31:33 So Laban entered Jacob’s tent, and Leah’s tent, and the tent of the two female servants, but he did not find the idols. 17 Then he left Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s. 18
36:31 These were the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king ruled over the Israelites: 23
42:25 Then Joseph gave orders to fill 27 their bags with grain, to return each man’s money to his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. His orders were carried out. 28
43:18 But the men were afraid when they were brought to Joseph’s house. They said, “We are being brought in because of 29 the money that was returned in our sacks last time. 30 He wants to capture us, 31 make us slaves, and take 32 our donkeys!”
49:29 Then he instructed them, 33 “I am about to go 34 to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite.
1 tn Heb “from upon the surface of the ground.”
2 sn I must hide from your presence. The motif of hiding from the
3 tn Heb “and he”; the referent (the
4 tn Heb “wiped away” (cf. NRSV “blotted out”).
5 tn Heb “from man to animal to creeping thing and to the bird of the sky.”
6 tn The Hebrew verb שָׁאָר (sha’ar) means “to be left over; to survive” in the Niphal verb stem. It is the word used in later biblical texts for the remnant that escapes judgment. See G. F. Hasel, “Semantic Values of Derivatives of the Hebrew Root só’r,” AUSS 11 (1973): 152-69.
7 tn Heb “look.” The particle הִנֵּה (hinneh) introduces the foundational clause for the imperative to follow.
8 tn Heb “enter to.” The expression is a euphemism for sexual relations (also in v. 4).
sn The Hebrew expression translated have sexual relations with does not convey the intimacy of other expressions, such as “so and so knew his wife.” Sarai simply sees this as the social custom of having a child through a surrogate. For further discussion see C. F. Fensham, “The Son of a Handmaid in Northwest Semitic,” VT 19 (1969): 312-21.
9 tn Heb “perhaps I will be built from her.” Sarai hopes to have a family established through this surrogate mother.
10 tn Heb “listened to the voice of,” which is an idiom meaning “obeyed.”
sn Abram did what Sarai told him. This expression was first used in Gen 3:17 of Adam’s obeying his wife. In both cases the text highlights weak faith and how it jeopardized the plan of God.
11 tn Heb “And now swear to me by God here.”
12 tn Heb “my offspring and my descendants.”
13 tn The word “land” refers by metonymy to the people in the land.
14 tn The Hebrew verb means “to stay, to live, to sojourn” as a temporary resident without ownership rights.
15 tn Or “kindness.”
16 tn Heb “According to the loyalty which I have done with you, do with me and with the land in which you are staying.”
17 tn No direct object is specified for the verb “find” in the Hebrew text. The words “the idols” have been supplied in the translation for clarification.
18 tn Heb “and he went out from the tent of Leah and went into the tent of Rachel.”
19 tn Heb “a man his sword.”
20 tn Heb “and they came upon the city, [which was] secure.” In this case “secure” means the city was caught unprepared and at peace, not expecting an attack.
21 tn Heb “which are in your midst.”
22 sn The actions of removing false gods, becoming ritually clean, and changing garments would become necessary steps in Israel when approaching the
23 tn Or perhaps “before any Israelite king ruled over [them].”
24 tn Heb “she was being brought out and she sent.” The juxtaposition of two clauses, both of which place the subject before the predicate, indicates synchronic action.
25 tn Heb “who these to him.”
26 tn Or “ recognize; note.” This same Hebrew verb (נָכַר, nakhar) is used at the beginning of v. 26, where it is translated “recognized.”
27 tn Heb “and they filled.” The clause appears to be elliptical; one expects “Joseph gave orders to fill…and they filled.” See GKC 386 §120.f.
28 tn Heb “and he did for them so.” Joseph would appear to be the subject of the singular verb. If the text is retained, the statement seems to be a summary of the preceding, more detailed statement. However, some read the verb as plural, “and they did for them so.” In this case the statement indicates that Joseph’s subordinates carried out his orders. Another alternative is to read the singular verb as passive (with unspecified subject), “and this was done for them so” (cf. NEB, NIV, NRSV).
29 tn Heb “over the matter of.”
30 tn Heb “in the beginning,” that is, at the end of their first visit.
31 tn Heb “to roll himself upon us and to cause himself to fall upon us.” The infinitives here indicate the purpose (as viewed by the brothers) for their being brought to Joseph’s house.
32 tn The word “take” has been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
33 tn The Hebrew text adds “and he said to them,” which is not included in the translation because it is redundant in English.
34 tn Heb “I am about to be gathered” The participle is used here to describe what is imminent.