Genesis 33 - Introduction
1 17. Meeting of Jacob and Esau (J) 18 20. Jacob at Shechem (P and E)... [ Continue Reading ]
1 17. Meeting of Jacob and Esau (J) 18 20. Jacob at Shechem (P and E)... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Jacob lifted up his eyes_, &c. For this phrase, cf. Genesis 18:2; Genesis 24:63; Genesis 31:10 (J). _four hundred men_ See Genesis 32:6. _he divided_, &c. Jacob disposes of his household, placing in the rear those who were most dear to him, so that in the event of an attack by Esau they might... [ Continue Reading ]
_before them_ Jacob himself goes in front of his household to protect them. _seven times_ Jacob prostrates himself before his brother, in token of complete subservience. Not content with one prostration, he bows seven times to the ground, with which has aptly been compared a letter from a Canaanite... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Esau_ Esau's conduct on this occasion is that of a good-natured and forgiving disposition. There is no statement of his having intended any mischief to Jacob. His appearance with four hundred men seems to have been accidental, and not with hostile intent against Jacob. He behaves throughout mag... [ Continue Reading ]
_all this company_ Lit. "all this camp." Esau refers to the droves sent on ahead as a present by Jacob (Genesis 32:13-22). The word "camp" (_mahaneh_) is an additional reference to Mahanaim.... [ Continue Reading ]
_enough_ Heb. "abundance," or "plenty.... [ Continue Reading ]
_forasmuch as I have seen_ R.V. marg. _for therefore have I seen_. See Genesis 18:5; Genesis 19:8 (J). _as one seeth the face of God_ Jacob desires to imply that to have seen the face of Esau, and to have found him friendly, was as if one had looked on the face of God, and found it favourable. The p... [ Continue Reading ]
_gift_ Heb. _blessing_; LXX τὰς εὐλογίας μου; Lat. _benedictionem_. The "gift" is the material side of the "blessing"; and the word "blessing" is thus used for a gift, in Joshua 15:19; Judges 1:15; 1Sa 25:27; 1 Samuel 30:26; 2 Kings 5:15. The word _benedictio_was similarly used to denote a gift in t... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he said_ Esau speaks. He assumes that Jacob will be glad to receive the protection of his armed men. Jacob declines, not wishing to incur the risk of friction arising from a collision between two large companies; and will not accept a kindness which might compromise his independence. It was wis... [ Continue Reading ]
_tender_ i.e. young and unequal to the fatigues of travel.... [ Continue Reading ]
_softly_ Lit. "according to my gentleness," i.e. at a quiet and leisurely rate. _according to the pace of the cattle_ Lit. "of the property" in herds and flocks (_m'lâ"cah_, as in Exodus 22:7; Exodus 22:10; 1 Samuel 15:9). _unto Seir_ Jacob here implies that he was intending to visit his brother i... [ Continue Reading ]
_What needeth it_?] i.e. why should you do so? Jacob courteously declines his brother's offer. Esau here is withdrawn from the scene. The part which he has played in this chapter is dignified and chivalrous. He forgives and forgets. He has the force at his command, but will not make an unworthy use... [ Continue Reading ]
_Succoth_ This verse preserves the traditional explanation of the origin of the name _Succoth_, "booths," "huts"; LXX σκῆναι. The site of Succoth is not yet identified with any certainty. From this passage we may infer, that it lay on the east of the Jordan, and south of the Jabbok. For other refere... [ Continue Reading ]
Jacob at Shechem 18. _in peace_ R.V. marg. _to Shalem, a city of_. The rendering in the margin is possible. It is supported by LXX and Vulg. There is a village, _Salim_, still to be found near Shechem. On the other hand, the context speaks of Jacob "before the city" of Shechem; and the fact of his... [ Continue Reading ]
_the parcel of ground_ or "the portion of the field." Lat. _partem agri_. For "parcel," Fr. "parcelle," from Lat. _particula_, see Joshua 24:32; Ruth 4:3. Cf. "Many a thousand, Which now mistrust no parcel of my fear" (Shakespeare, 3 _Hen. VI_, Genesis 33:6). _his tent_ Jacob has resumed dwelling i... [ Continue Reading ]
_erected_ Lit. "set up." A verb used elsewhere, not of an altar, but of a "pillar" or upright stone. Cf. Genesis 35:14; Genesis 35:20 and Joshua 24:26. Hence many prefer here to read "pillar" (_maṣṣêbah_) instead of "altar" (_mizbêaḥ_). _El-elohe-Israel_ R.V. marg. That is, _God, the God of Israel_.... [ Continue Reading ]