Page:A critical and exegetical commentary on Genesis (1910).djvu/496

of peace (from which Gilead receives its name), and separate with many demonstrations of goodwill (31⁴⁴-32¹).

Sources.—^1-16 is an almost homogeneous (though perhaps not continuous) excerpt from E: (Hebrew characters), ^{7. 9. 11. 16}; (Hebrew characters), ⁷ (cf. ⁴¹ 29¹⁵); (Hebrew characters), ⁷ (⁴¹); (Hebrew characters) ¹³; the revelation by dream, ^10f.; the summons and answer, ¹¹ (22^{1. 7. 11}); and the explanation of Jacob's wealth ^7ff.; cf. also the reference to 28^20-22. ¹ and ³ are from a J parallel: (Hebrew characters), ³; (Hebrew characters), ³; the 'sons' of Laban, ¹ (cf. 30³⁵).—In ^17-54 E still preponderates, though J is more largely represented than some critics (Di. Kue. KS. Dri. al.) allow. The detailed analysis is here very intricate, and will be best dealt with under the several sections.—¹⁸ (except the first four words) is the only extract from P.

1-16. Preparations for flight.—1, 3 (J). The jealousy of Laban's sons corresponds to the dark looks of Laban himself in E (v.²); the divine communication is a feature of both narratives (v.¹³).—4-13. Jacob vindicates his conduct towards Laban, and sets forth the reasons for his projected flight. The motive of the speech is not purely literary, affording the writer an opportunity to express his belief in Jacob's righteousness (Gu.); it is first of all an appeal to the wives to accompany him: comp. the question to Rebekah in 24⁵⁸.—6. Ye yourselves know, etc.] Cf. 30{{sup|26. 29). But to repeat the protestation after the work of the last six years implies great hardihood on Jacob's part; and rather suggests that the passage belongs to a stratum of E which said nothing about his tricks with the flock.—7. changed my wages ten times] Perhaps a round number, not to be taken literally.—8. A sample of Laban's tergiversations, and their frustration by God's providence.—9. And so God has taken away, etc.] The hand of God has been so manifest that Laban's displeasure is altogether unreasonable.—10-12. Jacob receives through a dream the explanation of the singular good fortune that has attended him.

In the text vv.^10-12 form part of the same revelation as that in which Jacob is commanded to depart (¹³). But, as We. (Comp.² 39) asks, "How

2. (Hebrew characters)] [E] (Hebrew characters) (so v.⁵).—6. (Hebrew characters)] only here and thrice in Ezk. (cf. G-K. § 32 i).—7. (Hebrew characters)] [E] (Hebrew characters).—(Hebrew characters)] G ('nescio qua opinione ducti' [Jer.]) (Greek characters) (so ⁴¹—probably a transliteration, afterwards made into a Gr. word). (Hebrew characters) (⁴¹†) from [root] (Hebrew characters), 'count,' for the usual (Hebrew characters).—(Hebrew characters)] [E] (Hebrew characters) (so ^{9. 16a}).—9. (Hebrew characters)] G (Hebrew characters).—(Hebrew characters)] for (Hebrew characters) ([E]);