Genesis 35:1-7

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 35:1-5

Here, I. God reminds Jacob of his vow at Beth-el, and sends him thither to perform it, Gen. 35:1. Jacob had said in the day of his distress, If I come again in peace, this stone shall be God's house, Gen. 28:22. God had performed his part of the bargain, and had given Jacob more than bread to eat and raiment to put on?he had got an estate, and had become two bands; but, it should seem, he had forgotten his vow, or at least had too long deferred the performance of it. Seven or eight years it... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 35:6-5

Jacob and his retinue having safely arrived at Beth-el, we are here told what passed there. I. There he built an altar (Gen. 35:7), and no doubt offered sacrifice upon it, perhaps the tenth of his cattle, according to his vow, I will give the tenth unto thee. With these sacrifices he joined praises for former mercies, particularly that which the sight of the place brought afresh to his remembrance; and he added prayers for the continuance of God's favour to him and his family. And he called... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 35:1

And God said unto Jacob ,.... When he was in great distress, on account of the slaughter of the Shechemites by his sons, not knowing what step to take, or course to steer for the safety of him and his family; then God, for his comfort and direction, appeared and spoke to him, either in a dream or vision, or by an impulse on his mind, or by an articulate voice: perhaps this was the Son of God, the second Person, who might appear in an human form, as he often did; since he afterwards speaks of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 35:2

Then Jacob said unto his household ,.... His wives and children: and to all that were with him ; his menservants and maidservants, and such as remained with him of the captives of Shechem, who might choose to continue with him: put away the strange gods that are among you ; meaning not the teraphim or images of Laban's, which Rachel had stolen from him; for it can hardly be thought that these should be retained so many years in Jacob's family, and used in an idolatrous manner;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 35:3

And let us arise and go up to Bethel ,.... Thus prepared and purged, their tents clear of idols, their bodies washed with pure water, and their garments new, neat, and clean; all symbolical of inward purity, and of freedom from idolatry and evil works, as became those who go to the house of God, and are his worshippers, see Hebrews 10:22 . I will make there an altar unto God ; as he has directed, and sacrifice to him, and worship him, and give the tenth unto him, and so make it a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 35:4

They gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hands ,.... Whether in the hands of his servants or of the captives taken at Shechem, or in the hands of his sons, who had them along with the spoil they took there; so the Targum of Jonathan,"they delivered, into the hand of Jacob all the idols of the people which were in their hands, which they had took of the idols of Shechem:" and all their earrings which were in their ears ; not the earrings that women wore in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 35:5

And they journeyed ,.... Jacob and his family, with all that were with them, from Shechem to Bethel: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them ; an exceeding great panic seized the inhabitants of the cities of the land of Canaan, all about Shechem, which was from God himself impressing it on their minds, through what the sons of Jacob had done to that city: and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob ; as it might have been thought they would, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 35:6

So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is Bethel ,.... The place Jacob had called Bethel, when he was there before, was formerly called Luz, Genesis 28:19 ; and is here said to be in the land of Canaan, that is, in that part of the land which was inhabited by those who were properly called Canaanites, to distinguish it from another Luz, which was in the land of the Hittites; Judges 1:26 , he and all the people that were with him ; wives, children, servants,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 35:7

And he built there an altar ,.... As he was bid to do, and as he promised he would, Genesis 35:1 , and called the place Elbethel ; the God of Bethel; a title which God takes to himself, Genesis 31:13 ; or rather the sense is, that he called the place with respect God, or because of his appearance to him there, Bethel, confirming the name he had before given it, Genesis 36:19 ; see Genesis 35:15 ; as the following reason shows: because there God appeared ; or the divine... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 35:1

Arise, go up to Beth-el - The transaction that had lately taken place rendered it unsafe for Jacob to dwell any longer at the city of Shechem; and it seems that while he was reflecting on the horrible act of Simeon and Levi, and not knowing what to do, God graciously appeared to him, and commanded him to go up to Beth-el, build an altar there, and thus perform the vow he had made, Genesis 28:20 , Genesis 28:22 . read more

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