t Comp. Moore, he, p. 218 (who mentions another proposed site, at Deir'Alla, N. of the Zerka; cf. G. A. Smith, f.c. p. 68.'').
I A piece of money (or metal) of uncertain value. It is mentioned besides only in Jos 24^2, Job 42".
§ As Dinah, who (31*1 comp. with 3021) must have been quite an infant when Jacob left Haran, appears of marriageable age in ch. 34, Jacob (if the narrative is to be treated as consistent) must be supposed to have passed some years at Succoth (or at Sliechem, before the events mentioned in ch. 34 occurred) ; cf. Dillm. on 3025'- 3317 341.
t Vv.2b. 3. ». 7. 11. 12. 19. 20 (• twoof the SOUS of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brethren, took each man bis sword ') -»■ *>. 81. Tliis narrative is naturally not quite complete, part^ having been omitted when it was combined with the other narrative.
II P ; or (Wellh.. Cornill, Holzinger) E, amplified in parts Ij writer of the school of P.
JACOB
JACuB
proposes what is virtually an amalgamation of the two communities, with foil reciiirocal rights of tratie and inter-marriage (vv.*-'"- ^'•^) : the sons of Jacob generally (not merely Simeon and Levi) speak on their sister's behalf : they impose the condition (which is here circumcision) not on Shcchem only, but on the whole people (vv."-"*) ; and the entire city experiences tlicir vengeance (vv.'-"*"^"'^). On the possible signilicance of this narrative, see p. 535.
From Shechem Jacob proceeds on his way to Bethel (about 20 miles S. of Shechem), a panic terror (35°) restraining the natives of the neighbour- hood from pursuing him. Bethel was the spot, which, wlien he was startin" for l^aran some 20 years (31'") preWously, had been con.secrated for Iiiiii by his great dream (28"'°') ; and now, in anticipation of Wsiting it again, he bade his hou.sehold and retainers put away all ' forei^cn gods ' from among them : the ' God of Bethel ' (31") had proved Himself true to His iiromise (2S'°) ; He had led His servant safelv through many trials and anxieties ; and at ISethel, in fullilment of his vow (28^), he would now build an altar to Him. Later generations pointed to the terebinth at Shechem (cf. Jos 24-'') as marking the spot at which the idols brought from Ijaran (cf. Gn 31'", Jos 24-- "■="), and the amulets,* were buried by Jacob. The erection of the altar is narrated in 35' (E, as also vv.i-»-8). 1' (35»-"- ") <lescribes at this point a thcophanj-, with a renewed promise to Jacob of a numerous and royal posterity, and of the gift of the land (\t."- '-') ; t to the same occasion he also assigns (v.'") the change of name from Jncub to Israel, wliich J has narrated already at I'etiuel (32'"), and the origin of the name of lidhel, wliich J had connected with Jacob's former visit to the place (28'"). The relation of the ' nillar,' wliich, accordin"; to v." (probably J), Jacou set up, and upon which he is said also to liave poured a drink- ollering and oil, to the one mentioned previously in 2S'" (E), is not clear ; the verse wiay relate to a dilTerent ' pillar,' it iiuty give a different version of the origin of the same ' pillar.' J
Leaving Bethel, Jacou continued his journey to the South. Shortly before reaching Ephrath, liachel died in childbirth : she herself, so tradition told, called her son Ben-oni 'son of my sorrow,' but his father preferred a name of better omen, and called him Ben-jntnin, 'son of the right hand.'§ On the site of her grave, Jacob erected a ' pillar,' which still l)ore her name in the narrator's day (3o»). In 1 S 10" Ilachel's grave is distinctly stated to have been on the (Northern) border of Benjamin, not far from Bethel (cf. v.' ; and see also Jer 31") : unless therefore there were different traditions respecting its site, the gloss 'the same is Beth-lehera' (in spite of its repetition in 48', and in spite also of its being in agreement with other statements, as Kn 4", Mic 5') is incorrect, and there were more loca- lities than one called Ejihrnth. Still pursuing his way, Jacob next rested beyond the 'tower of Eder' (or 'of the llock '),— a phice, of wliich (in spite of Mic 4") the situation is quite uncertain. P (SS^""*) brings Jacob on to Hebron (v."; cf. 37" JE). There Isaac (who wiu* htsl mentioned as
• This Is the inritninK ot the ' riiiK«' of S5«.
t With V." of. the puaoges clttd p. 627 not« t ; »nd add V* CkinKi').
t Cornill conjectures that this verse oiii:<na)lr (without ' In the place whrre he spake with him ' ) stood in close connexion with V.8: In this case the 'plllur' would be a sepnlchnil stele (of. ».*•), and the liliations would be poured out as ollirinifs U> the dead (ilil TIT, 1891, p. 16 0. ; c(. llolrin(cer, Camm. p. 1X1)
I Whether this \» the true explanation of the name, must remain an open nueation. Savce (Kllll 78) aurres here with Stade (WescA. L 181) in thinking that the name (the 'SouUierner') haj .vally reference to the poaitioo ot tbe territory o' Ueojaiuln on the S. of Epbrmim.