Gen. 28:10 [Samaritan Pentateuch]
ויצא יעקב מבאר שבע ללכת חרנה
And Yaʿaqov went out from Beʾer Sheva to go toward Ḥaran..
Gen. 28:10 [Masoretic Text]
וַיֵּצֵ֥א יַעֲקֹ֖ב מִבְּאֵ֣ר שָׁ֑בַע וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ חָרָֽנָה׃
And Yaʿaqov went out from Beʾer Sheva and went toward Ḥaran.
Morphology
- וַיֵּצֵ֥א (va-yetse) – Root: יצא (y-ts-ʾ); Form: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, 3ms with vav consecutive; Translation: “And he went out”; Notes: Indicates Yaʿaqov’s departure from Beʾer Sheva.
- יַעֲקֹ֖ב (Yaʿaqov) – Root: N/A; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yaʿaqov”; Notes: Refers to Jacob, the son of Yitsḥaq.
- מִבְּאֵ֣ר (mi-Beʾer) – Root: באר (b-ʾ-r); Form: Preposition + noun, fs; Translation: “From Beʾer”; Notes: Indicates the place he left.
- שָׁ֑בַע (Sheva) – Root: שבע (sh-b-ʿ); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Sheva”; Notes: Part of the place name, Beʾer Sheva.
- וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ (va-yelekh) – Root: הלך (h-l-k); Form: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, 3ms with vav consecutive; Translation: “And he went”; Notes: Describes Yaʿaqov’s movement toward Ḥaran.
- חָרָֽנָה (Ḥaranah) – Root: חרן (ḥ-r-n); Form: Proper noun with directional suffix (-ah); Translation: “Toward Ḥaran”; Notes: Indicates the destination of Yaʿaqov’s journey.
Textual Commentary on Genesis 28:10
Genesis 28:10 exhibits a small but notable difference between the Masoretic Text (MT) and the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP). The primary variation is the addition of ללכת (“to go”) in the SP, slightly altering the structure of the sentence while maintaining the same core meaning.
Key Differences
| Feature | Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) | Masoretic Text (MT) | Effect on Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verb “went out” | ויצא (wayyēṣēʾ) | וַיֵּצֵ֥א (wayyēṣēʾ) | Identical in meaning |
| Name of Yaʿaqov | יעקב (Yaʿaqov) | יַעֲקֹ֖ב (Yaʿaqov) | Identical, with no changes in wording. |
| “From Beʾer Sheva” | מבאר שבע (miBəʾēr Ševaʿ) | מִבְּאֵ֣ר שָׁ֑בַע (miBəʾēr Ševaʿ) | Same phrase |
| Expression of movement | ללכת חרנה (laleḵet Ḥaranāh, “to go to Ḥaran”) | וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ חָרָֽנָה (wayyēleḵ Ḥaranāh, “and he went to Ḥaran”) | SP uses ללכת (“to go”), making the purpose of movement explicit. |
Phonological and Morphological Differences
Expression of Movement
- The MT states וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ חָרָֽנָה (“and he went to Ḥaran”), using a direct verb.
- The SP replaces this with ללכת חרנה (“to go to Ḥaran”), using an infinitive construct ללכת (“to go”), making the purpose of Yaʿaqov’s journey explicit.
- This slight difference does not change the meaning but affects the sentence flow, with the MT being more direct and the SP providing an explanatory nuance.
Use of Infinitive vs. Finite Verb
- The MT employs the finite verb וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ (“and he went”), a standard narrative form.
- The SP uses the infinitive construct ללכת (“to go”), which clarifies the intentionality of Yaʿaqov’s departure.
- Both structures are grammatically valid and frequently appear in Biblical Hebrew.
Textual and Linguistic Implications
- The SP’s inclusion of ללכת (“to go”) suggests a slight tendency toward explanatory phrasing, possibly making the text more explicit for readers.
- The MT’s more succinct narrative style is characteristic of classical Hebrew storytelling, whereas the SP’s wording aligns with clarification tendencies observed in Samaritan readings.
- Both texts emphasize Yaʿaqov’s departure from Beʾer Sheva and his journey to Ḥaran, with no theological or interpretive changes.
Conclusion
The primary difference between the Masoretic Text and the Samaritan Pentateuch in Genesis 28:10 is the addition of ללכת (“to go”) in the SP. This addition makes the purpose of Yaʿaqov’s journey more explicit, but it does not change the fundamental meaning of the passage. The MT presents a more direct narrative style, while the SP’s version slightly clarifies the movement. These differences reflect scribal tendencies rather than major textual variations.