'tribute' (as often) in acknowledgment of vassalage, but
(as 4311, 2 Ki. 88f.) a gift to win favour.—17-20. By arranging
the cattle in successive droves following at considerable
intervals, Jacob hopes to wear out Esau's resentment by a
series of surprises. The plan has nothing in common with
the two 'camps' of v.8f. in J.—21a. A repetition of 19b:
Jacob lays stress on this point, because the effect would
obviously be weakened if a garrulous servant were to let
out the secret that other presents were to follow.—21b. Let me pacify him] lit. 'cover' (or 'wipe clean') his face,—the
same figure, though in different language, as 2016. On (
Hebrew characters),
see OTJC2, 381; DB, iv. 128f.—see his face] 'obtain access to
his presence': cf. 433. 5 4423. 26, Ex. 1028, 2 Sa. 1424. 28. 32, 2 Ki.
2519, Est. 114. The phrase is thought to convey an allusion
to Pĕnû'ēl (Gu.); see on 3310.—22. spent . . . camp ((Hebrew characters))]
cf. 14a. We. (Comp.2 46) renders 'in Maḥaneh' (i.e.
Maḥanaim), but the change is hardly justified.
23-33. The wrestling at Peniel (JE).—23, 24. The crossing of the Jabboḳ. The Yabbōḳ is now almost univers-*
57 f.—(Hebrew characters)] see on 43.—17. (Hebrew characters) (Est. 414 † )] [root] (Hebrew characters), 'be wide' (1 Sa. 1623,
Jb. 3220).—18. On the forms (Hebrew characters) (Ben Napht.), (Hebrew characters) (Ben Asher),
see G-K. §§ 9 v, 10 g (c), 60 b, [and B.-D., Gen. p. 85]; and on (Hebrew characters),
§ 64 f.—20. (Hebrew characters)] G + (Greek characters).—(Hebrew characters)] irreg. inf. for (Hebrew characters) (G-K. §§ 74 h,
93 q).—21. (Hebrew characters)] [E] GTOJ + (Hebrew characters).
23-33. The analysis of the passage is beset by insurmountable difficulties.
While most recognise doublets in 23f. (v.s.), 25-33 have generally
been regarded as a unity, being assigned to J by We. Kue. Corn. KS.
Dri. al.; but by Di. to E. In the view of more recent critics, both J and
E are represented, though there is the utmost variety of opinion in regard
to details. In the notes above, possible variants have been pointed out
in 26a 26b (the laming of the thigh) and 28. 29 30 (the name and the blessing);
to these may be added the still more doubtful case 31 32 (Peniel, Penuel).
As showing traces of more primitive conceptions, 26a and 30 would naturally
go together, and also 27 for the same reason. Since J prefers the
name Israel in the subsequent history, there is a slight presumption that
28f. belong to him; and the (Hebrew characters) of 31 points (though not decisively) to E.
Thus we should obtain, for E: 26a 27. 30. 31; leaving for J: 26b. 28. 29. 32: v.33
may be a gloss. The result corresponds nearly, so far as it goes, with
Gu.'s (318 f.). The reader may compare the investigations of Ho. (209 f.),
Procksch (32), Meyer (INS, 57 f.).—23. (Hebrew characters) ([E] (Hebrew characters))] as 1933 3016.—(Hebrew characters)
([E] (Hebrew characters)) (Nu. 2124, Dt. 237 316, Jos. 122, Ju. 1113. 22† ) is naturally explained
as the 'gurgler,' from [root] (Hebrew characters) (Ar. baḳḳa), the resemblance to
(Hebrew characters) (v.25) being, of course, a popular word-play.—24b. Insert (Hebrew characters) before
