Genesis 28

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 28:15

And, behold, I am with thee ,.... Though alone, at a distance from his father's house, no friend to keep him company, or servant to attend him; but the presence of God here promised is abundantly more than an equivalent for all this: and will keep thee in all places , whither thou goest ; from beasts of prey, in lonesome places through which he might travel; from thieves and robbers, to whom he might be exposed; from his brother Esau, and all his ill designs against him; and from... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 28:16

And Jacob awaked out of his sleep ,.... Which had been sweet unto him, and out of his dream, it being now over; and it having left such a weight upon his mind, and such an awe upon his spirits, it might tend the sooner to awaken him; what time it was is not said, perhaps it was in the middle of the night or towards morning, since after this it is said that he rose early in the morning: and he said, surely the Lord is in this place, and I knew it not ; God is everywhere, in a general... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 28:17

And he was afraid ,.... Not with a servile but filial fear; not with a fear of the wrath and displeasure of God, but with a fear of his grace and goodness; not with a fear of distrust of it, of which he had just had such a comfortable assurance; but with an awe of the greatness and glory of God, being conscious of his own unworthiness to receive such favours from him: and said, how dreadful is this place ! not terrible and horrible, being not like Mount Sinai, but like Sion; not as the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 28:18

And Jacob rose up early in the morning ,.... In order to proceed on his journey, being comfortably refreshed both in body and mind: but first he took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar ; not for a statue or an idol to be worshipped, but for a memorial of the mercy and goodness of God unto him, see Joshua 4:3 ; indeed, among the Heathens, stones, even rude and unpolished ones, were worshipped as gods; and this was the ancient custom among the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 28:19

And he called the name of that place Bethel ,.... The house of God, which he took this place to be: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first ; which signifies an almond or hazel nut, Genesis 30:37 ; perhaps from the number of this sort of trees that grew there, under which Jacob might lay himself down, which was probably in the field of Luz; and being at night, he might not know there was a city so near, until the morning. Though Josephus F18 Antiqu. l. 1. c. 19.... read more

John Gill

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

Isaac directs Jacob to take a wife from the family of Laban, Genesis 28:1 , Genesis 28:2 ; blesses and sends him away, Genesis 28:3 , Genesis 28:4 . Jacob begins his journey, Genesis 28:5 . Esau, perceiving that the daughters of Canaan were not pleasing to his parents, and that Jacob obeyed them in going to get a wife of his own kindred, Genesis 28:6-8 , went and took to wife Mahalath, the daughter of Ishmael his father's brother, Genesis 28:9 . Jacob, in his journey towards... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 28:1

And Isaac called Jacob - See note on Genesis 27:46 . And blessed him - Now voluntarily and cheerfully confirmed to him the blessing, which he had before obtained through subtlety. It was necessary that he should have this confirmation previously to his departure; else, considering the way in which he had obtained both the birthright and the blessing, he might be doubtful, according to his own words, whether he might not have got a curse instead of a blessing. As the blessing now... read more

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