Genesis 33

Genesis 33:1

DIvided] That if the one part were assailed, the other might escape. See Annot. on Chap. 32. vers. 16. This he doth, making humane prudence subservient and subordinate to Divine providence.

Genesis 33:2

foremost] He ranketh them according to their right, and his own respect unto them; they are set before in a time of danger, who in time of safetie come behind.

Genesis 33:3

before them] He followed the first company which consisted of the handmaids and their children, and went before the other company where were his wives and their children; Or there were three troopes of presents to Esau, and these because sent at the same time, and being neere together, might goe for the first troope. See Chap. 32. from vers. 16. to the 20. inclusively; and if all these made the first, his wives and concubines with their children might make the second troope, and to them he was the Leader; wherein he sheweth himselfe as a good Pastour, more charie of his charge then of himselfe, putting himselfe neerest to the perill, and keeping them as farre off as he could.

bowed himselfe] By this gesture he partly did reverence to his brother, and partly prayed to God to mitigate his wrath; for the heart may be exercised in devotion to God, while the body performeth an outward ministery to man. See Nehemiah 2:4. Of Jacobs homage to Esau, see Annot. on Chap. 32. vers. 4.

seven times] That is, many times, a certaine number for an uncertaine; of ten times, See Chap. 31. 5: 7. and the Annot. upon it.

Genesis 33:4

Esau ran, &c.] Here be many expressions of reconciliation; too many, too emphaticall and forcible to be thought fained in a man that had neither occasion nor disposition to dissemble; and herein Jacobs advised prudence, and soft language, and submissive behaviour served under Gods providence to bring this to passe, that he might prevaile with men, as well as with God, according to the note set upon his name, Genesis 32:28. Thus when a mans wayes please the Lord, the ungodly that are his enemies may be made his friends, Proverbs 16:7.

Genesis 33:9

I have enough] Though Esau were a bad man, in this respect there are many worse, who have never enough, Ecclesiastes 4:8. Proverbs 30:15.

Genesis 33:10

if I have found, &c.] If indeed thou art fully reconciled unto me, receive this present from me.

present] The Hebrew word is Mnchah, signifying properly a gift, which is given to God, or to man as a superiour, with profession of the excellencie of him to whom it is given, and the subjection of him that giveth it.

face of God] In that his brother embraced him so lovingly contrary to his expectation, he accepted it as a plaine signe of Gods presence. It is the manner of the Hebrews to entitle to God the things that excell, as the mountaines of God, the citie of God. See Annot. on Chap. 23. 6. & Chap. 30. 8. So Jacob taking delight in the lookes and behaviour, and carriage of his brother Esau, as very excellent and worthy acceptance, he compares his face to the face of God; or in his reconciled countenance and carriage he sees the gracious face of God, whose worke it was, (as Jacob acknowledgeth in the next verse) as it were smiling upon him; hereto accordeth that of David, by this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemie doth not triumph over me, Psalms 41:11.

Genesis 33:11

blessing] (Joshua 15:19. 1 Samuel 25:27. & 1 Samuel 30:26. 2 Kings 5:15. 2 Cor. 9. 5, 6.) That is, an effect of Gods blessing upon me, or a token of my good will, and wel-wishing of blessing unto thee, or of my blessing, or praysing of God for his goodnesse in this turning of thine heart from hatred to love.

Genesis 33:12

Let us take, &c.] They are the words of Esau to Jacob for a sociable passage together to Seir the habitation of Esau.

Genesis 33:14

according as the cattell] Heb. according to the foot of the worke. By the foot is meant the pace, and by the worke, the cattell, as attended by the worke and ministery of Jacob and his servants.

untill I come unto my Lord] Here Jacob implyeth a promise of following Esau to Seir, where he dwelt, but the Scripture maketh no mention of his performance, and it is thought he did not come according to his promise, because Seit is not mentioned among the stations of his abode by the way; thence some have conceived that when he promised to come, he said not as he thought, not meaning to trust himselfe so farre with a lately reconciled enemy; which is not likely, for Seir was so neere, that Esau upon his failing out of distrust might soone have returned upon him with a new quarrell: It is more probable that Jacob meant what he said, but after might upon a better consideration, or some warning from God, (as the Wise men had, Matthew 2:12.) change his mind and course; yet so, as that himselfe with some few of his servants might visit him for a while with some faire and courteous excuse for the rest, who were invited with himselfe. See Romans 1:13. 1 Thessalonians 2:18.

Genesis 33:17

built him an house] Neither of any great cost, or curiositie, for he stayed here but a while; therefore it was like it was a sudden, and slight piece of building, like such cottages or cabines as souldiers suddenly reare for present use, and with a purpose for removall thence.

Genesis 33:18

to Shalem] Or, Salem. The word Salem signifieth safe, so some take it not for a proper name of a place, but for an appellative word or Noune, noting the prosperitie of Jacobs passage; that he came safe to Shechem; and thence they inferre that he was healed of his halting, and that before he met with Esau, else he would have made that an excuse for his not following him to Seir; but whether Jacob were so soone cured of his halting, or were not at all cured of it, (and therefore gave the more occasion of the Israelites forbearing of some part of the thigh thereupon, as is noted, Chap. 32. vers. 32.) which is uncertaine, there might be a Citie in the Countrey of Shechem called Salem; and it is thought the same that was called Sychar: See John 4:5. See Annot. on Chap. 14. vers. 18.

Genesis 33:19

he bought a parcell] This was a part of the Land of Canaan, which was his by promise, yet the time of possession of it, according to the grant to him, and his seed, was not yet come; and therefore without distrust of Gods promise, or a renunciation of his owne right, he buyeth a piece of land for his present necessitie, as Abraham did the field of Machpelah, Gen. 23. 17, 18.

children of Hamor] He was Prince of the Shechemites; and his subjects are called children, because a Prince is the father of his Countrey. See the name Abimelech in Annot. on Chap. 20. vers. 2.

an hundred pieces] Or, lambes. That is, for so many lambes in kind, or the price of so many; or so many pieces of silver having the picture of a Lamb figured upon them; the same word Kesitah is used, Job 42:11. of the gift brought to Job, which signifieth a sheepe, and a piece of coine; but a sheep had been a small matter, therefore it is like it was a piece of coyne with a sheep figured upon it; and liker to be gold then silver, especially as the present of the rich: and our Latine word pecunia is so called, either because it is used in commerce as cattell were before, or else because the portraiture of a beast was stamped upon it.

Genesis 33:20

El-Elohe-Israel] That is, God, the God of Israel: he gives the Altar the Name of God, not Idolatrously, putting it in the place of God, but figuratively, as the signe for the thing signified; as our Saviour calleth bread, his body, and the wine, his blood: or repeating the word Mizbeah, that is, Altar, againe, which may well be understood, the words may be read thus, he called the Altar the Altar of God the God of Israel. Howsoever, this Altar was set up as a pious, and gratefull memoriall of Gods favour in giving him (according to his new name) power, not onely to prevaile with himselfe for a blessing, but with his brother Esau to divert destruction; and by putting Gods Name and his owne so together, he more confirmeth his confidence in him, and ingageth his owne fidelity and obedience unto him: or, (as some conceive) the Altar had an inscription upon it, which was the Altar of the mightie God of Israel.