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 descent to Shem, and showing thereby that the right of primogeniture belonged to him; but the inspired... [ Continue Reading ]
XXXIII. (3) HE PASSED OVER BEFORE THEM. — While providing some small chance of escape for his wives and children, arranged according to their rank, Jacob manfully went first and placed himself entirely in Esau’s power. He endeavoured, nevertheless, by his sevenfold obeisance in acknowledgment of Es... [ Continue Reading ]
ESAU RAN TO MEET HIM. — Whatever may have been Esau’s intention when he started, no sooner does he see his brother than the old times of their childhood return to his heart, and he is overcome with love; nor does he ever seem afterwards to have wavered in his fraternal affection. We have had a proof... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO ARE THOSE WITH THEE? — Heb., _to thee,_ that is, Who are these belonging to thee? Esau noticed that they were Jacob’s family, and asked for fuller information concerning them.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT MEANEST THOU BY ALL THIS DROVE...? Heb., _What is all this camp of thine that I met?_ From the time of Jacob’s coming to Mahanaim, the word _mahaneh,_ “camp,” is used in a very remarkable way. It is the word translated _bands_ in Genesis 32:7, and _company_ in Genesis 32:8; Genesis 32:21. It is... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THEREFORE I HAVE SEEN THY FACE. — The latter half of the verse would more correctly be translated, _inasmuch as I have seen thy face as one seeth the face of Elohim, and thou hast received me graciously._ To the Hebrew the thought of God was not terrifying, and so the vision of God’s face was th... [ Continue Reading ]
FLOCKS AND HERDS WITH YOUNG. — Heb., _that give such._ Thompson (_Land and Book,_ p. 205) infers from this that it was now winter, and thinks that this is confirmed by Jacob making folds for his cattle at Succoth. If so, more than six months would have elapsed since Jacob’s flight from Haran; but th... [ Continue Reading ]
ACCORDING AS THE CATTLE... — Rather, _according to the pace_ — Heb., _foot_ — _of the cattle that is before me, and according to the pace of the children._ Joseph was only six or seven years old; and Leah’s two younger sons, and probably Zilpah’s, were too tender to endure much fatigue. UNTO SEIR.... [ Continue Reading ]
JACOB’S SETTLEMENT IN CANAAN. — DINAH’S WRONG, AND THE FIERCE VENGEANCE OF SIMEON AND LEVI (Genesis 33:17 to Genesis 34:31.). (17) SUCCOTH. — That is, _booths._ There are two claimants for identification with Jacob’s Succoth, of which the one is in the tribe of Gad, on the east of the Jordan, in th... [ Continue Reading ]
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 peace,_ but this too would not mean _peaceably,_ but that his troubles were now at an end, and his la... [ Continue Reading ]
HE BOUGHT... — Abraham had been obliged to buy land for a burial-place, and we find even then that the field he wanted had an owner who could give him a title to its possession. Jacob a century later finds it necessary to buy even the ground on which to pitch his tent, though his cattle might still... [ Continue Reading ]
HE ERECTED THERE AN ALTAR. — Abraham had already built an altar in this neighbourhood (Genesis 12:7), and Jacob now followed his example — partly as a thanksoffering for his safe return, partly also as taking possession of the country; but chiefly as a profession of faith, and public recognition of... [ Continue Reading ]