¹ tn Heb “the messenger of the Lord.” Some identify the angel of the Lord as the preincarnate Christ because in some texts the angel is identified with the Lord himself. However, it is more likely that the angel merely represents the Lord; he can speak for the Lord because he is sent with the Lord’s full authority. In some cases the angel is clearly distinct from the Lord (see Judg 6:11-23). It is not certain if the same angel is always in view. Though the proper name following the noun “angel” makes the construction definite, this may simply indicate that a definite angel sent from the Lord is referred to in any given context. It need not be the same angel on every occasion. Note the analogous expression “the servant of the Lord,” which refers to various individuals in the OT (see BDB 714 s.v. עֶבֶד).

² tn Heb “And the angel of the Lord found her near the spring of water in the desert, near the spring on the way to Shur.”

³ sn The cave of Machpelah was the place Abraham had purchased as a burial place for his wife Sarah (Gen 23:17-18).

⁴ tn Heb “and at every breeding-heat of the flock.”

⁵ tn Heb “in front of.”

⁶ tn The text uses an interrogative clause: “Are not your brothers,” which means “your brothers are.”

⁷ sn With these words Joseph is depicted here as an obedient son who is ready to do what his father commands.

⁸ tn Heb “and he said, ‘Here I am.’” The referent of the pronoun “he” (Joseph) has been specified in the translation for clarity, and the order of the introductory clause and the direct discourse has been rearranged for stylistic reasons.

⁹ tn The perfect verbal form with vav consecutive here expresses instruction.