Page:A critical and exegetical commentary on Genesis (1910).djvu/477

 discounted by this prosaic representation of the course of events (cf. Gu. 341).

Marks of P's style are abundant:, $3$; $4$; , $5$; , $2. 5. 6. 7$; , $3$;  $4$;,  $1. 6. 8$ (J , 24$3. 37$); , $3$.

46 is an amplification of 26$35$, but attributes to Rebekah an initiative more in the spirit of JE than of P. It may have been supplied by R to facilitate the transition from ch. 27 to 28 (v.i.).—XXVIII. 1. The language seems modelled on 24$3. 37$.—2. thy mother's father] The earlier affinity between the two families is again ignored by P: see on 25$19f.$.—4. the blessing (VS 'blessings') of Abraham] Comp. 17$8$. Whereas in JE, Isaac is the inspired author of an original blessing, which fixes the destiny of his descendants, in P he simply transmits the blessing attached to the covenant with Abraham.—9. went to Ishmael] Not to dwell with him permanently, but to procure a wife (see 36$6f.$). It is undoubtedly assumed that Ishmael was still alive (Di.), in spite of the chronological difficulties raised by De.

XXVIII. 10-22.—Jacob at Bethel (JE).

On his way to Ḥarran, Jacob passes the night at Bethel, where the sacredness of the 'place' is revealed to him by a dream of a ladder leading from earth to heaven. Awaking, he consecrates the stone on which his head had lain, as a 'house of God,'—at the same time naming the place Bethel,—and vows to dedicate a tithe of all he has, in the event of his safe return.

46. The objections to assigning the v. to P (Kue. KS. Di. Ho. Gu. al.) are perhaps not decisive. If MT be right, agrees in substance with 26$34f.$, though in 28$1ff.$ P consistently uses. G, however, omits the words .—2. ] (so $5. 7$) cf. G-K. § 90 i.—3. ] 35$11$ 48$4$ (P), Ezk. 23$24$ 32$3$; = 17$4f.$. In spite of Dt. 33$3$ (Di.), the phrase cannot well denote the tribes of Israel. It seems to correspond to J's 'In thee shall all nations,' etc. (12$3$ etc.), and probably expresses some sort of Messianic outlook.—7. ] perhaps a gloss suggested by 27$43f.$ (Di. al.).—9. ] [E] om.—] S (cf. T$J$); see on 36$3$.