set up a pillar = Hebrew pillared a pillar. Figure of speech Polyptoton. App-6 . poured a drink offering. See App-15 . First occurrence of "drink offering": afterward provided for in Leviticus 23:13 , Leviticus 23:18 , Leviticus 23:37 , and in Numbers 15:5-10 . Always "poured out, "never drunk. read more
GOD APPEARS TO JACOB AGAIN"And God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Paddan-aram, and blessed him. 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. 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 loins; and the land which I gave unto Abraham and Isaac, to thee will I give it, and to thy... read more
Genesis 35:14. Set up a pillar— For a monument and an altar, which he consecrated with the usual form, by pouring wine and oil upon it. Thus he dedicated the place to God, and, no doubt, performed all that he had vowed, ch. 28: Some one, speaking of Jacob's vow, excellently observes, "Though God always gives when he receives, and more and better than he receives; and though he is content to make conditions with us, that if we will through his grace do our part, perform our duty to him, he will... read more
Yahweh’s reconfirmation of the covenant 35:9-15God then appeared again to Jacob at Bethel (the fifth revelation) after he had fulfilled his vow to God and built an altar there (Genesis 35:9-12). This revelation came 30 years after the first one at Bethel. In this case God appeared in visible (bodily?) form (Genesis 35:13). In the former instance Jacob had seen a vision. God confirmed Jacob’s name change (cf. Genesis 32:28). This new name, Israel, was a pledge that God would do what He now... read more
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
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
(14) Jacob set up a pillar.—In doing this Jacob was imitating his previous action when God manifested Himself to him in his journey to Haran, Genesis 28:18. This consecration of it by pouring on it oil, and offering to God a drink-offering, was in itself natural and right. But as these memorial pillars were subsequently worshipped, they were expressly forbidden by the Mosaic Law, the word correctly rendered “pillar” in this place being translated standing image in Leviticus 26:1, and image in... read more
(15) Jacob called . . . —See Genesis 28:19. The name had, of course, remained unknown and unused, as what then passed had been confined to Jacob’s own inward consciousness. He now teaches the name to his family, explains the reason why he first gave it, and requires them to employ it. But with so grand a beginning the town was debased to unholy uses, and from being Beth-el, the house of God, it became Bethaven, the house of iniquity (Hosea 10:5). read more
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
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Genesis 35:1-15
Back in Canaan (33:18-35:15)From Succoth Jacob later moved with his household across the Jordan River into Canaan itself and settled in Shechem. By buying a piece of land, he gained permanent possession of part of the land God had promised to him and his descendants (18-20; cf. 23:1-20; 28:1-5).When the son of a local headman raped Jacob’s daughter Dinah, the headman suggested to Jacob that his son marry Dinah, and that Jacob’s sons marry the local Canaanite women (34:1-12). Jacob’s sons agreed... read more