GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 28:1 Abraham issued similar instructions in Genesis 24:3. CANAANITE WOMEN is a broader designation that would have included the Hittites (see note on 10:6–20). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 28:3 Isaac anticipates that Jacob will return to Canaan to take possession of the land divinely given to Abraham. MAKE YOU FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY YOU. See note on 1:28. A COMPANY OF PEOPLES echoes the idea of Abraham as the father of many nations (see Genesis 17:4). It is repe... [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 28:6 Esau seeks to make amends for having taken CANAANITE wives by marrying one of Ishmael’s daughters. However, he still retains his two Canaanite wives. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 28:10 The Lord uses an extraordinary dream to confirm that the divine promises to Abraham will be fulfilled through Jacob. A similar event will take place upon Jacob’s return to Canaan (Genesis 32:22). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, le... [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 28:12 LADDER SET UP ON THE EARTH. What matters most is not the exact shape of this structure but its purpose. It provides a bridge between heaven and earth, showing that God is still committed to making the earth his dwelling place. Jesus identifies himself as the ladder link... [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 28:13 THE LORD STOOD ABOVE IT (v. Genesis 28:13) could also be translated “the LORD stood beside him” (esv footnote). The Lord’s words loudly echo his promises to Abraham (Genesis 12:3, Genesis 12:7; Genesis 13:14;... [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 28:16 Believing that THE LORD IS IN THIS PLACE, Jacob describes it as the HOUSE OF GOD. The presence of God on earth is clearly central in Jacob’s thinking. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 28:18 Jacob marks this special event at Bethel (see v. Genesis 28:19) by setting up a PILLAR and consecrating it with OIL, but he does not build an altar. This indicates that he has not yet fully accepted the Lord as his God. While setting up pillars was common in Canaanite w... [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 28:19 THE NAME OF THE CITY WAS LUZ AT THE FIRST. The city’s name continued to be “Luz” until the Israelites occupied Canaan many centuries later (see Genesis 35:6; Genesis 48:3; Judges 1:23). The actual location called “Bethel” by Jacob probably lay outside the city of Luz (s... [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 28:20 IF GOD WILL BE WITH ME..., THEN THE LORD SHALL BE MY GOD. The conditional nature of Jacob’s vow reveals that he is still not fully committed to the Lord (see note on v. 18). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img;... [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 28:22 I WILL GIVE A FULL TENTH TO YOU. Centuries later, Israelite worshipers give a tenth of their income (a “tithe”) to God as an expression of their commitment to him. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]