Genesis 28:12-22 NIV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 28:20

And Jacob vowed a vow ,.... Which is the first vow we read of in Scripture: saying, if God will be with me ; the word if is not a sign of doubting, but is either an adverb of time, and may be rendered, "when God shall be with me" F20 אם "quum", Junius & Tremellius; so Ainsworth. ; or as a supposition, expressive of an inference or conclusion drawn, "seeing God will be with me" F21 Quandoquidem, Tigurine version. ; which he had the utmost reason to believe he would,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 28:21

So that I come again to my father's house in peace ,.... In safety from Esau, and all other enemies, as God promised him he should: then the Lord shall be my God ; not as if he should not be his God if he did not do all this for him; which would savour not only of a mercenary spirit, but of great impiety; neither of which were to be found in Jacob: but the meaning is, that he should not only continue to own him as his God, and to worship him, but having fresh obligations upon him, should... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 28:22

And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house ,.... Building an altar of it with some others, and sacrificing to God on it; and wherever God is worshipped, that place is his house, be it what or where it will; and Jacob did as he promised to do, see Genesis 35:3 , and of all that thou shalt give me, I will surely give the tenth unto thee ; for the support of his worship; for the maintenance of such that were employed in it; for the provision of sacrifice, and for... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 28:12

He dreamed, and behold a ladder - A multitude of fanciful things have been spoken of Jacob's vision of the ladder, and its signification. It might have several designs, as God chooses to accomplish the greatest number of ends by the fewest and simplest means possible. 1. It is very likely that its primary design was to point out the providence of God, by which he watches over and regulates all terrestrial things; for nothing is left to merely natural causes; a heavenly agency pervades,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 28:13

I am the Lord God of Abraham - Here God confirms to him the blessing of Abraham, for which Isaac had prayed, Genesis 28:3 , Genesis 28:4 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 28:14

Thy seed shall be as the dust - The people that shall descend from thee shall be extremely numerous, and in thee and thy seed - the Lord Jesus descending from thee, according to the flesh, shall all the families of the earth - not only all of thy race, but all the other families or tribes of mankind which have not proceeded from any branch of the Abrahamic family, be blessed; for Jesus Christ by the grace of God tasted death For Every Man, Hebrews 2:9 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 28:15

And, behold, I am with thee - For I fill the heavens and the earth. "My Word shall be thy help." - Targum. And will keep thee in all places, εν τῃ ὁδῳ πασῃ , in all this way - Septuagint. I shall direct, help, and support thee in a peculiar manner, in thy present journey, be with thee while thou sojournest with thy uncle, and will bring thee again into this land; so that in all thy concerns thou mayest consider thyself under my especial providence, for I will not leave thee. Thy... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 28:16

The Lord is in this place; and I knew it not - That is, God has made this place his peculiar residence; it is a place in which he meets with and reveals himself to his followers. Jacob might have supposed that this place had been consecrated to God. And it has already been supposed that, his mind having been brought into a humble frame, he was prepared to hold communion with his Maker. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 28:17

How dreadful is this place! - The appearance of the ladder, the angels, and the Divine glory at the top of the ladder, must have left deep, solemn, and even awful impressions on the mind of Jacob; and hence the exclamation in the text, How dreadful is this place! This is none other but the house of God - The Chaldee gives this place a curious turn: "This is not a common place, but a place in which God delights; and opposite to this place is the gate of heaven." Onkelos seems to suppose that... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 28:18

And Jacob - took the stone - and set it up for a pillar - He placed the stone in an erect posture, that it might stand as a monument of the extraordinary vision which he had in this place; and he poured oil upon it, thereby consecrating it to God, so that it might be considered an altar on which libations might be poured, and sacrifices offered unto God. See Genesis 35:14 . The Brahmins anoint their stone images with oil before bathing; and some anoint them with sweet-scented oil. This... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 28:20

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 28:21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 28:22

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 28:12

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 28:13

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 28:14

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 28:15

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 28:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 28:17

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 28:18

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