DIFFERENT RECORDS. 299 with each other; so that the chronological order alone formed the slender thread by which the separate events were strung together. These two portions were remarkably distinguished by the names (Jehovah and Elohim) which they respectively ascribed to the Deity; and thus it was said that the titles of particular sections, the frequent contradictions, and the differences in style, might be explained by the hypothesis of these two records, which were subsequently called by the distinctive names of Elohim and Jehovah. Even Jahn and Eichhorn2 felt themselves obliged to yield their assent to this theory, though at the same time they were forced to assume that Moses must have had these ancient materials already in his possession. Eichhorn indeed carried the above-mentioned theory still further, and from him we may date that rage for subdividing Genesis into small portions, in which Ilgen and Gramberg have left all competitors behind them3. The use of a particular name would in itself add little force to the argument, since it is generally found to prevail in the different sections of Genesis, and is subject besides to frequent change; occasionally also we find, that in one and the same portion (as for instance in the speech of Balaam) sometimes the name Elohim1 and sometimes the name Jehovah is employed; so that Vater and De Wette have 1 Einleitung (Introd.) ii. 95. 2 Introd. ii. § 416. 3 Ilgen, Urkunden des Jerusalemitanischen Tempelarchivs in ihrer Urgestalt (Records of the Temple Archives at Jerusalem in their Primitive State), Halle, 1798. Gramberg, Libri Geneseos secundurn fontes rite dignoscendos, adumbratio nova: Lips. 1828. Comparative tables may be seen in Vater, and in the Introduction of De Wette. 4 Numb. xxii. 9, 10, 12, 35; xxiii. 4. 5 Numb. xxii. 8, 18, 19, 31; xxiii. 5, 26. 300 ELOHIM RECORDS. thought it necessary to have recourse to other evidence to complete their proof of the fragmentary character of the Pentateuch. Still this variation in the name of the Deity is well deserving of attention, when other grounds of judgement are found to support it, and accordingly the following observations in reference to Genesis are worthy of notice. The name Elohim appears to be used with remarkable consistency for that of God, in some particular portions of the first part of Genesis1, which are found when placed in succession to form a perfectly connected whole, and also in some of those insulated narratives, and occasional digressions which seem to interrupt the principal history. All these portions of Genesis show one original plan, are more ancient and simple in their character*, and betray stronger traces of polytheism5; they are partial to tautology, and they confine themselves to the use of favourite words and phrases, as 'el shaddai, God Almighty"; 1 Gen. i—ii. 3; v., vi. 9–22; vii. 11, to the end; viii. 1–19; ix. 1–17; xi. 10-32. 2 Gen. xvii.; xx-xxii.; xxxv. 4 Compare Gen. i. with ii.; xvii. with xix. 29. 3 Gen. xxv. 7, 11. 17. 5 "And God ('Elohim) said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness."-Gen. i. 26. "The sons of God ('Elohim) saw the daughters of men that they were fair."-Gen. vi. 2. "When God caused me to wander from my father's house.” -Gen. xx. 13. 6 "Jehovah appeared unto Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God."”—Gen. xvii. 1. "God Almighty bless thee."-Gen. xxviii. 3. "God said unto him [Jacob], I am God Almighty."- Gen. xxxv. 11. “God Almighty give you mercy before the man.”—Gen. xliii. 14. "God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan.' Gen. xlviii. 3. "The Almighty who shall bless thee."-Gen. xlix. 25. See Commentary on Genesis V. and XVII. "" ELOHIM RECORDS. 301 they refer religious usages to a very high antiquity, represent God as making a covenant with man, and attach great importance to dreams and to their interpretation1. Besides these general characteristics, we may add the separate titles prefixed to particular sections, which suggest in themselves the idea of separate narratives2; and in frequent combination with these and the distinctive name of the Deity, we are struck with peculiarities of phrase and diction and variations in the style or tone of composition which may be traced throughout the whole book of Genesis3. Those portions, on the other hand, which employ the name Jehovah are distinguished by a greater predilection for the marvellous, by descriptions of the Deity under a 1 See Stähelin, p. 87, &c. 2 "These are the generations of the heavens and the earth, when they were created, in the day that the Lord God [Jehovah Elohim] made the earth and the heavens."-- Gen. ii. 4. "This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God [Elohim] created man, in the likeness of God [Elohim] made he him.” Gen. v. 1. "These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man, and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God [Elohim]."Gen. vi. 9. "Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth."-Gen. x. 1. “These are the generations of Shem........Now these are the generations of Terah."-- Gen. xi. 10, 27. "Now these are the generations of Ishmael...............And these are the generations of Isaac."-Gen. xxv. 12, 19. "Now these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom."-Gen. xxxvi. 1. "These are the generations of Jacob."- Gen. xxxvii. 2. * See particularly Müller über die Verschiedenheit des Styls in den beiden Haupturkunden der Genesis (On the difference of Style in the two original documents in Genesis), Göttingen, 1792; and De Wette, Einleit. (Introd.) p. 192. 302 JEHOVAH RECORDS. human form', by the repeated promises of Jehovah to the Jewish people, and by the mention of sacrifices and altars. They trace the genealogy of the Hebrews no further back than Abraham, take every opportunity of exalting the patriarchs at the expense of kindred Semitic tribes, whom they represent as a very sinful race1, and more than once give vent to their hatred towards neighbouring nations in indecent fictions. They are partial to forced etymologies of names, and connect them with subsidiary narratives, are occasionally diffuse and oratori "The Lord [Jehovah] shut him in, [or shut it (the ark) up after him]."-Gen. vii. 16. The plain of Jordan......was well watered everywhere......even as the garden of the Lord [Jehovah].”—Gen. xiii. 10. "And the Lord [Jehovah] said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do."-Gen. xviii. 17. 2 << Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee."-Gen. xii. 1. "And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward.”— Gen. xiii. 14. "After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward."—Gen. xv. 1. 3 "And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord."-Gen. iv. 3. "And Abraham planted a grove in Beer-sheba, and called there on the name of the Lord, the everlasting God.”—Gen. xxi. 33. "And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the Lord, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac's servants digged a well."-Gen. xxvi. 25. 'And he erected there an altar, and called it El-elohe-Israel."Gen. xxxiii. 20. 4"And Ham is the father of Canaan."-Gen. ix. 18. Chapters xv. and xxv. 5 Genesis ix. 18-27; chap. xxxviii. 6 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, JEHOVAH RECORDS. 303 cal'; they employ the expression 'athak', 'to remove their tents,' instead of 'to wander '2: they also allude to customs of a later period, and suppose a familiar acquaintance with them, even for example with the payment of tithes, as it was subsequently introduced by the Levitical system. They betray, moreover, a knowledge of many articles of luxury, and of many of the conveniences of life; such as gold and precious stones, and they are acquainted with the use of iron and with several of the arts, with bracelets and rings3, and with signet-rings and walking-sticks. In all cases however where similar circumstances are detailed, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord......And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the Lord."-Gen. iv. 1, 26. "And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord hath cursed."-Gen. v. 29. "And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction."— Gen. xvi. 11. "And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them."-Gen. xxv. 26. "And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out: and she said, How hast thou broken forth? this breach be upon thee: therefore his name was called Pharez."-Gen. xxxviii. 29. 1 Compare chapter xix. with chapter xviii. verses 29 and 24. 2 "And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Beth-el, and pitched his tent, having Beth-el on the west, and Hai on the east and there he builded an altar unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord."-Gen. xii. 8. "And the Lord appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of."-Gen. xxvi. 2. 3 "The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; And the gold of that land is good there is bdellium and the onyx-stone.”—Gen. ii. 11, 12. 6 Gen. xxxviii. 4 Gen. iv. 5 Gen. xxiv. |