Page:A critical and exegetical commentary on Genesis (1910).djvu/593



we have a continuous J narrative from 46$28$-47$6$: note, $29. 30$; Goshen, $28. 29. 34. 1. 4. 6b.$; the leadership of Judah, $28$; the ignoring of Pharaoh's invitation (45$17ff.$ E);, $29$; , $30$; , , $34$.—46$1-5$ is in the main from E, as appears from the night vision, the form of address, $2$; Jacob's implied hesitation, $3$ (ct. 45$28$); the name Jacob, $2. 5a$; , $2$;, $3$.—$1a$ and possibly $5b$ belong to J.—47$12$ is doubtful,—probably E (, as 45$11$).—See We. Comp.$2$ 60 f.; Di. Ho. Gu. Pro. 54 f. (who assigns 47$7$ to E instead of P and 47$12$ to J).

1-7. Jacob bids farewell to Canaan.—1. came to Be'ersheba`] There is in E no clear indication of where Jacob lived after his return from Laban (see on 35$1$). If at Beersheba, the above clause is redactional, written on the assumption that he started from Hebron (37$14$ J). The point would be determined if $5b$ were the original continuation of $5a$, for it is absurd to suppose that the waggons were first put to use in the middle of the journey (We.). But even apart from that, the natural view undoubtedly is that Jacob would not start until his misgivings were removed in answer to his sacrifice, and that consequently his dwelling-place at this time was Beersheba. That he sacrificed at the last patriarchal sanctuary on the way is a much less plausible explanation.—the God of Isaac] Isaac is apparently regarded as the founder of the sanctuary, as in ch. 26 (J$h$); an Elohistic parallel to that tradition may have existed though in 21$31$ (E with J$b$) its consecration is attributed to Abraham.—2-4. The last of the patriarchal theophanies. Comp. 12$1ff.$, where the theophany sanctions the occupation of Canaan, as this sanctions the leaving of it (Di.); and 26$2$, where, under circumstances similar to Jacob's, Isaac is forbidden to go down to Egypt.—3. the God of thy father] As elsewhere in Genesis, denotes the local numen, who here distinguishes himself from other divine beings,—a trace of the primitive polytheistic representation (cf. 31$13$ 35$1$ 33$20$ 21$33$ 16$13$).—Fear not, etc.] The purpose of the revelation is to

1. ] G here and v.$5$ [Greek: ** to phrear tou horkou] (see p. 326).—2. ] The word has crept in from v.$1$ through an inadvertence of the redactor or a later scribe: "'God said to Israel, Jacob! Jacob!' is a sentence which no original writer would have penned" (We.).—On the form of the v., see on 22$11$.—3. ] From, the rare form of inf. const. of