BDB419
II. אַל adverb of negation (so Phoenician e.g. CISi.3,4.5.8, Biblical Aramaic, Sabean ( DHMZMG 1875, 596), and in the Ethiopic [untranscribed source text 201] albo, is not), denying however, not objectively as a fact (like לֹא οὐ), but subjectively as a wish (like μή), expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition :
a.
(a) with a verb, which is then always an imperfect
(never an
imperative), by preference in the cohortative or jussive mood, where this is in use, and may be of any person or
number; Gen 15:1
and
often אַלתִּֿירָא
fear not!
Gen 22:12
אַלתִּֿשְׁלַח יָָֽדְךָ
put not forth thy hand, Gen 37:27
וְיָדֵנוּ אַלתְּֿהִיבֿוֺ and let not our hand be
upon
him, Gen 21:16
אַלאֶֿרְאֶה
let me not look upon the death of the lad! Ps 25:2
אַלאֵֿבוֺשָׁה
let me not be ashamed; with 1 plural (rare) 2Sam 13:25; Jer 18:18;
Jonah 1:14.
In an
imprecation: Gen 49:4
אַלתּֿוֺתַר have not thou the excellency! Ps 109:12; Job 3:4; Job 3:6. Sometimes strengthened by נָא
: Gen 13:8
; Gen 18:3
and
elsewhere
(b) without a verb, (α) 2Sam 1:21
let (there be) not dew & not rain upon
you!
Isa 62:6; Ps 83:1. (β
) used absolutely, in deprecation Gen 19:18; 2Sam 13:16 (see below אוֺדָה) 2Kgs 3:13; 2Kgs 4:16;
2Kgs 6:27
(see
RVm
: but possibly to be explained by Dr§ 152 iii; so
Th
Ke: hardly as Ew§ 355 b
)
Ruth 1:13
אַל בְּנֹתַי
Nay, my daughters, compare Judg 19:23 (γ) after a preceding imperative Amos 5:14;
Joel 2:13;
Prov 8:10, a
jussive Prov 27:2
, an infinitive absolute Prov 27:2.
(c) in poetry
אַל sometimes expresses
vividly the emotion or sympathy of the poet (see Dr§ 56-8);
Isa 2:9
וְאַלתִּֿשָּׂא לָהֶם and forgive them not! (with
a
touch of passion), Ps
41:3;
Prov
3:25; Job
5:22
; Ps 34:6
(but
ᵐ5
ᵑ6
Ew
Che here read וּפְנֵיכֶם, probably rightly); Ps 50:3 a may
our
God come וְאַלֿ
יֶ֫חֱשָרשׁ and not be silent! (the psalmist identifying himself with a
spectator of the scene
Ps 50:2; Ps
50:3 b-c)
Ps 121:3 (contrast Ps 121:4
לֹא)
Jer 46:6 +.
b. once Prov 12:28 joined closely to a substantive (compare לֹא
2.b.) to express with emphasis its negation: In the way of righteousness is
life, and in the pathway
therecf אַלמָֿוֶת there is no-death! i.e. immortality.
c. once Job 24:25 used in poetry as a substantive, And bring my words לְאַל
to nought! —
N.B.
1Sam 27:10
אַלפְּֿשַׁטְתֶּם הַיּוֺם, אַל with the perfect is against all analogy; and
either אֶלמִֿי (with
ᵐ5
.
ᵑ9
), or better אָן
whither? (with
ᵑ6
ᵑ7
: see
1Sam 10:14) must be read.