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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 33:16-20

Here, 1. Jacob comes to Succoth. Having in a friendly manner parted with Esau, who had gone to his own country (Gen. 33:16), he comes to a place where, it should seem, he rested for some time, set up booths for his cattle, and other conveniences for himself and family. The place was afterwards known by the name of Succoth, a city in the tribe of Gad, on the other side Jordan (it signifies booths), that when his posterity afterwards dwelt in houses of stone, they might remember that the Syrian... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 33:17

And Jacob journeyed to Succoth ,.... Perhaps after he had been at Seir, and stayed there some little time. Succoth was on the other side of Jordan, so called by anticipation, for it had its name from what follows; as yet there was no city built here, or at least of this name; afterwards there was, it lay in a valley, and belonged to Sihon king of Heshbon, and was given to the tribe of Gad, Joshua 13:27 ; it is mentioned along with Penuel, and was not far from it, Judges 8:8 . It is said... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 33:18

And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem ,.... Not Salem, of which Melchizedek was king, much less Jerusalem, for it was forty miles from it F23 Bunting's Travels, p. 75. ; more likely Salim near Aenon, where John was baptizing, John 3:23 ; though it perhaps is the same with Shechem; for the words may be read, he "came to Shalem, the city Shechem", a city which Hamor had built, and called by the name of his son Shechem, the same with Sychar, John 4:5 ; this was on this side... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 33:19

And he bought a parcel of a field ,.... Not the whole, but a part of it; this he did, though he was heir of the whole country, because, as yet, the time was not come for him or his to take possession of it: where he had spread his tent ; the ground that it stood upon, and what was adjoining to it, for the use of his cattle: this he bought at the hand of the children of Hamor ; of some one of them, in whose possession it was, and perhaps with the consent of the rest, and before them,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 33:20

And he erected there an altar ,.... To offer sacrifice upon to God, by way of thanksgiving, for the many mercies he had received since he went out of the land of Canaan, whither he was now returned; and especially for his safety in journeying hither from Padanaram, and for deliverance from Laban and Esau, and for all other favours that he and his had been partakers of. And this he also erected for the sake of religious worship, to be continued in his family; he intending to reside here for... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 33:17

Journeyed to Succoth - So called from סכת succoth , the booths or tents which Jacob erected there for the resting and convenience of his family, who in all probability continued there for some considerable time. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 33:18

And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem - The word שלם shalem , in the Samaritan שלום shalom , should be translated here in peace, or in safety. After resting some time at Succoth, which was necessary for the safety of his flocks and the comfort of his family, he got safely to a city of Shechem, in health of body, without any loss of his cattle or servants, his wives and children being also in safety. Coverdale and Matthews translate this word as above, and with them agree the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 33:19

For a hundred pieces of money - The original, קשיטה במאה bemeah kesitah , has been a matter of long and learned discussion among critics. As kesitah signifies a lamb, it may imply that Jacob gave the Hamorites one hundred lambs for the field; but if it be the same transaction that St. Stephen refers to in Acts 7:16 , it was money, τιμης αργυριον , a sum or price of silver, which was given on the occasion. It has been conjectured that the money had the figure of a lamb stamped on... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 33:20

And he erected there an altar - It appears that Jacob had a very correct notion of the providence and mercy of God; hence he says, Genesis 33:5 ; : The children which God hath Graciously given thy servant; and in Genesis 33:11 ; he attributes all his substance to the bounty of his Maker: Take, I pray thee, my blessing - because God hath dealt Graciously with me, and because I have enough. Hence he viewed God as the God of all grace, and to him he erects an altar, dedicating it to God,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 33:17

Verse 17 17.And Jacob journeyed to Succoth. In the word Succoth, as Moses shortly afterwards shows, there is a prolepsis. It is probable that Jacob rested there for some days, that he might refresh his family and his flock after the toil of a long journey; for he had found no quiet resting-place till he came thither. And therefore he gave to that place the name of Succoth, or “Tents,” because he had not dared firmly to plant his foot elsewhere. For though he had pitched tents in many other... read more

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