And that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother ,.... As it became him, and as it becomes all children to be obedient to their parents in all things lawful they command them; and it would have been well if Esau had been obedient to them also in a like case, the case of his marriage: and was gone to Padanaram ; as they had enjoined him, to take a wife from thence. read more
Jacob and Esau, or diverging paths. I. JACOB 'S JOURNEY TO PADAN - ARAM . 1. The path of duty . Entered on in obedience to his mother's wish and his father's commandment, it was an e vide nce of filial piety. It is the token of a good son that he "hears the instruction of his father, and forsakes not the taw of his mother" ( Proverbs 1:8 ). Sons come to mature age should respect and, where not inconsistent with allegiance to God, yield submission to parental... read more
Life with, and life without, God. The divergence of the two representative men is seen in this short statement of their marriage relations. 1. Domestic life under the blessing of God and apart from that blessing. 2. The true blessing is the blessing of Abraham, the blessing which God has already provided, promised, and secured. 3. The heir of the blessing must be sent away and learn by experience how to use it. 4. The disinherited man, who has scorned his opportunity,... read more
When (literally, and) Esau saw that Issue 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 ,—literally, in his blessing him (forming a parenthesis), and he commanded him— saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan; and that (literally, and ) Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone (or went) to Padan-aram; and Esau seeing that (more correctly, saw that ) the... read more
- Jacob’s Journey to Haran3. קהל qâhāl, “congregation.”9. מחלת māchălat, Machalath, “sickness, or a harp.”19. לוּז lûz, Luz, “almond.”The blessing of his sons was the last passage in the active life of Isaac, after which he retires from the scene. Jacob now becomes the leading figure in the sacred history. His spiritual character has yet come out to view. But even now we can discern the general distinction in the lives of the three patriarchs. Abraham’s is a life of authority and decision;... read more
Jacob receives Isaac’s blessing (26:34-28:9)The custom in ancient times was for the father of the household to confirm the birthright on his firstborn son by giving his special blessing just before he died. People considered this blessing to be more than just a promise; they saw it as a prophecy that carried God’s favour. Isaac knew that God’s will was for Jacob, not Esau, to receive the firstborn’s blessing (see 25:23). Yet he was determined to give the blessing to Esau, even though Esau, by... read more
"Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan-aram; to take a wife from thence; and as he blessed him, he gave him 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 Paddan-aram: and Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father; and Esau went unto Ishmael, and took, besides the wives that he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of... read more
Esau’s further marriages 28:6-9Esau sought to obtain his parents’ approval by marrying one of Abraham’s descendants.However "he failed to consider that Ishmael had been separated from the house of Abraham and family of promise by the appointment of God; so that it only furnished another proof that he had no thought of the religious interests of the chosen family and was unfit to be the recipient of divine revelation." [Note: Keil and Delitzsch, 1:281.] This great story teaches that when God’s... read more
Jacob Departs for Padan-aram. His Dream at Bethel1-4. Isaac bids Jacob seek one of the daughters of his uncle Laban in marriage, and assures him that the blessings and promises bestowed on Abraham should fall to him as heir.6-9. Esau’s marriage, though well meant, was only a union with the seed of the Egyptian bondservant, and therefore not one of the pure Hebrew race.10. After journeying for some days, Jacob reaches the district in the mountains of Ephraim, where Abraham had rested, when... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 28:6-9
This passage concerning Esau comes in in the midst of Jacob's story, either, 1. To show the influence of a good example. Esau, though the greater man, now begins to think Jacob the better man, and disdains not to take him for his pattern in this particular instance of marrying with a daughter of Abraham. The elder children should give to the younger an example of tractableness and obedience; it is bad if they do not: but it is some alleviation if they take the example of it from them, as Esau... read more