face of God] with the feelings of joy and reverence with which one engages in the worship of God. For the flattering comparison of a superior to the Deity, cf. 1 Sa. 299, 2 Sa. 1417 1928. It is possible that the phrase here contains a reminiscence of the meaning of Pĕnî'ēl in 3231 (We. Di. al.), the common idea being that "at Peniel the unfriendly God is found to be friendly" (Di.). The resemblance suggests a different form of the legend, in which the deity who wrestled with Jacob was Esau—the Usōus of Phœnician mythology (see on 2525; cf. INS, 278).
12-17. The parting.—12. Esau, assuming that they are
no more to be separated, proposes to march in front with his
troop.—13. But Jacob has other objects in view, and invents
a pretext for getting rid of his brother's company.—(
Hebrew characters)]
lit. are giving suck upon me: i.e. their condition imposes
anxiety upon me.—14. I will proceed by stages (? v.i.), gently, according to the pace of the cattle before me].—till I come . . . to Sḗîr] It is, of course, implied that he is to follow in Esau's
track; and the mention of Seir as a possible goal of Jacob's
journey causes difficulty. Meyer (INS, 275 f.) advances the
attractive theory that in J Jacob does not cross the Jordan at
all, but goes round by Seir and the S of the Dead Sea to
Hebron. The question has an important bearing on the
criticism of ch. 34.—15-17. The offer of an armed escort
having been courteously declined, Jacob proceeds but a short
13. (Hebrew characters)] [root] (Hebrew characters), of which only the ptcp. is in use (1 Sa. 67. 10, Is. 4011,
Ps. 7871 † ).—(Hebrew characters)] better with [E]GS (Hebrew characters). On the synt. see G-K.
§ 159 q.—14. (Hebrew characters)] G (Greek characters).
Why Cheyne (405 f.) finds it necessary to resolve the text into a series of
geographical glosses is not apparent. (Hebrew characters), Hithp. is (Greek characters), but is
a natural extension of the Pi. 'guide [to a watering-place?],' Is. 4011
4910. (Hebrew characters) in the sense of 'gentleness' (2 Sa. 185, 1 Ki. 2127, Is. 86, Jb. 1511),
and (Hebrew characters) in the sense of 'pace' are unexceptionable: the (Hebrew characters) of norm with
both words (BDB, 516 b). For (Hebrew characters) in the sense of 'property,' we
have examples in Ex. 227. 10, 1 Sa. 159.—15. (Hebrew characters)] lit. 'let me set.' The
sense suggested by the context, 'leave behind,' is supported by Ex.
1024 (Hoph.).—(Hebrew characters)] The Heb. is peculiar. The obvious rendering
would be, 'Why should I find favour, etc.?'; but as that is hardly
possible, we must tr. 'Why so? May I find, etc.'—a very abrupt
transition. We should at least expect (Hebrew characters).—17. (Hebrew characters)] The precedence
of subj. indicates contrast, and shows that the v. continues 16 (J).—(Hebrew characters)]
