me?—Note the word-play (
Hebrew characters): (Hebrew characters).—37. Cf. 29aβ. 28b (E).
All that makes a blessing—political supremacy, and material
wealth—has been given away; what remains for Esau?—38.
Is that the only blessing thou hast?] That the blessing
can be revoked, Esau does not imagine; but he still hopes
that a second (inferior) blessing may be his.—lifted up . . . wept] corresponding to 34a. "Those tears of Esau, the
sensuous, wild, impulsive man,—almost like the cry of some
'trapped creature,' are among the most pathetic in the
Bible" (Davidson, Hebrews, 242).—39, 40a. His importunity
draws forth what is virtually a curse, though couched in
terms similar to those of v.29:
Away from the fat places of the earth shall thy dwelling be;
And away from the dew of heaven above!
The double entendre in the use of (Hebrew characters) has misled V and some
comm. into thinking this a replica of the blessing of Jacob
(cf. Nö. EB, 1184). Compare 4013 with 4019.—40a. live by thy sword] by raids on neighbouring territory, plunder of
caravans, etc.[1]—serve thy brother] fulfilled in the long subjection
of Edom to Israel, from the time of David to that of
Joram (2 Ki. 820ff.), or even Ahaz (166).—40b. The prosaic
form suggests that this may be a later addition dating from
after the emancipation of Edom (Ho. Gu.).—break his yoke]
a common figure: Jer. 220 55 282. 4. 11 308, Lv. 2613, Is. 93 etc.
The territory of Edom is divided into two parts by the Arabah; that
to the [Greek: E] is described by Strabo (XVI. iv. 21) as (Greek characters).
Modern travellers, however, speak of it as
rendering above, 'is it that?' etc., satisfies every case (see BDB, 472 a),
and is simpler than that given in G-K. § 150 e.—Ho. (so Gu.) thinks 36a
a redactional expansion; but it has to be considered whether 36b ( 38a[Greek: a])
is not rather a fragment of J.—38. (Hebrew characters)] = 34b (J). On the syntax
of (Hebrew characters), see G-K. § 135 e.—(Hebrew characters)] GA, al. om., but MSS and daughter-Vns.
retain, some with the addition (Greek characters) ((Hebrew characters)).—40.
(Hebrew characters)] cf. Dt. 83, Ezk. 3319.—(Hebrew characters) (Jer. 231, Hos. 121 [?], Ps. 553, Ju. 1137
[em.]† ) probably connected with Ar. rāda, 'go to and fro' (Nö. ZDMG,
xxxvii. 539 f.): 'when thou becomest restive.' [E] (Hebrew characters), G (Greek characters) = (Hebrew characters)..
- ↑ Comp. Josephus on the Idumæans: (
Greek characters) (BJ, iv. 231), and (Greek characters) (ib. 310). Cf. Diod. ii. 48.
