Observations Upon the Old Testament, Genesis · Chapter 35
CHAP. XXXV.
Verse 1. ANd God said] Jacob being now perplexed with feare, for that done to the Shechemites, and likely thinking thereupon of removing, God here bespeaks him, as followeth.
said] Whether by vision, or dream, or in what manner is not set down.
to Bethel] Southward from Shechem about thirty English miles.
and dwelt there] Yet he dwelt a small while there, as appeares by the birth of Benjamin, after he went from Bethel, v. 16, 18. And from Dinahs ravishing at Shechem, to Benjamins going down with his father into Egypt, there can be no more then twenty seven yeares; reckoning Joseph to be thirteen yeares old when Dinah was ravished, both being borne in one yeare, ch. 30 21, 22. and Joseph being fourty yeares old in the third yeare of famine, when Benjamin with his father came down into Egypt. And Benjamin then had ten sons, ch. 46. 21.
an Altar unto God] Altars built by Noah. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob himself, chap. 33. 20. To sacrifice thereon.
unto God] Speaks of himself in the third person. So, Ex. 20. 7, 10, 11.
that appeared unto thee] Thereby minding him of Gods gracious Promises, and of his own vow there made, ch. 28. 22.
when thou fleddest] And wast in as much danger then, as thou art in now.
V. 2. Unto his houshold] Jacobs religious care of his houshold.
and to all that were with him] This may relate to the captived Sichemites, and to all of his retinue and followers.
Put away] So, Josh. 24. 23. Judg. 10. 16. 1 Sam. 7. 3, 4. no mixture permitted, no toleration allowed in a false worship, Deut. 29. 9 10, 11. 1 Sam, 5. 1. 2 Cor. 6. 16.
Strange gods] Of strange Nations, and other people, differing from the true God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, whether Labans gods stollen by Ruchel, and it may be yet unknown to Jacob; or any other brought by any other of his retinue, when they came from Laban and Mesopotamia; or any gods of the Shechemies, their captives among them, worshipped by them, or taken as spoile, and secretly kept for the tichnesse of them.
and change your garments] Putting on others or washing these, Zech. 3. 3, 4, 5. Exod. 19. 10, 14. Ceremonies afterwards enjoyned by the Law in divers cases, Lev. 15. 13. Numb. 31, 23. importing change of minde and manners, cleansing from sin to holinesse, Jude v. 23. 2 Cor. 7. 1. Ezech. 16. 8, 10 Apoc. 3. 4, 18. 7. 14.
V. 3. And go up to Bethel] Eccl. 5. 1. The House of God, that dreadful, the gate of Heaven, chap. 28. 17. Therefore in a special manner they should prepare and sanctifie themselves.
I will make] And perform my vow.
an Altar] V. 1, 7. after a pillar, v. 14.
of my distresse] About twenty seven yeares ago.
V. 4. And all their eare-rings] Idolatrous monuments, Hos. 2. 13. Judg 8. 24, 25, 26. 27. Deut. 7. 25, 26. Exod. 32 2, 3, 4.
under an oak] From the knowledge of his family and people, Esay 30. 22. Under an oak by Shechem, Joshuah set up a great stone for a witnesse of the peoples Covenant with God, Josh. 24. 26, 27. And there the Shechemites made Abimelech King, Judg. 9. 6. Oakes and groves of trees forbidden in worship, and used by idolaters, Esay 1. 29.
by Shechem] Shiloh and the Tabernacle of God were after there, or by Shechem, Josh. 24. 1, 25, 26.
V. 5. Terrour of God] Ch. 34. …0. In all humane reason they easily might have destroyed him and his, Exod. 23. 27. Josh. 2. 9, 11. Gods restraining hand upon the wicked. See, Annot. on ch. 20. 6.
V. 7. An Altar] According to part of his vowe, ch. 28. 22.
El-Bethel] Here he addes to the former name, chap. 28. 19.
V. 8. Rebekahs nurse] Sent with Rebekah, ch. 24. 59. And Jacob being now returned into Canaan, and being there now about seven yeares, and not very far from his fathers house, she thence might come to him of her owne accord, or he send for her, or fetch her, if she did not return into Mesopotamia, and thence come along with Jacob.
V. 9. Again] This is the seventh time God revealed himself to Jacob in special, manner, ch. 28. 13. 31. 3, 11. 32. 1, 2, 24. v. 35. 1.
V. 10. But Israel shall be thy name] Confirmes this name to him the second time. See Annotat. on chap. 32. 28.
V. 11. I am God Almighty] Confirmes and amplifies the Promises made, ch. 28. and ch. 32.
Kings] Thus God gives him the blessing of Abraham, ch. 28. 4. 17. 6.
V. 12. To thee] Not to Esau.
V. 13. And God went up] Chap. 17. 22. Judges 13. 20.
V. 14. Set up a pillar] Repaired the old, set up neare thirty yeares ago, ch. 28. 18. or rather a new one in the very place here named.
a drink-offering thereon, and he poured oile thereon] These in use before the Ceremonial Law by Moses, chap. 28. 18.
V. 16. A little way] About a mile short of Bethlehem, ch. 48. 7. 2 King. 5. 19.
Ephrath] Which is Bethlehem, v. 19. The Prophet joyns them, And thou Bethlehem Ephrata, Micah 5. 2. called also Bethlehem-Judah, to distinguish it from another in Galilee, in the tribe of Zebulun. Here our Saviour was borne.
V. 17. This sonne also] Ch 30. 24.
V. 18. As her soule was in departing] To God that gave it, Eccl. 12. 7. being it self immortal, as appeareth here; and as is confessed by Heathens themselves, as Plato, Aristotle, Cicero and others; and so again life is restored, when the soule comes again into the body, 1 Kings 17. 21, 22.
for she died] Who formerly would die for want of children, ch. 30. 1.
Ben-oni] The like case is, 1 Sam. 4. 20, 21.
Benjamin] Psal. 80. 17. Now was Joseph about twelve or thirteen yeares old, six yeares old when he came from Laban, and six or seven yeares more since he came into Canaan, till the birth of Benjamin after Dinah's ravishing And B…njamin was twenty seven or tweney eight when he went into Egypt with his ten sons, Joseph then being fourty, and Benjamin younger then he twelve or thirteen yeares.
V. 19. Buried in the way] About this place many infants were murdered by Herod, Mat 2. 16, 18 Jer. 31. 15.
V. 20. A pillar] Monuments and memorials for the dead are lawful and useful too.
unto this day] Till Moses time, and after that to Sauls time, 1 Sam. 10. 2.
V. 21. Tower of Edar] i e Of the flock, Micah. 4. 8. It may be hereabouts the Angels appeared to the shepherds, Luke 2. 8.
V. 22. His fathers Concubine] See Annot. on ch. 22. 24. and on ch. 25. 1. By this he justly lost his birth-right, ch. 49. 4. 1 Chron. 5. 1. So Absalom sinned with his fathers Concubines, 2 Sam. 16. 22. And as David abstained from them afterwards, 2 Sam. 20. 3. so likely Jacob did from Bilhah.
and Israel heard it] Here is an empty space left in the line, with a mark to move consideration. As likewise in Gen. 4. 8. And also a pause or breaking off as to a new matter, even in the midst of the verse. So in Deuteron. 2. 8.
twelve] He had no more after. Dinah was a daughter, and Joseph was one of the twelve; yet after when the twelve tribes were accounted and setled, Ephraim and Manasse were put in, and Joseph and Levi (in a sort) left out, Levi for any land by lot in Canaan. They are called the twelve Patriarchs, Acts 7. 8. and twelve tribes, Acts 26. 7. Their names engraved on twelve precious stones, on the High Priests plate, Exod. 28. 21, 29. and on the twelve gates of the new Jerusalem, Ezech. 48. 31. Apoc. 21. 12. The Apostles of Christ were twelve, and their names written on the twelve foundations of the wall or the City of the new Jerusalem, Apoc. 21. 14.
V. 23. The sonnes of Leah] The sons of the wives by themselves, and of the Concubines by themselves.
V. 26. In Padan Aram] Except Benjamin, which is so plain in the former part of this chapter, as no Reader could mistake it. And so no need of an exception of him to be named.
V. 27. And Jacob came unto Isaac] His sons, though borne out of the land of Canaan, come with him into the land, whereas Esau and his sonnes, though borne in the land, do go out and give place. Jacob and his wives, children and family came to him, and removed their habitations thither. Though in all likelihood, living divers years in Canaan before, and that not far from Isaac, he did before this time come to visit his blinde and aged father.
unto Mamre] See Annot. on ch. 13. 18. and on 23. 2.
V. 29. And died] Long after Jacobs rerurn to him, for he lived till the yeare before Josephs advancement in Egypt, or till the time of his advancement. He being sixty when Jacob was borne, and Jacob being one hundred and twenty when Joseph was advanced in Egypt, and one hundred and thirty when he stood before Pharaoh, which sixty and one hundred and twenty make up the full life of Isaac.
Esau and Jacob buried him] So Isaac and Ishmael buried Abraham, ch. 25. 9.