Genesis 35

Jacob having purged his house and prepared it for the worship of God he removes on Gods commands to Bethel verse 1&c. whither being safely come he build an altar 6. The death and burial of Deborah Rebecca’s nurse 8 God appears to Jacob giving him the name of Israel the second time with the renewing of the promises 9 for which Jacob sets up a memorial and changeth the name of the place 14. Going thence Rachel dies in labor of Benjamin and is buried there 16 Reuben commits incense in his fathers house 21 the catalogue of Jacobs sons 23 Jacob at length comes to his father Isaac who dieth and is buried by him and Esau 27.

1. After that God said to Jacob arise go up to Bethel and dwell there and make an altar there to that God who appeared to thee upon thou steadfast before the face of thy brother Esau [that thou maist call to mind there what promises I past unto thee and what vows thou madest unto me then above chapter 28 verse 13, 14, 20. This seem stop have served to comfort and encourage Jacob against the fears that hath seized on him before chapter 34.30.]

2. Then said Jacob to his household [Heb. House see above chapter 7 on verse 1] and to all that were with him [that is all man and maid servants and such as were come to him from without and lived in his family] put away the strange Gods [Heb. God of the stranger understand the images of the idols whom the strangers served being not the true God that hath revealed himself to Abraham Isaac Jacob thus the idols are called Deuteronomy 31:16 and 32.12 Joshua 24:20 Psalms 81:10 those are called other Gods Deuteronomy 6:14 Josiah 23.16 Judges 10.13item new Gods Judges 5:8]which are in the midst of you [hence it seems that there were some such images kept in secret yet among his family whether they were the idols of Laban above chapter 31.19 or some costly images which they had gotten in the plundering of Sichem or some of the prisoners had brought thither with them] and cleanse you and change your garments [to shew by this outward ceremony the inward cleansing and the reforming of the heart which the stood indeed not only by reason of that idolatrous defilements but also especially in regard of that base murder committed upon the Sichemites thus to prepare themselves for that solemn worship of God which Jacob was commanded now to set up and exercise with the family at Bethel see exodus 19.10,15.]

3. And let us arise and go up to Bethel and I will an altar there unto God that answereth me in the day of distress [that is doth use to hear and help me God answers his people and makes it appear by word or indeed that he hath heard them see 1 Kings 18:4 Isaiah 41:17,18 Psalms 2.22] and hath been with me upon the way that I have walked [that is upon my journey from Haran hitherto.]

4. Then they gave unto Jacob all those strange gods which were in their hands [that is such as they had or kept among them. See 2 Samuel 8 on verse 10] and the ear-ornament which were on the ears [those Jacob took away, it being probable that they had gotten them in their plundering from the idols at Sichem or had been worn by that people in honor of them; or otherwise might have caused abose or scandal in his family.] and Jacob hid them [without his people's knowledge that none might find and further abuse them for superstition and idolatry] under the oak by Sichem.

5. And they journeyed on and Gods terror [that is a very great one sent by God into apprehension see Exodus 23:27 2 Chronicles 14:14 and 17.10 the word God is sometimes used to express the greatness and excellence of a thing see above chapter 13 on verse 10 without this terror upon this people around about them Jacob might easily have been set upon and destroyed with all his by reason of that enormous fact of Simeon and Levi above chapter 34.25] was upon the cities that was round upon them so that they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.

6. Then Jacob came to Luz [see above chapter 12.8 and 28.19] who is in the land of Canaan that is Bethel [called so by Jacob verse 7] he and all the people that was with him.

7. And he built an altar there and he named that place El Bethel –El [that is God is at Bethel thus calleth this place the second time see chapter 28.19 compare chapter 33 the annotate on verse 20] for God had appeared there unto him when he fled before his brothers face [see above chapter 28.13 and of God appearing chapter 20.3.]

8. And Deborah the nurse of Rebecca died [viz. she that was sent with Rebecca out of Mesopotamia to the land of Canaan see above chapter 24.59] and she was buried beneath Bethel under the oak whose name he called Allon Bachuth [that is the oak of weeping for having there bewailed and wept over Deborah.]

9. And God appeared again to Jacob when he was come from Paddan Aram and he blessed him.

10. And God said unto him thy name is Jacob [God here confirms to Jacob what he had spoken of before unto him see above chapter 32.28.] thy name shall be called Jacob henceforth but Israel shall be thy name and he called his name Israel.

11. Moreover God said unto him I am God the almighty [see above chapter 17verse 1] be fruitful and multiply [Here God doth ratify the blessing of his father Isaac which he gave him when he fled to Mesopotamia see above chapter 28.3, 4] a nation yea an heap of nations shall become of thee and kings shall come forth out of thy loins [that is be born out of thy flesh and blood so 1 Kings 8:19 2 Chronicles 6:9 Acts 2:30 compare chapter 40.26.]

12. And this land which I gave to Isaac and Abraham the same I will give to thee and to thy seed after the will I give this land.

13. Then God went up from him [Heb. went up from above him. God is said to go up and come down without changing of places as being everywhere present; and therefore that is only to be understood of the tokens of his presence which he manifests by his descending, as above chapter 11.5 Exodus 3:8 and Numbers 11:17, and take away again, by his ascending, as here and above chapter 17.22 Judges 13:20] in that place where he had spoken with him.

14. And Jacob set up a monument [Jacob reneweth the monument here which he had erected formerly above chapter 28.18 it being properly much decayed through length of time and the neighboring peoples abusing of it or overthrowing it that it might serve for a perpetual memorial of Gods goodness to him and his reciprocal duty and engagement] in that place where he had spoken with him a monument of stone and he poured forth thereupon drink offering[understand hereby either oil as immediately follows or wine or some other liquid matter that was usual in drink offerings of effusion for thanksgiving] and poured oil thereon.

15. And Jacob called the name of that place where God hath spoken with him Bethel-El [being upon the performance of his vows he renews not only the monument but the mane likewise formerly given to the place and this seems to be a distinct place from that of El Bethel before verse 7.]

16. And they journeyed from Bethel and there was a little tract of land yet [others about a bait or bait way of land and as much land as usual they went one baiting about a league see chapter 48.7 2Kings 5.19] for to come to Ephrath [this is the city commonly called Bethlehem see both these names verse 19 and Micah 5:1] and Rachel bare and she had hard labor.

17. And it happened when it went hard with her in her labor then the midwife said to her fear not for thou shalt likewise have this son [nor hast likewise this son viz. besides Joseph according to thy former wish that there might be one more added to him above chapter 30.24.]

18. And it came to pass when her soul went forth [a clear description of death whence it appears that the same is a parting of the soul which remaineth over for another life and goeth forth out of the body which by death is consumed for which cause is said of them that live yet that their soul is in them 2 Samuel 1:9 and of those that die that their spirit goeth forth Psalms 146:4 and of those that rise again from the dead that their spirit returns again into them 1 Kings 17:21,22] for she died that she called his name Bennoni [that is son of my pain smart aching] but his father called him Benjamin [that is son of the right hand that he shall always be near and most dear to me as to a man his right hand is Psalms 80:18.]

19. Thus Rachel died and she was buried by the way to Ephrath [this name seems to have been given to Bethlehem by Caleb s wife see 1 Chronicles 2:19,4 and thereby also is in Bethlehem lying in the tribe of Judah Micah 5:2 Matthew 2:6 differenced from another Bethlehem in the tribe of Zebulon Joshua 19:15] that is Bethlehem [Bethlehem signifies a house of bread.]

20. And Jacob erected a monument above her grave this is the monument of Rachel’s grave until this day [viz. of Moseh his writing this book yea it stood yet in the time of Samuel and Soul 1Samuel 10.2 of the infants murder which Herod practiced hereabout at the time of Christ’s nativity see Jeremiah 31:15 and Matthew 2:16,17.]

21. Then Israel departed [here Jacob is called Israel the first time according to Gods command above verse 10] and he extended his tent on yon-side of Magidal Eder [that is a tower of flock see likewise Micah 4:8.]

22. And it fell out when Israel dwelt in that land Reuben went and lay with Bihar his fathers concubines or by wife [see above chapter 22.24] and Israel heard it [doubtless with great deal of hearts grief seeing that by this fact of Reuben God must need be highly offended his own family dishonored and cause was given of great scandal and reproach so that Jacob had reason even when he lay his death bed to complain of this souls transgression below chapter 49.3,4 and to deprive Reuben to the right primogeniture for it 1 Chronicles 5:1,2] and the sons of Jacob were twelve.

23. the sons of Leah were [here the sons of Jacob are reckoned up because now since Benjamin’s death the number of them was complete no sons more being born unto him and because these twelve were the fathers of the twelve tribe of Israel of whom mention will be made afterwards] Reuben Jacobs first born then Simeon and Levi and Judah and Issachar and Zebulon.

24. The sons of Rachel Benjamin and Joseph.

25. And the sons of bilha Rachel’s maid-servant Dan and Naphtali.

26. And the sons of Zilch Leah’s maid-servant Gad and Asar those are Jacobs sons which were born unto him in Paddan Aram [except Benjamin who was born by Ephrath in the land of Canaan above verse 16 Moseh speaketh thus in regard of all the rest that were born there this is a kind of speech whereby a thing is not exprest not precisely and exactly what it is but in gross and in a certain respect see above chapter 15.13 and below verse 46.15 Judah 20.46 and 1Corinthian 15.5.]

27. And Jacob came to Isaac his father in Mamre [of which place see above chapter 23.17 bearing the name of one of Abrahams confederates who was called Mamre see above chapter 13 on verse 18 and chapter 14 verse 13.24] at Kiriath-Arba [see above chapter 23.2] which is Hebron [see above chapter 13.18 and 23.2, 19] where Abraham had sojourned as a stranger and Isaac [who was yet living and dwelling there as a stranger.]

28. And the years of Isaac were hundred and eighty years.

29. And Isaac gave up the ghost or expired [compare above chapter 25.8] and died and gathered to his people [see above chapter 15 on verse 15] old and satisfied Saturn of days and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him [viz. in the cave whereof ye read above chapter 23 wherein Abraham likewise lay buried above chapter 25.9the same was in Hebron as Isaac died this happened a great while after the things related before Jacob having lived in Canaan about twenty three years since his return out of Mesopotamia before his father died and but it is brought in here by Moseh to sum up here the history of Isaac and to prosecute that of Jacob.]