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26 KiB
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712 lines
26 KiB
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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Genesis, Chapter XXXIII].</TITLE>
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"This site is for those friends and family members who may or may not know Our Lord Jesus Christ, and if not, they may come to know Our Lord through His Prophets."> <meta name="author" content="Brian Duncalfe">
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"Prophecy, Rapture,hope,bible map,bible maps, God, tribulation,Second Coming,Christ,large print bible,commentary,complete">
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</HEAD>
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<body background="../sueback.jpg" bgproperties="fixed" >
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1></center>
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<HR>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
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<TR>
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<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC01032.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC01034.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
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</TD></TR></TABLE>
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<A NAME="Page197"> </A>
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>G E N E S I S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XXXIII.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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We read, in the former chapter, how Jacob had power with God,
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and prevailed; here we find what power he had with men too,
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and how his brother Esau was mollified, and, on a sudden, reconciled
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to him; for so it is written,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+16:7">Prov. xvi. 7</A>,
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"When a
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man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be
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at peace with him." Here is,
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I. A very friendly meeting between
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Jacob and Esau,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+33:1-4">ver. 1-4</A>.
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II. Their conference at their meeting,
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in which they vie with each other in civil and kind expressions.
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Their discourse is,
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1. About Jacob's family,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+33:5-7">ver. 5-7</A>.
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2. About the present he had sent,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+33:8-11">ver. 8-11</A>.
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3. About the progress
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of their journey,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+33:12-15">ver. 12-15</A>.
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III. Jacob's settlement in
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Canaan, his house, ground, and altar,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+33:16-20">ver. 16-20</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ge33_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge33_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge33_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge33_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Jacob's Interview with Esau.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1739.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and
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looked, and, behold, Esau came,
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and with him four hundred men. And
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he divided the children unto Leah,
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and unto Rachel, and unto the two
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handmaids.
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2 And he put the handmaids
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and their children foremost, and
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Leah and her children after, and Rachel
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and Joseph hindermost.
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3 And
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he passed over before them, and bowed
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himself to the ground seven times,
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until he came near to his brother.
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4 And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced
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him, and fell on his neck, and
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kissed him: and they wept.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here,
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I. Jacob discovered Esau's approach,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+33:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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Some think that his lifting up his eyes
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denotes his cheerfulness and confidence, in
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opposition to a dejected countenance; having
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by prayer committed his case to God, he went
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on his way, <I>and his countenance was no more
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sad,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+1:18">1 Sam. i. 18</A>.
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Note, Those that have
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cast their care upon God may look before
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them with satisfaction and composure of
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mind, cheerfully expecting the issue, whatever
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it may be; come what will, nothing can
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come amiss to him whose heart is fixed,
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trusting in God. Jacob sets himself upon
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his watch-tower to see what answer God will
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give to his prayers,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+2:1">Hab. ii. 1</A>.</P>
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<P>
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II. He put his family into the best order
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he could to receive him, whether he should
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come as a friend or as an enemy, consulting
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their decency if he came as a friend and
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their safety if he came as an enemy,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+33:1,2"><I>v.</I> 1, 2</A>.
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Observe what a different figure these two
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brothers made. Esau is attended with a
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guard of 400 men, and looks big; Jacob is
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followed by a cumbersome train of women
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and children that are his care, and he looks
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tender and solicitous for their safety; and yet
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Jacob had the birthright, and was to have the
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dominion, and was every way the better man.
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Note, It is no disparagement to very great
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and good men to give a personal attendance
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to their families, and to their family affairs.
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Jacob, at the head of his household, set a
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better example than Esau at the head of his
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regiment.</P>
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<P>
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III. At their meeting, the expressions of
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kindness were interchanged in the best manner
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that could be between them.</P>
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<P>
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1. Jacob bowed to Esau,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+33:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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Though he
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feared Esau as an enemy, yet he did obeisance
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to him as an elder brother, knowing
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and remembering perhaps that when Abel
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was preferred in God's acceptance before his
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elder brother Cain, yet God undertook for
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him to Cain that he should not be wanting
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in the duty and respect owing by a younger
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brother. <I>Unto thee shall be his desire, and
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thou shalt rule over him,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+4:7"><I>ch.</I> iv. 7</A>.
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Note,
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(1.) The way to recover peace where it has been
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broken is to do our duty, and pay our respects,
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upon all occasions, as if it had never
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been broken. It is the remembering and
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repeating of matters that separates friends
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and perpetuates the separation.
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(2.) A
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humble submissive carriage goes a great way
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towards the turning away of wrath. Many preserve
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themselves by humbling themselves:
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the bullet flies over him that stoops.</P>
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<P>
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2. Esau embraced Jacob
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+33:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>):
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<I>He ran
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to meet him,</I> not in passion, but in love; and,
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as one heartily reconciled to him, he received
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him with all the endearments imaginable, <I>embraced
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him, fell on his neck, and kissed him.</I>
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Some think that when Esau came out to
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meet Jacob it was with no bad design, but
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that he brought his 400 men only for state,
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that he might pay so much the greater respect
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to his returning brother. It is certain
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<A NAME="Page198"> </A>
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that Jacob understood the report of his messengers
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otherwise,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+32:5,6"><I>ch.</I> xxxii. 5, 6</A>.
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Jacob was
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a man of prudence and fortitude, and we
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cannot suppose him to admit of a groundless
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fear to such a degree as he did this, nor that
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the Spirit of God would stir him up to pray
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such a prayer as he did for deliverance from
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a merely imaginary danger: and, if there was
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not some wonderful change wrought upon
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the spirit of Esau at this time, I see not how
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wrestling Jacob could be said to obtain such
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power with men as to denominate him a
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<I>prince.</I> Note,
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(1.) God had the hearts of all
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men in his hands, and can turn them when
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and how he pleases, by a secret, silent, but
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resistless power. He can, of a sudden, convert
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enemies into friends, as he did two Sauls,
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one by restraining grace
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+26:21,25">1 Sam. xxvi. 21, 25</A>),
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the other by renewing grace,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+9:21,22">Acts ix. 21, 22</A>.
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(2.) It is not in vain to trust in God,
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and to call upon him in the day of trouble;
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those that do so often find the issue much
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better than they expected.</P>
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<P>
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3. They both wept. Jacob wept for joy,
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to be thus kindly received by his brother
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whom he had feared; and Esau perhaps wept
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for grief and shame, to think of the bad design
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he had conceived against his brother,
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which he found himself strangely and unaccountably
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prevented from executing.</P>
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<A NAME="Ge33_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge33_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge33_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge33_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge33_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge33_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge33_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge33_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge33_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge33_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge33_15"> </A>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>5 And he lifted up his eyes, and
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saw the women and the children; and
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said, Who <I>are</I> those with thee? And
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he said, The children which God hath
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graciously given thy servant.
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6 Then
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the handmaidens came near, they and
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their children, and they bowed themselves.
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7 And Leah also with her
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children came near, and bowed themselves:
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and after came Joseph near
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and Rachel, and they bowed themselves.
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8 And he said, What <I>meanest</I>
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thou by all this drove which I met?
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And he said, <I>These are</I> to find grace
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in the sight of my lord.
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9 And Esau
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said, I have enough, my brother; keep
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that thou hast unto thyself.
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10 And
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Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now
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I have found grace in thy sight, then
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receive my present at my hand: for
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therefore I have seen thy face, as
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though I had seen the face of God,
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and thou wast pleased with me.
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11 Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is
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brought to thee; because God hath
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dealt graciously with me, and because
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I have enough. And he urged him,
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and he took <I>it.</I>
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12 And he said, Let
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us take our journey, and let us go,
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and I will go before thee.
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13 And he
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said unto him, My lord knoweth that
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the children <I>are</I> tender, and the flocks
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and herds with young <I>are</I> with me:
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and if men should overdrive them one
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day, all the flock will die.
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14 Let my
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lord, I pray thee, pass over before his
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servant: and I will lead on softly, according
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as the cattle that goeth before
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me and the children be able to endure,
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until I come unto my lord unto Seir.
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15 And Esau said, Let me now leave
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with thee <I>some</I> of the folk that <I>are</I> with
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me. And he said, What needeth it? let
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me find grace in the sight of my lord.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here the discourse between the
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two brothers at their meeting, which is very
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free and friendly, without the least intimation
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of the old quarrel. It was the best way
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to say nothing of it. They converse,</P>
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<P>
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I. About Jacob's retinue,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+33:5-7"><I>v.</I> 5-7</A>.
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Eleven
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or twelve little ones, the eldest of them not
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fourteen years old, followed Jacob closely:
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<I>Who are these?</I> says Esau. Jacob had sent him
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an account of the increase of his estate
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+32:5"><I>ch.</I> xxxii. 5</A>),
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but made no mention of his children;
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perhaps because he would not expose
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them to his rage if he should meet him as an
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enemy, or would please him with the unexpected
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sight if he should meet him as a
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friend: Esau therefore had reason to ask,
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<I>Who are those with thee?</I> to which common
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question Jacob returns a serious answer,
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such as became his character: They are <I>the
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children which God hath graciously given thy
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servant.</I> It had been a sufficient answer to
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the question, and fit enough to be given to
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profane Esau, if he had only said, "They are
|
||
|
|
my children;" but then Jacob would not
|
||
|
|
have spoken like himself, like a man whose
|
||
|
|
eyes were ever towards the Lord. Note, It
|
||
|
|
becomes us not only to do common actions,
|
||
|
|
but to speak of them, <I>after a godly sort,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=3Jo+1:6">3 John 6</A>.
|
||
|
|
Jacob speaks of his children,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. As God's gifts; they are a <I>heritage of the
|
||
|
|
Lord,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+128:2,Ps+112:9.Ps+107:41">Ps. cxxviii. 3; cxii. 9; cvii. 41</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. As
|
||
|
|
choice gifts; he hath graciously given them.
|
||
|
|
Though they were many, and now much his
|
||
|
|
care, and as yet but slenderly provided for,
|
||
|
|
yet he accounts them great blessings. His
|
||
|
|
wives and children, hereupon, come up in
|
||
|
|
order, and pay their duty to Esau, as he had
|
||
|
|
done before them
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+33:6,7"><I>v.</I> 6, 7</A>);
|
||
|
|
for it becomes
|
||
|
|
the family to show respect to those to whom
|
||
|
|
the master of the family shows respect.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. About the present he had sent him.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. Esau modestly refused it because he
|
||
|
|
had enough, and did not need it,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+33:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
|
||
|
|
Note,
|
||
|
|
Those who wish to be considered men of
|
||
|
|
honour will not <I>seem</I> to be mercenary in their
|
||
|
|
friendship: whatever influence Jacob's present
|
||
|
|
had upon Esau to pacify him, he would not
|
||
|
|
have it thought that it had any, and therefore
|
||
|
|
he refused it. His reason is <I>I have
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Page199"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
enough,</I> I have <I>much</I> (so the word is), so much
|
||
|
|
that he was not willing to take any thing
|
||
|
|
that was his brother's. Note,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) Many
|
||
|
|
that come short of spiritual blessings, and
|
||
|
|
are out of covenant, yet have much of this
|
||
|
|
world's wealth. Esau had what was promised
|
||
|
|
him, the fatness of the earth and a livelihood
|
||
|
|
by his sword.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) It is a good thing for
|
||
|
|
those that have much to know that they have
|
||
|
|
enough, though they have not so much as
|
||
|
|
some others have. Even Esau can say, <I>I
|
||
|
|
have enough.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) Those that are content with
|
||
|
|
what they have must show it by not coveting
|
||
|
|
what others have. Esau bids Jacob keep
|
||
|
|
what he had to himself, supposing he had
|
||
|
|
more need of it. Esau, for his part, needs
|
||
|
|
it not, either to supply him, for he was rich,
|
||
|
|
or to pacify him, for he was reconciled: we
|
||
|
|
should take heed lest at any time our covetousness
|
||
|
|
impose upon the courtesy of others,
|
||
|
|
and meanly take advantage of their generosity.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. Jacob affectionately urges him to accept
|
||
|
|
it, and prevails,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+33:10,11"><I>v.</I> 10, 11</A>.
|
||
|
|
Jacob sent it,
|
||
|
|
through fear
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+32:20"><I>ch.</I> xxxii. 20</A>),
|
||
|
|
but, the fear
|
||
|
|
being over, he now importunes his acceptance
|
||
|
|
of it for love, to show that he desired his
|
||
|
|
brother's friendship, and did not merely dread
|
||
|
|
his wrath; two things he urges:--
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) The
|
||
|
|
satisfaction he had in his brother's favour,
|
||
|
|
of which he thought himself bound to make
|
||
|
|
this thankful acknowledgment. It is a very
|
||
|
|
high compliment that he passes upon him: <I>I
|
||
|
|
have seen thy face, as though I had seen the
|
||
|
|
face of God,</I> that is, "I have seen thee reconciled
|
||
|
|
to me, and at peace with me, as
|
||
|
|
I desire to see God reconciled." Or the
|
||
|
|
meaning is that Jacob saw God's favour to
|
||
|
|
him in Esau's: it was a token for good to
|
||
|
|
him that God had accepted his prayers.
|
||
|
|
Note, Creature-comforts are comforts indeed
|
||
|
|
to us when they are granted as answers to
|
||
|
|
prayer, and are tokens of our acceptance with
|
||
|
|
God. Again, It is matter of great joy to
|
||
|
|
those that are of a peaceable and affectionate
|
||
|
|
disposition to recover the friendship of those
|
||
|
|
relations with whom they have been at variance.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) The competency he had of this
|
||
|
|
world's goods: <I>God has dealt graciously with
|
||
|
|
me.</I> Note, If what we have in this world
|
||
|
|
increase under our hands, we must take
|
||
|
|
notice of it with thankfulness, to the glory of
|
||
|
|
God, and own that therein he has dealt graciously
|
||
|
|
with us, better than we deserve. It
|
||
|
|
is he that gives <I>power to get wealth,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+8:18">Deut. viii. 18</A>.
|
||
|
|
He adds, "And <I>I have enough;</I>
|
||
|
|
I have <I>all,</I>" so the word is. Esau's enough
|
||
|
|
was much, but Jacob's enough was all.
|
||
|
|
Note, a godly man, though he have but little
|
||
|
|
in the world, yet may truly say, "I have
|
||
|
|
all,"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] Because he has the God of all, and
|
||
|
|
has all in him; all is yours if you be Christ's,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+3:22">1 Cor. iii. 22</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] Because he has the
|
||
|
|
comfort of all. <I>I have all, and abound,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Php+4:18">Phil. iv. 18</A>.
|
||
|
|
He that has much would have more;
|
||
|
|
but he that thinks he has all is sure he has
|
||
|
|
enough. He has all in prospect; he will
|
||
|
|
have all shortly, when he comes to heaven:
|
||
|
|
upon this principle Jacob urged Esau, and
|
||
|
|
he took his present. Note, It is an excellent
|
||
|
|
thing when men's religion makes them generous,
|
||
|
|
free-hearted, and open-handed, scorning
|
||
|
|
to do a thing that is paltry and sneaking.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
III. About the progress of their journey.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. Esau offers himself to be his guide and
|
||
|
|
companion, in token of sincere reconciliation,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+33:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>.
|
||
|
|
We never find that Jacob and
|
||
|
|
Esau were so sociable with one another, and
|
||
|
|
so affectionate, as they were now. Note,
|
||
|
|
As for God his work is perfect. He made
|
||
|
|
Esau, not only not an enemy, but a friend.
|
||
|
|
This bone that had been broken, being well
|
||
|
|
set, became stronger than ever. Esau has
|
||
|
|
become fond of Jacob's company, courts him
|
||
|
|
to Mount Seir: let us never despair of any,
|
||
|
|
nor distrust God in whose hand all hearts
|
||
|
|
are. Yet Jacob saw cause modestly to refuse
|
||
|
|
this offer
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+33:13,14"><I>v.</I> 13, 14</A>),
|
||
|
|
wherein he shows a
|
||
|
|
tender concern for his own family and flocks,
|
||
|
|
like a good shepherd and a good father. He
|
||
|
|
must consider the children, and the flocks
|
||
|
|
with young, and not lead the one, nor drive
|
||
|
|
the other, too fast. This prudence and
|
||
|
|
tenderness of Jacob ought to be imitated by
|
||
|
|
those that have the care and charge of young
|
||
|
|
people in the things of God. They must not
|
||
|
|
be over-driven, at first, by heavy tasks in
|
||
|
|
religious services, but led, as they can bear,
|
||
|
|
having their work made as easy to them as
|
||
|
|
possible. Christ, the good Shepherd, does
|
||
|
|
so,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+40:11">Isa. xl. 11</A>.
|
||
|
|
Now Jacob will not desire
|
||
|
|
Esau to slacken his pace, nor force his family
|
||
|
|
to quicken theirs, nor leave them, to keep
|
||
|
|
company with his brother, as many would
|
||
|
|
have done, that love any society better than
|
||
|
|
their own house; but he desires Esau to
|
||
|
|
march before, and promises to follow him
|
||
|
|
leisurely, as he could get forward. Note,
|
||
|
|
It is an unreasonable thing to tie others to
|
||
|
|
our rate; we may come with comfort, at last,
|
||
|
|
to the same journey's end, though we do not
|
||
|
|
journey together, either in the same path or
|
||
|
|
with the same pace. There may be those with
|
||
|
|
whom we cannot fall in and yet with
|
||
|
|
whom we need not fall out by the way.
|
||
|
|
Jacob intimates to him that it was his present
|
||
|
|
design to come to him to Mount Seir; and
|
||
|
|
we may presume he did so, after he had
|
||
|
|
settled his family and concerns elsewhere,
|
||
|
|
though that visit is not recorded. Note,
|
||
|
|
When we have happily recovered peace with
|
||
|
|
our friends we must take care to cultivate it,
|
||
|
|
and not to be behind-hand with them in civilities.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. Esau offers some of his men to be
|
||
|
|
his guard and convoy,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+33:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
|
||
|
|
He saw Jacob
|
||
|
|
but poorly attended, no servants but his
|
||
|
|
husbandmen and shepherds, no pages or
|
||
|
|
footmen; and therefore, thinking he was as
|
||
|
|
desirous as himself (if he could afford it) to
|
||
|
|
take state upon him, and look great, he
|
||
|
|
would needs lend him some of his retinue,
|
||
|
|
to attend upon him, that he might appear
|
||
|
|
like Esau's brother; but Jacob humbly refuses
|
||
|
|
his offer, only desiring he would not
|
||
|
|
take it amiss that he did not accept it: <I>What
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Page200"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
needeth it?</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) Jacob is humble, and needs
|
||
|
|
it not for state; he desires not to make a
|
||
|
|
fair show in the flesh, by encumbering himself
|
||
|
|
with a needless retinue. Note, It is the
|
||
|
|
vanity of pomp and grandeur that they are
|
||
|
|
attended with a great deal of which it may be
|
||
|
|
said, <I>What needeth it?</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) Jacob is under
|
||
|
|
the divine protection, and needs it not for
|
||
|
|
safety. Note, Those are sufficiently guarded
|
||
|
|
that have God for their guard and are under
|
||
|
|
a convoy of his hosts, as Jacob was.
|
||
|
|
Those need not be beholden to an arm of
|
||
|
|
flesh that have God for their arm every
|
||
|
|
morning. Jacob adds, "Only <I>let me find
|
||
|
|
grace in the sight of my lord;</I> having thy
|
||
|
|
favour, I have all I need, all I desire from
|
||
|
|
thee." If Jacob thus valued the good-will
|
||
|
|
of a brother, much more reason have we to
|
||
|
|
reckon that we have enough if we have the
|
||
|
|
good-will of our God.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge33_16"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge33_17"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge33_18"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge33_19"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge33_20"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>16 So Esau returned that day on
|
||
|
|
his way unto Seir.
|
||
|
|
17 And Jacob
|
||
|
|
journeyed to Succoth, and built him
|
||
|
|
a house, and made booths for his
|
||
|
|
cattle: therefore the name of the place
|
||
|
|
is called Succoth.
|
||
|
|
18 And Jacob came
|
||
|
|
to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which
|
||
|
|
<I>is</I> in the land of Canaan, when he came
|
||
|
|
from Padan-aram; and pitched his tent
|
||
|
|
before the city.
|
||
|
|
19 And he bought a
|
||
|
|
parcel of a field, where he had spread
|
||
|
|
his tent, at the hand of the children
|
||
|
|
of Hamor, Shechem's father, for a
|
||
|
|
hundred pieces of money.
|
||
|
|
20 And he
|
||
|
|
erected there an altar, and called it
|
||
|
|
El-elohe-Israel.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Here,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. Jacob comes to Succoth. Having
|
||
|
|
in a friendly manner parted with Esau, who
|
||
|
|
had gone to his own country
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+33:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>),
|
||
|
|
he comes to a place where, it should seem, he
|
||
|
|
rested for some time, set up booths for his
|
||
|
|
cattle, and other conveniences for himself
|
||
|
|
and family. The place was afterwards known
|
||
|
|
by the name of Succoth, a city in the tribe
|
||
|
|
of Gad, on the other side Jordan (it signifies
|
||
|
|
<I>booths</I>), that when his posterity afterwards
|
||
|
|
dwelt in houses of stone, they might remember
|
||
|
|
that <I>the Syrian ready to perish</I> was their
|
||
|
|
father, who was glad of booths
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+26:5">Deut. xxvi. 5</A>);
|
||
|
|
such was the rock whence they were
|
||
|
|
hewn.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. He comes to Shechem; we read
|
||
|
|
it, to <I>Shalem, a city of Shechem;</I> the critics
|
||
|
|
generally incline to read it appellatively: <I>he
|
||
|
|
came safely, or in peace, to the city of Shechem.</I>
|
||
|
|
After a perilous journey, in which he had
|
||
|
|
met with many difficulties, he came safely,
|
||
|
|
at last, into Canaan. Note, Diseases and
|
||
|
|
dangers should teach us how to value health
|
||
|
|
and safety, and should help to enlarge our
|
||
|
|
hearts in thankfulness, when our going out
|
||
|
|
and coming in have been signally preserved.
|
||
|
|
Here,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) He buys a field,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+33:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>.
|
||
|
|
Though the land of Canaan was his by promise, yet,
|
||
|
|
the time for taking possession not having
|
||
|
|
yet come, he is content to pay for his
|
||
|
|
own, to prevent disputes with the present
|
||
|
|
occupants. Note, Dominion is not founded
|
||
|
|
in grace. Those that have heaven on free-cost
|
||
|
|
must not expect to have earth so.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) He builds an altar,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+33:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] In thankfulness
|
||
|
|
to God, for the good hand of his providence
|
||
|
|
over him. He did not content himself
|
||
|
|
with verbal acknowledgments of God's
|
||
|
|
favour to him, but made real ones.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] That he might keep up religion, and the
|
||
|
|
worship of God, in his family. Note, Where
|
||
|
|
we have a tent God must have an altar, where
|
||
|
|
we have a house he must have a church in
|
||
|
|
it. He dedicated this altar to the honour of
|
||
|
|
<I>El-elohe-Israel--God, the God of Israel,</I> to the
|
||
|
|
honour of God, in general, the only living
|
||
|
|
and true God, the best of beings and first of
|
||
|
|
causes; and to the honour of the God of
|
||
|
|
Israel, as a God in covenant with him. Note,
|
||
|
|
In our worship of God we must be guided
|
||
|
|
and governed by the joint-discoveries both
|
||
|
|
of natural and revealed religion. God had
|
||
|
|
lately called him by the name of <I>Israel,</I> and
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now he calls God <I>the God of Israel;</I> though
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he is styled <I>a prince with God,</I> God shall still
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be a prince with him, his Lord and his God.
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Note, Our honours then become honours
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indeed to us when they are consecrated to
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God's honour; Israel's God is Israel's glory.</P>
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