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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Genesis, Chapter XXXIII].</TITLE>
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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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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</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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<!-- (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
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my children;" but then Jacob would not
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have spoken like himself, like a man whose
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eyes were ever towards the Lord. Note, It
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becomes us not only to do common actions,
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but to speak of them, <I>after a godly sort,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=3Jo+1:6">3 John 6</A>.
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Jacob speaks of his children,
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1. As God's gifts; they are a <I>heritage of the
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Lord,</I>
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<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>.
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2. As
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choice gifts; he hath graciously given them.
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Though they were many, and now much his
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care, and as yet but slenderly provided for,
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yet he accounts them great blessings. His
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wives and children, hereupon, come up in
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order, and pay their duty to Esau, as he had
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done before them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+33:6,7"><I>v.</I> 6, 7</A>);
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for it becomes
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the family to show respect to those to whom
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the master of the family shows respect.</P>
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<P>
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II. About the present he had sent him.</P>
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<P>
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1. Esau modestly refused it because he
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had enough, and did not need it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+33:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
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Note,
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Those who wish to be considered men of
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honour will not <I>seem</I> to be mercenary in their
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friendship: whatever influence Jacob's present
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had upon Esau to pacify him, he would not
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have it thought that it had any, and therefore
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he refused it. His reason is <I>I have
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<A NAME="Page199"> </A>
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enough,</I> I have <I>much</I> (so the word is), so much
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that he was not willing to take any thing
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that was his brother's. Note,
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(1.) Many
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that come short of spiritual blessings, and
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are out of covenant, yet have much of this
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world's wealth. Esau had what was promised
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him, the fatness of the earth and a livelihood
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by his sword.
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(2.) It is a good thing for
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those that have much to know that they have
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enough, though they have not so much as
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some others have. Even Esau can say, <I>I
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have enough.</I>
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(3.) Those that are content with
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what they have must show it by not coveting
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what others have. Esau bids Jacob keep
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what he had to himself, supposing he had
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more need of it. Esau, for his part, needs
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it not, either to supply him, for he was rich,
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or to pacify him, for he was reconciled: we
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should take heed lest at any time our covetousness
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impose upon the courtesy of others,
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and meanly take advantage of their generosity.</P>
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<P>
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2. Jacob affectionately urges him to accept
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it, and prevails,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+33:10,11"><I>v.</I> 10, 11</A>.
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Jacob sent it,
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through fear
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+32:20"><I>ch.</I> xxxii. 20</A>),
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but, the fear
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being over, he now importunes his acceptance
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of it for love, to show that he desired his
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brother's friendship, and did not merely dread
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his wrath; two things he urges:--
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(1.) The
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satisfaction he had in his brother's favour,
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of which he thought himself bound to make
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this thankful acknowledgment. It is a very
|
|
high compliment that he passes upon him: <I>I
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have seen thy face, as though I had seen the
|
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face of God,</I> that is, "I have seen thee reconciled
|
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to me, and at peace with me, as
|
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I desire to see God reconciled." Or the
|
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meaning is that Jacob saw God's favour to
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him in Esau's: it was a token for good to
|
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him that God had accepted his prayers.
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|
Note, Creature-comforts are comforts indeed
|
|
to us when they are granted as answers to
|
|
prayer, and are tokens of our acceptance with
|
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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.
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(2.) The competency he had of this
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world's goods: <I>God has dealt graciously with
|
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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
|
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God, and own that therein he has dealt graciously
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|
with us, better than we deserve. It
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|
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
|
|
now he calls God <I>the God of Israel;</I> though
|
|
he is styled <I>a prince with God,</I> God shall still
|
|
be a prince with him, his Lord and his God.
|
|
Note, Our honours then become honours
|
|
indeed to us when they are consecrated to
|
|
God's honour; Israel's God is Israel's glory.</P>
|
|
|
|
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