Page:A critical and exegetical commentary on Genesis (1910).djvu/591

 of the land (v.i.) the fat of the] The expressions are not altogether inapplicable to Goshen (W. Ṭumīlāt), which was rendered fertile by a canal, and is still spoken of as the best pasture-land in Egypt (Robinson, BR, i. 53 f.). But since E never mentions a separate location in Goshen, there is no need to force that sense upon them; the meaning is general: the best of everything that Egypt can afford (v.i.).—19. The opening words (v.i.) throw some doubt on the originality of the v.; and there certainly seems no more reason for ascribing it to J (Gu.) than to E.—The baggage-waggon is said to have been introduced into Egypt from Canaan, with its Semitic name (Eg. [Footnote: 'agolt]): Erman, LAE, 491. —20. Let not your eye pity] The phrase is Deuteronomic, and seems a very strong one for concern about household implements. According to J ($10b. 11b$ 46$1. 32$) they brought 'all they possessed,' which, if they were half-nomads, would be possible without waggons.

21-28. The brethren return to Canaan.—22. Presents of expensive clothes are a common mark of courtesy in the East: cf. Ju. 14$12f. 19$, 2 Ki. 5$5. 22f.$.—changes of raiment] such as were substituted for ordinary clothing on festal occasions (see on 27$15$).—Benjamin receives five such suits: see on 43$34$.—23. of the best (produce) of Egypt] A munificent return

.—For 'the best part,' P uses  (47$6, 11$).—19. ] The pass. is awkward in itself, and has no syntactic connexion with the following (hence S inserts ). Di. Kit. emend ; Ba. (after G ; cf. V; Gu. : the first is best. But it is still difficult to understand the extreme emphasis laid on this point; and a suspicion remains that either the whole v. (Di.), or the introduction, is due to a scribe who wished to make it clear that the waggons were not sent without Pharaoh's express authority: see on v.$21$.

21. —] The statement is premature, and furnishes an additional indication that this part of the narrative has been worked over. The repeated also suggests a doublet or interpolation. In $19-21$, Di. leaves to E only ; KS. only the second of these clauses, the rest being redactional.—] as 42$25$ (E).—23. ] (so pointed only here): 'in like manner' (Ju. 8$8$).—) (2 Ch. 11$23$† ) from an Aram. [root] = 'feed.'—Of the three nouns,, , and , G