Page:A critical and exegetical commentary on Genesis (1910).djvu/494

 the difference between J and E.—33. my righteousness shall testify against me] i.e., the proposal is so transparently fair that Jacob will be as it were automatically convicted of theft if he violates the compact. , 'unimpeachable conduct,' here means 'fair dealing,' 'honesty.'—in time to come] whenever Laban chooses to make an investigation.—35, 36 (J). And he (Laban, see $32a$) removed that day, etc.] Laban's motive in removing the variegated animals to a distance of three days' journey is obvious; he wishes to reduce to a minimum the chance that any such animals should henceforth be born amongst those now entrusted to Jacob.—white] Heb. lābān, perhaps a play on Laban's name.

37-43. Jacob's Stratagem.—The main account is from J, to whose narrative the artifice is essential, but there are many interpolations.—37-39. The first step is to work on the imagination of the females by rods of poplar, etc., peeled in such a way as to show patches of white, and placed in the drinking troughs.—38, 39. Removing glosses, J's ac-

or 'dark-brown.'—33. ] 'testify against' (see 1 Sa. 12$3$, 2 Sa. 1$16$, Is. 3$9$). An easier sense would be obtained if we could translate 'witness for,' but there seem to be no examples of that usage. Dri.'s interpretation: 'there will be nothing whatever to allege against my honesty,' seems, on the other hand, too subtle.—] 'in time to come' (Ex. 13$1$4, Dt. 6$20$). If we could insist on the literal rendering 'on the morrow,' the proof of divergence between J and E would be strengthened, but the sense is less suitable.——] G .—36. ] [E]G .—[E] follows $36$ with a long addition based on 31$11-13$.

37. (Ho 4$13$ † )] the 'white' tree; according to some, populus alba (Di. al.), but very probably styrax officinalis (Ar. lubna$y$, so called from its exuding a milk-like gum), (Ges. De. Dri. al.).— † ] = Aram. , 'almond tree.'— (Ezk. 31$8$ † )] platanus orientalis (Ass. irmeânu).—Instead of the last three words G has ,—a very sensible comment, but hardly original. The whole clause '(with) a laying bare (G-K. § 117 r) of the white on the rods,' is superfluous, and certainly looks like a variant.—] pl.; being coll.—38 ff. The text of J, as sifted by We., commends itself by its lucidity and continuity. It is impossible to tell whether the interpolated words are variants from another source (E?) or explanatory glosses.—38. (v.$41$, Ex. 2$16$ † )] either 'trough,' fr. Ar. rahaṭa, 'be collected,' or 'runnel,' from Aram. = (see Nö. ZA, xii. 187).—] const. pl. of, 24$20$ † .—The words — divorce from its connexion, and must be omitted from the text of J. G appears to have changed