_and blessed him_ This mention of Isaac's blessing of Jacob, without reference to the deception in chap. 27, is a clear indication of the distinctness of origin of this passage from that which precedes it. _Thou shalt not … Canaan_ Cf. Genesis 24:3. "The daughters of Canaan" cannot be distinguished... [ Continue Reading ]
_Paddan-aram_ See note on Genesis 25:20. This is the name given by P (cf. Genesis 31:18; Genesis 33:18; Genesis 35:9; Genesis 35:26; Genesis 46:15) to the region which in the J narrative is called "Haran": another indication of the literary distinctness of this passage from that which immediately pr... [ Continue Reading ]
_God Almighty_ Heb. _El Shaddai_. This Divine Name is here communicated by Isaac to Jacob: see note on Genesis 17:1 (P). _make … multiply_ See note on Genesis 1:22: a phrase characteristic of P, cf. Genesis 8:17; Genesis 9:1; Genesis 9:7; Genesis 17:20; Genesis 35:11; Genesis 48:4. a company of [ Continue Reading ]
_the blessing of Abraham_ Probably a reference to Genesis 17:8. The same blessing as Abraham received is now pronounced by Isaac upon Jacob, recognizing him as the religious representative of the family, and ignoring Esau. This verse would be almost unintelligible, if we were not on literary grounds... [ Continue Reading ]
_and he went to Paddan-aram unto Laban_ In this short sentence the narrative of P disposes of the journey of Jacob, which is described in much greater detail in the parallel narratives from J and E, preserved in Genesis 28:10 and chap. 29. _the Syrian_ Heb. _Aramean_. Cf. Genesis 25:20; Deuteronomy... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now Esau saw_ The conduct of Esau in this passage is prompted by the desire to obtain a blessing such as Isaac had given Jacob in Genesis 28:3. In order to propitiate his father, he contracts a marriage with his first cousin, the daughter of Ishmael. Neither in this, nor in the following verse, is... [ Continue Reading ]
_unto the wives_ i.e. in addition to Judith and Basemath (Genesis 26:34). _Mahalath … the sister of Nebaioth_ Nebaioth was the firstborn son of Ishmael (Genesis 25:13). In Genesis 36:3, the name of Ishmael's daughter, sister of Nebaioth, appears as Basemath. Here she is called Mahalath; while Basem... [ Continue Reading ]
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 Genesis 28:10 (cf. Genesis 26:23). Genesis 28:10_; Genesis 28:13; Genesis 28:19_are probably from J;... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he lighted_ i.e. he by chance reached, like our colloquial "hit upon." The Divine purpose of the revelation made to Jacob is contrasted in this word with the fortuitousness of Jacob's action. _a certain place_ Heb. _the place_. For the special significance of "place," with the possible meaning... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he dreamed_ The vision, about to be described, is conveyed through the medium of a dream; cf. Genesis 20:3. _a ladder_ It has been suggested, e.g. by Stanley (_Sinai and Palestine_, p. 219) that the ledges of rock, one above the other, on the Bethel hill produced an impression on the faculties... [ Continue Reading ]
_the Lord stood_ Lit. "was set, established, stationed," LXX ἐπεστήρικτο, Vulg. "innixum." The appearance of Jehovah is mentioned, but not described. _above it_ Better, probably, as R.V. marg., _beside him_. Both renderings are possible. We should perhaps prefer that of the margin. The preposition i... [ Continue Reading ]
_as the dust of the earth_ Cf. Genesis 13:16. _spread abroad_ Heb. _break forth_. Cf. Genesis 30:30, "increased," 43, Exodus 1:12. _to the west_ Cf. Genesis 13:14. _in thee … be blessed_ See note on Genesis 12:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
_I am with thee_ Cf. Genesis 26:24; Genesis 31:3. The personal promise to Jacob consists of (1) Divine Presence (_with thee_): (2) Divine preservation (_keep thee_): (3) Divine restoration (_bring again_): (4) Divine fulfilment of promise (_until I have done_).... [ Continue Reading ]
_in this place_ Jacob's words express astonishment that Jehovah should have manifested Himself (_a_) in a place remote from his father's home; (_b_) to himself a solitary wanderer. _this place_ Compare Exodus 3:5, "the place whereon thou standest is holy ground"; Joshua 5:15, "the place whereon tho... [ Continue Reading ]
_How dreadful_ This adjective is rendered unsuitable by colloquial usage. The sense would be better given by "awesome" or "terrible." Jacob believes that he has been in the presence of Jehovah and of the heavenly host. The belief that those who saw "the angel of the Lord" face to face would die is e... [ Continue Reading ]
_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" (_bâmah_). Its use is condemned in Deuteronomy 16:22. But in Hosea 3:4 it is associated with other forms o... [ Continue Reading ]
_Beth-el_ That is, _The house of God_: see Genesis 35:1; Genesis 35:6. This place was one of the most famous sanctuaries in Canaan. It was selected by Jeroboam as one of the High Places at which he set up the calves of gold (1 Kings 12:29-33). For its repute and popularity as a sanctuary and place o... [ Continue Reading ]
_vowed a vow_ See Genesis 31:13. This is the first mention in the O.T. of a religious vow, i.e. a solemn promise, enforced by an adjuration of the Deity, to dedicate, or wholly set apart, some offering or gift. _If God will be with me_ Jacob's vow is made with special reference to the personal prom... [ Continue Reading ]
_to my father's house in peace_ It does not appear that this was literally fulfilled. Jacob, on his return, did not dwell at his father's house. But, perhaps, "father's house" means "the land of his fathers." "In peace," a common Heb. phrase, noticeable here for the rendering of LXX μετὰ σωτηρίας, ... [ Continue Reading ]
_God's house_ See note on Genesis 28:17. Here the title "God's house" is applied to the stone itself. _of all … give the tenth_ Very strange is this concluding promise to pay a tithe to Jehovah. In Genesis 14:20, Abraham pays a tithe to Melchizedek of Jerusalem (?). The payment of tithe was maintai... [ Continue Reading ]