Genesis 35

Genesis 35:1-4

In this chapter, 1. God orders Jacob to Beth-el, ver. 1. 2. His journey after purging his house of idols, ver. 2—3. 3. The altar he builds, ver. 6—7. 4. Deborah’s death and funeral, ver. 8. 5. God appears again, and confirms his covenant with him, ver. 9—13. 6. His grateful acknowledgment of it, ver. 14—15. 7. Rachel’s travail and death, ver. 16—20. 8. Reuben’s insight, ver. 21—25. 9. Isaiah’s death, ver. 27—29. Lastly, an account of Jacob’s sons, ver. 23—26.

1. AND God said unto Jacob, Arise, Go up to Beth-el, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddeest from the face of Efau thy brother. 2. Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments: 3. And let us arise, and go up to Beth-el; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went. 4. And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their car-rings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.

Jacob seems to have forgot his vow, chap. xxxviii. 19, 20. and God reminds him of it. Note, Mercors are apt to be forgotten; and promises made in distress, to be unsatisfied in prosperity. Hereupon,

1. We have Jacob’s preparation for his journey: better late than never. And as his abode must be at Bethel, his family must go with him: but first they must get ready for the worship there to be performed, (1.) By putting away their idols. Note, There is no drawing near God with acceptance, with allowed sin in the heart. (2.) By washing their garments, typical of that spiritual purity, which becomes the worshipers of Jehovah. Note, We must have the first linen white and clean, which is the righteousness of the saints, or our services cannot please God.

2. Their obedience. It was strange in Jacob’s family, that such idol vanities should be found. But in the most religious houses, there will be idols in secret. It was happy they so readily

dily consented to part from them: had he commanded it before, he might have succeeded. Note, Much might be done, more than we imagine, if we had a greater zeal for God. All now are given up, even to their ear-tings, flanged with idol images, or worn as charms, and they are buried that they might never be found. Note, When we part from our sons, it must be with a purpose of heart, never to return to them.

5. And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob. 6. So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan (that is Beth-el) he and all the people that were with him. 7. And he built there an altar, and called the place of El-Beth-el; because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother. 8. But Deborah Rebekah’s nurse died, and she was buried beneath Beth-el, under an oak: and the name of it was called Allonbachuth.

Genesis 35:5-8

Having thus made the needful preparations, they journey in safety. Though justly intertold, God put his foar upon the nations around; and as they had now put away their idols, and were going to God’s altar, none shall hurt them. Note, When we are about God’s work, we are under his special care. And now they arrive.

1. He builds an altar, and with his family, worship the God of Beth-el. It is our comfort in the church of God, to enjoy the pretence and communion of the God of the church.

2. He buries Rebekah’s nurse: probably Rebekah died before; and respect for an aged servant, made her welcome to Jacob’s house; and when she dies, it is cause of sorrow, as the name Allon-Bachuth signifies the Oak of Weeping. Note, An old and faithful servant in a family deserves respect, and should be lamented as a friend or a brother.

3. And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padan-aram; and blessed him. 10. And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel. 11. And God said unto him, I am God Almighty; be fruitful and multiply, a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee: and kings shall come out of thy bims. 12. And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land. 13. And God went up from him, in the place where he talked with him. 14. And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of Bone: and he poured a drink-offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon. 15. And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Beth-el.

Genesis 35:9-15

We have here,

1. God’s appearance to him the second time in Beth-el. When we are found waiting upon God, he will not fail to meet us in his ways. God now confirms his name of Israel, as a new support against the fears of the Canaanites; and renews his covenant with him, respecting the land and the food to inherit it, as the Almighty God, able to fulfil his promises to the uttermost. Note, God hath given us Christ the food, and promised us heaven as the land. May we with Jacob rejoice in hope.

2. No sooner was the appearance of God’s glory gone up from over him, than Jacob erects a noble memorial of the favour, and confirms the name of Beth-el to the place. How little did Jacob think, that this house of God should one day become Bethaven, a house of iniquity, and Jeroboam’s calf be fixed perhaps on this very pillar? Note, How many a church, when the faithful Jacob, the pastor, is gone, hath experienced these awful changes!

3. And they journeyed from Beth-el: and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour. 17. And it came to pails when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also. 18. And it came to pails as her soul was in departing (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin. 19. And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Beth-lehem. 20. And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel’s grave unto this day.

Genesis 35:16-20

We have here Rachel’s death in child-bed. One death had made a breach in Jacob’s family; another still more

afflicting succeeds. Death often thus repeats his strokes. Rachel impatient for children, would die if she had them not, but little thought she should die with them: our perverse wishes indulged, no often fatal to us. The midwife would comfort her with a son born, but now she feels her burden so heavy, she cannot rejoice in him; she calls him Benoni, the son of her sorrow. Note, When we are dying, nothing in this world can any longer comfort us. Jacob however changes his name; his love for Rachel lives in Benjamin, the son of his right hand: the last of our children is usually the fondling. Rachel scarce names her son, but she departs. Note, (1.) The foul must return to God that gave it. (2.) As child-bearing in sorrow is the effect of sin, frequent death in child-bearing more strongly marks the wages due to it: but there is a child born who can save the dying mother. Jacob buries her on the spot, and in memory of her, erects a mountain pillar. Note, A great man may be made a useful remembrancer, and a continual formon.

21. And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar. 22. And it came to pails when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben were and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve. 23. The sons of Leah: Reuben Jacobs first-born, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Iffachar, and Zebulun. 24. The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. 25. And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s hand-maid: Dan and Naphtali. 26. And the sons of Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid: Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padan-aram. 27. And Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamor, unto the city of Athah, (which is Hebron) where Abraham and Isaac sojourned. 28. And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourteen years. 29. And Isaac gave up the ghoah, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

Genesis 35:21-29

Jacob, like his father, was but a pilgrim in the land of promise, and he had enough to try his faith and patience in his children. Note, A man’s family contains usually his greatest trials. Here is,

1. Reuben’s incest. As his father was now old, and Bilhah much younger, she perhaps liked the son, and might be most criminal in the intrigue. Note (1.) It is a dangerous thing for a young woman to marry an old man. (2.) The eldest son, because the heir, is usually set most by, but often the greatest plague of the family. They thought, no doubt, to conceal their crime, but Jacob heard it: such vile deeds come strangely out; and for it he is afterwards severely punished, chap. xlix. 4. 2. An account of all Jacob’s sons. 3. His visit to his father at Hebron. 4. The death of Isaac, the oldest of all the patriarchs. The longest lives, must die at last. 5. His burial by his two sons. God had now made a perfect reconciliation between them. Note, The bitterest enemies sometimes become the himself friends.