of the 400 men (327). He marshals his children (not the
whole company, as 328f., though the motive is the same)
under their mothers, and in the reverse order of his affection
for them.—3. passed on before them] having previously been in the rear.—He approaches his brother with the reverence befitting a sovereign; the sevenfold prostration is a favourite formula of homage in the Tel Amarna tablets: "At the feet of my Lord, my Sun, I fall down seven and seven times" (38 ff. pass.). It does not follow, however, that Jacob acknowledged himself Esau's vassal (Nestle, MM, 12; Che. TBI, 405); cf. 1 Sa. 2041.—4. fell on his neck] 4514 4629 (J); Lu. 1520.—5-7. An interesting picture: the mothers with their little ones come forward in groups to pay their respects to the grim-visaged warrior, whose name had caused such terror in the camp. 8-11. The present.—8. Esau remembers another great cavalcade—camp—which he had met. The 'present' of 3214ff. (E) cannot be referred to, for Esau must have been told repeatedly what it was for (3218f.). The word (
Hebrew characters) points rather to the arrangement of 328f. (J). Gu. somewhat ingeniously explains thus: Esau had met the first division of Jacob's company; and Jacob, ashamed to avow his original motive, by a happy inspiration now offers 'this whole camp' as a present to his brother.—9. Esau at first refuses, but, 10, 11, Jacob insists on his accepting the gift.—as one sees the
Read accordingly (Hebrew characters) for the first (Hebrew characters).—4. (Hebrew characters)] The puncta extraordinaria
mark some error in the text. Di. observes that elsewhere
(4514 4629) 'fell on his neck' is immediately followed by 'wept.' The
word should probably be inserted (with G) after (Hebrew characters) (so 2913; cf.
4810).—(Hebrew characters)] The sing. would be better, unless we add with G (Hebrew characters)
(Hebrew characters) (Hebrew characters) seem to be variants; of which one or other
will be due to E.—5. (Hebrew characters)] with double acc., lit. 'has been gracious to
me (with) them' (G.-K. § 117 ff.) = 'has graciously given' (so v.11); cf.
Ju. 2122, Ps. 11929.—7. (Hebrew characters)] Niph. for the previous Qal. Point—(Hebrew characters)?—(Hebrew characters)]
G transp. as v.2.
10. (Hebrew characters)] see on 185. This and the preceding (Hebrew characters) mark the v.
as J's, in spite of the appellative use of (Hebrew characters).—11a is a doublet of 10a, and
may be assigned to E.—(Hebrew characters)] 'blessing,' hence the gift which is meant
to procure a blessing: 1 Sa. 2527 3026, 2 Ki. 1831.—(Hebrew characters)] see G-K. § 74 g;
but [E]GVS read better (Hebrew characters).
