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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 28:16-22

God manifested himself and his favour to Jacob when he was asleep and purely passive; for the spirit, like the wind, blows when and where he listeth, and God's grace, like the dew, tarrieth not for the sons of men, Mic. 5:7. But Jacob applied himself to the improvement of the visit God had made him when he was awake; and we may well think he awaked, as the prophet did (Jer. 31:26), and behold his sleep was sweet to him. Here is much of Jacob's devotion on this occasion. I. He expressed a great... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 28:17

How dreadful is this place! - The appearance of the ladder, the angels, and the Divine glory at the top of the ladder, must have left deep, solemn, and even awful impressions on the mind of Jacob; and hence the exclamation in the text, How dreadful is this place! This is none other but the house of God - The Chaldee gives this place a curious turn: "This is not a common place, but a place in which God delights; and opposite to this place is the gate of heaven." Onkelos seems to suppose that... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 28:18

And Jacob - took the stone - and set it up for a pillar - He placed the stone in an erect posture, that it might stand as a monument of the extraordinary vision which he had in this place; and he poured oil upon it, thereby consecrating it to God, so that it might be considered an altar on which libations might be poured, and sacrifices offered unto God. See Genesis 35:14 . The Brahmins anoint their stone images with oil before bathing; and some anoint them with sweet-scented oil. This... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 28:19

He called the name of that place Beth-el - That is, the house of God; for in consequence of his having anointed the stone, and thus consecrated it to God, he considered it as becoming henceforth his peculiar residence; see on the preceding verse. This word should be always pronounced as two distinct syllables, each strongly accented, Beth-El. Was called Luz at the first - The Hebrew has לוז אולם Ulam Luz , which the Roman edition of the Septuagint translates Ουλαμλουζ Oulamlouz ;... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 28:17

Verse 17 17.And he was afraid, and said. It seems surprising that Jacob should fear, when God spoke so graciously to him; or that he should call that place “dreadful,” where he had been filled with incredible joy. I answer, although God exhilarates his servants, he at the same time inspires them with fear, in order that they may learn, with true humility and self-denial, to embrace his mercy. We are not therefore to understand that Jacob was struck with terror, as reprobates are, as soon as God... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 28:18

Verse 18 18.And Jacob rose up early. Moses relates that the holy father was not satisfied with merely giving thanks at the time, but would also transmit a memorial of his gratitude to posterity. Therefore he raised a monument, and gave a name to the place, which implied that he thought such a signal benefit of God worthy to be celebrated in all ages. For this reason, the Scripture not only commands the faithful to sing the praises of God among their brethren; but also enjoins them to train... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 28:19

Verse 19 19.And he called the name of that place Beth-el. It may appear absurd that Moses should speak of that place as a city, respecting which he had a little while before said that Jacob had slept there in the open air; for why did not he seek an abode, or hide himself in some corner of a house? But the difficulty is easily solved, because the city was not yet built; neither did the place immediately take the name which Jacob had assigned, but lay long concealed. Even when a town was... read more

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