Genesis 35:1-2

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 35:1

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

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 35:2

Put away the strange gods - הנכר אלהי elohey hannechar , the gods of the foreigners, which were among them. Jacob's servants were all Syrians, and no doubt were addicted less or more to idolatry and superstition. These gods might belong to them, or, as some have conjectured, they were the teraphim which Rachel stole; but these have already been supposed to be astrological tables, or something of this kind, called by Laban his gods, because by them he supposed he could predict future... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 35:1

Verse 1 1.And God said unto Jacob. Moses relates that when Jacob had been reduced to the last extremity, God came to his help in the right time, and as at the critical juncture. And thus he shows, in the person of one man, that God never deserts his Church which he has once embraced, but will procure its salvation. We must, however, observe the order of his procedure; for God did not immediately appear to his servant, but suffered him first to be tormented by grief and excessive cares, that he... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 35:2

Verse 2 2.Then Jacob said unto his household. The prompt obedience of Jacob is here described. For when he heard the voice of God, he neither doubted nor disputed with himself respecting what was necessary to be done: but, as he was commanded, he quickly prepared himself for his journey. But to show that he obeyed God, he not only collected his goods, but also purified his house from idols. For if we desire that God should be propitious to us, all hindrances are to be removed, which in any way... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 35:1

And God —Elohim. The employment of this name for the Deity throughout the present chapter has been deemed conclusive evidence that, with Rome Jehovistic alterations, it belongs to the fundamental document (Tuch, Bleek, Delitzsch, Kalisch, et alii ) ; but the frequent allusions to Genesis 28:13-16 , which by partitionists is almost universally assigned to the Jehovist, prove that both sections have proceeded from the same author, and that, "though the mention of the name is avoided,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 35:1-2

Spiritual renovation. Spiritual life is a thing of growth; never finished here ( Philippians 3:13 ; Hebrews 6:1 ). No doubt the all-important question is, Art thou in Christ? And in every Christian life there is a point, known to God, when the soul passes from death to life ( 1 John 5:12 ). For by nature children of wrath. Still there is a life's work. The spirit may have chosen Christ; but the flesh is weak, and the law of sin still works. Most commonly in such a life certain times... 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

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