ally, and no doubt correctly, identified with the Nahr es-Zerḳā (Blue River), whose middle course separates Ǧebel 'Aǧlūn from el-Belḳā, and which flows into the Jordan about 25 m. N of the Dead Sea. See Smend, ZATW, 1902, 137 ff.; and the descriptions in Riehm, Hwb.2 665; Smith, HG, 583-5.—The ford referred to cannot be determined; that of Muḫādat en-Nuṣrānīyeh, where the road from Ǧeraš to es-Salṭ crosses the deep narrow gorge which cleaves the mountains of Gilead, as described by Thomson (LB, iii. 583 ff.) and Tristram (Land of Israel3, 549), supplies a more fitting background for the weird struggle about to be narrated than the one in the Jordan valley; but on the difficulties of this identification, see Dri. ET, xiii. 459.
The passage of the river seems to be twice described, 24a and 24b being
apparently doublets. The former continues 23a, which belongs to J (
Hebrew characters).
Following this clue, we may divide thus: 23a 24a = J; 23b. 24b = E (so Gu.).
While E implies that Jacob crossed with his company, the account of
J is consistent with the statement of 25a, that after sending the others
across he himself was 'left alone.' On any view the action is somewhat
perplexing. To cross a ford by night, with flocks, etc., was a dangerous
operation, only to be explained by apprehension of an attack from
Esau (We.). But Esau is represented as advancing from the south;
and Jacob is in haste to put his people and possessions on that side of
the river on which they were exposed to attack. Either the narrative
is defective at this point, or it is written without a clear conception of
the actual circumstances.
25. a man wrestled with him till the appearing of the dawn]—Only
later does Jacob discover that his unknown antagonist
is a god in human form (cf. 182 195).—The rare word (v.i.) for
'wrestle' ((Hebrew characters)) is chosen because of the assonance with (Hebrew characters)—26a.
he saw that he prevailed not] The ambiguity of the
subject extends to the next clause, and leaves two interpretations
open (v.i.).—struck the socket of his thigh] putting
it out of joint.—26b. the socket of Jacob's thigh was dislocated as he wrestled with him.
The dislocation of the thigh seems to be twice recorded (see KS. An.
159), and it is highly probable that the two halves of the v. come from
(Hebrew characters) ([E]GSV.—25. (Hebrew characters)] A vb. used only here and v.26, distinct from
NH (Hebrew characters), 'make oneself dusty,' and very probably a modification of
(Hebrew characters), 'clasp' (De. Di.).—26. (Hebrew characters)] [root] (Hebrew characters), lit. 'be rent away' (cf. Jer. 68):
