Kejadian 12:17

12:17 But the Lord struck Pharaoh and his household with severe diseases ¹  because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.

Kejadian 35:17

35:17 When her labor was at its hardest, ²  the midwife said to her, “Don’t be afraid, for you are having another son.” ³ 

[12:17]  ¹ tn The cognate accusative adds emphasis to the verbal sentence: “he plagued with great plagues,” meaning the Lord inflicted numerous plagues, probably diseases (see Exod 15:26). The adjective “great” emphasizes that the plagues were severe and overwhelming.

[35:17]  ² tn The construction uses a Hiphil infinitive, which E. A. Speiser classifies as an elative Hiphil. The contrast is with the previous Piel: there “she had hard labor,” and here, “her labor was at its hardest.” Failure to see this, Speiser notes, has led to redundant translations and misunderstandings (Genesis [AB], 273).

[35:17]  ³ sn Another son. The episode recalls and fulfills the prayer of Rachel at the birth of Joseph (Gen 30:24): “may he add” another son.