Page:A critical and exegetical commentary on Genesis (1910).djvu/589

 to keep his relation to the strangers a secret from Pharaoh (see on the sources above).—3. is my father yet alive?) The question is slightly less natural in the context of J (see 43$26f.$ 44$24ff.$) than in E, where the absence of any mention of Jacob since the first visit (42$13$) might leave room for uncertainty in Joseph's mind. But since he does not wait for an answer, the doubt can hardly be real.—were troubled before him] Comp. 50$15-21$ (also E).—4. J's parallel to v.$3$,—probably the immediate continuation of v.$1$ (cf. 44$18$).—5-8. With singular generosity Joseph reassures them by pointing out the providential purpose which had overruled their crime for good; cf. 50$20$. The profoundly religious conviction which recognises the hand of God, not merely in miraculous interventions, but in the working out of divine ends through human agency and what we call secondary causes, is characteristic of the Joseph-narrative amongst the legends of Genesis: see Gu. 404 (cf. ch. 24).—7. ] 'remnant,' perhaps in the sense of 'descendants' (2 Sa. 14$7$, Jer. 44$7$). But the use of (strictly 'escaped remnant,' cf. 32$9$) is difficult, seeing the whole family was saved (v.i.).—8. a father to Pharaoh] Probably an honorific title of the chief minister (cf. 1 Mac. 11$32$, Add. Est. 3$13$ 8$12$); see, further, inf.

9-15. Joseph's message to his father.—That both J and E recorded the invitation may be regarded as certain, apart from nice questions of literary analysis: Eerdmans' suggestion that, in J, Jacob conceived the project of going down to Egypt "auf eigene Faust" (Komp. 65, 70) being

Ho. Gu. The cl., however, is best regarded as a doublet of the preceding, in which case MT is preferable.—3. $2$] G + (as v.$4$).—] G om.—4a. G$A$ om. entirely.—5. ] (cf. 31$35$) is E's variant to (6$6$ 34$7$ J).—] In Ju. 6$4$ 17$10$ the word signifies 'means of subsistence'; in 2 Ch. 14$12$ perhaps 'preservation of life'; and so here if the pointing be right. Ba. plausibly emends, 'preserver of life' (1 Sa. 2$6$).—6. ] Ex. 34$21$ (J?).—7. ] The want of an obj. after is harsh (cf. 47$25$ 50$20$). The omission of the ([E]GS Ols. Ba. al.) improves the grammar, but the sense remains unsatisfying (v.s.).—8.  ] That the words are used in their Heb. sense ('father' 'lord') is not to be questioned; in spite of the fact that Brugsch has compared two Egyptian titles, identical in form but altogether different in meaning (see Dri. DB, ii. 774; Str. p. 157 f.).