change of subject from 'Jacob' to 'the sons of Jacob' makes it highly probable that v.5 is either redactional (Kue.), or belongs to a different stratum of E.
6a (P). See below.—7. The designation of the place (i.e.
the sanctuary: 126 2811) as 'Ēl Bêth'ēl is not confirmed by
any other OT allusion. Partial analogies may be found in
such place-names as Ašterôth-Ḳarnaim, Nĕbô, Baal-Ḥăẓôr,
Baal-Gad, etc., where the name of the deity is extended to
the sacred precincts (Gu. 248); but the text is not above
suspicion.—there the gods had revealed themselves to him]
The pl. vb. together with the use of the art. suggests that
the sentence preserves a more polytheistic version of the
Bethel-legend than 2812,—one in which the 'angels of God'
were spoken of as simply (
Hebrew characters).—8, 14. The death and
burial of Deborah.—below Bêth'ēl] means apparently 'to the
S of Bethel.'—under the oak] or 'sacred tree' (see on 126).—tree of weeping] But v.i.—14. For the grounds on which
this v. is connected with 8, see the footnote ad loc.—set up a maẓẓēbāh] So v.20 at the grave of Rachel. These monuments
came to be regarded as simple grave-stones; but
were doubtless originally objects of worship, as the next
clause indicates.—poured out a libation on it] The libation
was in the first instance an offering to the dead, according
to a custom attested among many ancient peoples,[1] and found
in Catholic countries at the present day.—poured oil] 2818.
6a. (Hebrew characters)] See on 2819. The cl. is an amalgam of P and E.—7. (Hebrew characters)]
G (Greek characters).—(Hebrew characters)] GVS (Hebrew characters).—8. (Hebrew characters)] G om.—(Hebrew characters)]
see on 126.—(Hebrew characters)] 'weeping.' The text is perhaps confirmed by (Hebrew characters)
(weepers), Ju. 25, which may be the same place. But though (Hebrew characters) might
plausibly be regarded as a corruption of (Hebrew characters) (2 Sa. 523ff., Ps. 847), it is
difficult to think that (Hebrew characters) is so: 'sacred tree of the baka-trees' is an
improbable combination (see v. Gall, CSt. 103).
9. (Hebrew characters)] G + (Greek characters).—(Hebrew characters)] [E]G + (Hebrew characters).—10. G simplifies by omitting
(Hebrew characters) and (Hebrew characters).—12. (Hebrew characters)] S (Hebrew characters) (so a schol. in Field).—14.
The v. cannot possibly be from P, who recognises no maẓẓebās,
- ↑ Egyptians (Erman, LAE, 307), Persians (Her. vii. 43), Greeks (Hom. Il. xxiii. 196, Od. xi. 26 ff.), Arabs (We. Heid.2 182 f.). It is not mentioned in OT, but food-offerings to the dead are referred to in Dt. 2614 (To. 418, Sir. 3018).
