32:19 He also gave these instructions to the second and third servants, as well as all those who were following the herds, saying, “You must say the same thing to Esau when you meet him. 14 32:20 You must also say, ‘In fact your servant Jacob is behind us.’” 15 Jacob thought, 16 “I will first appease him 17 by sending a gift ahead of me. 18 After that I will meet him. 19 Perhaps he will accept me.” 20
1 tn The oath formula is elliptical, reading simply: “…if I take.” It is as if Abram says, “[May the
2 tn The Hebrew text adds the independent pronoun (“I”) to the verb form for emphasis.
3 tn Heb “he”; the referent has been specified in the translation for clarity.
4 tn Heb “and she, even she.”
5 tn Heb “with the integrity of my heart.”
6 tn The Hebrew verb is plural. This may be a case of grammatical agreement with the name for God, which is plural in form. However, when this plural name refers to the one true God, accompanying predicates are usually singular in form. Perhaps Abraham is accommodating his speech to Abimelech’s polytheistic perspective. (See GKC 463 §145.i.) If so, one should translate, “when the gods made me wander.”
7 tn Heb “This is your loyal deed which you can do for me.”
8 tn Heb “said.”
9 tn The perfect form of the verb is used here to describe a hypothetical situation.
10 tn Heb “the spring of water.”
11 tn Heb “and it will be.”
12 tn Heb “Surely, look!” See N. H. Snaith, “The meaning of Hebrew ‘ak,” VT 14 (1964): 221-25.
13 tn Heb “Because I said, ‘Lest I die on account of her.’” Since the verb “said” probably means “said to myself” (i.e., “thought”) here, the direct discourse in the Hebrew statement has been converted to indirect discourse in the translation. In addition the simple prepositional phrase “on account of her” has been clarified in the translation as “to get her” (cf. v. 7).
14 tn Heb “And he commanded also the second, also the third, also all the ones going after the herds, saying: ‘According to this word you will speak when you find him.’”
15 tn Heb “and look, your servant Jacob [is] behind us.”
16 tn Heb “for he said.” The referent (Jacob) has been specified in the translation for clarity. The Hebrew word מַקֵל (maqel), traditionally represents Jacob’s thought or reasoning, and is therefore translated “thought.”
17 tn Heb “I will appease his face.” The cohortative here expresses Jacob’s resolve. In the Book of Leviticus the Hebrew verb translated “appease” has the idea of removing anger due to sin or guilt, a nuance that fits this passage very well. Jacob wanted to buy Esau off with a gift of more than five hundred and fifty animals.
18 tn Heb “with a gift going before me.”
19 tn Heb “I will see his face.”
20 tn Heb “Perhaps he will lift up my face.” In this context the idiom refers to acceptance.
21 tn Heb “they traveled from this place.”
22 tn The Hebrew word can sometimes carry the nuance “evil,” but when used of an animal it refers to a dangerous wild animal.
23 tn Heb “what his dreams will be.”
24 tn Heb “and also his blood, look, it is required.” God requires compensation, as it were, from those who shed innocent blood (see Gen 9:6). In other words, God exacts punishment for the crime of murder.
25 tn Heb “they left the city, they were not far,” meaning “they had not gone very far.”
26 tn Heb “and Joseph said.” This clause, like the first one in the verse, has the subject before the verb, indicating synchronic action.
27 tn Heb “arise, chase after the men.” The first imperative gives the command a sense of urgency.
28 tn After the imperative this perfect verbal form with vav consecutive has the same nuance of instruction. In the translation it is subordinated to the verbal form that follows (also a perfect with vav consecutive): “and overtake them and say,” becomes “when you overtake them, say.”
29 tn The words “to say” have been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.