Gen. 30:36 [Samaritan Pentateuch]
וישם דרך שלשת ימים בינם ובין יעקב ויעקב רעה את צאן לבן הנותרת :—
And he set a distance of three days’ journey between them and Yaʿaqov, and Yaʿaqov pastured the remaining flock of Lavan.
Gen. 30:36 [Masoretic Text]
וַיָּ֗שֶׂם דֶּ֚רֶךְ שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת יָמִ֔ים בֵּינֹ֖ו וּבֵ֣ין יַעֲקֹ֑ב וְיַעֲקֹ֗ב רֹעֶ֛ה אֶת־צֹ֥אן לָבָ֖ן הַנֹּותָרֹֽת׃
And he set a distance of three days’ journey between himself and Yaʿaqov, and Yaʿaqov pastured the remaining flock of Lavan.
Morphology
- וַיָּ֗שֶׂם (vayyasem) – Root: שם (sam); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (preterite) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And he set”; Notes: Narrative past action.
- דֶּ֚רֶךְ (derekh) – Root: דרך (derekh); Form: Noun, masculine singular absolute; Translation: “a distance”; Notes: Also means “road” or “way.”
- שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת (sheloshet) – Root: שלש (shalosh); Form: Numeral, masculine construct; Translation: “three”; Notes: Construct form links it to “days.”
- יָמִ֔ים (yamim) – Root: יום (yom); Form: Noun, masculine plural absolute; Translation: “days”; Notes: Plural form.
- בֵּינֹ֖ו (beino) – Root: בין (bein); Form: Preposition with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “between himself”; Notes: Indicates separation.
- וּבֵ֣ין (u-vein) – Root: בין (bein); Form: Conjunction + preposition; Translation: “and between”; Notes: Links two subjects.
- יַעֲקֹ֑ב (Yaʿaqov) – Root: יעקב (Yaʿaqov); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yaʿaqov”; Notes: Name of the patriarch.
- וְיַעֲקֹ֗ב (ve-Yaʿaqov) – Root: יעקב (Yaʿaqov); Form: Proper noun with conjunction; Translation: “and Yaʿaqov”; Notes: Continues the narrative.
- רֹעֶ֛ה (roʿeh) – Root: רעה (raʿah); Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “was pasturing”; Notes: Continuous action.
- אֶת־ (ʾet) – Root: את (ʾet); Form: Definite direct object marker; Translation: “—”; Notes: Marks the direct object.
- צֹ֥אן (tzon) – Root: צאן (tzon); Form: Noun, feminine singular collective; Translation: “flock”; Notes: Collective noun for sheep/goats.
- לָבָ֖ן (Lavan) – Root: לבן (Lavan); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Lavan”; Notes: Name of a person.
- הַנֹּותָרֹֽת׃ (hannotarot) – Root: יתר (yatar); Form: Nifal participle feminine plural definite; Translation: “the remaining”; Notes: Describes the flock.
Textual Commentary on Genesis 30:36
| Feature | Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) | Masoretic Text (MT) | Effect on Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronoun Change: “Them” vs. “Himself” | בֵּינָם (beinam, “between them”) | בֵּינֹו (beino, “between himself”) | SP uses a plural pronoun (“between them”), implying a distinction between multiple people, whereas MT uses a singular pronoun (“between himself”), focusing on Lavan alone. |
| Word Order Difference | בֵּינָם וּבֵין יַעֲקֹב (beinam u-vein Yaʿaqov, “between them and between Yaʿaqov”) | בֵּינֹו וּבֵין יַעֲקֹב (beino u-vein Yaʿaqov, “between himself and between Yaʿaqov”) | SP explicitly separates “them” from Yaʿaqov, whereas MT places the singular pronoun before mentioning Yaʿaqov. |
| Spelling Variation in “Remaining” | הַנוֹתֶרֶת (hanoteret, “the remaining”) | הַנֹּותָרֹת (hanotarat, “the remaining”) | Minor orthographic variation; no significant impact on meaning. |
Analysis of Key Differences
The key variation in this verse is the pronoun shift between SP and MT:
- In the Masoretic Text (MT), Lavan is described as setting a distance between himself and Yaʿaqov, implying that the separation was personal.
- In the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP), the phrase “between them and between Yaʿaqov” suggests that multiple individuals were involved in this separation.
This change in pronoun alters the focus of the narrative:
- The MT presents Lavan as the primary agent of separation.
- The SP introduces an additional unspecified group (possibly Lavan’s sons or other shepherds).
Textual and Linguistic Implications
The use of plural pronouns in the SP may indicate an interpretive tradition where Lavan and others (possibly his sons or workers) were responsible for separating the flocks. The MT, by contrast, focuses solely on Lavan himself, emphasizing his direct role in keeping distance from Yaʿaqov.
Conclusion
The difference in Genesis 30:36 between the MT and SP is grammatical and narrative-based, affecting who is involved in the separation. The MT maintains a singular focus on Lavan, while the SP suggests that multiple people participated in creating the distance. While the meaning remains mostly intact, the SP implies a broader social involvement in Lavan’s decision.