26:13 By his breath 1 the skies became fair;
his hand pierced the fleeing serpent. 2
34:10 “Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding. 3
Far be it from 4 God to do wickedness,
from the Almighty to do evil.
1 tn Or “wind”; or perhaps “Spirit.” The same Hebrew word, רוּחַ (ruakh), may be translated as “wind,” “breath,” or “spirit/Spirit” depending on the context.
2 sn Here too is a reference to pagan views indirectly. The fleeing serpent was a designation for Leviathan, whom the book will simply describe as an animal, but the pagans thought to be a monster of the deep. God’s power over nature is associated with defeat of pagan gods (see further W. F. Albright, Yahweh and the Gods of Canaan; idem, BASOR 53 [1941]: 39).
3 tn Heb “men of heart.” The “heart” is used for the capacity to understand and make the proper choice. It is often translated “mind.”
4 tn For this construction, see Job 27:5.