Genesis 35
DOYLYGenesis 35:3
- — Deborah Rebekah’s nurse died.] She attended Rebekah on her marriage with Isaac. Jacob had probably been at his father’s house before this time; and Rebekah being dead, Deborah was desirous of living with his wives, who were her country-women. Bp. Patrick.
Monr. Savary, speaking of the Egyptian women, says, “When circumstances compel them to have recourse to a nurse, she is not looked upon as a stranger. She becomes part of the family, and passes the rest of her life in the midst of the children she has suckled. She is honoured and cherished like a second mother.”
them under the oak which was by Shechem.
Genesis 35:4
- — and all their ear-rings which were in their ears:] Besides the ear-rings, which were for ornament, there were others worn in the nature of smallate or charms,
Jacob’s name is changed. The sons of Jacob. Before CHRIST about 1722. b Chap. 26. 19. ¶ That is, the God of Beth-el. I That is, the oak of weeping. c Chap. 27. 28.
or for some other superstitious uses; having the effigies of some false god, or some symbolical notes, in which was fancied to be a power to preserve them from evil. Bp. Patrick.
I have seen some Eastern ear-rings with figures upon them, and strange characters, which, I believe, may be talismans or charms, or perhaps nothing but the amusement of old women. The Indians say they are preservatives against enchantment. Perhaps the ear-rings of Jacob’s family were of this kind. Sir J. Chardin.
Genesis 35:15
- These were dukes] Heads, chiefs, or rulers of families. Bp. Patrick.
The kings of Edom. The dukes that descended of Esau. Before CHRIST about 1716. the dukes that came of Aholibamah the daughter of Anah, Esau’s wife.
Genesis 35:16
- — Ephrath.] Which is Beth-lehem, ver. 19, called Beth-lehem Ephrath, Mic. v. 2, where Christ was born. Bp. Kidder.
Genesis 35:20
- And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave.] This monument of Rachel’s is the first that we read of in Scripture. It was certainly standing, when Moses wrote, as appears from this verse; and mention is made of it, just before Saul was anointed king, I Sam. x. 2. The monument, now shewn for it, is a modern and Turkish structure; for though the work is rude enough, and without any ornament, yet the whole is as entire, as if it had been only just made. Mumdrell.
Genesis 35:22
- — Reuben went] Moses mentions this, that he may give us a true account, why the right of inheritance, which was originally in Reuben, was transferred to Joseph; and the kingdom, or right of dominion, which was forfeited by his transgression, was conferred
Before CHRIST about 1722. ¶ Heb. a little piece of ground. 1722. about 1729. ¶ That is, the son of my sorrow. ¶ That is, the son of the right hand. d Chap. 49. 4.
Esau’s generations; and the CHAP. XXXV, XXXVI. dukes which descended of his sons.
before CHRIST about 1728. chel’s handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali:
Genesis 35:24
- — that found the mules in the wilderness.] Or, that discovered springs of warm water, or encountered the Emim, a gigantick people, whom he overthrew. Calmet. 31. — before there reigned any king over the children of Israel.] Moses having recently mentioned the promise of God to Jacob, that “kings should come out of his loins,” observes it as remarkable, that Esau’s posterity should have so many kings, and yet there was no king in Israel when he wrote this book. Moses might have written this by inspiration; or he might well write it without a spirit of prophecy; and we might affirm, if necessary, that his meaning is, “All these were kings in Edom, before his own time;” who was, in a certain sense, the first king in Israel, Deut. xxxiii. 5; for he reigned in Edom: and the name of his city was Dinhabah.
Genesis 35:26
26.—born to him in Padan-aram.] All except Benjamin.
Genesis 35:27
27.—Jacob came unto Isaac his father] To dwell with him, and to be the comfort of his old age. Bp. Patrick.
Isaac had the comfort of seeing the promise of God, in this instance of earthly prosperity, made good to himself and to Abraham; as a sure pledge that the spi-
ritual promises, that “in their Seed all the nations of the earth should be blessed,” would be made good in God’s due time. Bp. Wilson.
Genesis 35:29
29.—his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.] As Isaac and Ishmael had buried Abraham. Hence it appears the friendship between Esau and Jacob continued after their interview on Jacob’s return. Bp. Patrick.
Chap. XXXVI. ver. 2. Esau took his wives] They had probably several names as well as he. Bp. Kidder. See chap. xxvi. 34.