GENESIS CHAPTER 29 Jacob comes to the well of Haran, GENESIS 29:1; inquires of the shepherds concerning Laban, GENESIS 29:4. They show him Rachel, Laban's daughter, coming with the sheep, GENESIS 29:9. Jacob goeth near to her; waters the flock, GENESIS 29:10; tells her who he was, GENESIS 29:12. She... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY, i.e. the people belonging to that place, watered; or, _the flocks were watered; _ it is an impersonal speech. A GREAT STONE WAS UPON THE WELL'S MOUTH, to preserve the water, which was scarce in those parts, and to keep it pure.... [ Continue Reading ]
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He calls them MY BRETHREN, partly in token of respect and affection, and partly because they were of the same nature and employment with himself.... [ Continue Reading ]
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According to the manner of those times, EXODUS 2:16 SONG OF SOLOMON 1:7,8, when humility, innocency, simplicity, and industry were in fashion, both among men and women of great quality. There are some that quarrel with the Scripture, and question the truth of such relations, because they judge of th... [ Continue Reading ]
NEITHER IS IT TIME THAT THE CATTLE should be taken from their pasture, and brought to be watered.... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE VALE OF SIDDIM WAS chosen by those five kings for the place of battle, that their adversaries being ignorant of the place might unawares fall into those pits, which they by their knowledge of it thought to escape. KINGS OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH, i.e. their armies; a figurative speech, frequent in S... [ Continue Reading ]
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LOT now suffered for his cohabitation with bad neighbours.... [ Continue Reading ]
ABRAM THE HEBREW; so called, either, 1. From his great and good predecessor Eber, GENESIS 10:24, GENESIS 11:14, in and by whom the primitive language and true religion were preserved; and therefore though Abram had five other progenitors between Eber and him, which were persons of less note, he is... [ Continue Reading ]
HE ARMED HIS TRAINED SERVANTS, whom he had disciplined and instructed both in religion and in the military art too, both which were necessary to make them good soldiers, that they might both fight with skill and courage, and also rely upon God, and engage his assistance; which was now especially nec... [ Continue Reading ]
HE DIVIDED HIMSELF, i.e. his forces into several parties, that coming upon them from several quarters he might strike them with greater terror, whilst they thought his army far more numerous than it was.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE BROUGHT BACK ALL THE GOODS which the victorious kings had taken from the princes and people mentioned before in this chapter.... [ Continue Reading ]
So called either upon this occasion of the meeting of divers kings here; or because king Melchizedek either had his habitation, or was much delighted with it, and conversant in it. See 2 SAMUEL 18:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
QUEST. Who was this? ANSW. 1. Shem, as the Jews and many others think, who probably was alive at this time, and, no doubt, a great prince. But neither is it probable that Shem should be a king among the cursed race of Ham; nor will this agree with the apostle's description of Melchizedek, HEBREWS 7... [ Continue Reading ]
AND, or _therefore, _ (as the particle is oft taken, i.e. because he was a priest of God), HE (i.e. _Melchizedek_) BLESSED HIM,_ (Abram,)_ which was one act of the priestly office. SEE POOLE ON "HEBREWS 7:6". SEE POOLE ON "HEBREWS 7:7". So it is a prayer for him, that God would confirm and increase... [ Continue Reading ]
Not _Melchizedek_ gave to _Abram, _ as some Jews foolishly understand it; for Abram swears that he would not keep nor take any of the recovered goods of the kings of Sodom, or his brethren, GENESIS 14:23. But _Abram_ gave to _Melchizedek, _ as appears both from HEBREWS 4:7, and from the nature of th... [ Continue Reading ]
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This was the ancient manner of swearing. See EXODUS 6:8 NUMBERS 14:30 DEUTERONOMY 32:40 EZEKIEL 20:5,6.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT I WILL NOT TAKE; Heb. _If I shall take._ Understand, _God do so and so to me, _ which is expressed 1 SAMUEL 14:44. A defective manner of swearing used amongst the Hebrews, either to maintain the reverence of oaths, and the dread of perjury, seeing they were afraid so much as to mention the curs... [ Continue Reading ]
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Though Laban could not solidly answer the question, yet Jacob could do it, and had just cause to reflect upon his own former action of beguiling his father; for which God had now punished him in the same kind.... [ Continue Reading ]
This seems to be a false pretence; but if it had been true, custom is to give place to justice, by which he was obliged to perform his contract with him.... [ Continue Reading ]
FULFIL HER WEEK, the seven days usually devoted to the feast and solemnity of marriage, as JUDGES 14:12,15,17. And this he desired, that a week's cohabitation with Leah might either knit his affections to her, or at least confirm the contract and marriage with her.... [ Continue Reading ]
It was not so strange that Laban should give, as that Jacob should take, not only two wives, but two sisters to wife, which seems to be against the law of nature, and was expressly forbidden by God afterward, LEVITICUS 18:18; though it be also true that God might dispense with his own institution, o... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
LEAH WAS HATED comparatively to Rachel, less loved, slighted. So that word is oft used, as DEUTERONOMY 21:15 DEUTERONOMY 6:24; DEUTERONOMY 10:37, compared with LUKE 14:26 1 THESSALONIANS 12:25. Thus variously doth God distribute his favours, that all may be contented and none despised.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD HATH LOOKED UPON MY AFFLICTION with an eye of pity and kindness, as that general phrase is oft understood.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD HATH HEARD, i.e. perceived or understood; _hearing_ being oft put for understanding.... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS TIME WILL MY HUSBAND BE JOINED UNTO ME in more sincere and fervent affection.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW WILL I PRAISE THE LORD more solemnly and continually; for otherwise she did praise and acknowledge God for the former mercies. _cir. 1749_... [ Continue Reading ]