Discovery BoxGenesis 4:10
Context4:10 But the Lord said, “What have you done? 1 The voice 2 of your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground!
Genesis 27:44
Context27:44 Live with him for a little while 3 until your brother’s rage subsides.
Genesis 38:8
Context38:8 Then Judah said to Onan, “Have sexual relations with 4 your brother’s wife and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her so that you may raise 5 up a descendant for your brother.” 6
Genesis 49:8
Context49:8 Judah, 7 your brothers will praise you.
Your hand will be on the neck of your enemies,
your father’s sons will bow down before you.
[4:10] 1 sn What have you done? Again the
[4:10] 2 tn The word “voice” is a personification; the evidence of Abel’s shed blood condemns Cain, just as a human eyewitness would testify in court. For helpful insights, see G. von Rad, Biblical Interpretations in Preaching; and L. Morris, “The Biblical Use of the Term ‘Blood,’” JTS 6 (1955/56): 77-82.
[27:44] 3 tn Heb “a few days.” Rebekah probably downplays the length of time Jacob will be gone, perhaps to encourage him and assure him that things will settle down soon. She probably expects Esau’s anger to die down quickly. However, Jacob ends up being gone twenty years and he never sees Rebekah again.
[38:8] 5 tn Heb “go to.” The expression is a euphemism for sexual intercourse.
[38:8] 6 tn The imperative with the prefixed conjunction here indicates purpose.
[38:8] 7 sn Raise up a descendant for your brother. The purpose of this custom, called the levirate system, was to ensure that no line of the family would become extinct. The name of the deceased was to be maintained through this custom of having a child by the nearest relative. See M. Burrows, “Levirate Marriage in Israel,” JBL 59 (1940): 23-33.
[49:8] 7 sn There is a wordplay here; the name Judah (יְהוּדָה, yÿhudah) sounds in Hebrew like the verb translated praise (יוֹדוּךָ, yodukha). The wordplay serves to draw attention to the statement as having special significance.
