_ISAAC DIRECTS HIS SON JACOB TO TAKE A WIFE FROM THE FAMILY OF LABAN. JACOB SEES IN A DREAM A LADDER REACHING UP TO HEAVEN, WITH THE ANGELS OF GOD ASCENDING AND DESCENDING UPON IT. AWAKING FROM SLEEP, HE ADMIRES THE VISION, AND VOWS THE TENTH TO GOD._ _Before Christ about 1759._... [ Continue Reading ]
_GENESIS 28:3_, &C. _GOD ALMIGHTY BLESS,_ &C.— Isaac here confirms the blessing which he had conferred on Jacob, and particularly prays that he may share _the blessing of Abraham,_ that is, without all doubt, the inheritance of Canaan, and the descent of the Messiah, the promised Seed. This blessing... [ Continue Reading ]
ISAAC SENT AWAY JACOB, &C.— It has been generally supposed, though without any warrant from the text, that Isaac sent away this son, the heir of the promise, to walk quite alone all this long journey into Syria. I cannot conceive, that even in those times, simple as they were, such a step would have... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN WENT ESAU UNTO ISHMAEL— That is, to the country or family of Ishmael: see ch. Genesis 36:3. Ishmael himself had now been dead several years. Esau began now to see his rash choice, and fain would mend it by a match more to his father's mind: in order to which he takes a daughter of Ishmael; and... [ Continue Reading ]
LIGHTED UPON A CERTAIN PLACE, &C.— From Beer-sheba to Padan-aram was a journey of about 500 miles. In the first day's journey he rested at a place called Luz, Genesis 28:19 which is about a day's journey from Beer-sheba. Here he found a convenient place to lodge in, shaded probably with trees, for t... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD— Jehovah; the second Divine Person, He who had always manifested himself to the Patriarchs. The words, _to thee will I give it, and to thy seed,_ might perhaps be read with as much propriety, _to thee,_ EVEN _to thy seed_: see ch. Genesis 13:15. Nothing can be conceived more majestic than t... [ Continue Reading ]
SURELY THE LORD IS IN THIS PLACE, AND I KNEW IT NOT— Jacob knew very well that the Lord was in every place; nor can his words be fairly understood to contradict this fundamental knowledge. But though the Lord is in every place, yet, he was pleased, of old times, to vouchsafe his presence to manifest... [ Continue Reading ]
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 vision, and he poured oil upon it, to consecrate it to God, and as a monument of his favour. See Dr.... [ Continue Reading ]
OF THAT PLACE, BETH-EL— That is, the house of God. It is imagined from what follows, (_the name of that city was Luz_,) that there was a city near the place where Jacob slept; but it is more probable that a city was built there in after-times. From the word _Beth-el_ some derive the _baetylia_ or ba... [ Continue Reading ]
JACOB VOWED A VOW, &C.— This is the first time we find mention made of a vow, which was allowed then, and in after-ages, to be a part of religion, and no doubt had been inculcated upon Jacob as such by his pious ancestors. See Psalms 50:14; Psalms 65:1; Psalms 65:13. The plain meaning of Jacob's vow... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS STONE, &C.— Not that he intended, as Le Clerc observes, to erect any building in the place, but only that by coming and worshipping there, he would appropriate this stone to the service of God, and probably build an altar there; for in these early times they adored God under the open canopy of... [ Continue Reading ]