Page:A critical and exegetical commentary on Genesis (1910).djvu/483

and Rachel (^15-30). The first, a purely idyllic scene reminding us of 24^11-33 and Ex. 2^15-22, forms a pleasing introduction to the cycle of Jacob-Laban narratives, without a trace of the petty chicanery which is the leading motive of that group of legends.^[1] In the second, the true character of Laban is exposed by the unworthy trick which he practises on Jacob; and the reader's sympathies are enlisted on the side of Jacob in the trial of astuteness which is sure to ensue.

Analysis.—Fragments of P's narrative can be easily recognised in vv.^{24. 29}, and probably also in ^28b. The separation of J and E is uncertain on account of the close parallelism of the two documents and the absence of material differences of representation to support or correct the literary analysis. Most subsequent critics agree with Di. that v.¹ belongs to E (see the notes), and ^2-14 to J: cf. (Hebrew characters), ¹³ (18² 24¹⁷); (Hebrew characters), ¹⁴ (2²³). In ^16f. Rachel appears to be introduced for the first time; hence Di. regards E as the main source of ¹5 (or ^15b) ^-30, excluding, however, v.²⁶, where (Hebrew characters) and (Hebrew characters) reveal the hand of J: characteristic expressions of E are (Hebrew characters), ¹⁵ (31^{7. 41}); (Hebrew characters) and (Hebrew characters), ^{16. 18};] (Hebrew characters), ^17. So Gu. Pro. nearly. Ball and Corn. assign all from ¹⁹ onwards to J.

1-14. Jacob's meeting with Rachel.—1. the sons of the East] Since the goal of Jacob's journey is in J, Ḥarran (28¹⁰ 29⁴) and in P, Paddan Aram (28⁷), it is to be presumed that this third variation comes from E (Di.). Now the (Hebrew characters) are everywhere else the tribes of the Syro-Arabian desert, and 31^21ff. certainly suggests that Laban's home was not so distant from Canaan as Ḥarran (see on 24^10f. [city of Nahor]). It is possible, therefore, that in the tradition followed by E, Laban was the representative of the nomadic Aramæans between Palestine and the Euphrates (see p. 334 above).—2. The well in the open country is evidently distinct, even in J, from the town-well of Ḥarran (cf. 24¹³).—For . . . they used to water, etc.] To the end of v.³ is an explanatory parenthesis describing the ordinary procedure. The custom of covering the well with a heavy stone is referred to by

1. The curious expression 'lifted up his feet' is found only here.—GV om. (Hebrew characters); and G adds to the v. (Greek characters), as 28^5b.—2. (Hebrew characters) can only mean 'and the stone was great': it is perhaps better to omit

1. T^J thinks it necessary to introduce a hint of the coming rivalry into the conversation between Jacob and Rachel (v.¹³).