Kejadian 21:33

21:33 Abraham ¹  planted a tamarisk tree ²  in Beer Sheba. There he worshiped the Lord, ³  the eternal God.

Kejadian 31:49

31:49 It was also called Mizpah ⁴  because he said, “May the Lord watch ⁵  between us ⁶  when we are out of sight of one another. ⁷ 

[21:33]  ¹ tn Heb “and he”; the referent (Abraham) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[21:33]  ² sn The planting of the tamarisk tree is a sign of Abraham’s intent to stay there for a long time, not a religious act. A growing tree in the Negev would be a lasting witness to God’s provision of water.

[21:33]  ³ tn Heb “he called there in the name of the Lord.” The expression refers to worshiping the Lord through prayer and sacrifice (see Gen 4:26; 12:8; 13:4; 26:25). See G. J. Wenham, Genesis (WBC), 1:116, 281.

[31:49]  ⁴ tn Heb “and Mizpah.”

[31:49]  ⁵ sn The name Mizpah (מִצְפָּה, mitspah), which means “watchpost,” sounds like the verb translated “may he watch” (יִצֶף, yitsef). Neither Laban nor Jacob felt safe with each other, and so they agreed to go their separate ways, trusting the Lord to keep watch at the border. Jacob did not need this treaty, but Laban, perhaps because he had lost his household gods, felt he did.

[31:49]  ⁶ tn Heb “between me and you.”

[31:49]  ⁷ tn Heb “for we will be hidden, each man from his neighbor.”