Page:A critical and exegetical commentary on Genesis (1910).djvu/493

25-31. Jacob proposes to provide for his own house.—A preliminary parley, in which both parties feel their way to an understanding.—26 (E). thou knowest with what kind of service, etc.] E always lays stress on Jacob's rectitude (cf. ³³).—27 (J). If I have found favour, etc.] followed by aposiopesis, as 18³ 23¹³.—Laban continues: I have taken omens ((Hebrew characters); cf. 44^{5. 15}, 1 Ki. 20³³) and (found that) Yahwe has blessed me, etc.]—an abject plea for Jacob's remaining with him.—28 (E). Laban surrenders at once (the answer is in v.³²), whereas—29, 30 in J, Jacob presses for a discharge: his service has been of immense value to Laban, but he has a family to consider.—31. anything at all] See introd. note above.—this thing] which I am about to mention.—resume herding thy flock] G-K. § 120 g.

32-36. The new contract.—The point in both narratives is that parti-coloured animals form a very small proportion of a flock, the Syrian sheep being nearly all white (Ca. 4² 6⁶, Dn. 7⁹) and the goats black or brown (Ca. 4^1b). In E, Jacob simply asks this small share as his payment.—32. and it shall be my hire] The rendering 'and of this sort shall be my hire' (in future), is merely a violent attempt to obliterate

26. (Hebrew characters)] Not necessarily a gloss; the children might fairly be considered included in Jacob's wages.—27. On (Hebrew characters), v. 44⁵.—(Hebrew characters)] G (Greek characters), Arm. in pede tuo = (Hebrew characters) (³⁰).—28. GV om. (Hebrew characters), smoothing over the transition from J to E.—(Hebrew characters)] 'designate' (lit. 'prick [off]'): cf. the use of Niph. in Nu. 1¹⁷, 1 Ch. 16⁴¹ etc.—29. (Hebrew characters)] 'the manner in which' (G-K. § 157 c); but S reads as in v.²⁶.—30. (Hebrew characters)] contrasted with (Hebrew characters) above. Prosperity has followed Jacob 'wherever he went' (cf. Is. 41², Jb. 18¹¹ etc.). It is unnecessary to emend (Hebrew characters) (ST^O, Che.).—31. (Hebrew characters)] (GS pr. (Hebrew characters)) must be deleted on account of its awkward position.

32. (Hebrew characters), (Hebrew characters)] To get rid of the change of person (and the division of sources) many construe the latter as inf. abs. ('removing'); but the only natural rendering is impve. (cf. ³⁵), G has impve. both times.—(Hebrew characters)—(Hebrew characters)] G (Greek characters), a smoother and therefore less original text. The Heb. seems overloaded; Gu. strikes out (Hebrew characters), and the corresponding cll. in ^{33. 35}.—(Hebrew characters)] 'speckled and spotted,' 'parti-coloured.' The words are practically synonymous, both being distinct from (Hebrew characters) (^{35. 39. 40} 31^{8. 10. 12} †), which means 'striped.' If there be a difference, (Hebrew characters) (^{35. 39} 31^{8 10. 12} † ) suggests smaller spots than (Hebrew characters) (cf. Ezk. 16¹⁶, Jos. 9⁵, the only places where the [root] occurs outside this pass.).—(Hebrew characters)] only in this chap.: = 'black'