the difference between J and E.—33. my righteousness shall testify against me] i.e., the proposal is so transparently fair
that Jacob will be as it were automatically convicted of theft
if he violates the compact. (
Hebrew characters), 'unimpeachable conduct,'
here means 'fair dealing,' 'honesty.'—in time to come] whenever
Laban chooses to make an investigation.—35, 36 (J).
And he (Laban, see 32a(Greek characters)) removed that day, etc.] Laban's
motive in removing the variegated animals to a distance of
three days' journey is obvious; he wishes to reduce to a
minimum the chance that any such animals should henceforth
be born amongst those now entrusted to Jacob.—white]
Heb. lābān, perhaps a play on Laban's name.
37-43. Jacob's Stratagem.—The main account is from J, to whose narrative the artifice is essential, but there are many interpolations.—37-39. The first step is to work on the imagination of the females by rods of poplar, etc., peeled in such a way as to show patches of white, and placed in the drinking troughs.—38, 39. Removing glosses, J's ac-
or 'dark-brown.'—33. (Hebrew characters)] 'testify against' (see 1 Sa. 123, 2 Sa. 116, Is.
39). An easier sense would be obtained if we could translate 'witness for,'
but there seem to be no examples of that usage. Dri.'s interpretation:
'there will be nothing whatever to allege against my honesty,' seems,
on the other hand, too subtle.—(Hebrew characters)] 'in time to come' (Ex. 1314,
Dt. 620). If we could insist on the literal rendering 'on the morrow,'
the proof of divergence between J and E would be strengthened, but
the sense is less suitable.—(Hebrew characters)—(Hebrew characters)] G (Greek characters).—36.
(Hebrew characters)] [E]G (Hebrew characters).—[E] follows 36 with a long addition based on
3111-13.
37. (Hebrew characters) (Ho 413 † )] the 'white' tree; according to some, populus alba
(Di. al.), but very probably styrax officinalis (Ar. lubnay, so called from its
exuding a milk-like gum), (Ges. De. Dri. al.).—(Hebrew characters) † ] = Aram. (Hebrew characters), 'almond
tree.'—(Hebrew characters) (Ezk. 318 † )] platanus orientalis (Ass. irmeânu).—Instead of
the last three words G has (Greek characters),—a
very sensible comment, but hardly original. The whole
clause '(with) a laying bare (G-K. § 117 r) of the white on the rods,' is
superfluous, and certainly looks like a variant.—(Hebrew characters)] pl.; (Hebrew characters) being coll.—38
ff. The text of J, as sifted by We., commends itself by its lucidity
and continuity. It is impossible to tell whether the interpolated words
are variants from another source (E?) or explanatory glosses.—38.
(Hebrew characters) (v.41, Ex. 216 † )] either 'trough,' fr. Ar. rahaṭa, 'be collected,' or
'runnel,' from Aram. (Hebrew characters) = (Hebrew characters) (see Nö. ZA, xii. 187).—(Hebrew characters)] const. pl. of
(Hebrew characters), 2420 † .—The words (Hebrew characters)—(Hebrew characters) divorce (Hebrew characters) from its connexion,
and must be omitted from the text of J. G appears to have changed
