270 EDWARD J. BRIDGE David’s question refers back to his childhood as an unknown person in Bethlehem 39, and is counterfactual to his situation: he is the king, and has just received a promise of an enduring dynasty. In similar fashion to people expressing thanks to other people, David does not express indebtedness to God. In effect, David speaks to YHWH as though YHWH was a person (distances himself from ob- ligation to YHWH), but loyalty and obligation to YHWH have already been narrated as occurring. David speaks as a pious individual. In Gen 32,10-13 [9-12], when Jacob prays for deliverance from Esau, he says: “ I am not worthy [wfq] of the least of all the steadfast love [dsj] and from all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant.” (v. 11[10]) dsj refers to Jacob’s wealth which he gained while working for Laban, which he has already acknowledged as being given to him by God (31,5-13). –fq (literally, “small”) carries the self-abasement. This is counterfactual to Jacob’s present situation of wealth (30,43), head of a huge household (including servants/slaves) and equal to Laban (proved by the dialogue in 31,26-42). With –fq, Jacob reduces his “standing” before God and so highlights God as generous : God has favoured someone who is of no importance, a metaphorical import of wfq, and the basis of the NRSV’s translation of wfq as “unworthy”. However, the metaphorical meaning of wfq, “ unworthy ”, also alludes to his cheating Esau of the eldest son’s blessing (ch 27), the point of his elaborate preparations in Gen 32 to meet Esau, and the main topic of conversation once he meets him (33,1-17). Thus there is a play on –fq: it is counterfactual to Jacob’s present status, but factual to his situation of having cheated Esau. Jacob’s self-abasement also prepares for his request of v. 12[11] to be delivered from Esau; so not only does it express thanks, but it is also part of his strategy to motivate God to answer favourably 40. Jacob’s strategy is that God continue his generosity to him by delivering him from Esau. Jacob, like David in 2 Sam 7,18, does not express obligation to God, but he has already done Cf. 1 Sam 18,18.23 where David uses the same self-abasement to reject 39 Saul’s offer of marriage into the royal family. Cf. the use of Èdb[ “ your servant” in Psalms (BRIDGE, “Loyalty”, 40 368-374).