Genesis 28

AND Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him Confirm'd his former blessing, being now thoroughly sensible both of Gods purpose, and of his own Duty, wishing him also a prosperous and successful journey; as the word is used, Ios. 22. 7., and charged him; and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.

Arise, go to Padan-aram, to the house of Bethuel See Gen. 22. 22, 23. and 25. 20., thy mothers father, and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mothers brother.

And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people:

And give thee the Blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee, that thou mayest inherit the Land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham.

And Isaac sent away Jacob, and he went to Padan-aram, unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian Obj. He was no Syrian but a Mesopotamian. Ans. Syria is sometimes largely taken and so it comprehends Mesopotamia or Chaldea, yea and Assyria, as appears from Isa. 36. 11. Dan. 2. 4., the brother of Rebekah, Jacobs and Esaus mother.

When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob, and sent him away to Padan-aram, to take him a wife from thence, and that as he blessed him, he gave him a charge, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.

And that Jacob obeyed his Father, and his mother, and was gone to Padan-aram:

And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his Father:

Then went Esau unto Ishmael Either to his Person; or, rather to his Family called Ishmael by their Fathers name, as David is sometimes put for Davids posterity: for Ishmael seems to have been dead before this, from Gen. 25. 17. though that may possibly be a Prolepsis, and then this may be Ishmael himself., and took unto the wives which he had, Mahalath Called also Bashemath, Gen. 36. 3. He thought by this means to ingratiate himself with his Father, and so to get another and a better blessing: but he takes no care to reconcile himself to God, nor observes his hand in the business. Besides he mends one fault by committing another and taking a third wife when he had one too many before, and her too he unwisely fetcheth out of that stock which was begotten to bondage and was utterly uncapable of the inheritance. the daughter of Ishmael Abrahams son, the sister of Nebajoth Ishmaels eldest son, Gen. 25. 13. who alone is here mentioned, either in the name of all the rest, whose Sister she is by consequence supposed to be; or because peradventure she and Nebajoth were Ishmaels children by the same Mother, and the rest by another., to be his wife.

And Jacob went It is not strange that Iacob went alone, as it appears that he did from Gen. 32. 10. when his Grandfathers servant was attended with a great retinue, Gen. 24. because attendance was then necessary to procure him Reputation and to obtain the consent of the Virgin and her Parents to so long a journey, but here as it was unnecessary, so it would have been troublesome and prejudicial, exposing him both to the envy and snares of his brother Esau, which by this private departure he did avoid. Besides God in his wise Providence did so order this and some other matters of the like nature, for the greater illustration of his care and kindness towards his Children. Add to this the great simplicity, humility, and innocency of those times if compared with ours, which made many things then usual which now would be ridiculous. out from Beer-sheba, and went toward Haran.

And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set: and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.

And he dreamed, and behold, a ladder set upon the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold, the Angels of God ascending and descending on it This Ladder may be considered, either 1. Literally, and so it represented to Iacob the Providence of God, who though he dwell in heaven extends his care and government to the earth, and particularly makes use of the Angels as ministring Spirits for the good of his People. And these Angels do not appear idle, or standing still, but always in motion, either ascending to God to receive his commands, or descending to Earth for the Execution of them. Which was a most seasonable Vision for Iacob in his sad and sorrowful condition, that he might see, that though he was forsaken and persecuted by men, and forced to flee away secretly for fear of his life, yet he neither was nor should be neglected or forsaken by God in this whole Journey. Or 2. Mystically, and so it represents Christ, by whom Heaven and Earth are united, who is called the way to Heaven, which this Ladder was, who, as the head of Angels, is perpetually sending them forth either to God or from God to Minister to the Heirs of Salvation. Heb. 1. 14. And this explication or accommodation of this Vision is warranted by our Saviour himself, Ioh. 1. 51..

And behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land, whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed.

And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee, and in thy seed, shall all the Families (i. e.) The Nations, as that word is used. of the earth be blessed.

And behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land: for I will not leave thee untill I have done that which I have spoken to thee of Nor ever after: for so the word until is frequently used, as 2 Sam. 6. 23. Mat. 1. 25. not so as to exclude the time following, but so as to include all the foregoing time, wherein the thing spoken of might be most suspected or feared, as here the worst and most dangerous state in which Iacob was or was like to be was this time of his Banishment from his Country and Kindred, against which he is therefore particularly armed and comforted in these words..

And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said: Surely the LORD is in this place By his special and gracious presence and the manifestation of his Mind and Will to me., and I knew it not I little expected to meet with such a Revelation out of my Fathers House, much less in this desart and doleful state and place, when I thought my self rejected by God as well as abandoned by men..

And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful Or, venerable, both for the Majesty of the Person present, and for the glorious manner of his discovery of himself. is this place? this is none other, but the house of God The Habitation of God and of his Holy Angels., and this is the gate of heaven.

And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar As a Monument of Gods great kindness and gracious manifestation of himself to him; which might bring this Mercy to his remembrance in his return, Gen. 31. 13. This was an antient practise among the Patriarchs, Gen. 35. 14. but afterwards upon the growing abuse of it among the Heathens, it was forbidden by God, Levit. 26. 1. Deut. 7. 5. and 12. 3., and poured oil Which he brought with him either for Food or Medicine or for the anointing of himself, as need required. upon the top of it As a token of his consecration thereof to this use to be a memorial of Gods favour to him. Oil was used in Sacrifices, and in the consecration of Persons and Places, Exod. 30. 25, 26. and 40. 9..

And he called the name of that place Beth-el: but the name of that City Either of that City which was nearest to the Field in which Iacob lay: or of that City which afterwards was built in or near to this place, and was known by the name of Bethel. was called Luz, at the first.

And Jacob vowed a vow (i. e.) Bound himself by a solemn promise or obligation. Compare Gen. 14. 22. Eccles. 5. 4., saying, If God will be with me He speaks not thus as if he doubted of the truth of Gods Promises, or would like a mercenary Person make a bargain with God, but rather supposeth that God will do this for him, as he had in effect promised ver. 15. and thereupon obligeth himself to a grateful return to God for this Mercy, If God will be with me, &c. as he has just now assured me he will: or seeing God will be with me, &c. for the Hebrew im does not always imply a doubt, but rather a supposition, and is oft rendered seeing that, as Exod. 20. 25. Numb. 36. 4. 1 Sam. 15. 17. Amos 7. 2. And so the Greek particle answering to the Hebrew im is used Mat. 6. 22. Luk. 11. 34., and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread Food convenient, as it is called Prov. 30. 8. which is oft signifyed by the name of Bread, See Gen. 3. 19. to eat, and raiment to put on,

So that I come again to my fathers house in peace: then shall the LORD be my God I will publickly own him for my God and the Saviour of men, and will establish his solemn Worship, as it follows..

And this stone which I have set for a pillar, shall be Gods house (i. e.) A place where I will offer prayers and Sacrifices to God: such places being commonly called Gods houses, and God is oft sand to dwell in them, in regard of his special presence there. See Exod. 20. 24. Compare ver. 17. of this chapter and Gen. 35. 1, 3, 7.: and of all that thou shalt give me, I will surely give the tenth unto thee To be laid out in thy service and for sacrifices and for the use and benefit of those who shall attend upon sacred things, as also for the relief of the poor and needy, whom God has substituted in his room, and to whom part of the Tithes were to be given by a following Law, Deut. 14. 28, 29..