ABNAIM This word is the dual of pti, a stone, and in this form only occurs twice, Exod. I. 16, and Jer. xviii. 3. In the latter passage it undeniably means a potter's wheel; but what it denotes in the former, or how to reconcile with the use of the word in the latter text any interpretation which can he assigned to it in the former, is a question which (see Rosenmiiller ins loc.) has mightily exercised the ingenuity and patience of critics and philologers. The meaning appears to have been doubtful even of old, and the ancient versions are much at variance. The LXX. evades the difficulty by the general expression bray Jun wpss rt,3 nursery, `when they are about to be delivered,' and is followed by the Vulgate, 'et fiartus temples ad veneill;' but our version is more definite, and has ' and see them upon the stools.' This goes upon the notion that the word denotes a particular kind of open stool or chair constructed for the purpose of delivering pregnant women. The usages of the East do not, however, acquaint us with any such utensil, the employment of which, indeed, is not in accordance with the simple manners of ancient times. Others, therefore, suppose the word to denote stone or other bathing troughs, in which it was usual to lave new-born infants. This conjecture is so far probable, that the midwife, if inclined to obey the royal mandate, could then destroy the child without check or observation. Accordingly, this interpreta
tion is preferred by Gesenius (Thesaur, s. v. 1U), quoting in illustration Thevcnot (Rim ii. VS), who states that the kings of Persia are so afraid of being deprived of that power which they abuse, and are so apprehensive of being dethroned, that they cause the male children of their female relations to be destroyed in the stone bathing-troughs in which newly-born children are laved.' The question, how ever, is not as to the existence of the custom, but its application to the case in view. Professor Lee (s. v.) who decides nearly in accordance with the LXX. and other ancient versions, none of which, as he remarks, say anything about wash pots, stools, etc., gives reasons for understanding the command of Pharaoh thus:—` Observe, look carefully on the two occasions (i. e., in which either a male or female child is born). If it be a son, etc. [This word probably denotes here the pudenda nneliebria, from an analogy between them and the generative power of the potter's wheel—' When ye look upon the abnaim of the Hebrew women,' i. e. at the moment of parturition. See Knobel ins lee., and as a conversely analogous case, compare the modern usage of the word matrix. Comp. the rendering of the LXX.1—J. K.