אַל

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