Page:A critical and exegetical commentary on Genesis (1910).djvu/526



change of subject from 'Jacob' to 'the sons of Jacob' makes it highly probable that v.$5$ is either redactional (Kue.), or belongs to a different stratum of E.

6a (P). See below.—7. The designation of the place (i.e. the sanctuary: 12$6$ 28$11$) as 'Ēl Bêth'ēl is not confirmed by any other OT allusion. Partial analogies may be found in such place-names as Ašterôth-Ḳarnaim, Nĕbô, Baal-Ḥăẓôr, Baal-Gad, etc., where the name of the deity is extended to the sacred precincts (Gu. 248); but the text is not above suspicion.—there the gods had revealed themselves to him] The pl. vb. together with the use of the art. suggests that the sentence preserves a more polytheistic version of the Bethel-legend than 28$12$,—one in which the 'angels of God' were spoken of as simply .—8, 14. The death and burial of Deborah.—below Bêth'ēl] means apparently 'to the S of Bethel.'—under the oak] or 'sacred tree' (see on 12$6$).—tree of weeping] But v.i.—14. For the grounds on which this v. is connected with $8$, see the footnote ad loc.—set up a maẓẓēbāh] So v.$20$ at the grave of Rachel. These monuments came to be regarded as simple grave-stones; but were doubtless originally objects of worship, as the next clause indicates.—poured out a libation on it] The libation was in the first instance an offering to the dead, according to a custom attested among many ancient peoples, and found in Catholic countries at the present day.—poured oil] 28$2$.

6a. ] See on 28$14$. The cl. is an amalgam of P and E.—7. ] G .—] GVS .—8. ] G om.—] see on 12$18$.—] 'weeping.' The text is perhaps confirmed by (weepers), Ju. 2$18$, which may be the same place. But though might plausibly be regarded as a corruption of (2 Sa. 5$18$, Ps. 84$19$), it is difficult to think that  is so: 'sacred tree of the baka-trees' is an improbable combination (see v. Gall, CSt. 103).

9. ] G + .—] [E]G + .—10. G simplifies by omitting and .—12. ] S (so a schol. in Field).—14. The v. cannot possibly be from P, who recognises no maẓẓebās,