Genesis 21:31

21:31 That is why he named that place ¹  Beer Sheba, ²  because the two of them swore ³  an oath there.

Genesis 28:19

28:19 He called that place Bethel, ⁴  although the former name of the town was Luz.

Genesis 32:13

32:13 Jacob ⁵  stayed there that night. Then he sent ⁶  as a gift ⁷  to his brother Esau

Genesis 32:21

32:21 So the gifts were sent on ahead of him ⁸  while he spent that night in the camp. ⁹ 

[21:31]  ¹ tn Heb “that is why he called that place.” Some translations render this as an impersonal passive, “that is why that place was called.”

[21:31]  ² sn The name Beer Sheba (בְּאֵר שָׁבַע, bÿ’er shava’) means “well of the oath” or “well of the seven.” Both the verb “to swear” and the number “seven” have been used throughout the account. Now they are drawn in as part of the explanation of the significance of the name.

[21:31]  ³ sn The verb forms a wordplay with the name Beer Sheba.

[28:19]  ⁴ tn The name Bethel means “house of God” in Hebrew (see v. 17).

[32:13]  ⁷ tn Heb “and he”; the referent (Jacob) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[32:13]  ⁸ tn Heb “and he took from that which was going into his hand,” meaning that he took some of what belonged to him.

[32:13]  ⁹ sn The Hebrew noun translated gift can in some contexts refer to the tribute paid by a subject to his lord. Such a nuance is possible here, because Jacob refers to Esau as his lord and to himself as Esau’s servant (v. 4).

[32:21]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “and the gift passed over upon his face.”

[32:21]  ¹¹ tn The disjunctive clause is circumstantial/temporal.