GENESIS CHAPTER 35 God commands Jacob to dwell at Beth-el, and build an altar there, GENESIS 35:1. He commands his family to purge themselves from idols, and go to Beth-el, GENESIS 35:2,3. They obey, GENESIS 35:4. He and they go thither, none pursuing them; the reason thereof, GENESIS 35:5,6. There... [ Continue Reading ]
THE STRANGE GODS, THE IDOLS, which are so called here, and DEUTERONOMY 31:16, DEUTERONOMY 32:12 JOSHUA 24:20, because they were the gods of strange and foreign nations, such as all were accounted who were not Israelites. QUEST. How came these to be and to continue so long in Jacob's house. ANSW. Eit... [ Continue Reading ]
He takes God's gracious promise, and the comfortable hope and assurance of God's favour to him, and care of him, impressed by God upon his mind and heart, for an answer to his prayers, though he had then seen no success nor accomplishment of God's word to him.... [ Continue Reading ]
Either because they had been abused to idolatry and superstition at Shechem, or elsewhere, and therefore were to be destroyed according to God's command, now signified to Jacob, and afterwards delivered to his posterity, DEUTERONOMY 7:5, DEUTERONOMY 12:3; or for fear they should be so abused. For th... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TERROR OF GOD, i.e. a great terror sent from God, as EXODUS 23:27 JOSHUA 2:9,11 2 CHRONICLES 14:14, 2 CHRONICLES 17:10. So we read of _a sleep of God,_ 1 SAMUEL 26:12. Nothing less could have secured Jacob, considering the great number, power, and rage of his enemies.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE LAND OF CANAAN, properly so called, or where the Canaanites properly so called dwelt. Thus it is distingnished from another Luz, JUDGES 1:26.... [ Continue Reading ]
EL-BETH-EL, i.e. He confirmed the name which he had formerly given to the place.... [ Continue Reading ]
She came with Rebekah into Canaan, GENESIS 24:59, and probably tarried with her whilst she lived, and after her death, as it seems; and, upon Jacob's desire, after his return from Haran, came into his family; where, being a person of great prudence and piety, her presence and advice was very useful... [ Continue Reading ]
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ISRAEL SHALL BE THY NAME. I do not repent of the change which I made of thy name, but I do again confirm it; and as then thou didst prevail over thy brother Esau, so now thou shalt prevail over those of whom thou art afraid.... [ Continue Reading ]
A COMPANY OF NATIONS, tribes, for number and power, equal to so many nations, SHALL COME OUT OF THY LOINS, i.e. shall be begotten by thee, as this phrase is taken also in GENESIS 46:26 1 KINGS 8:19 ACTS 2:30.... [ Continue Reading ]
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GOD WENT UP FROM HIM; either locally and visibly, to wit, in that human shape in which he appeared to him; or by withdrawing the signs of his special presence, as GENESIS 17:22 JUDGES 13:20; as on the contrary God is said to _come down, _ not by change of place, but by some signal manifestation of h... [ Continue Reading ]
Either he repaired the old pillar set up by him, GENESIS 28:18, which was ruined by the injury of time, or by the neighbouring idolaters; or rather erected a new one, more stable and durable than he could do in that time, as a monument or witness of God's manifold favours, and of his own gratitude.... [ Continue Reading ]
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IN DEPARTING; or, _in going out; _ namely, out of the body, as PSALMS 146:4, which is an argument of the soul's immortality, especially if compared with ECCLESIASTES 12:7. From which places, laid together, we learn the two terms of the journey, whence it goes, and whither it goes. BENJAMIN; either a... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE WAY TO EPHRATH; not in the city, though that was near; for in ancient times their sepulchres were not in the places of resort, but in separated places, and out of cities. See MATTHEW 27:60 LUKE 7:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
JACOB SET A PILLAR, as a monument or memorial of her life and death, and as a testimony of her future resurrection. UNTO THIS DAY, i.e. unto the time wherein Moses writ this book, and long after. See 1 SAMUEL 10:2 JEREMIAH 31:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
Or, _the tower of the flock; _ a place where were excellent pastures. See MICAH 4:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
This was a horrid incest; for concubines were a sort of wives. See GENESIS 22:24, GENESIS 25:1. ISRAEL HEARD IT, and doubtless sadly resented it, both in Reuben, as appears from GENESIS 49:4 1 CHRONICLES 5:1,2; and in Bilhah, whose bed without question he forsook upon it, as afterwards David did in... [ Continue Reading ]
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All but _Benjamin, _ who must in all reason be supposed to be excepted here, because he is said to be born elsewhere, above, GENESIS 35:16. But it is a usual synecdoche, whereby that is ascribed to all in gross which belongs to the greatest part. See GENESIS 15:13, GENESIS 46:15 EXODUS 12:40 JUDGES... [ Continue Reading ]
JACOB CAME; either with his wives, and children, and estate, to dwell with Isaac; or rather in person, to visit his sick and dying father; for otherwise Jacob having been ten years near his father, no doubt he had oft visited him, and carried his wives and children thither, though Scripture be silen... [ Continue Reading ]
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_ 1715_ WAS GATHERED UNTO HIS PEOPLE; either to the society of the dead, or to the congregation of the just. See GENESIS 15:15, GENESIS 25:8.... [ Continue Reading ]