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James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 35:1-7

JACOB RECALLED TO BETHEL"And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, who appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother. Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the foreign gods that are among you, and purify yourselves, and change your garments: and let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 35:5

Genesis 35:5. The terror of God, &c.— The sacred writer here assigns a reason, why Jacob and his family were not pursued and cut off by the inhabitants of the neighbouring cities, for Simeon and Levi's cruelty to the Shechemites: God cast a panic fear, a dread of them upon the inhabitants. See Exodus 23:27. Joshua 9:11. 2Ch 14:14 and 2 Chronicles 17:10. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Genesis 35:5

5. the terror of God was upon the cities—There was every reason to apprehend that a storm of indignation would burst from all quarters upon Jacob's family, and that the Canaanite tribes would have formed one united plan of revenge. But a supernatural panic seized them; and thus, for the sake of the "heir of the promise," the protecting shield of Providence was specially held over his family. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 35:1-8

Jacob’s renewed consecration to Yahweh 35:1-8About 10 years had passed since Jacob had returned from Paddan-aram, and he had not yet returned to Bethel to fulfill his vow there (Genesis 28:20-22). He should have headed there immediately rather than settling near Shechem. His negligence evidently was due in part to the continuing presence of the idols that Rachel and probably others had brought from Haran. Perhaps their allegiance to these gods restrained Jacob’s total commitment to Yahweh (cf.... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 35:1-29

Jacob journeys by way of Bethel to Hebron. Death of Rachel and of Isaac1. Jacob is commanded to go to Bethel and fulfil the vow he had once made there (Genesis 28:20, Genesis 28:22).2. Strange gods] Perhaps the idols of some of Jacob’s people who had come with him from Haran, such as the teraphim which Rachel carried off (Genesis 31:19). Be clean, and change your garments] rites symbolising purification from idolatry. 4. Earrings] worn superstitiously as charms, and often inscribed with magical... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 35:1-29

THE TÔLDÔTH ISAAC (Genesis 25:19 to Genesis 35:29). THE BIRTH OF ISAAC’S SONS.Abraham begat Isaac—The Tôldôth in its original form gave probably a complete genealogy of Isaac, tracing up his descent to Shem, and showing thereby that the right of primogeniture belonged to him; but the inspired historian uses only so much of this as is necessary for tracing the development of the Divine plan of human redemption.The Syrian.—Really, the Aramean, or descendant of Aram. (See Genesis 10:22-23.) The... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 35:5

(5) The terror . . . —Heb., a terror of God, that is, a very great terror (see Genesis 23:6; Genesis 30:8). But to the deeply religious mind of the Hebrew everything that was great and wonderful was the result of the direct working of the Deity. (But see Note on Genesis 48:22.) read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Genesis 35:1-29

Genesis 35:2 St. John of the Cross says: 'When the patriarch Jacob wished to go up to the Mount of Bethel in order to build there an altar to God on which he should offer sacrifice, he first gave three commands to his household.' He applies these three commands to the spiritual life of the Christian. The strange gods are the 'outside affections and attachments'. 'Use clean means to get rid of the worldly appetites still left in the soul.' And the third thing we must have in order to reach the... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Genesis 35:1-29

JACOB’S RETURNGenesis 35:1-29"As for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way."- Genesis 48:7The words of the Wrestler at the brook Jabbok, "Let me go, for the day breaketh," express the truth that spiritual things will not submit themselves to sensible tests. When we seek to let the full daylight, by which we discern other objects, stream upon them, they elude our grasp. When we fancy we are on the verge of having our doubts for ever scattered, and our... read more

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