Page:A critical and exegetical commentary on Genesis (1910).djvu/516

 face of God] with the feelings of joy and reverence with which one engages in the worship of God. For the flattering comparison of a superior to the Deity, cf. 1 Sa. 29$9$, 2 Sa. 14$17$ 19$28$. It is possible that the phrase here contains a reminiscence of the meaning of Pĕnî'ēl in 32$31$ (We. Di. al.), the common idea being that "at Peniel the unfriendly God is found to be friendly" (Di.). The resemblance suggests a different form of the legend, in which the deity who wrestled with Jacob was Esau—the Usōus of Phœnician mythology (see on 25$25$; cf. INS, 278).

12-17. The parting.—12. Esau, assuming that they are no more to be separated, proposes to march in front with his troop.—13. But Jacob has other objects in view, and invents a pretext for getting rid of his brother's company.—] lit. are giving suck upon me: i.e. their condition imposes anxiety upon me.—14. I will proceed by stages (? v.i.), gently, according to the pace of the cattle before me].—till I come to Sḗîr] It is, of course, implied that he is to follow in Esau's track; and the mention of Seir as a possible goal of Jacob's journey causes difficulty. Meyer (INS, 275 f.) advances the attractive theory that in J Jacob does not cross the Jordan at all, but goes round by Seir and the S of the Dead Sea to Hebron. The question has an important bearing on the criticism of ch. 34.—15-17. The offer of an armed escort having been courteously declined, Jacob proceeds but a short

13. ] [root], of which only the ptcp. is in use (1 Sa. 6$7. 10$, Is. 40$11$, Ps. 78$71$ † ).—] better with [E]GS. On the synt. see G-K. § 159 q.—14. ] G. Why Cheyne (405 f.) finds it necessary to resolve the text into a series of geographical glosses is not apparent. , Hithp. is, but is a natural extension of the Pi. 'guide [to a watering-place?],' Is. 40$11$ 49$10$. in the sense of 'gentleness' (2 Sa. 18$5$, 1 Ki. 21$27$, Is. 8$6$, Jb. 15$11$), and in the sense of 'pace' are unexceptionable: the  of norm with both words (BDB, 516 b). For in the sense of 'property,' we have examples in Ex. 22$7. 10$, 1 Sa. 15$9$.—15. ] lit. 'let me set.' The sense suggested by the context, 'leave behind,' is supported by Ex. 10$24$ (Hoph.).—] The Heb. is peculiar. The obvious rendering would be, 'Why should I find favour, etc.?'; but as that is hardly possible, we must tr. 'Why so? May I find, etc.'—a very abrupt transition. We should at least expect .—17. ] The precedence of subj. indicates contrast, and shows that the v. continues $16$ (J).—]