to light in their first interview with Yahwe; and this is
delineated with a skill hardly surpassed in the account of
the temptation itself.—8. they heard the sound] (
Hebrew characters) used of
footsteps, as 2 Sa. 524, 1 Ki. 146, 2 Ki. 632: cf. Ezk. 312f.,
Jl. 25.—of Yahwe God as He walked] The verb is used
(Lv. 2612, Dt. 2315, 2 Sa. 76) of Yahwe's majestic marching
in the midst of Israel; but it mars the simplicity of the
representation if (with De.) we introduce that idea here.—in the cool (lit. 'at the breeze') of the day] i.e. towards evening,
when in Eastern lands a refreshing wind springs up (cf.
Ca. 217 46: but v.i.), and the master, who has kept his
house or tent during the 'heat of the day' (181), can walk
abroad with comfort (2463). Such, we are led to understand,
was Yahwe's daily practice; and the man and woman had
been wont to meet Him with the glad confidence of
innocence. But on this occasion they hid themselves, etc.—9.
Where art thou?] (cf. 49). The question expresses
ignorance; it is not omniscience that the writer wishes to
illustrate, but the more impressive attribute of sagacity.—10.
I feared . . . naked] With the instinctive cunning of a bad
conscience, the man hopes to escape complete exposure
by acknowledging part of the truth; he alleges nakedness
as the ground of his fear, putting fear and shame in a false
causal connexion (Ho.).—11. Hast thou eaten, etc.?] All
unwittingly he has disclosed his guilty secret: he has shown
himself possessed of a knowledge which could only have
been acquired in one way.—12. The man cannot even yet
bring himself to make a clean breast of it; but with a quaint
mixture of cowardice and effrontery he throws the blame
8. (Hebrew characters)] acc. of condition: Dav. § 70 (a).—(Hebrew characters)] G (Greek characters),
V ad auram post meridiem, S (Syriac characters), TO (Hebrew characters). On
this use of (Hebrew characters) (= 'towards'), see BDB, s.v. 6 a; and cf. 811 1721, Is.
715, Jb. 2414. With (Hebrew characters) cf. Ar. rawāḥ = tempus vespertinum. Jewish
exegesis (Ber. R.) and Calv. suppose the morning (sea) breeze to be
meant, as is probably the case in Ca. 217 46, and would seem more in
accordance with Palestinian conditions. But it is manifestly improbable
here.—(Hebrew characters)] coll., as often. GL om.—9. (Hebrew characters)] G-K. § 100 o. G supplies
'Adam' before, and S after, the interrog.—10. (Hebrew characters)] G (Greek characters)
(as v.8).—11. (Hebrew characters)] See G-K. § 114 s.—Before (Greek characters) G has (Greek characters)
