H408. al

II. אַל‎ adverb of negation (so Phoenician e.g. CIS^{i.3, 4.5.8}, Biblical Aramaic, Sabean (DHM^{ZMG 1875, 596}), and in the Ethiopic 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; Genesis 15:1 and often אַלתִּֿירָא‎ fear not! 22:12 יָָֽדְךָ אַלתִּֿשְׁלַח‎ put not forth thy hand, 37:27 אַלתְּֿהִיבֿוֺ וְיָדֵנוּ‎ and let not our hand be upon him, 21:16 אַלאֶֿרְאֶה‎ let me not look upon the death of the lad! Psalm 25:2 אַלאֵֿבוֺשָׁה‎ let me not be ashamed; with 1 plural (rare) 2 Samuel 13:25; Jeremiah 18:18; Jonah 1:14. In an imprecation: Genesis 49:4 אַלתּֿוֺתַר‎ have not thou the excellency! Psalm 109:12; Job 3:4, 6. Sometimes strengthened by נָא‎ : Genesis 13:8; 18:3 and elsewhere (b) without a verb, (α) 2 Samuel 1:21 let (there be) not dew & not rain upon you! Isaiah 62:6; Psalm 83:1. (β) used absolutely, in deprecation Genesis 19:18; 2 Samuel 13:16 (see below אוֺדָה‎) 2 Kings 3:13; 4:16; 6:27 (see RVm: but possibly to be explained by Dr^{§ 152 iii}; so Th Ke: hardly as Ew^{§ 355 b}) Ruth 1:13 בְּנֹתַי אַל‎ Nay, my daughters, compare Judges 19:23; (γ) after a preceding imperative Amos 5:14; Joel 2:13; Proverbs 8:10, a jussive 27:2, an infinitive absolute 27:2. (χ) in poetry אַל‎ sometimes expresses vividly the emotion or sympathy of the poet (see Dr^{§ 56-8}); Isaiah 2:9 לָהֶם וְאַלתִּֿשָּׂא‎ and forgive them not! (with a touch of passion), Psalm 41:3; Proverbs 3:25; Job 5:22; Psalm 34:6 (but ᵑ6 ᵐ5‎ Ew Che here read וּפְנֵיכֶם‎, probably rightly); 50:3 a may our God come יֶ֫חֱשָרשׁ וְאַלֿ‎ and not be silent! (the psalmist identifying himself with a spectator of the scene 50:2-3,b-c) 121:3 (contrast 121:4 לֹא‎) Jeremiah 46:6 +.

b. once Proverbs 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. 1 Samuel 27:10 אַל הַיּוֺם, אַלמְּֿשַׁטְתֶּם‎ with the perfect is against all analogy; and either אֶלמִֿי‎ (with ᵐ5‎. ᵑ9‎), or better אָן‎ whither? (with ᵑ7 ᵑ6‎ : see 10:14) must be read.