Глава 35

Gen.35:6. “And Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, to Bethel.” It is clearly confirmed that in former times Bethel was usually called not Ulammaus, as mentioned above, but Luz, that is, “almond.” Gen.35:8. “And Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died and was buried near Bethel.” If Rebekah’s nurse named Deborah died, as in this case the Seventy interpreters translated one Hebrew word for the second time (and the word is “nurse, meneceth ( מֵינֶ ֣ קֶת )), then I cannot understand why they put “property” there, and “nurse” here (meaning Gen. 24, 59 - Transl. Note). Gen.35:10. “And God said to him: “You will no longer be called by the name Jacob, but your name will be Israel.” And God called its name Israel.” Somewhat earlier, the Angel does not give Jacob a name at all, but predicts that the name should be given by God. Therefore, what was promised there as the future is confirmed here as fulfilled. Gen.35:16. “And it came to pass that as he drew near to Havratha in the land of Canaan, to go to Ephrathah, Rachel gave birth.” I don’t know what the Seventy Interpreters wanted to say when they translated the Hebrew word Chabratha ( כִּבְרַת־) by the word Hippodrome in the following phrase, where Jacob says to Joseph: “And when I came from Syrian Mesopotamia to go to Ephrath, your mother Rachel died in the land of Canaan, in the way of Hippodrome” (Gen. 48:7). But right there, where the Hebrew text says: “And they buried her on the road to Ephrapha, that is, Bethlehem” (Gen. 35:19), Seventy interpreters again put the word Hippodrome, but instead of the word Ephrapha. If Hawratha means Hippodrome, then Ephratha cannot possibly have the same meaning. While Aquila translated it as follows: “And it happened καθ ἁ δὸν τῆς γῆς (that is, “on the way in this country”), when entering Ephrath...” But it would be more correct to translate: “At the best time of the year of this country, when he entered Ephrath...” In turn, this expression means the spring time, when everything blooms. And this is the best time of the year. Then, for example, those passing along the road pluck and collect from the roadside fields whatever is at hand: they are so attracted by the diversity of flowers. And Ephrath and Bethlehem are the names of the same city. And they are translated in a similar way: “fruitful” and “house of bread.” This is in honor of That Bread, which says that He came down from heaven (John 6). Gen.35:18. “And it happened that when the soul left her, for she was dying, she called him by the name “Son of my grief.” But his father called him by name Benjamin." In Hebrew, the names sound similar. Because the name given by the dying mother - “son of my grief” - is pronounced benoni ( בֶּן־אוֹנִ ֑ י ). And the “son of the right hand,” that is, of strength (this is how Jacob changed the name), is pronounced benjamin ( בִנְיָמִ ֽ ין ). Therefore, those who believe that benjamin is translated as “son of days” are mistaken. Because "right hand" is pronounced jamin (יָמִ ֽ ין) and ends with the sound [n]. And “days,” although they sound similar, is jamim ( יָמִ ֽ ים), but the last sound in the word is [m]. Gen.35:21. “And Israel went [from there] and pitched their tent beyond the tower of Ader.” The Jews believe that this is the place where the church was subsequently built, and that the tower of Ader is the tower of the flock, that is, the tower to which the whole flock gathers and converges. The prophet Micah also testifies to the existence of such a tower in this place, saying: “And you are the tower of the flock, covered with fog, the daughter of Zion” and so on (Micah 4:8). And at that time Jacob had tents pitched behind the place where the church was later built. However, if we trace the path of Jacob’s movement, then in this case the location of the shepherds is near Bethlehem. There a host [lit.: herd] of Angels sang at the birth of the Lord, there Jacob grazed his cattle and gave the name of the area (Ader. - Transl. note) and there, most likely, already then some kind of prophecy depicted the future secret. Gen.35:27. “And Jacob came to Isaac his father in Mamre, to the city of Arbea, that is, Hebron.” Instead of arbee (אַרְבַּ ֑ ע), the translation of the Seventy says "plain", while Hebron is located on a mountain. But the same city is also called mambre ( מַמְרֵ ֖א ). Since ancient times he has had this name in honor of Abraham's friend.