Page:A critical and exegetical commentary on Genesis (1910).djvu/472

 10$5f.$, 2 Ki. 3$15$); Gu. surmises that a sacrificial meal, establishing communion with the Deity, was originally intended (cf. , v.$7$: see Nu. 23$1$).

6-17. Rebekah's stratagem.—The mother's jealousy for her favourite son (25$28$) is aroused by what she has overheard; and she instantly devises a scheme whose daring and ingenuity illustrate the Hebrew notion of capable and quick-witted womanhood.—7. before Yahwe] in the solemn consciousness of Yahwe's presence: see on v.$4$.—11-13 probably belong to E (see above), and may be omitted from the other narrative, with the effect of making Rebekah's initiative still more apparent: Jacob obeys her without a word.—11. a hairy man] see 25$25$. The objection shows just enough shrewdness on Jacob's part to throw his mother's resourcefulness into bolder relief.—13. On me be thy curse] cf. 16$5$.—15. the choice clothes] the festal raiment: the fact that this would have been put on by Esau proves once more that the blessing was a religious ceremony. Since the clothes were in Rebekah's charge, Esau must (as Ho. points out) have been still an unmarried man (ct. P 26$34f.$).—16[**.?] goes with $11-13$ (E), and may be removed without breach of continuity.—17. Rebekah's part being now ended, Jacob is left to his own resources.

18-29. Jacob obtains the blessing.—20. How very quickly thou hast found it, my son!—] an exclamation rather than a question: the answer being: Yes, for Yahwe, etc.—] caused the right thing to happen, as 24$12$ (J).—21-23 may be the direct continuation of $19a$ (E); the clause

6. ] cf. , v.$5$; the addition of (G) is unnecessary.—8.  and may be variants: acc. to Di. is characteristic of E, and of J.—12. ([root] ]), properly 'a stammerer' (cf. Ar. ta'ta'a) then 'a mocker' (2 Ch. 36$16$); hence not a mere practical joker (Kn-Di.), but a profaner of religious solemnities (Ho. Gu.).—] S (2 s.f.).—13. is given by Di. as a mark of E, in distinction from J's (19$8$ 24$8$).—15. being masc. (exc. Lv. 6$20$), and in usage a subst., it is best to suppose  repeated as nom. regens before the gen. (otherwise Dav. § 27).

18. $1$ is probably to be assigned to E for the same reason as $1b$, though something similar must have stood in the other source: Gu., however, makes $19b$ the direct sequel of  in $18a$ (J), giving $19a$ to E.—] GVS (cf. $10. 14. 31$.—23. ] Another view of the con