Genesis 35:4 NIV

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

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 35:4

And - ear-rings which were in their ears - Whether these rings were in the ears of the gods, or in those of Jacob's family, we may rest assured that they were not mere ornaments, but served for superstitious purposes. Ear-rings were certainly worn as amulets and charms, first consecrated to some god, or formed under some constellation, on which magical characters and images were drawn. A very ancient and beautiful one of this kind brought from Egypt, cut out of a solid piece of cornelian,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 35:4

Verse 4 4.And they gave unto Jacob. Though the holy man had his house in suitable subordination; yet as all yielded such prompt obedience to his command by casting away their idols, I doubt not that they were influenced by the fear of danger. Whence also we infer how important it is for us to be aroused from slumber by suffering. For we know how pertinacious and rebellious is superstition. If, in a peaceful and joyous state of affairs, Jacob had given any such command, the greater part of his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 35:1-15

Bethel revisited. I. JACOB 'S JOURNEY TO BETHEL . 1. The occasion of the journey. The crime of his sons had made it necessary that Jacob should leave Shechem and its neighborhood; but it is doubtful if in the circumstances Jacob would have thought of going to Bethel without an express invitation from Heaven, which, however, he got. 2. The object of the journey. This was stated by the Divine communication which Jacob received to be the fulfillment of the vow which... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 35:1-15

God with us. Jacob's settlement with his family at Bethel. This was a solemn renewal of the covenant to the patriarch at the end of his pilgrimage. It was the occasion for a new dedication of himself and his household by vows and offerings, and by separation of themselves from all heathen things and thoughts around the newly-erected altar El-Bethel . I. REVELATION the basis of faith. God went up from him after he had spoken with him, and there he set up a pillar of stone, and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 35:4

And they gave mate Jacob all the strange gods —Rosenmüller thinks these must have been many, since the historian would not otherwise have used the term כֹּל — which were in their hand ( i.e. which they possessed), and all their earrings which were in their ears ;— i.e. those employed for purposes of idolatrous worship, which were often covered with allegorical figures and mysterious sentences, and supposed to be endowed with a talismanic virtue ( 8:21 ; Isaiah 3:20 ; Hosea... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 35:1-29

- The Death of Isaac8. דברה deborâh, Deborah, “bee.” בּכוּת אלּון 'alôn-bākût, Allon-bakuth, “oak of weeping.”16. כברה kı̂brâh, “length stretch.” A certain but unknown distance, a stadium or furlong (Josephus) a hippodrome (Septuagint) which was somewhat longer, a mile (Kimchi). אפרת 'ephrâth, Ephrath, “fruitful or ashy.”18. בן־אוני ben-'ônı̂y, Ben-oni, “son of my pain.” בנימין bı̂nyāmı̂yn, Binjamin, “son of the right hand.”19. לחם בית bēyt-lechem, Beth-lechem, “house of bread.”21. עדר... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 35:4

Genesis 35:4. They gave unto Jacob all the strange gods Rather, the gods of the stranger; and all their ear-rings Either because they had been abused to idolatry and superstition, and were therefore to be destroyed, (Deuteronomy 7:57 and Deuteronomy 12:3,) or for fear they should be so abused. For the Holy Scriptures insinuate, and other writers expressly affirm, that divers heathen nations did wear ear-rings for the honour of their idols, and with the representations or ensigns of their... read more

Donald C. Fleming

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

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

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 35:4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 35:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 35:1-15

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 35:1-15

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 35:4

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 35:1-29

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 35:4

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Genesis 35:1-15

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