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279

Jacob and Bsait

XXXI 11, 18-XXXV,

As was stated Jacob at Shechem 5.

introductory chapter, hardly an integral part

in the is

whole episode of tradition may of the Jacob story as prepared by the compilers. The important the upon attack have some historical basis in an actual tribes of Simeon the by Shechem of city Canaanite powerful and An echo of and Levi, acting conjointly, in early prehistoric days. its present form the whole 5-8. In XLIX, in found be may this this

story

is

obscure and

difficult.

This incident of the burial of the Tradition maintains that these likewise obscure. teraphim of Laban, which Rachel had stolen and Probably the This is, however, only a conjecture. imply that the servants of Jacob had brought with

XXXV,

home

4.

land their

own household

Jacob

gods.

foreign idols

kept

idols

were until

is

the

now.

erse means to

them from

their

now compels them God of Israel.

to

give these up and accept the worship of the or Earrings were, and still are, worn in the Orient as amulets

charms against evil. In ancient times they had ritual significance cf. Judges VIII, 24-27. notable V. 8. The mention here of Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, is a if she only camp Jacob's with been have could anachronism. For she before had set out with him from his father's house twenty years But according to XXVIII, lOfif. Jacob was entirely (cf. XXIV, 59). There is undoubtedly confusion between alone upon this journey. this

tradition of

the great tree near Bethel, sacred, or at least reand the its association with a certain Deborah, of "palm-tree sacred the of 5 in Judges IV,

nowned, because of

recorded Deborah", also located near Bethel, so-called because Deborah, the revealing the prophetess, was supposed to have sat beneath it, while tradition

was stated in the introduction, two preceding chapters, contains a brief summary of various Jacob traditions, not a part of the main Jacob

oracle to Israel. this chapter,

It

is

clear that, as

as well as the

story.

These verses contain a late, artificial version of the Vv. 9-15. two incidents of Jacob at Bethel (XXVIII, 10-22) and of the change

(XXXIII, 23-33). considerable confusion as to the exact location Bethel is situated north of Jerusalem upon the of Rachel's tomb. border line between Ephraim and Benjamin. Ephrath must be near

of his

V.

by.

name

19.

This

to Israel

There

is

is

borne out by

I

Samuel

I,

1,

which

calls

Elkanah,

who \n