Genesis 35:2

_THEN JACOB SAID UNTO HIS HOUSEHOLD, AND TO ALL THAT WERE WITH HIM, PUT AWAY THE STRANGE GODS THAT ARE AMONG YOU, AND BE CLEAN, AND CHANGE YOUR GARMENTS:_ Then Jacob said unto his household ... Put away the strange gods - Hebrew, gods of the stranger-of foreign nations (cf. Joshua 24:20; Joshua 24:23; Deuteronomy 30:11-12; Psalms 81:10, where the word occurs in the singular). Besides the idols which would he obtained among the plunder of Shechem, Jacob had brought, in his service, a number of Mesopotamian retainers, who were addicted to superstitious practices; and there is some reason to fear that the s

2._Then Jacob said unto his household_. The prompt obedience of Jacob is here described. For when he heard the voice of God, he neither doubted nor disputed with himself respecting what was necessary to be done: but, as he was commanded, he quickly prepared himself for his journey. But to show that he obeyed God, he not only collected his goods, but also purified his house from idols. For if we desire that God should be propitious to us, all hindrances are to be removed, which in any way separate him from us. Hence also we perceive to what point the theft of Rachel tended. For, (as we have said,) she neither wished to draw her father away from superstition, but rather followed him in his fault; nor did she keep this poison to herself, but spread it through the whole family. Thus was that sacred house infected with the worst contagion. Whence also it appears, how great is the propensity o...

1-5 Beth-el was forgotten. But as many as God loves, he will remind of neglected duties, one way or other, by conscience or by providences. When we have vowed a vow to God, it is best not to defer the payment of it; yet better late than never. Jacob commanded his household to prepare, not only for the journey and removal, but for religious services. Masters of families should use their authority to keep up religion in their families, Joshua 24:15. They must put away strange gods. In families where there is a face of religion, and an altar to God, yet many times there is much amiss, and more strange gods than one would suppose. They must be clean, and change their garments. These were but outward ceremonies, signifying the purifying and change of the heart. What are clean clothes, and new clothes, without a clean heart, and a new heart? If Jacob had called for these idols sooner, they ha...

Verse Genesis 35:2. _PUT AWAY THE STRANGE GODS_] אלהי הנכר _elohey hannechar,_ the _gods of the foreigners_, which were among them. Jacob's servants were all _Syrians_, and no doubt were addicted less or more to idolatry and superstition. These gods might belong to _them_, or, as some have conjectured, they were the _teraphim_ which Rachel stole; but these have already been supposed to be _astrological_ _tables_, or something of this kind, called by Laban his _gods_, because by them he supposed he could predict future events, and that they referred to certain astral and planetary intelligences, by whose influences sublunary things were regulated. But it is more natural to suppose that these gods found now in Jacob's family were images of silver, gold, or curious workmanship, which were found among the spoils of the city of Shechem. Lest these sho...

- The Death of Isaac 8. דברה _d__e__borâh_, Deborah, “bee.” בּכוּת אלּון _'alôn_-_bākût_, Allon-bakuth, “oak of weeping.” 16. כברה _kı̂brâh_, “length stretch.” A certain but unknown distance, a stadium or furlong (Josephus) a hippodrome (Septuagint) which was somewhat longer, a mile (Kimchi). אפרת _'ephrâth_, Ephrath, “fruitful or ashy.” 18. בן־אוני _ben_-_'ônı̂y_, Ben-oni, “son of my pain.” בנימין _bı̂nyāmı̂yn_, Binjamin, “

EXPOSITION GENESIS 35:1 AND GOD—Elohim. The employment of this name for the Deity throughout the present chapter has been deemed conclusive evidence that, with Rome Jehovistic alterations, it belongs to the fundamental document (Tuch, Bleek, Delitzsch, Kalisch, _et alii_)_; _but the frequent allusions to Genesis 28:13-1, which by partitionists is almost universally assigned to the Jehovist, prove that both sections have proceeded from the same author, and that, "though the mention of the name is avoided, this chapter, there is no doubt, substantially relates to Jehovah" (Hengstenberg), while the name Elohim may simply indicate that Jacob's journey from Shechem was undertaken in obedience to a Divine intimation (Quarry)—said unt

THEN JACOB SAID UNTO HIS HOUSEHOLD,.... His wives and children; AND TO ALL THAT [WERE] WITH HIM; his menservants and maidservants, and such as remained with him of the captives of Shechem, who might choose to continue with him: PUT AWAY THE STRANGE GODS THAT [ARE] AMONG YOU; meaning not the teraphim or images of Laban's, which Rachel had stolen from him; for it can hardly be thought that these should be retained so many years in Jacob's family, and used in an idolatrous manner; but rather such as might be among the Canaanitish servants that had been lately taken into Jacob's service, or that were among the captives of Shechem, or taken along with the spoil of that city; and so the Targum of Jonathan calls them the idols of the people, which they brought from the idols' temple at Shechem; and the words may be rendered, "the gods of the strangers" s, that is, of the Shechemites, who were...

CHAPTER 35 JACOB AT BETHEL AND THREE DEATHS _ 1. The divine commandment (Genesis 35:1)_ 2. The defilement put away (Genesis 35:2) 3. The journey to Bethel and the altar (Genesis 35:5) 4. Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, dies (Genesis 35:8) 5. God appears to Jacob (Genesis 35:9) 6. Benoni-Benjamin and Rachel's death (Genesis 35:16) 7. The twelve sons of Jacob ...

JACOB GOES TO BETHEL, WHERE ELOHIM APPEARS TO HIM AS EL SHADDAI AND GIVES HIM THE NAME ISRAEL. This section is mainly from E and P. To P belong Genesis 35:6_ a_, Genesis 35:9; Genesis 35:15, the rest to E, though some assign Genesis 35:14 to J. Genesis 35:5 is the close of the Dinah story; the neighbouring cities were restrained by Divinely sent terror from avenging the fate of Shechem. Genesis 35:1;...

_strange gods_ The images of the gods of foreigners, i.e. of another family, tribe, or nation. Rachel had carried away, from Haran, the household gods of her father's family. Cf. Genesis 31:19; Genesis 31:30; Genesis 31:32-35. The presence of the gods of the foreigner was displeasing in the sight of the God of Israel. Cf. Joshua 24:23, "Now therefore put away the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the Lord, the God of Israel"; words which were also spoken at Shechem. _purify yourselves_ Cf. Exodus 19:10;...