(3) Who answered me . . . —The narrative of Jacob’s life, and the detail of God’s providential care of him, would doubtless affect strongly the minds of his followers, and make them ready to abandon their idols, “and worship the God that was Israel’s God” (Genesis 33:20). read more
(4) Earrings.—Earrings seem to have been worn not so much for ornament as for superstitious purposes, being regarded as talismans or amulets. Hence it was from their earrings that Aaron made the golden calf (Exodus 32:2-4).The oak.—Not Abraham’s oak-grove (Genesis 12:6), referred to probably in Judges 9:6; Judges 9:37—the Hebrew word in these three places being êlôn—but that under which Joshua set up his pillar of witness (Joshua 24:26), the tree being in both these places called allâh, or... read more
(5) The terror . . . —Heb., a terror of God, that is, a very great terror (see Genesis 23:6; Genesis 30:8). But to the deeply religious mind of the Hebrew everything that was great and wonderful was the result of the direct working of the Deity. (But see Note on Genesis 48:22.) read more
Genesis 35:2 St. John of the Cross says: 'When the patriarch Jacob wished to go up to the Mount of Bethel in order to build there an altar to God on which he should offer sacrifice, he first gave three commands to his household.' He applies these three commands to the spiritual life of the Christian. The strange gods are the 'outside affections and attachments'. 'Use clean means to get rid of the worldly appetites still left in the soul.' And the third thing we must have in order to reach the... read more
JACOB’S RETURNGenesis 35:1-29"As for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way."- Genesis 48:7The words of the Wrestler at the brook Jabbok, "Let me go, for the day breaketh," express the truth that spiritual things will not submit themselves to sensible tests. When we seek to let the full daylight, by which we discern other objects, stream upon them, they elude our grasp. When we fancy we are on the verge of having our doubts for ever scattered, and our... read more
CHAPTER 35 Jacob at Bethel and Three Deaths 1. The divine commandment (Genesis 35:1 ) 2. The defilement put away (Genesis 35:2-4 ) 3. The journey to Bethel and the altar (Genesis 35:5-7 ) 4. Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, dies (Genesis 35:8 ) 5. God appears to Jacob (Genesis 35:9-15 ) 6. Benoni-Benjamin and Rachel’s death (Genesis 35:16-20 ) 7. The twelve sons of Jacob (Genesis 35:21-26 ) 8. Isaac’s death (Genesis 35:27-29 ) The Lord did not leave Jacob in Shechem amidst the evil... read more
35:2 Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that [were] with him, Put away the strange gods that [are] among you, and be {b} clean, and change your garments:(b) That by this outward act they should show their inward repentance. read more
35:4 And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which [were] in their hand, and [all their] {c} earrings which [were] in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which [was] by Shechem.(e) For in this was some sign of superstition, as in tablets and Agnus deis(a cake of wax, stamped with a lamb bearing a cross or flag, that has been blessed by the Pope). read more
35:5 And they journeyed: and the(d) terror of God was upon the cities that [were] round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.(d) Thus, despite the inconvenience that came before, God delivered Jacob. read more
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Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 35:2
(2) Strange gods.—Besides Rachel’s teraphim, many, probably, of the persons acquired by Jacob at Haran were idolaters, and had brought their gods with them. Besides these, the numerous men and women who formed the”tafs” of the Shechemites were certainly worshippers of false deities. The object, then, of this reformation was not merely to raise Jacob’s own family to a higher spiritual state, but also to initiate the many heathen belonging to their households into the true religion. Outward rites... read more