Genesis 28:18-30:16 NIV

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 28:18

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

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

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 28:10-22

Jacob at Bethel, or heaven opened. I. THE LONELY SLEEPER . 1. His desolate condition . Exiled from home, fleeing from the murderous resentment of a brother, o'er-canopied by the star-lit firmament, remote from human habitation, and encompassed by a heathen population, on the bleak summit of the Bethel plateau, upwards of sixty miles from Beersheba, the wandering son of Isaac makes his evening couch with a stone slab for his pillow, an emblem of many another footsore and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 28:10-22

Jacob's dream. Where revelations had been vouchsafed it was supposed that they would be repeated. The stony pillow on which the weary head rested may be changed by the visitation of Divine grace into the meeting-place of heaven and earth. The morning beams breaking in upon the shadowy refuge of the night are transfigured into a dream of covenant blessing. The ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reached to heaven. Angels of God on the way of mediation, ascending, descending, carrying... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 28:18

And Jacob rose up early in the morning (cf. Genesis 19:27 ; Genesis 22:3 ), and took the stone that he had put for his pillows ( vide supra ), and set it up for a pillar —literally, set it up , a pillar (or something set upright, hence a statue or monument); not as an object of worship, a sort of fetish, but as a memorial of the vision (Calvin, Keil, Murphy; cf. Genesis 31:45 ; Genesis 35:14 ; Joshua 4:9 , Joshua 4:20 ; Joshua 14:1-15 :26; 1 Samuel 7:12 )— and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 28:18-22

The grateful retrospect and the consecrated prospect. I. THE TRUE LIFE is that which starts from the place of fellowship with God and commits the future to him. We can always find a pillar of blessed memorial and consecration. The Bethel . 1. Providential care. 2. Religious privilege. 3. Special communications of the Spirit. God with us as a fact. Our pilgrimage a Bethel all through. II. THE TRUE TESTIMONY that which erects a stone of witness, a Bethel , ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 28:1-22

- 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

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 28:18

Genesis 28:18. He set up the stone for a pillar To mark the place against he came back, and erect a lasting monument of God’s favour to him: and because he had not time now to build an altar here, as Abraham did in the places where God appeared to him, Genesis 12:7, he therefore “poured oil on the top of this stone,” which probably was the ceremony then used in dedicating their altars, as an earnest of his building an altar when he should have conveniencies for it, as afterward he did, in... read more

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

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

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

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

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 28:10-22

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 28:10-22

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 28:18

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 28:18-22

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 28:1-22

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 28:18

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