ + preposition ʿad/‏ עַד: as far as.
bêt-ʾēl/‏בֵּית־אֵל : proper name : Bethel.
ʿad/‏ עַד: to.
hammāqôm/‏ הַמָּקוֹם: definite article + noun māqôm/‏מָקוֹם‏ : the place.
ʾᵃšer/‏ אֲשֶׁר: relative : where.
hāyâ/‏ הָיָה: Qal perfect : had been.
šām/‏ שָׁם: there.
ʾohᵒlō/‏ אָהֳלוֹ: noun ʾōhel/‏‏אֹהֶל + pronominal suffix : his tent.
battᵉḥillâ/‏ בַּתְּחִלָּה: preposition bᵉ/‏ ‏בְּ+ definite article + tᵉḥilâ/‏ ‏תְּחִלָּה: at the beginning.
bên/‏ בֵּין: construct of bayin/‏: ‏בַּיִן between.
bêt-ʾēl/‏ בֵּית־אֵל: proper name : Bethel.
ûbên/‏ וּבֵין: conjunction û/‏ וּ+ construct of bayin/‏: ‏בַּיִן and.
hāʿāy/‏ הָעָי: definite article + proper name : Ai.