Genesis 33:20

_AND HE ERECTED THERE AN ALTAR, AND CALLED IT EL-ELOHE-ISRAEL._ Erected ... an altar. Abraham had, on his landing on the same spot in Canaan, erected an altar; and now Jacob, on his arrival from Padan-aram, imitates the example of his grandfather from special reasons of his own (cf. Genesis 27:21, last clause, with Gen. 22:28-29). Whether, on its erection, it was dedicated with the formal bestowment of a name which, according to patriarchal usage, would perpetuate the purpose of the monument, or it was furnished with an inscription, we are not informed. The Septuagint omits the name. But it was a beautiful proof of his personal piety, a most suitable conclusion to his journey, and a lasting memorial of a distinguished favour, to raise an altar to "God, the God of Israel." Wherever we pitch a tent, God should have an altar....

20._And he erected there an altar_. Jacob having obtained a place in which he might provide for his family, set up the solemn service of God; as Moses before testified concerning Abraham and Isaac. For although, in every place, they gave themselves up to the pure worship of God in prayers and other acts of devotion; nevertheless they did not neglect the external confession of piety, whenever the Lord granted them any fixed place in which they might remain. For (as I have elsewhere stated) whenever we read that an altar was built by them, we must consider its design and use: namely, that they might offer victims, and might invoke the name of God with a pure rite; so that, by this method, their religion and faith might be made known. I say this, lest any one should think that they rashly trifled with the worship of God; for it was their care to direct their actions according to the divinel...

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 have an altar. Jacob dedicated this altar to the honour of El-elohe-Israel, God, the God of Israel; to the honour of God, the only living and true God; and to the honour of the God of Israel, as a God in covenant with him. Israel's God is Israel's glory. Blessed be his name, he is still the mighty God, the God of Israel. May we praise his name, and rejoice in his love, through our pilgrimage here on earth, and for ever in the heavenly Canaan....

Verse Genesis 33:20. _AND HE ERECTED THERE AN ALTAR_] It appears that Jacob had a very correct notion of the _providence_ and _mercy_ of God; hence he says, Genesis 33:5: _The children which God hath_ GRACIOUSLY _given thy servant_; and in Genesis 33:11 he attributes all his _substance_ to the bounty of his Maker: _Take, I pray thee, my_ _blessing - because God hath dealt_ GRACIOUSLY _with me, and because I_ _have enough_. Hence he viewed God as the _God of all grace_, and to him he erects an altar, dedicating it to _God_, _the God of Israel_, referring particularly to the _change_ of his own name, and the _mercies_ which he then received; and henc...

- 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__śı̂yṭâh_ Qesitah, weighed or measured. Ἀμνὸς _Amnos_, Septuagint and Onkelos Jacob has a friendly interview with Esau, and re-+enters Kenaan. Genesis 33:1 Jacob, upon seeing Esau approach with his four hundred men, advances with circumspection and lowly obeisance. He divided his family, arranged them according to their preciousness in his eyes, and

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 night had been spent upon its north side, passed over the rising ground of Peniel, and advanced to meet his brother, richly laden with the heavenly blessing he had won in his mysterious conflict with Elohim, and to all appearance free from those paralyzing fears which, previous to the midnight struggle, the prospect of meeting Esau had inspired. Having already prevailed with God, he had an inward assurance, begotten by the words of his celestial antagonist, that he would likewise prevail with man, and so he lifted up his e

AND HE ERECTED THERE AN ALTAR,.... To offer sacrifice upon to God, by way of thanksgiving, for the many mercies he had received since he went out of the land of Canaan, whither he was now returned; and especially for his safety in journeying hither from Padanaram, and for deliverance from Laban and Esau, and for all other favours that he and his had been partakers of. And this he also erected for the sake of religious worship, to be continued in his family; he intending to reside here for some time, as appears by the purchase he had made, and as it is certain he did: AND CALLED IT ELELOHE-ISRAEL: God, the God of Israel; that is, he called the altar the altar of God, who is the God of Israel, who had been his God, his preserver and protector; and had lately given him the name of Israel, and had made good what answered to it, and was designed by it, that as he had had power with God, and...

EL-ELOHE-ISRAEL That is, God, the God of Israel. Jacob's act of faith, appropriating his new name, but also claiming Elohim in this new sense as the God through whom alone he could walk according to his new name. See (Genesis 14:18). See note 2 of (_ See Scofield) - (Genesis 14:18) for a similar appropriation by Abraham. _...

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 of deceit. He tells his brother he will follow him to Seir. But he goes instead to Succoth. He built an altar there, but it is not the worship God expected. He should have gone to Bethel and fulfilled his vow....

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_, Genesis 33:11_ a_). The actual course of events, however, is not clear. According to E, Jacob had prepared a very costly present for Esau, and reading our narrative as if it carried on Genesis 32:13 _b_ - Genesis 32:21, we should gain the impression that at the point reached in...