Gen. 31:17 [Samaritan Pentateuch]
ויקם יעקב וישא את נשיו ואת בניו על הגמלים
And Yaʿaqov arose and lifted his wives and his sons upon the camels.
Gen. 31:17 [Masoretic Text]
וַיָּ֖קָם יַעֲקֹ֑ב וַיִּשָּׂ֛א אֶת־בָּנָ֥יו וְאֶת־נָשָׁ֖יו עַל־הַגְּמַלִּֽים׃
And Yaʿaqov arose and lifted his sons and his wives upon the camels.
Morphology
- וַיָּ֖קָם (vayyaqom) – Root: קום (qum); Form: Wayyiqtol (consecutive imperfect) 3rd person masculine singular, Qal; Translation: “And he arose”; Notes: Indicates a completed action following a sequence.
- יַעֲקֹ֑ב (Yaʿaqov) – Root: יעקב (Yaʿaqov); Form: Proper noun, masculine singular; Translation: “Yaʿaqov”; Notes: Refers to the patriarch Jacob.
- וַיִּשָּׂ֛א (vayyisa) – Root: נשא (nasa); Form: Wayyiqtol (consecutive imperfect) 3rd person masculine singular, Qal; Translation: “And he lifted”; Notes: Indicates the act of placing his family on the camels.
- אֶת־בָּנָ֥יו (et-banav) – Root: בן (ben); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “his sons”; Notes: Direct object marker followed by “his sons”.
- וְאֶת־נָשָׁ֖יו (ve-et-nashav) – Root: אשה (ishah); Form: Noun, feminine plural construct with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “and his wives”; Notes: Indicates possession, referring to Raḥel and Leʾah.
- עַל־הַגְּמַלִּֽים׃ (ʿal-haggemallim) – Root: גמל (gamal); Form: Noun, masculine plural definite; Translation: “upon the camels”; Notes: Specifies their mode of transportation.
Textual Commentary on Genesis 31:17
| Feature | Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) | Masoretic Text (MT) | Effect on Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Word Order: “Wives and Sons” vs. “Sons and Wives” | את נשיו ואת בניו (et nashav ve-et banav, “his wives and his sons”) | את בניו ואת נשיו (et banav ve-et nashav, “his sons and his wives”) | The MT places “sons” before “wives”, while the SP reverses the order. The SP may reflect a prioritization of Yaʿaqov’s wives. |
| Verb Form | וישא (vayisa, “lifted”) | וישא (vayisa, “lifted”) | Identical in both texts. |
| Preposition in “Upon the Camels” | על הגמלים (al ha-gemalim, “upon the camels”) | על הגמלים (al ha-gemalim, “upon the camels”) | Identical in both texts. |
Analysis of Key Differences
The main difference between the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) and the Masoretic Text (MT) in this verse is the order of “wives” and “sons”:
- The SP lists “wives” first (et nashav ve-et banav), while the MT lists “sons” first (et banav ve-et nashav).
- The SP order may reflect a narrative or theological preference emphasizing Yaʿaqov’s wives over his children.
- The MT order follows the common biblical pattern of listing children first in family contexts.
Textual and Linguistic Implications
The word order difference does not change the meaning of the verse but may indicate a scribal tradition or emphasis in the SP. The MT pattern aligns with other genealogical listings where children are prioritized, whereas the SP structure aligns with other cases where wives are emphasized in family movements.
Conclusion
The difference in Genesis 31:17 between the MT and SP is stylistic rather than substantive. The SP prioritizes Yaʿaqov’s wives, while the MT follows a pattern of listing children first. Both texts convey the same action with no theological or narrative alteration.