Commentary on the Pentateuch, Commentary 1 · Chapter 35
CHAP. XXXV. Verſ. 1. Ariſe, go up to Bethel.]
THis is not the firſt time that God tells him of that Vow, and calls for performance. See Chap. 31.13. It is with us, as with children; Eaten bread is ſoon forgotten: deliverances, commonly, are but nine days wonderment, at utmoſt; and it is ten to one, that any leper returns to give praiſe to God. If any thing arrouze and raiſe up our hearts to thankful remembrance of former mercy, it muſt be the ſenſe of ſome preſent miſery, as here. Jacob was in a great ſtraight, and fright: His ſons had troubled him; the country was ready to riſe upon him, and root him out: God alſo was juſtly diſpleaſed with him, for his forgotten Vow; yet chides him not, now that he was in heavineſs; but takes his opportunity, (for we are beſt, when at worſt) and gently mindes him of what was his duty, and would be for his ſafety. Numa is ſaid to have put ſo much confidence in his gods, that when he was ſacrificing, and news came, that the enemy was at hand; he laughed, and ſaid, At ego r…m divinam facio. foreign, Plut.Thoſe Philiſtims were even ambitious of deſtruction, and ran to meet their ruine, that gathered themſelves againſt Iſrael, whiles they were ſacrificing, 1 Sam. 7.7. Cant. 6.10.and ſerving the Lord, in their meet at Mizpeh. The Church, in her Worſhips, is terrible as an army with banners; a cup of trembling to all the people round about; a burdenſome ſtone for all people; a torch of fire in a ſheof, Zech. 12.2, 3, 6. Iſai. 37.22.He is a mad man that will meddle with her, whiles ſhe is upon good terms with Chriſt, her Champion. Balaam knew this, and therefore gave that villanous counſel. Germani nondum, vi…o h…te, Dani o terrore per…ſi iiffugerunt. Parcus.All Germany was in arms againſt that handful of H…ſſites in Bohemia vet could not ſuppreſs them. Geneva, a ſmall people inviron…d with enemies, and barred from aid of neighb…urs, yet …ithf… with God, hath been hitherto ſtrangely upheld. At the ſiege of Mountabone in France, Spec. b…lli ſacri, 282.the people of God, uſing d…ily humiliation, as their ſervice would permit, did ſing a Pſalm after, and immediately before their ſallying forth. With which practice the enemy coming acquainted, ever, upon the ſinging of the Pſalm, (upon which they expected a ſally) they would ſo quake and tremble, crying, They come they come, as though the wrath of God had been breaking out upon them.
Verſ. 2. Then Jacob ſaid unto his houſhold] So Gedeon began his reformation at his fathers houſe. David alſo would walk wiſely in the midſt of his houſe; Pſal. 101.2.and this he calls a perfect way, a ſigne of ſincerity, Pſal. 101. This Pſalm, Biſhop Ridley read over often to his family, hiring them to learn it by heart; and taking care, that they might be a ſpectacle to all others, of vertue and honeſty. [Put away the ſtrange gods] Strange it was, that ſuch Mawmets ſhould be ſuffered among them. Calvin thinks, that Jacob winked at Rachel's ſuperſtition, of a blinde love to her; as Solomon gratified his miſtreſſes of Moab. I ſhould think rather, that they were the idols of Shechem, brought into the houſe, either by Jacob's ſons and ſervants, or by the captive women. [Be clean, and change your garments] God is to be approached unto, with the beſt preparation we can make. foreign. Plut. Heathens had their Coenapura before their ſolemn ſacrifices. Godw. Antiq.Heathens ſaw, that God is not to be drawn nigh unto, hand over head; but preparation to be made at home. We waſh us every day; but, when to dine with great ones, we waſh us with balls, and put on our beſt.
Verſ. 3. And was with me in the way, &c.] Deducendo, reducendo, franumque ſocero, fratri, finitimiſque Shecemi injiciendo, ne me ullo pacto laederent, ſaith Junius. All this called for thankfulneſs. Prayer and thanks, ſhould be like the double motion of the lungs. The air that is ſucked in by prayer, ſhould be breathed out again by praiſes. God had heard Jacob, now he ſhould hear of him.
Verſ. 4. And they gave unto Jacob] Now they were in danger of deſtruction, they would do any thing. So thoſe falſe Iſraelites, when God ſlew them, then they ſought him, Pſal. 78.34. So many, Daniels Chro. fol. 58.when they are deadly ſick, are wondrous good; as William Rufus, who vowed, upon his recovery, to ſee all vacancies furniſhed. Dike of deceitf. pag. 217.In the Sweating ſickneſs, ſo long as the ferventneſs of the Plague laſted, there was crying, Peccavi, peccavi: the Miniſters were ſought for in every corner; You muſt come to my Lord, you muſt come to my Lady, &c. The Walnut-tree is moſt fruitful, when moſt beaten. Fiſh thrive beſt, in cold and ſalt waters. The moſt plentiful Summer, follows upon the hardeſt Winter. David was never ſo tender, as when hunted like a partridge; nor Jonah ſo watchful, prayerfull, as in the Whales belly. Vigilabat in ceto qui ſtertebat in navi. Lam. 3.39, 41.When men ſuffer for their ſin, hands, and hearts, and all, are liſt up to heaven; that before were as without God in the world, & thought they could do well enough without him. A Lethargie is commonly cured by a Fever; worms killed with alocs: ſo are crawling luſts, by bitter afflictions. Iſrael under the croſs, will defile the dols that they had deified, Iſai. 30.22. and after that they were captives in Babylon, they could never be drawn to that ſin, whatever they ſuffered for their refuſal; as under Antiochus. I end with S. Ambroſe: Beata anima, quae eſt inſtar domus Jacobi, in qua nulla ſimulachra, nulla effigies vanitatis: Bleſſed is that ſoul, that, like Jacob's houſe, hath no Idol in it.
Verſ. 5. The terrour of God was upon them] The Hebrews tell us, that they purſued Jacob, and were beaten back by him: whereupon he ſaith, Gen. 48.22, that he took that country out of the hand of the Amorites, with his ſword, and with his bowe, God might ſend a pannick terrour upon them, as they were fighting againſt Iacob, and ſo bridle them from further attempts. The Syrians heard a noiſe of chariots and horſes in the air, (made by Angels, likely; or whether it were but their own fancie, as Iudg. 9.36. and as the Burgundians took a field of ſtanding corn for an army of fighting men) and fled for their lives. 2 Kings 7.7.Theodoſius the Emperour overcame the Perſians and Saracens, Alſted. Chronol. pag. 300.by means of a pannick terrour ſmitten into them by God; ſo that they ran into the river Euphrates, and above an hundred thouſand of them periſhed in the waters.
Verſ. 6. So Iacob came to Luz] Which was thirty miles from Shechem: a long journey for ſuch a large family, who went it with hearts full of heavineſs; for, without were fightings, within fears: but this was their comfort, they went to ſee the face of God at Bethel. As they that paſſed thorow the valley of Baca, Pſal. 84.6, 7.though they took many a weary ſtep, yet went from ſtrength to ſtrength, becauſe they were to appear before God in Zion. Popiſh Pilgrims, though uſed hardly, and put to much expence and inconvenience; yet ſatisfie themſelves in this, I have that I came for, viz. the ſight of a dumb Idol, (as Calvin noteth.) What then ſhould not we ſuffer, to ſee God in his Ordinances? Iſal. 66.20.They ſhall bring your brethren as an offering to the Lord, upon horſes, in chariots, and in bitters, ſaith the Prophet: that is, though ſ…ck, weakly, and unfit for travel; yet, rather in litters, then not at all.
Verſ. 7. Becauſe there God appeared] Heb. Revelaviſſent Dii: Not the Angels, but the ſacred Trinity. See the Notes on Chap. 1. verſ. 1.
Verſ. 8. But Deborah, Rebeccah's nurſe, died] A grave matron ſhe was; of great uſe, while ſhe lived; and much miſſed, when ſhe died. This is not every mans caſe. Some have their ſouls, as ſwine, Suillo peccori anima pro ſale.for no other uſe, then, as ſalt, to keep their bodies from putrefaction: And when they die, there's no more miſs of them, then of the ſweepings of the houſe, or parings of the nails.
Verſ. 9. And God appeared, &c.] A ſweet allayment of his late heavineſs for Deborah, and a gracious preparative to the enſuing loſs of Rachel. The joy of the Lord is the Chriſtian mans ſtrength, Neh. 8. One ſight of him, is enough to carry one thorow all conditions with comfort. As a man that hath his bones filled with marrow, and that hath abundance of good blood, and freſh ſpirits in his body, he can endure to go with leſs clothes then another, becauſe he is well lined within: ſo it is with a heart that hath a great deal of fat and marrow, communion with God, and feeling of his favour; he will go thorow troubles, in the fail of outward comforts. And as the lily is freſh, and looks fair, though among thorns; ſo will he, amidſt miſeries.
Verſ. 10. And God ſaid unto him, &c.] It is uſual with God, to revive and renew the promiſes, with freſh ſupplies of comforts upon the hearts of his faithful ſervants, for the further confirmation of their faith and hope. foreign. Phil. 1.19. Eph. 1.13. Eph. 4.30.Thus he ſeals to us at every Sacrament, beſides thoſe ſweet ſupplies of the Spirit of promiſe, whereby we are daily ſealed to the day of redemption, as the merchants goods are ſigned with his ſeal.
Verſ. 11. I am God Almighty] This is hardly perſwaded; and yet it is the ground of all true comfort and ſpiritual ſecurity. We are apt to meaſure things according to our own model, as to think God ſo powerful, as our underſtanding can reach, &c. But, for a finite creature to believe the infinite All-ſufficiency of God, he is not able to do it thorowly, without ſupernatural grace; nor can he be ſoundly comforted, till he comes to comprehend it. Of his will to do us good, we doubt not, till, in ſome meaſure, we doubt of his power to help.
Verſ. 13. And God went up from him] Not by local aſcenſion; (for he is every-where) but in reſpect of that viſible ſigne of his glory, which he now withdrew from over, or from upon Iacob. For the righteous are as Gods chariot, ſay the Hebrews on this Text. Confer Cant. 6.12. [Where he talked with him] Prayer is a free and familiar conference or intercourſe with God; a parling with his Majeſty, as Saint Paul calls it; foreign. 1 Tim. 2.1.a ſtanding upon interrogatories with him; eſpecially when Satan, ſin, and conſcience accuſe. It was a part of the Perſian Kings ſilly glory, to keep their greateſt ſubjects from coming neer them, without ſpecial licenſe, Eſth. 4.11. To God we have free acceſs, upon all occaſions; and are bid to come boldly, Heb. 4.16. If Seneca could ſay, Audacter Deum roges, nihil illum de alieno rogaturus; how much more may the faithful Chriſtian, ſith All is his, God and all! 1 Cor. 3.22.Moſes and Luther could have what they would of God. Fiat voluntas mea, ſaith Luther; and then he addes, Mea voluntas, Domine, quia tua: Let my will be done; but no otherwiſe mine, then as thine, Lord.
Verſ. 14. And Iacob ſet up a pillar] Or, had ſet up a pillar, had poured a drink offering, &c. to wit, Chap. 28.18, 19. And now he either repeats it in the preſence, and for the edification of his family; or elſe he repairs the pillar now ruinated, and new conſecrates it, by the old name Bethel.
Verſ. 16. She had hard labour] Woman, of all creatures, bringeth forth with moſt pain and peril, as the Philoſopher obſerveth, Ariſt. de anima, l. 7.and experience confirmeth. Her onelyonly way is, to ſend for Lady Faith, the beſt Midwife; and thereby, to repoſe upon him, whoſe voice cauſeth the hindes to calve, Pſal. 29.9 which yet, of all bruit creatures, bring forth with greateſt trouble; bowing themſelves, Job 39.4, 6.bruiſing their young, and caſting out their ſorrows.
Verſ. 17. Thou ſhalt have this ſon alſo] So ſhe had children, according to her deſire; but this laſt, to her coſt, for a chaſtiſement of her ſtrong affections, which drew on ſtrong afflictions; as hard knots muſt have hard wedges They that would needs have a peny for their pains, had no joy of their peny: Matth. 20.13.when the end of the day came, when they were to go into another world, they ſaw, that their peny was no ſuch good ſilver; that preferment, profit, credit, were but empty things, and could not ſatisfie. It is beſt to be moderate in our deſires after theſe outward things; and not ſo ſet upon't, as to indent with God for ſuch, and ſo much: this may be dangerous.
Verſ. 18. As her ſoul was in departing] Viz. To God that gave it. It is a ſpiritual, immortal ſubſtance, diſtinct from the body;and can ſubſiſt of it ſelf; Epicharmcum est illud; Concretum fuit & diſcretum eſt, rediitque unde venerat, terra deorſum, ſpiritus, urſum.as the Mariner can, when the ſhip is broken. [For ſhe died] In our birth, we rent our mothers, (to death ſometimes) whom before we had burthened; ſo far Nature witneſſing our viperous generation, becauſe of ſin, which we bring into the world. [But his father called him Benjamin] Leſt the former name ſhould be a daily revival of his loſs. Let men make their burdens as light as they can, and not increaſe their worldly ſorrow, by ſight of ſad objects. It will come (as we ſay of foul weather) ſoon enough; we need not ſend for it. What ſhould dropſie-men do eating ſalt meats?
Verſ. 19. Ju…aei vitrum ex quo ſpo…ſus & ſponſa biberunt, confringunt; ut memores …int ſponſi fragilitatis humanae.And Rachel died] We forfeit many favours, by overaffecting them. Our jealous God will not endure us to idolize any creature: Let them that have wives, (or any other thing they hold moſt dear to themſelves) be as if they had none. So love, as to think of loſs. Let all outward things hang looſe, as an upper garment, that we can throw off at pleaſure.
Verſ. 20. And Jacob ſet a pillar upon her grave] To teſtifie his love, and continue her remembrance. Dead friends may be lawfully thus honoured with Monuments, modò vitetur luxus & ſuperſtitio.
Verſ. 21. beyond the tower of Edar] Or, of the flock. This tower was built, it ſeems, for the ſafety and ſervice of ſhepherds. There it was, probably, that thoſe ſhepherds, Luke 2. watched their flocks. There alſo, Helena, mother to Conſtantine the Great, did afterwards build a Temple, for a memorial of the Angels that there appeared to thoſe ſhepherds, carolling Chriſt into the world.
Verſ. 22. Reuben went, and lay with Bilhah] A foul fault, in ſo good a family: but ſo it ſometimes falls out, by the malice of Satan, Selcucus Syriae rex tradidit filio Antiocho novercam Stratonicen, cujus amore ille decumbebat. Appian, in Syriacis. Dani. Chron. pag. 12.for the diſcrediting of Religion. Such ugly inceſt was committed at Corinth, as was hardly heard of among Heathen, that a man ſhould have his fathers wife, 2 Cor. 5.1. Some ſuch there were among the Kings of Egypt; but not many. Ethelbald, King of Weſt-Saxons, with great infamy marrying his fathers widow Judith, enjoyed his Kingdom but two yeers and a half. But how hateful is that Spaniſh inceſt, by Papal diſpenſation? King Philip of Spain might call the Arch-duke Albert, both Brother, Couzen, Nephew, and Son: for, all this was he unto him, either by blood, Sands his Relation of Weſt, Religion.or affinity; being Uncle to himſelf, Couzen-german to his father, Husband to his ſiſter, and Father to his wife. Abhorred filth! [And Iſrael heard it] And held his peace, becauſe he ſaw God in it, chaſtiſing him for his Polygamy. The puniſhment is ſometimes ſo like the ſin, that a man may boldly ſay, Such a ſin was the mother of ſuch a miſery. And here's a pauſe in the Hebrew, to ſhew Jacob's great amazement at this ſad tidings. Dolores ingentes ſtupent. He was even dumb, and opened not his mouth, becauſe God was in it, Pſal. 39.9.
Verſ. 23. Reuben, Jacobs firſt-born] Who, though by his ſin he fell from his birth-right, yet is here reckoned as a Patriarch; and afterwards, upon his repentance, not a little honoured, Exod 28.21, 29. Rev. 21.12. God is not off and on with his elect: their frowardneſs interrupts not the courſe of his goodneſs.
Verſ. 24. And Iſaac gave up the ghost] Twelve yeers after Joſeph was ſold, and fourty yeers after he firſt became blinde. Three ſpecial friends Jacob buries, in this Chapter. Croſſes come thick: be patient.