1 tn The phrase “I give” is not in the Hebrew text but has been supplied in the translation for clarification.
2 tn Heb “For I have known him.” The verb יָדַע (yada’) here means “to recognize and treat in a special manner, to choose” (see Amos 3:2). It indicates that Abraham stood in a special covenantal relationship with the
3 tn Heb “and they will keep.” The perfect verbal form with vav consecutive carries on the subjective nuance of the preceding imperfect verbal form (translated “so that he may command”).
4 tn The infinitive construct here indicates manner, explaining how Abraham’s children and his household will keep the way of the
5 tn Heb “bring on.” The infinitive after לְמַעַן (lÿma’an) indicates result here.
6 tn Heb “spoke to.”
7 tn Or “the land of my birth.”
8 tn Heb “and who spoke to me and who swore to me, saying.”
9 tn Or “his messenger.”
10 tn Heb “before you and you will take.”
11 sn I will also give your camels water. It would be an enormous test for a young woman to water ten camels. The idea is that such a woman would not only be industrious but hospitable and generous.
12 tn Heb “And let the young woman to whom I say, ‘Lower your jar that I may drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink and I will also give your camels water,’ – her you have appointed for your servant, for Isaac, and by it I will know that you have acted in faithfulness with my master.”
13 tn Heb “your descendants.”
14 tn Traditionally the verb is taken as passive (“will be blessed”) here, as if Abraham’s descendants were going to be a channel or source of blessing to the nations. But the Hitpael is better understood here as reflexive/reciprocal, “will bless [i.e., pronounce blessings on] themselves/one another” (see also Gen 22:18). Elsewhere the Hitpael of the verb “to bless” is used with a reflexive/reciprocal sense in Deut 29:18; Ps 72:17; Isa 65:16; Jer 4:2. Gen 12:2 predicts that Abram will be held up as a paradigm of divine blessing and that people will use his name in their blessing formulae. For examples of blessing formulae utilizing an individual as an example of blessing see Gen 48:20 and Ruth 4:11. Earlier formulations of this promise (see Gen 12:2; 18:18) use the Niphal stem. (See also Gen 28:14.)
15 tn Heb “wide on both hands,” that is, in both directions.
16 tn The words “to marry” are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied in the translation for clarity.
17 tn Heb “I will go to you.” The imperfect verbal form probably indicates his desire here. The expression “go to” is a euphemism for sexual intercourse.
18 tn Heb “for he did not know that.”
19 tn Heb “when you come to me.” This expression is a euphemism for sexual intercourse.
20 tn After the imperative, the prefixed verbal form with vav here indicates consequence.
21 sn Pharaoh’s slaves. The idea of slavery is not attractive to the modern mind, but in the ancient world it was the primary way of dealing with the poor and destitute. If the people became slaves of Pharaoh, it was Pharaoh’s responsibility to feed them and care for them. It was the best way for them to survive the famine.
22 tn After the imperative, the prefixed verbal form with vav here indicates purpose or result.
23 tn The disjunctive clause structure (vav [ו] + subject + negated verb) highlights the statement and brings their argument to a conclusion.