Discovery BoxGenesis 2:5 
Context2:5 Now 1 no shrub of the field had yet grown on the earth, and no plant of the field 2 had yet sprouted, for the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground. 3
Genesis 3:22
Context3:22 And the Lord God said, “Now 4 that the man has become like one of us, 5 knowing 6 good and evil, he must not be allowed 7 to stretch out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.”
Genesis 17:17
Context17:17 Then Abraham bowed down with his face to the ground and laughed 8 as he said to himself, 9 “Can 10 a son be born to a man who is a hundred years old? 11 Can Sarah 12 bear a child at the age of ninety?” 13
Genesis 19:8-9
Context19:8 Look, I have two daughters who have never had sexual relations with 14 a man. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do to them whatever you please. 15 Only don’t do anything to these men, for they have come under the protection 16 of my roof.” 17
19:9 “Out of our way!” 18 they cried, and “This man came to live here as a foreigner, 19 and now he dares to judge us! 20 We’ll do more harm 21 to you than to them!” They kept 22 pressing in on Lot until they were close enough 23 to break down the door.
Genesis 20:7
Context20:7 But now give back the man’s wife. Indeed 24 he is a prophet 25 and he will pray for you; thus you will live. 26 But if you don’t give her back, 27 know that you will surely die 28 along with all who belong to you.”
Genesis 43:7
Context43:7 They replied, “The man questioned us 29 thoroughly 30 about ourselves and our family, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ 31 So we answered him in this way. 32 How could we possibly know 33 that he would say, 34 ‘Bring your brother down’?”
Genesis 43:11
Context43:11 Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Take some of the best products of the land in your bags, and take a gift down to the man – a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachios and almonds.
Genesis 43:23
Context43:23 “Everything is fine,” 35 the man in charge of Joseph’s household told them. “Don’t be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks. 36 I had your money.” 37 Then he brought Simeon out to them.
Genesis 44:26
Context44:26 But we replied, ‘We cannot go down there. 38 If our youngest brother is with us, then we will go, 39 for we won’t be permitted to see the man’s face if our youngest brother is not with us.’
1 tn Heb “Now every sprig of the field before it was.” The verb forms, although appearing to be imperfects, are technically preterites coming after the adverb טֶּרֶם (terem). The word order (conjunction + subject + predicate) indicates a disjunctive clause, which provides background information for the following narrative (as in 1:2). Two negative clauses are given (“before any sprig…”, and “before any cultivated grain” existed), followed by two causal clauses explaining them, and then a positive circumstantial clause is given – again dealing with water as in 1:2 (water would well up).
2 tn The first term, שִׂיחַ (siakh), probably refers to the wild, uncultivated plants (see Gen 21:15; Job 30:4,7); whereas the second, עֵשֶׂב (’esev), refers to cultivated grains. It is a way of saying: “back before anything was growing.”
3 tn The two causal clauses explain the first two disjunctive clauses: There was no uncultivated, general growth because there was no rain, and there were no grains because there was no man to cultivate the soil.
sn The last clause in v. 5, “and there was no man to cultivate the ground,” anticipates the curse and the expulsion from the garden (Gen 3:23).
4 tn The particle הֵן (hen) introduces a foundational clause, usually beginning with “since, because, now.”
5 sn The man has become like one of us. See the notes on Gen 1:26 and 3:5.
6 tn The infinitive explains in what way the man had become like God: “knowing good and evil.”
7 tn Heb “and now, lest he stretch forth.” Following the foundational clause, this clause forms the main point. It is introduced with the particle פֶּן (pen) which normally introduces a negative purpose, “lest….” The construction is elliptical; something must be done lest the man stretch forth his hand. The translation interprets the point intended.
8 sn Laughed. The Hebrew verb used here provides the basis for the naming of Isaac: “And he laughed” is וַיִּצְחָק (vayyitskhaq); the name “Isaac” is יִצְחָק (yitskhaq), “he laughs.” Abraham’s (and Sarah’s, see 18:12) laughter signals disbelief, but when the boy is born, the laughter signals surprise and joy.
9 tn Heb “And he fell on his face and laughed and said in his heart.”
10 tn The imperfect verbal form here carries a potential nuance, as it expresses the disbelief of Abraham.
11 tn Heb “to the son of a hundred years.”
12 sn It is important to note that even though Abraham staggers at the announcement of the birth of a son, finding it almost too incredible, he nonetheless calls his wife Sarah, the new name given to remind him of the promise of God (v. 15).
13 tn Heb “the daughter of ninety years.”
14 tn Heb “who have not known.” Here this expression is a euphemism for sexual intercourse.
15 tn Heb “according to what is good in your eyes.”
16 tn Heb “shadow.”
17 sn This chapter portrays Lot as a hypocrite. He is well aware of the way the men live in his city and is apparently comfortable in the midst of it. But when confronted by the angels, he finally draws the line. But he is nevertheless willing to sacrifice his daughters’ virginity to protect his guests. His opposition to the crowds leads to his rejection as a foreigner by those with whom he had chosen to live. The one who attempted to rescue his visitors ends up having to be rescued by them.
18 tn Heb “approach out there” which could be rendered “Get out of the way, stand back!”
19 tn Heb “to live as a resident alien.”
20 tn Heb “and he has judged, judging.” The infinitive absolute follows the finite verbal form for emphasis. This emphasis is reflected in the translation by the phrase “dares to judge.”
21 tn The verb “to do wickedly” is repeated here (see v. 7). It appears that whatever “wickedness” the men of Sodom had intended to do to Lot’s visitors – probably nothing short of homosexual rape – they were now ready to inflict on Lot.
22 tn Heb “and they pressed against the man, against Lot, exceedingly.”
23 tn Heb “and they drew near.”
24 tn Or “for,” if the particle is understood as causal (as many English translations do) rather than asseverative.
25 sn For a discussion of the term prophet see N. Walker, “What is a Nabhi?” ZAW 73 (1961): 99-100.
26 tn After the preceding jussive (or imperfect), the imperative with vav conjunctive here indicates result.
sn He will pray for you that you may live. Abraham was known as a man of God whose prayer would be effectual. Ironically and sadly, he was also known as a liar.
27 tn Heb “if there is not you returning.” The suffix on the particle becomes the subject of the negated clause.
28 tn The imperfect is preceded by the infinitive absolute to make the warning emphatic.
29 tn The word “us” has been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
30 tn The infinitive absolute with the perfect verbal form emphasizes that Joseph questioned them thoroughly.
31 sn The report given here concerning Joseph’s interrogation does not exactly match the previous account where they supplied the information to clear themselves (see 42:13). This section may reflect how they remembered the impact of his interrogation, whether he asked the specific questions or not. That may be twisting the truth to protect themselves, not wanting to admit that they volunteered the information. (They admitted as much in 42:31, but now they seem to be qualifying that comment.) On the other hand, when speaking to Joseph later (see 44:19), Judah claims that Joseph asked for the information about their family, making it possible that 42:13 leaves out some of the details of their first encounter.
32 tn Heb “and we told to him according to these words.”
33 tn The infinitive absolute emphasizes the imperfect verbal form, which here is a historic future (that is, future from the perspective of a past time).
34 tn Once again the imperfect verbal form is used as a historic future (that is, future from the perspective of past time).
35 tn Heb “and he said, ‘peace to you.’” Here the statement has the force of “everything is fine,” or perhaps even “calm down.” The referent of “he” (the man in charge of Joseph’ household) has been specified in the translation for clarity, and the order of the introductory clause and the direct discourse has been rearranged for stylistic reasons.
36 sn Your God and the God of your father…This is the first clear reference in the story to the theme of divine providence – that God works through the human actions to do his will.
37 tn Heb “your money came to me.”
38 tn The direct object is not specified in the Hebrew text, but is implied; “there” is supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
39 tn Heb “go down.”
