אַל

H408. al
II. אַל adverb of negation (so Phoenician e.g. CISi.3, 4.5.8, Biblical Aramaic, Sabean (DHMZMG 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; Gen 15:1 and often אַלתִּֿירָא fear not! Gen 22:12 יָָֽדְךָ אַלתִּֿשְׁלַח put not forth thy hand, Gen 37:27 אַלתְּֿהִיבֿוֺ וְיָדֵנוּ and let not our hand be upon him, Gen 21:16 אַלאֶֿרְאֶה let me not look upon the death of the lad! Psa 25:2 אַלאֵֿבוֺשָׁה let me not be ashamed; with 1 plural (rare) 2Sa 13:25; Jer 18:18; Jon 1:14. In an imprecation: Gen 49:4 אַלתּֿוֺתַר have not thou the excellency! Psa 109:12; Job 3:4, Job 3:6. Sometimes strengthened by נָא : Gen 13:8; Gen 18:3 and elsewhere (b) without a verb, (α) 2Sa 1:21 let (there be) not dew & not rain upon you! Isa 62:6; Psa 83:1. (β) used absolutely, in deprecation Gen 19:18; 2Sa 13:16 (see below אוֺדָה) 2Ki 3:13; 2Ki 4:16; 2Ki 6:27 (see RVm: but possibly to be explained by Dr§ 152 iii; so Th Ke: hardly as Ew§ 355 b) Rth 1:13 בְּנֹתַי אַל Nay, my daughters, compare Jdg 19:23; (γ) after a preceding imperative Amo 5:14; Joe 2:13; Pro 8:10, a jussive Pro 27:2, an infinitive absolute Pro 27:2. (χ) in poetry אַל sometimes expresses vividly the emotion or sympathy of the poet (see Dr§ 56-8); Isa 2:9 לָהֶם וְאַלתִּֿשָּׂא and forgive them not! (with a touch of passion), Psa 41:3; Pro 3:25; Job 5:22; Psa 34:6 (but ᵑ6 ᵐ5 Ew Che here read וּפְנֵיכֶם, probably rightly); Psa 50:3 a may our God come יֶ֫חֱשָרשׁ וְאַלֿ and not be silent! (the psalmist identifying himself with a spectator of the scene Psa 50:2-3,b-c) Psa 121:3 (contrast Psa 121:4 לֹא) Jer 46:6 +.
b. once Pro 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. 1Sa 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 1Sa 10:14) must be read.