1 tn Heb “For I have known him.” The verb יָדַע (yada’) here means “to recognize and treat in a special manner, to choose” (see Amos 3:2). It indicates that Abraham stood in a special covenantal relationship with the
2 tn Heb “and they will keep.” The perfect verbal form with vav consecutive carries on the subjective nuance of the preceding imperfect verbal form (translated “so that he may command”).
3 tn The infinitive construct here indicates manner, explaining how Abraham’s children and his household will keep the way of the
4 tn Heb “bring on.” The infinitive after לְמַעַן (lÿma’an) indicates result here.
5 tn Heb “spoke to.”
6 tn Heb “wide on both hands,” that is, in both directions.
7 tn The words “to marry” are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied in the translation for clarity.
8 tn Heb “and a small boy of old age,” meaning that he was born when his father was elderly.
9 tn Heb “his”; the referent (the boy just mentioned) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
10 tn Heb “he, only he, to his mother is left.”
11 tn After the imperatives in vv. 17-18a, the cohortative with vav indicates result.
12 tn After the cohortative the imperative with vav states the ultimate goal.
13 tn Heb “fat.”