Genesis 35:21-22

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 35:21-29

Here is, 1. Jacob's removal, Gen. 35:21. He also, as his fathers, sojourned in the land of promise as in a strange country, and was not long in a place. Immediately after the story of Rachel's death he is here called Israel (Gen. 35:21, 22), and not often so afterwards: the Jews say, ?The historian does him this honour here because he bore that affliction with such admirable patience and submission to Providence.? Note, Those are Israels indeed, princes with God, that support the government of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 35:21

And Israel journeyed ,.... Having stayed near Bethlehem, as it is said, about two months F8 Shalshalet Hakabala, fol. 5. 2. ; this is the first time Jacob is by Moses called Israel, after this name, was given him; the reason of which the Jews say is, because he bore the death of Rachel with so much patience: and spread his tent beyond the tower of Eder ; which was a place of pasturage, and fit for his flocks, see Micah 4:8 ; it was about a mile from Bethlehem to the south F9 ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 35:22

And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land ,.... In that part of it near Bethlehem: that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine ; his concubine wife; she was the maid that Rachel gave him, and this added to his affliction, and made it double, to lose Rachel by death, and to have her favourite maid, his concubine, defiled by his own son, and whom it is highly probable he abstained from hereafter. This, though a very heinous sin of his son's, yet might be suffered... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 35:21

Tower of Edar - Literally, the tower of the flock, and so translated Micah 4:8 . It is supposed that this tower was about a mile from Bethlehem, and to have been the place where the angels appeared to the shepherds. The Targum of Jonathan expressly says: "It is the place in which the King Messiah shall be manifested in the end of days." By the tower of the flock we may understand a place built by the shepherds near to some well, for the convenience of watering their flocks, and keeping... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 35:22

Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine - Jonathan, in his Targum, says that Reuben only overthrew the bed of Bilhah, which was set up opposite to the bed of his mother Leah, and that this was reputed to him as if he had lain with her. The colouring given to the passage by the Targumist is, that Reuben was incensed, because he found Bilhah preferred after the death of Rachel to his own mother Leah; and therefore in his anger he overthrew her couch. The same sentiment is... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 35:22

Verse 22 22.Reuben went and lay with Bilhah. A sad and even tragic history is now related concerning the incestuous intercourse of Reuben with his mother-in-law. Moses, indeed, calls Bilhah Jacob’s concubine: but though she had not come into the hands of her husband, as the mistress of the family and a partaker of his goods; yet, as it respected the bed, she was his lawful wife, as we have before seen. If even a stranger had defiled the wife of the holy man, it would have been a great disgrace;... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 35:16-29

These family records mingle well with the story of God's grace. The mothers " Ben-oni " is the father's " Benjamin ." Out of the pain and the bereavement sometimes comes the consolation. A strange blending of joy and sorrow is the tale of human love. But there is a higher love which may draw out the pure stream of peace and calm delight from that impure fountain. Jacob and Esau were separated in their lives, but they met at their father's grave. Death is a terrible divider, but a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 35:21

And Israel (or Jacob) journeyed (from Ephrath, after the funeral of Rachel), and spread — i.e. unfolded ( Genesis 12:8 ; Genesis 26:25 )— his tent beyond the tower of Edar —literally, to, i.e. not trans (Vulgate), ultra (Dathe), but ad, usque (Rosenmüller), as far as Migdol Edar, the Tower of the Flock—probably a turret, or watch-tower, erected for the convenience of shepherds in guarding their flocks ( 2 Kings 18:8 ; 2 Chronicles 26:10 ; 2 Chronicles 27:4 ),—the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 35:22

And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine :—an act of incest (Le Genesis 18:8 ) for which he was afterwards disinherited ( Genesis 49:4 ; 1 Chronicles 5:1 )— and Israel heard it . The hiatus in the text and the break in the MS . at this point may both have been designed to express Jacob's grief at the tidings. The LXX . add feebly καὶ πονηρὸν ἐφάνη ἐναντίον αὐτοῦ , which surely fails to represent... 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

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