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The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

Genesis 28:18

GENESIS—NOTE ON Genesis 28:18 Jacob marks this special event at Bethel (see v. Genesis 28:19) by setting up a pillar and consecrating it with oil, but he does not build an altar. This indicates that he has not yet fully accepted the Lord as his God. While setting up pillars was common in Canaanite worship, Deuteronomy 16:22 prohibits it. Years later, after his faith-transforming encounter with God at Penuel (Genesis 32:22), Jacob returns to Bethel to construct an altar (Genesis 35:1).

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See also Genesis 28:18 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Genesis 28:18. _AND JACOB-TOOK THE STONE - AND SET IT UP_ FOR _A PILLAR_] He placed the stone in an erect posture, that it might stand as a monument of the extraordinary vision which he had in...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    - Jacob’s Journey to Haran 3. קהל _qâhāl_, “congregation.” 9. מחלת _māchălat_, Machalath, “sickness, or a harp.” 19. לוּז _lûz_, Luz, “almond.” The blessing of his sons was the last passage in...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 28 JACOB'S DEPARTURE TO PADAN-ARAM AND HIS VISION _ 1. Isaac sends Jacob away and gives his blessing (Genesis 28:1)_ 2. Esau's action (Genesis 28:6) 3. Jacob's vision and vow (Genesis 28:10...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    YAHWEH REVEALS HIMSELF TO JACOB AT BETHEL. This section is taken from J and E. To E Genesis 28:11 f., Genesis 28:17 f., Genesis 28:20_ a_,...

  • B. W. Johnson's Bible Commentary

    JACOB ROSE UP EARLY IN THE MORNING. Sleep had been banished by his wonderful vision. He would hardly have dared to lie down to sleep in. place that seemed the very house of God and gateway to heaven....

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    THE STONE. See Genesis 28:11. Not the so-called "Coronation stone" in London: inasmuch as the heads of the "Geological Survey of Great Britain" unanimously declared that "no stone of that kind was to...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    This section taken from J and E follows upon Genesis 27:45. Observe the mention of Haran in Genesis 28:10 (cf. Genesis 27:43), and the mention of Beer-sheba as the dwelling-place of Isaac in...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _for a pillar_ Heb. _maṣṣêbah_. This word is used in the O.T. for the sacred upright stone which stood by the altar, and was one of the usual features of worship and sacrifice at a "high place" (_bâma...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 45 JACOB’S PILLAR AT BETH-EL Genesis 28:16. And Jacob awaked out of his sleep; and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not. And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    SET IT UP FOR A PILLAR, AND POURED OIL, &C.— The antiquity of this custom (of which we shall find frequent mention) is very evident from this place: he set up the pillar to preserve the memory of the...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    5. _The Memorial,_ Genesis 28:18. _The Stone Head-Place Made a Pillar._ Jacob knew God's omnipresence, but he did not expect a special manifestation of the Lord in this place, far from the sanctuaries...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _AND JACOB ROSE UP EARLY IN THE MORNING, AND TOOK THE STONE THAT HE HAD PUT FOR HIS PILLOWS, AND SET IT UP FOR A PILLAR, AND POURED OIL UPON THE TOP OF IT._ Jacob ... took the stone, ... - a monument...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    JACOB DEPARTS FOR PADAN-ARAM. HIS DREAM AT BETHEL 1-4. Isaac bids Jacob seek one of the daughters of his uncle Laban in marriage, and assures him that the blessings and promises bestowed on Abraham s...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE STONE] Jacob set up the stone as marking the spot hallowed by God's presence, and consecrated it by pouring oil upon it. On his return to Palestine (Genesis 35) he set up an altar by it in fulfilm...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOD’S ANCIENT PEOPLE GENESIS _ALUN OWEN_ CHAPTER 28 JACOB SETS OUT ON HIS JOURNEY V1 Then Isaac called Jacob and he blessed him. He *commanded him, ‘Do not marry a *Canaanite woman. V2 Go to the...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    THE TÔLDÔTH ISAAC (Genesis 25:19 to Genesis 35:29). THE BIRTH OF ISAAC’S SONS. Abraham begat Isaac — The _Tôldôth_ in its original form gave probably a complete genealogy of Isaac, tracing up his des...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    JACOB... TOOK THE STONE... AND SET IT UP FOR A PILLAR. — In so doing, Jacob’s object was to mark the spot where so important a communication had been made to him. But besides its use as a memorial, it...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יַּשְׁכֵּ֨ם יַעֲקֹ֜ב בַּ † בֹּ֗קֶר וַ...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    JACOB'S VISION AT BETHEL Genesis 28:10 This is the Ladder chapter, in which a wayward, weak man is seen holding fellowship with the Eternal God, who loves us, notwithstanding our unworthiness, and de...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Here Jacob is seen exiled from his home, flying from Beersheba. In this connection we have the account of the first of the direct divine communications to him. Tired and weary, he reached Luz and duri...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    JACOB LEFT CANAAN Isaac agreed with Rebekah in the matter of a wife for Jacob. He sent him to Laban's house to find a wife. Isaac also gave Jacob the blessing of Abraham from God. When Esau realized...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put [for] his pillows, and (g) set it up [for] a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. (g) To be a reminder of the vision s...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    A title. That is a pillar or monument. (Challoner) --- Or an altar, consecrated by that rite to the service of the true God. This he did without any superstition; as the Catholic Church still pours oi...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    How sweet and grateful this token of God's love, and Jacob's sense of it. What must have been the Patriarch's view of it twenty years afterward, when he came back to it again: See Genesis 32:9....

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Having already shown the position of Isaac, I resume briefly with the remark that he stands before us clearly as the representative of the Son, and this too as dead, risen, and in heaven. All will und...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    18._And Jacob rose up early_. Moses relates that the holy father was not satisfied with merely giving thanks at the time, but would also transmit a memorial of his gratitude to posterity. Therefore he...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Jacob becomes now the picture of cast-out and wandering Israel, heir of the promises, watched over, but an outcast. The wanderings of Abraham were in the land of promise; those of Jacob, out of it: tw...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND JACOB ROSE UP EARLY IN THE MORNING,.... In order to proceed on his journey, being comfortably refreshed both in body and mind: but first he TOOK THE STONE THAT HE HAD PUT [FOR] HIS PILLOWS, AND S...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put [for] his pillows, and set it up [for] a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. Ver. 18. _And set it up for a pillar._]...

  • Jonathan Edwards' Notes On The Scriptures

    Gen. 28:18, 19. "And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillow, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it, and he called the name of tha...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _He set up the stone for a pillar_ To mark the place against he came back, and erect a lasting monument of God's favour to him: and because he had not time now to build an altar here, as Abraham did i...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Isaac blesseth Iacob, and sendeth him to Padan Aram. 6 Esau marrieth Mahalal the daughter of Ishmael. 10 The Vision of Iacobs ladder. 18 The stone of Bethel. 20 Iacobs vow. 1 AND Isaac called I...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. He thus observed the usual ceremonies of cons...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    JACOB'S VOW...

  • Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures

    C. JACOB.-ISRAEL, THE WRESTLER WITH GOD, AND HIS WANDERINGS FIRST SECTION _Jacob’s journey to Mesopotamia, and the heavenly Ladder at Bethel_ GENESIS 28:10-22 10And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, a...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    JACOB SENT TO PADAN-ARAM Though scripture tells us that Isaac loved Esau, he had not done as Abraham had in making sure that Isaac's wife was of his own kindred. Rebekah's words to him now evidently a...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    16-19 God manifested himself and his favour, to Jacob, when he was asleep. The Spirit, like the wind, blows when and where it listeth, and God's grace, like the dew, tarrieth not for the sons of men....

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    As a monument of God's great kindness and gracious manifestation of himself to him, which might bring this mercy to his remembrance in his return, GENESIS 31:13. This was an ancient practice among the...

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    These Chapter s present to us the history of Jacob at least, the principal scenes in that history. The Spirit of God here sets before us the deepest instruction, first, as to God's purpose of infinite...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Genesis 28:18 Jacob H3290 early H7925 (H8686) morning H1242 took H3947 (H8799) stone H68 put H7760 ...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    JACOB MEETS GOD AT BETHEL (GENESIS 28:10) Genesis 28:10 ‘And Jacob went out from Beersheba and went towards Haran.' At this stage Isaac and the family tribe are still firmly situated in Beersheba....

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Genesis 28 I. If there be little poetic or romantic charm in the history of Isaac, what a wealth of it there is in that of Jacob! A double deceit, followed by banishment from his country; this expulsi...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Jacob at Bethel and the Abrahamic covenant confirmed to him in a dream. CHARACTERS: Isaac, Jacob, Laban, Esau, Ishmael, Mahalath, angels. CONCLUSION: The believer should realize that he is...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Genesis 28:1. _Isaac called Jacob and blessed him._ A heart-rending business to be forced away from his father's house in the 58th year of his age. He went not with a train of ten camels, as were sent...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it._ And he called the name of that place Bethe...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— Genesis 28:11. And he lighted upon a certain place.] “The term means _he fell upon the place,_ as the providential stopping-place incidentally coming upon it, or coming up to it, as t...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION GENESIS 28:10 AND JACOB WENT OUT FROM BEERSHEBA,—in obedience to his father's commandment to seek a wife (Genesis 28:2), but also in compliance with his mother's counsel to evade the wrath...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    So Isaac called Jacob, and he blessed him, and he charged him, and he said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan. Arise, and go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy moth...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    rose up. Genesis 22:3 Psalms 119:60 Ecclesiastes 9:10 and took. set it. Genesis 31:13...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    He set up the stone for a pillar — To mark the place again, if he came back, and erect a lasting monument of God's favour to him: and because he had not time now to build an altar here, as Abraham did...

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