21:8 The child grew and was weaned. Abraham prepared 1 a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. 2
50:15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge and wants to repay 3 us in full 4 for all the harm 5 we did to him?”
1 tn Heb “made.”
2 sn Children were weaned closer to the age of two or three in the ancient world, because infant mortality was high. If an infant grew to this stage, it was fairly certain he or she would live. Such an event called for a celebration, especially for parents who had waited so long for a child.
3 tn The imperfect tense could be a simple future; it could also have a desiderative nuance.
4 tn The infinitive absolute makes the statement emphatic, “repay in full.”
5 tn Or “evil.”
5 tn Heb “and Joseph wept when they spoke to him.”