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Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Genesis 33:18-20

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 arrival there "in peace" is not without significance in view of the events narrated in ch. 34.

Canaan … Paddan-aram The transition in this verse is abrupt. Jacob is suddenly transferred from the east to the west side of the Jordan. The clause, "when he came from Paddan-aram," seems to ignore the previous Chapter s, and is clearly taken from a different source, viz. P.

before the city "In front of it," lit. "in the presence of the city" of Shechem. It is the preposition rendered "before" in Genesis 19:13.

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See also Genesis 33:18-20 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Genesis 33:18. _AND JACOB CAME TO SHALEM, A CITY OF SHECHEM_] The word שלם _shalem_, in the Samaritan שלום _shalom_, should be translated here _in peace_, or _in safety_. After resting some tim...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    - Jacob and Esau Meet 17. סכת _sûkkôth_, Sukkoth, “booths,” consisting of poles forming a roof covered with branches, leaves, or grass. 19. חמור _chămôr_ Chamor, “ass, red, heap.” קשׂיטה _q__e__s...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 33 THE RECONCILIATION OF ESAU _ 1. Jacob meets Esau (Genesis 33:1)_ 2. In the city of Shechem and the altar erected (Genesis 33:18) The reconciliation is effected, but Jacob is the same man...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    GENESIS 33. THE RECONCILIATION OF JACOB AND ESAU. Genesis 33:1 is in the main from J, but bits of E have been woven in (Genesis 33:5_ b_, Genesis 33:10_ b_,...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    CAME TO SHALEM, &C.— Onkelos and the Arabic version render this, _He came in peace and safety to the city Shalem,_ &c. Mr. Chais has it, _sain et sauf;_ and this, perhaps, is the best translation; inf...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _AND JACOB CAME TO SHALEM, A CITY OF SHECHEM, WHICH IS IN THE LAND OF CANAAN, WHEN HE CAME FROM PADAN-ARAM; AND PITCHED HIS TENT BEFORE THE CITY._ Shalem - i:e., peace; and the meaning may be that Ja...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    33:18 safely (c-4) Or 'to Shalem.'...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    1-16.Jacob and Esau meet peaceably. 17-20. Jacob settles in Canaan....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    TO SHALEM, A CITY OF SHECHEM] RV 'in peace to the city of Shechem.' But there is a village called Salim 3 m. E. of Shechem. Here Jacob settled for some eight or ten years. The well which he dug still...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    ‘Shechem’ is the name of a city and it is a man’s name. In verse 18, it is the name of a city, but in verse 19 it is a man’s name....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOD’S ANCIENT PEOPLE GENESIS _ALUN OWEN_ CHAPTER 33 ESAU AND JACOB MEET V1 Jacob saw that Esau approached. And 400 men came with him. So Jacob divided the children into 4 groups. Leah and Rachel...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    THE TÔLDÔTH ISAAC (Genesis 25:19 to Genesis 35:29). THE BIRTH OF ISAAC’S SONS. Abraham begat Isaac — The _Tôldôth_ in its original form gave probably a complete genealogy of Isaac, tracing up his des...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    JACOB CAME TO SHALEM, A CITY OF SHECHEM. — The Sam. Pent. has _shalom,”_safe”; but _shalem_ is right, and means _whole, sound._ Onkelos, however, followed by most modern commentators, renders it _in p...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יָּבֹא֩ יַעֲקֹ֨ב שָׁלֵ֜ם עִ֣יר שְׁכֶ֗ם אֲש

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    JACOB WITH THE SHECHEMITES Genesis 33:18; Genesis 34:1 Jacob was tempted by the fat pastures of Shechem, without thought or care of the character of its people, and he lived to bitterly rue his choic...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The morning broke and Jacob-or Israel as he had now become- went forward to meet Esau. How strange a mixture there was in the make-up of this man is once more clearly evident. It is patent that fear o...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    THE REUNION WITH ESAU When Jacob saw Esau coming, he divided his family into three groups. The maidservants formed a group with their children, Leah formed one with hers and Rachel brought up the rear...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    The town of Salem, which was the first town of Chanaan that he came near after his return. It was afterwards called Sichem, and Sichar, John iv. 5, and Naplosa. Salim, mentioned John iii. 23, was prob...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    See the account of this place, called Sychem, John 4:5; Acts 7:16, where Hamor is also called Emmor....

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Having already shown the position of Isaac, I resume briefly with the remark that he stands before us clearly as the representative of the Son, and this too as dead, risen, and in heaven. All will und...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 29 THROUGH 35. I have no doubt that in the two wives, as I have said, we have the Gentiles and Israel: Rachel first loved on the earth, but not possessed; but...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    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 Trapp Complete Commentary

    And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which [is] in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padanaram; and pitched his tent before the city. Ver. 18. _Came to Shalem._] Or, Came safe and sound t...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 The kindnesse of Iacob and Esau at their meeting. 17 Iacob commeth to Succoth. 18 At Salem he buyeth a field, and buildeth an Altar called Elohe Israel. 1 AND Iacob lifted vp his eyes, and looked...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padanaram; and pitched his tent before the city. After living at Succoth a number of years, until Dinah,...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Jacob Returns to Canaan...

  • Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures

    SIXTH SECTION _Jacobs settlement in Canaan. At Succoth. At Shechem. Dinah. Simeon and Levi. The first manifestation of Jewish fanaticism. Jacob’s rebuke, and removal to Bethel_ GENESIS 33:17 TO GENE...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    THE BROTHERS MEET AGAIN Jacob's trepidation is not eased when he sees that Esau has passed by all the droves and is coming with his four hundred men to meet Jacob. He even divides his family at this...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    17-20 Jacob did not content himself with words of thanks for God's favour to him, but gave real thanks. Also he kept up religion, and the worship of God in his family. Where we have a tent, God must...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    SHALEM; most take it for the proper name of a place belonging to SHECHEM, as it here follows, called _Salim,_ 1 THESSALONIANS 3:23, and _Sichem_ or _Sychar,_ 1 THESSALONIANS 4:5. But others take it fo...

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    & Gen 34:1-31 We may here see how groundless were all Jacob's fears, and how useless all his plans. Notwithstanding the wrestling, the touching the hollow of the thigh, and the halting, we find Jacob...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Genesis 33:18 Jacob H3290 came H935 (H8799) safely H8004 city H5892 Shechem H7927 land H776 Canaan H3667 came...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    JACOB MOVES INTO THE LAND OF PROMISE - REVENGE FOR DINAH (GENESIS 33:18 TO GENESIS 34:31) Some years have passed and now Jacob feels the time has come to return to the land of the covenant. This parti...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Jacob meets Esau. Settles in Canaan. CHARACTERS: Jacob, Esau, Leah, Rachael, Joseph. CONCLUSION: How groundless are all the Christian's fears and how useless all his self-devised plans. «W...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Genesis 33:3. _Bowed himself to the ground._ He then rose and walked a little farther, and bowed again; so he did seven times until he approached his brother. Homage of this kind was first paid to the...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem,.. . and pitched his tent before the city_ JACOB’S MISTAKE God had not said, Go to Shechem; but, “I am the God of Bethel. ” Bethel, rather than Shechem,...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 33:17 SUCCOTH is in the Jordan Valley near where the Jabbok River joins the Jordan River. SHECHEM, about 20 miles (32 km) west of Succoth, was the first place named in connecti...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 33:1 Having met the Lord at Peniel, Jacob is reconciled with Esau. ⇐ ⇔...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— Genesis 33:17. Made booths for his cattle.] “_Booths,_ or folds, composed of upright stakes wattled together, and sheltered with leafy branches.” (_Murphy._)— GENESIS 33:18. SHALEM,...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION GENESIS 33:1, GENESIS 33:2 AND JACOB, having the day before dispatched his conciliatory gift to Esau, turned his back upon the Jabbok, having crossed to the south bank, if the previous nig...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and the two handmaidens (Genesis 33:1). In oth...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Shalem. John 3:23 John 4:5 Acts 7:16 a city of Shechem. Joshua 24:1 Judges 9:1...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem — Or rather he came safe, or in peace, to the city of Shechem. After a perilous journey, in which he had met with many difficulties, he came safe at last, i...

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