INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 33
In this chapter we find Esau meeting Jacob in a friendly manner,
contrary to his fears and expectation, having set his family in order
in case of the worst, Genesis 33:1; putting questions to Jacob
concerning the women and children with him, who make their obeisance
to hi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JACOB LIFTED UP HIS EYES, AND LOOKED,.... After he had passed over
the brook, and was come to his wives and children; which was done
either accidentally or on purpose, to see if he could espy his brother
coming: some think this denotes his cheerfulness and courage, and that
he was now not distre... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE PUT THE HANDMAIDS AND THEIR CHILDREN FOREMOST,.... In the first
division, as being less honourable and less beloved by him:
AND LEAH AND HER CHILDREN AFTER; still according to the degree of
honour and affection due unto them; Leah being a wife that was imposed
and forced upon him:
AND RACHE... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE PASSED OVER BEFORE THEM,.... At the head of them, as the master
of the family, exposing himself to the greatest danger for them, and
in order to protect and defend them in the best manner he could, or to
endeavour to soften the mind of his brother by an address, should
there be any occasion f... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ESAU RAN TO MEET HIM,.... If he rode on any creature, which is
likely, he alighted from it on sight of his brother Jacob, and to
express his joy on that occasion, and affection for him, made all the
haste he could to meet him, as did the father of the prodigal,
Luke 15:20,
AND EMBRACED HIM; in... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE LIFT UP HIS EYES, AND SAW THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN,.... After the
salutation had passed between him and his brother Jacob, he looked,
and saw behind him women and children, Jacob's two wives and his two
handmaids, and twelve children he had by them,
AND SAID, WHO [ARE] THOSE WITH THEE? who do... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE HANDMAIDS CAME NEAR, THEY AND THEIR CHILDREN,.... Being
foremost, and next to, Jacob, as Bilhah and her two sons, Dan and
Naphtali, and Zilpah and her two sons, Gad and Asher:
AND THEY BOWED THEMSELVES; in token of respect to Esau, as Jacob had
done before them, and set them an example, an... [ Continue Reading ]
AND LEAH ALSO WITH HER CHILDREN CAME NEAR, AND BOWED THEMSELVES,....
Who were in the next division or company; their children were seven,
Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah, six sons
and one daughter:
AND AFTER CAME JOSEPH NEAR AND RACHEL, AND THEY BOWED THEMSELVES; it
is obs... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID, WHAT [MEANEST] THOU BY ALL THIS DROVE WHICH I MET?....
Not as being ignorant of the design of it; for no doubt the several
drovers, according to their instructions from Jacob, had acquainted
him with it; but he chose not to take the present on what they said,
but was willing to have it... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ESAU SAID, I HAVE ENOUGH, MY BROTHER,.... Or "I have much" o, and
stand in no need of this present, or have much more than thou hast:
KEEP THAT THOU HAST UNTO THYSELF; for the use of himself and family,
which is large; in this Esau showed himself not only not a covetous
man, but that he was tru... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JACOB SAID, NAY, I PRAY THEE,.... Do not say so, as the Targum of
Jonathan supplies it, or do not refuse my present:
IF NOW I HAVE FOUND GRACE IN THY SIGHT, THEN RECEIVE MY PRESENT AT MY
HAND; signifying, that the acceptance of his present would be a token
to him, and give him full satisfaction... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE, I PRAY THEE, MY BLESSING THAT IS BROUGHT TO THEE,.... The
present he had sent him, now carrying home to his house, which was a
part of what God had blessed Jacob with; and which he from a
beneficent generous spirit gave his brother, wishing the blessing of
God to go along with it; it was an in... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID, LET US TAKE OUR JOURNEY, AND LET US GO,.... To Seir,
where Esau lived, and whither he invited Jacob to stop a while, and
refresh himself and his family:
AND I WILL GO BEFORE THEE; to show him the way to his palace, and to
protect him on the road from all dangers; or "besides thee" q,
a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID UNTO HIM, MY LORD KNOWETH THE CHILDREN [ARE] TENDER,....
The eldest being but thirteen years of age, and the youngest about
six; and Esau might easily perceive by their stature that they were
young and tender, and not able to bear either riding or walking very
fast:
AND THE FLOCKS AND H... [ Continue Reading ]
LET MY LORD, I PRAY THEE, PASS OVER BEFORE HIS SERVANT,.... He desired
in a very respectable manner that he would not keep his pace in
complaisance to him, but proceed on in his journey, and go on with his
men, and he with his family and flocks would follow after as fast as
he could, and their circu... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ESAU SAID, LET ME NOW LEAVE WITH THEE [SOME] OF THE FOLK THAT
[ARE] WITH ME,.... To show him the way, and guard him on the road, and
he appear the more honourable when he entered into Seir:
AND HE SAID, WHAT NEEDETH IT? Jacob saw not the necessity of it; he
knew the direct way very probably; he... [ Continue Reading ]
SO ESAU RETURNED THAT DAY ON HIS WAY UNTO SEIR. Took his leave of
Jacob the same day he met him, and proceeded on in his journey towards
Seir; whether he arrived there the same day is not certain, probably
it was more than a day's journey.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JACOB JOURNEYED TO SUCCOTH,.... Perhaps after he had been at Seir,
and stayed there some little time. Succoth was on the other side of
Jordan, so called by anticipation, for it had its name from what
follows; as yet there was no city built here, or at least of this
name; afterwards there was, it... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JACOB CAME TO SHALEM, A CITY OF SHECHEM,.... Not Salem, of which
Melchizedek was king, much less Jerusalem, for it was forty miles from
it w; more likely Salim near Aenon, where John was baptizing, John
3:23; though it perhaps is the same with Shechem; for the words may be
read, he "came to Shal... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE BOUGHT A PARCEL OF A FIELD,.... Not the whole, but a part of
it; this he did, though he was heir of the whole country, because, as
yet, the time was not come for him or his to take possession of it:
WHERE HE HAD SPREAD HIS TENT; the ground that it stood upon, and what
was adjoining to it, fo... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE ERECTED THERE AN ALTAR,.... To offer sacrifice upon to God, by
way of thanksgiving, for the many mercies he had received since he
went out of the land of Canaan, whither he was now returned; and
especially for his safety in journeying hither from Padanaram, and for
deliverance from Laban and... [ Continue Reading ]