Page:A critical and exegetical commentary on Genesis (1910).djvu/475

 me?—Note the word-play : .—37. Cf. $29aβ. 28b$ (E). All that makes a blessing—political supremacy, and material wealth—has been given away; what remains for Esau?—38. Is that the only blessing thou hast?] That the blessing can be revoked, Esau does not imagine; but he still hopes that a second (inferior) blessing may be his.—lifted up wept] corresponding to $34a$. "Those tears of Esau, the sensuous, wild, impulsive man,—almost like the cry of some 'trapped creature,' are among the most pathetic in the Bible" (Davidson, Hebrews, 242).—39, 40a. His importunity draws forth what is virtually a curse, though couched in terms similar to those of v.$29$:

Away from the fat places of the earth shall thy dwelling be; And away from the dew of heaven above!

The double entendre in the use of has misled V and some comm. into thinking this a replica of the blessing of Jacob (cf. Nö. EB, 1184). Compare 40$13$ with 40$19$.—40a. live by thy sword] by raids on neighbouring territory, plunder of caravans, etc. —serve thy brother] fulfilled in the long subjection of Edom to Israel, from the time of David to that of Joram (2 Ki. 8$20ff.$), or even Ahaz (16$6$).—40b. The prosaic form suggests that this may be a later addition dating from after the emancipation of Edom (Ho. Gu.).—break his yoke] a common figure: Jer. 2$20$ 5$5$ 28$2. 4. 11$ 30$8$, Lv. 26$13$, Is. 9$3$ etc.

The territory of Edom is divided into two parts by the Arabah; that to the [Greek: E] is described by Strabo (. iv. 21) as. Modern travellers, however, speak of it as

rendering above, 'is it that?' etc., satisfies every case (see BDB, 472 a), and is simpler than that given in G-K. § 150 e.—Ho. (so Gu.) thinks $36a$ a redactional expansion; but it has to be considered whether $36b$ ( $38a[Greek: a]$) is not rather a fragment of J.—38. ] = $34b$ (J). On the syntax of, see G-K. § 135 e.—] G$A, al.$ om., but MSS and daughter-Vns. retain, some with the addition .—40. ] cf. Dt. 8$3$, Ezk. 33$19$.— (Jer. 2$31$, Hos. 12$1$ [?], Ps. 55$3$, Ju. 11$37$ [em.]† ) probably connected with Ar. rāda, 'go to and fro' (Nö. ZDMG, xxxvii. 539 f.): 'when thou becomest restive.' [E], G = ..