Page:A critical and exegetical commentary on Genesis (1910).djvu/570

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('This is the announcement I [now] make to Pharaoh'). In any case 29 looks like a new commencement, and may introduce a variant from J (v.i.).—31. (Symbol missingHebrew characters) goes back to the (Symbol missingHebrew characters) of 21.—32. If the dream is one, why was it twice repeated? Because, says Joseph, the crisis is certain and urgent. So he rounds off his finished and masterly explanation of the dreams.

33-36. Joseph's advice to Pharaoh.—Here Joseph proves himself to be no mere expert in reading dreams, but a man with a large reserve of practical wisdom and statesmanship.—33-35. There is an apparent discrepancy between the appointment of a single official (33a) and that of a commission of 'overseers' (34a); and again between the fifth part (34b) and the whole (35a); we note also the transition from sing. ((Symbol missingHebrew characters)) to pl. ((Symbol missingHebrew characters), etc.). For attempts at division of sources, see below.—34. The taxing of a fifth part of the crop seems to have been a permanent Egyptian institution (see on 4724), whose origin the Hebrews traced to the administration of Joseph.—35. under the hand (i.e. the authority) of Pharaoh] cf. Ex. 1810, 2 Ki. 135, Is. 36.

37-46. Joseph's elevation.37, 39 (E) 38 (J).—The thing that was pleasing to Pharaoh, etc., is not the interpreta-*


2730 432 4412), and (Symbol missingHebrew characters) (1210 431 474. 13) as characteristic of J; but they are not decisive. Gu. limits J to 29. 30a. 32b_(Symbol missingGreek characters) ( 27f. 30b. 31. 32ab_(Symbol missingGreek characters) E). This is on the whole more satisfying, since (Symbol missingHebrew characters) and (Symbol missingHebrew characters) appear to be doublets (Di.); but a positive conclusion will hardly be reached.

33-36. The passage is certainly composite, and can be resolved into two nearly complete sequences as follows: E = 33. 34b. 35b_(Symbol missingGreek characters) (to (Symbol missingHebrew characters)). 36a_(Symbol missingGreek characters); J = 34a. 35ab_(Symbol missingGreek characters) (from (Symbol missingHebrew characters)36a_(Symbol missingGreek characters)b. Characteristic of E are (Symbol missingHebrew characters), (Symbol missingHebrew characters), (Symbol missingHebrew characters), against J's (Symbol missingHebrew characters) (with (Symbol missingHebrew characters)), (Symbol missingHebrew characters), (Symbol missingHebrew characters); and the only necessary change is (Symbol missingHebrew characters) to (Symbol missingHebrew characters). The result corresponds pretty closely with Gu.,s analysis; that of Procksch differs widely.—33. (Symbol missingHebrew characters)] see Baer-Del. p. 78; G-K. § 75 p. Str., however, holds the true reading to be (Symbol missingHebrew characters).—34. (Symbol missingHebrew characters)] [E] (Symbol missingHebrew characters). To the peculiar idiom, De. compares the Latin fac scribas; (Symbol missingHebrew characters) may, however, mean 'take action,' as 1 Ki. 832.—(Symbol missingHebrew characters)] G pl.—35. (Symbol missingHebrew characters)] Ball prefixes (Symbol missingHebrew characters) (as v.48); some such expedient is necessary to make sense of the last word.—For (Symbol missingHebrew characters), [E]S have (Symbol missingHebrew characters); G (Symbol missingGreek characters) ((Symbol missingHebrew characters)?).—36. (Symbol missingHebrew characters)] Lv. 521. 23† ; obviously suggested here by (Symbol missingHebrew characters) in v.34.

37-46. Analysis.—To E we may pretty confidently assign 37. 39 ((Symbol missingHebrew characters) as 33) 40; to J 38. 44. 45. Whether J's parallel to 40 commences with 41 (Pro.), or is delayed to 44 (Gu.), it is hard to decide. 41b reads like a