And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids. Ver. 1. _He divided the children._] Carnal fear oft expels man's wisdom, and leaves him shiftless. But Jacob, after he... [ Continue Reading ]
And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost. Ver. 2. _He put the handmaids, &c._] Of children and friends, some may be better beloved than others: and whereas all cannot be saved or helped, the dearest may be chiefly cared... [ Continue Reading ]
And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. Ver. 3. _And he passed over before them._] As a good captain and shepherd, ready to be sacrificed for the safety of his charge. So the Captain of our salvation, the Arch-shepherd, Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept. Ver. 4. _And kissed him._] The word kissed hath a prick over every letter in the original: to note, say the Hebrew doctors, that this was a false and hypocritical kiss, a Judas-kiss. _Hebrew Text Note_... [ Continue Reading ]
And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who [are] those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant. Ver. 5. _The children which God hath graciously given._] Sept., Eχαριτατο. For children are God's gifts, as David taught Solomon... [ Continue Reading ]
Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves. Ver. 7. _After came Joseph near, &c._] _Iussus accedere_ _Joseph,_ saith Junius; for he was but a little one of six years old, therefore he did nothing, but as his mother bade him; and, because he went before her, h... [ Continue Reading ]
And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves. Ver. 8. _What meanest thou by all this drove? &c._] He met it, but had not yet accepted of it: either that he might take occasion at their meeting, more mannerly to ref... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said, What [meanest] thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, [These are] to find grace in the sight of my lord. Ver. 9. _I have enough, my brother._] Here is no mention of God: God is not in all the wicked man's thoughts: he contents himself with a natural use of the creature, as br... [ Continue Reading ]
And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself. Ver. 10. _As though I had seen the face of God._] I cannot but see God, and his goodness, in thy so unexpected kindness. "The Lord hath done great things for me, whereof I am glad," Psa 126:3 and think my present well besto... [ Continue Reading ]
Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took [it]. Ver. 11. _I have enough._] Heb., I have all. Esau had much, but Jacob had all, because he had the God of all. _Habet omnia qui habet habe... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee. Ver. 12. _Let us take our journey._] The Hebrews note, that Esau speaks in few, Jacob more fully: because it is the guise of proud stately persons to speak briefly, and hardly to bring forth half their words. "The poor... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children [are] tender, and the flocks and herds with young [are] with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die. Ver. 13. _If men should over-drive._] A pattern of a good pastor, ever to have an eye to the weak ones; and so t... [ Continue Reading ]
Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir. Ver. 14. _Until I come unto my lord, unto Seir._] Which yet he never meant, say some: it was but a... [ Continue Reading ]
And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee [some] of the folk that [are] with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord. Ver. 15. _Let me find grace._] That is, Condescend unto me, and leave none.... [ Continue Reading ]
So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir. Ver. 16. _On his way unto Seir._] Whither God had sent him beforehand to plant, out of Jacob's way. He was grown rich, desired liberty, and saw that his wives were offensive to the old couple; therefore he moved his dwelling to mount Seir, and left be... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth. Ver. 17. _Built him an house, and made booths._] So did his posterity, at their going out of Egypt, Exo 12:37 and, for a perpetual memorial thereof, were appoin... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which [is] in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padanaram; and pitched his tent before the city. Ver. 18. _Came to Shalem._] Or, Came safe and sound to Shechem, as the Chaldee interprets it.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for an hundred pieces of money. Ver. 19. _For an hundred pieces of money._] Heb., Lambs, - as _a_ we call angels, Jacobuses, - because stamped with the image of a lamb. So Joshua... [ Continue Reading ]
And he erected there an altar, and called it Elelohe-Israel. Ver. 20. _And he erected there an altar._] (1.) As a memorial of the promises, and a symbol of God's presence; (2.) As an external profession of his piety; (3.) That he might set up God in his family, and season all his worldly affairs wi... [ Continue Reading ]