CHAPTER XXVIII _Isaac directs Jacob to take a wife from the family of Laban_, 1, 2; _blesses and sends him away_, 3, 4. _Jacob begins his journey_, 5. _Esau, perceiving that the daughters of Canaan were not pleasing_ _to his parents, and that Jacob obeyed them in going to get a_ _wife of his o... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 28:2. _GO TO PADAN-ARAM_] This mission, in its spirit and design, is nearly the same as that in Genesis 24:1, c., which see. There have been several ingenious conjectures concerning the _retinue_ which Jacob had, or might have had, for his journey and by some he has been supposed to h... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 28:3. _THAT THOU MAYEST BE A MULTITUDE OF PEOPLE_] לקהל עמים _likhal ammim_. There is something very remarkable in the original words: they signify literally _for an assembly_, _congregation_, or _church_ of _peoples_; referring no doubt to the Jewish Church in the wilderness, but more... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 28:4. _GIVE THEE THE BLESSING OF ABRAHAM_] May he confirm the inheritance with all its attendant blessings to thee, to the exclusion of Esau; as he did to _me_, to the exclusion of Ishmael. But, according to St. Paul, much more than this is certainly intended here, for it appears, from... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 28:5. _BETHUEL THE SYRIAN_] Literally the _Aramean_, so called, not because he was of the race of _Aram_ the son of Shem, but because he dwelt in that country which had been formerly possessed by the descendants of Aram.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 28:9. _THEN WENT ESAU UNTO ISHMAEL_] Those who are apt to take every thing by the wrong handle, and who think it was utterly impossible for Esau to do any right action, have classed his taking a daughter of Ishmael among his crimes; whereas there is nothing more plain than that he did... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 28:11. _A CERTAIN PLACE, AND TARRIED THERE_] From Genesis 28:19, we find this _certain place_ was _Luz_, or some part of its vicinity. Jacob had probably intended to reach Luz; but the sun being set, and night coming on, he either could not reach the city, or he might suspect the inha... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 28:12. _HE DREAMED, AND BEHOLD A LADDER_] A multitude of fanciful things have been spoken of Jacob's vision of the ladder, and its signification. It might have several designs, as God chooses to accomplish the greatest number of ends by the fewest and simplest means possible. 1. It is... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 28:13. _I AM THE LORD GOD OF ABRAHAM_] Here God confirms to him the blessing of Abraham, for which Isaac had prayed, Genesis 28:3-1.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 28:14. _THY SEED SHALL BE AS THE DUST_] The people that shall descend from thee shall be extremely numerous, _and in thee and thy_ _seed_-the _Lord_ JESUS descending from thee, according to the _flesh,_ _shall all the families of the earth _- not only all of _thy race_, but all the oth... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 28:15. _AND, BEHOLD, I_ AM _WITH THEE_] For I fill the heavens and the earth. "My WORD _shall be thy help_." - Targum. _And will_ _keep thee in all places_, εν τη οδω παση, _in all this way_. - _Septuagint_. I shall direct, help, and support thee in a peculiar manner, in thy present j... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 28:16. _THE LORD IS IN THIS PLACE; AND I KNEW IT NOT._] That is, God has made this place his peculiar residence; it is a place in which he meets with and reveals himself to his followers. Jacob might have supposed that this place had been consecrated to God. And it has already been sup... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 28:17. _HOW DREADFUL_ IS _THIS PLACE!_] The appearance of the _ladder_, the _angels_, and the _Divine glory_ at the top of the ladder, must have left deep, solemn, and even awful impressions on the mind of Jacob; and hence the exclamation in the text, _How_ _dreadful_ is _this place_!... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 28:18. _AND JACOB-TOOK THE STONE - AND SET IT UP_ FOR _A PILLAR_] He placed the stone in an erect posture, that it might stand as a monument of the extraordinary vision which he had in this place; _and he poured oil upon it_, thereby consecrating it to God, so that it might be consider... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 28:19. _HE CALLED THE NAME OF THAT PLACE BETH-EL_] That is, the _house of God_; for in consequence of his having _anointed_ the stone, and thus _consecrated_ it to God, he considered it as becoming henceforth his peculiar residence; see on the preceding verse. This word should be alway... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 28:20. _VOWED A VOW_] A vow is a solemn, holy promise, by which a man bound himself to do certain things in a particular way, time, c., and for power to accomplish which he depended on God hence all vows were made with prayer. _IF GOD WILL BE WITH ME, C._] Jacob seems to make this vo... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 28:22. _THIS STONE SHALL BE GOD'S HOUSE_] That is, (as far as this matter refers to Jacob alone,) should I be preserved to return in safety, I shall worship God in this place. And this purpose he fulfilled, for there he built an altar, anointed it with oil, and _poured a drink-offering... [ Continue Reading ]