Page:A critical and exegetical commentary on Genesis (1910).djvu/580

short with the opening of the first sack. In J, each man found his money at the 'inn' (43²¹).—28. their heart went out] 'their courage sank.' Partly from the anticipated accusation of theft (43¹⁸), but still more from the superstitious notion that God was bringing trouble upon them.—(Hebrew characters)] J's peculiar word for 'corn-sack' (v.i.)—The last clause, however, What has God ((Hebrew characters)) done to us?] is apparently taken from E, probably transposed from the end of ³⁵ (KS.).—29-34. They recount their experiences to Jacob.—30. treated us as spies] Better, as G (v.i.), 'put us in ward as spies.'—35. See on ^27f.. The incident explains Jacob's foreboding (v.³⁶) that Simeon and Benjamin are as good as lost.—36. Me have ye bereaved . . . upon me all this has come] The point of the complaint is that it is his children, not their own, that they are throwing away one after another: to which Reuben's offer to sacrifice his two sons is the apt rejoinder.—37 is E's variant to 43⁹: here Reuben, there Judah, becomes surety for Benjamin. In E an immediate return to Egypt is contemplated, that Simeon may be released; hence the discussion about sending Benjamin takes place at once. In J the thought of returning is put off to the last possible moment (43⁸), and the difficulty about Benjamin does not yet arise.—38 therefore has been removed from its original context: see on 43^{1. 2}.—bring down . . . to She'ōl] See on 37³⁵.

Chs. XLIII. XLIV.—The second Visit to Egypt (J).

The supply of food being exhausted, another family council is held, at which Jacob's reluctance to part with Benjamin is at last overcome by Judah becoming surety for his safe return: the eleven brethren set out with a present

Ar.—28. (Hebrew characters)] [E]G add (Hebrew characters) unnecessarily.—(Hebrew characters)] Pregn. const.; G-K. § 119 gg.—30. (Hebrew characters)] G + [Greek: en phylakê (= (Hebrew characters)).—32. (Hebrew characters)] [E]GS transp.—33. (Hebrew characters)] Rd. with GST^O (Hebrew characters), as v.¹⁹.—34. (Hebrew characters)] GSV pr. (Hebrew characters).—35. On the syntax, cf. G-K. § 111 g.—36. (Hebrew characters)] for (Hebrew characters), as Pr 31²⁹ (G-K. § 91 f). On E's preference for these lengthened suff., see Di. on 41²¹.