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discounted by this prosaic representation of the course of events (cf. Gu. 341).

Marks of P's style are abundant: (Hebrew characters), ³; (Hebrew characters) ⁴; (Hebrew characters), ⁵; (Hebrew characters), ^{2. 5. 6. 7}; (Hebrew characters), ³; (Hebrew characters) ⁴;, (Hebrew characters) ^{1. 6. 8} (J (Hebrew characters), 24^{3. 37}); (Hebrew characters), ³.

46 is an amplification of 26³⁵ ((Hebrew characters)), but attributes to Rebekah an initiative more in the spirit of JE than of P. It may have been supplied by R to facilitate the transition from ch. 27 to 28 (v.i.).—XXVIII. 1. The language seems modelled on 24^{3. 37}.—2. thy mother's father] The earlier affinity between the two families is again ignored by P: see on 25^19f..—4. the blessing (VS 'blessings') of Abraham] Comp. 17⁸. Whereas in JE, Isaac is the inspired author of an original blessing, which fixes the destiny of his descendants, in P he simply transmits the blessing attached to the covenant with Abraham.—9. went to Ishmael] Not to dwell with him permanently, but to procure a wife (see 36^6f.). It is undoubtedly assumed that Ishmael was still alive (Di.), in spite of the chronological difficulties raised by De.

XXVIII. 10-22.—Jacob at Bethel (JE).

On his way to Ḥarran, Jacob passes the night at Bethel, where the sacredness of the 'place' is revealed to him by a dream of a ladder leading from earth to heaven. Awaking, he consecrates the stone on which his head had lain, as a 'house of God,'—at the same time naming the place Bethel,—and vows to dedicate a tithe of all he has, in the event of his safe return.

46. The objections to assigning the v. to P (Kue. KS. Di. Ho. Gu. al.) are perhaps not decisive. If MT be right, (Hebrew characters) agrees in substance with 26^34f., though in 28^1ff. P consistently uses (Hebrew characters). G, however, omits the words (Hebrew characters).—2. (Hebrew characters)] (so ^{5. 7}) cf. G-K. § 90 i.—3. (Hebrew characters)] 35¹¹ 48⁴ (P), Ezk. 23²⁴ 32³; = (Hebrew characters) 17^4f.. In spite of Dt. 33³ (Di.), the phrase cannot well denote the tribes of Israel. It seems to correspond to J's 'In thee shall all nations,' etc. (12³ etc.), and probably expresses some sort of Messianic outlook.—7. (Hebrew characters)] perhaps a gloss suggested by 27^43f. (Di. al.).—9. (Hebrew characters)] [E] om.—(Hebrew characters)] S (Syriac characters) (cf. T^J); see on 36³.