Genesis 28:1

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 own kindred, 6-8,

went and took to wife Mahalath, the daughter of Ishmael his

father's brother, 9.

Jacob, in his journey towards Haran, came to a certain place,

(Luz, ver. 19,) where he lodged all night, 10, 11.

He sees in a dream a ladder reaching from earth to heaven, on

which he beholds the angels of God ascending and descending, 12.

God appears above this ladder, and renews those promises which

he had made to Abraham and to Isaac, 13, 14;

promises Jacob personal protection and a safe return to his own

country, 15.

Jacob awakes, and makes reflections upon his dream, 16, 17.

Sets up one of the stones he had for his pillow, and pours oil

on it, and calls the place Beth-el, 18, 19.

Makes a vow that if God will preserve him in his journey, and

bring him back in safety, the stone should be God's house, and

that he would give him the tenths of all that he should have, 20-22.

NOTES ON CHAP. XXVIII

Verse Genesis 28:1. And Isaac called Jacob] Genesis 27:46, Genesis 27:46.

And blessed him] Now voluntarily and cheerfully confirmed to him the blessing, which he had before obtained through subtlety. It was necessary that he should have this confirmation previously to his departure; else, considering the way in which he had obtained both the birthright and the blessing, he might be doubtful, according to his own words, whether he might not have got a curse instead of a blessing. As the blessing now pronounced on Jacob was obtained without any deception on his part, it is likely that it produced a salutary effect upon his mind, might have led him to confession of his sin, and prepared his heart for those discoveries of God's goodness with which he was favoured at Luz.