49:27 Benjamin is a ravenous wolf;
in the morning devouring the prey,
and in the evening dividing the plunder.”
1 tn Heb “and it went out, going out and returning.” The Hebrew verb יָצָא (yatsa’), translated here “flying,” is modified by two infinitives absolute indicating that the raven went back and forth.
2 tn Or “the cities of the plain”; Heb “[the cities of] the circle,” referring to the “circle” or oval area of the Jordan Valley.
3 tn Heb “for all the land which you see to you I will give it and to your descendants.”
4 sn The line of attack ran down the eastern side of the Jordan Valley into the desert, and then turned and came up the valley to the cities of the plain.
5 tn The Hebrew text simply has “night” as an adverbial accusative.
6 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Abram) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
7 tn Heb “he divided himself…he and his servants.”
8 tn Heb “left.” Directions in ancient Israel were given in relation to the east rather than the north.
6 sn The term generation is being used here in its widest sense to refer to a full life span. When the chronological factors are considered and the genealogies tabulated, there are four hundred years of bondage. This suggests that in this context a generation is equivalent to one hundred years.
7 tn Heb “they”; the referent (“your descendants”) has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
8 tn Heb “is not yet complete.”
7 tn Heb “the firstborn.”
8 sn The meaning of the name Moab is not certain. The name sounds like the Hebrew phrase “from our father” (מֵאָבִינוּ, me’avinu) which the daughters used twice (vv. 32, 34). This account is probably included in the narrative in order to portray the Moabites, who later became enemies of God’s people, in a negative light.
8 tn Heb “when she had finished giving him a drink.” This has been simplified in the translation for stylistic reasons.
9 tn Heb “and food was placed before him.”
10 tn Heb “my words.”
11 tc Some ancient textual witnesses have a plural verb, “and they said.”
10 tn Heb “great.” In this context the statement refers primarily to Isaac’s material wealth, although reputation and influence are included.
11 tn Heb “and he went, going and becoming great.” The construction stresses that his growth in possessions and power continued steadily.
11 sn The name Shibah (שִׁבְעָה, shiv’ah) means (or at least sounds like) the word meaning “oath.” The name was a reminder of the oath sworn by Isaac and the Philistines to solidify their treaty.
12 sn The name Beer Sheba (בְּאֵר שָׁבַע, bÿ’er shava’) means “well of an oath” or “well of seven.” According to Gen 21:31 Abraham gave Beer Sheba its name when he made a treaty with the Philistines. Because of the parallels between this earlier story and the account in 26:26-33, some scholars see chaps. 21 and 26 as two versions (or doublets) of one original story. However, if one takes the text as it stands, it appears that Isaac made a later treaty agreement with the people of the land that was similar to his father’s. Abraham dug a well at the site and named the place Beer Sheba; Isaac dug another well there and named the well Shibah. Later generations then associated the name Beer Sheba with Isaac, even though Abraham gave the place its name at an earlier time.
12 tn Heb “a few days.” Rebekah probably downplays the length of time Jacob will be gone, perhaps to encourage him and assure him that things will settle down soon. She probably expects Esau’s anger to die down quickly. However, Jacob ends up being gone twenty years and he never sees Rebekah again.
13 sn Reflecting Jacob’s perspective at the beginning of the encounter, the narrator calls the opponent simply “a man.” Not until later in the struggle does Jacob realize his true identity.
14 sn The verb translated “wrestled” (וַיֵּאָבֵק, vayye’aveq) sounds in Hebrew like the names “Jacob” (יַעֲקֹב, ya’aqov) and “Jabbok” (יַבֹּק, yabboq). In this way the narrator links the setting, the main action, and the main participant together in the mind of the reader or hearer.
15 tn Heb “until the rising of the dawn.”
14 tn Heb “standing stone.”
15 tn Or perhaps “it is known as” (cf. NEB).
15 tn Heb “went forth from me.”