The condition of circumcision Before CHRIST GENESIS. 4 And Shechem spake unto his about 1732. father Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to wife. 5 And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter: now his sons were with his cattle in the field: and Jacob held his peace until they were come. 6¶ And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to commune with him. 7 And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob's daughter; which thing ought not to be done. 8 And Hamor communed with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter: I pray you give her him to wife. 9 And make ye marriages with us, and give your daughters unto us, and take our daughters unto you. 10 And ye shall dwell with us: and the land shall be before you; dwell and trade ye therein, and get you possessions therein. 11 And Shechem said unto her father and unto her brethren, Let me find grace in your eyes, and what ye shall say unto me I will give. 12 Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me but give me the damsel to wife. 13 And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister: 14 And they said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us: 15 But in this will we consent unto you: If ye will be as we be, she ventured to go to, desirous of seeing the fine spectacles and fashions of the place. Stackhouse. 7.- wrought folly in Israel] Or, against Israel. Committed a wickedness highly to the disgrace and injury of Israel's family. Bp. Patrick. 12. Ask me never so much dowry] This shews more fully, that the custom was (as noted before, chap. xxix. 18,) for men to give money for their wives. But there was a greater reason for a dowry now, and that a large one, to make compensation for the wrong he had done. For there was a natural equity in those laws of Moses, Exod. xxii. 16, and Deut. xxii. 28, 29, by which men were bound to make satisfaction to the families, if either by enticement or violence they had abused their offered to the Shechemites: that every male of you be circumcised; 16 Then will we give our daughters unto you, and we will take your daughters to us, and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people. 17 But if ye will not hearken unto us, to be circumcised; then will we take our daughter, and we will be gone. 18 And their words pleased Hamor, and Shechem Hamor's son. 19 And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob's daughter: and he was more honourable than all the house of his father. 20 ¶ And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying, 21 These men are peaceable with us; therefore let them dwell in the land, and trade therein; for the land, behold, it is large enough for them; let us take their daughters to us for wives, and let us give them our daughters. 22 Only herein will the men consent unto us for to dwell with us, to be one people, if every male among us be circumcised, as they are circumcised. 23 Shall not their cattle and their substance and every beast of their's be our's? only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us. 24 And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city. 25 ¶ And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brethren, took Before CHRIST about 1732. 26 And they slew Hamor and +Heb.mouth. Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem's house, and went out. 27 The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister. 1 God sendeth Jacob to Beth-el. CHAP. XXXV. 28 They took their sheep, and A ND God said unto Jacob, Arise, their oxen, and their asses, and that 29 And all their wealth, and all 30 And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites and I being few in number they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house. 31 And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot ? injury done to her honour, they were the chief contrivers and conductors of it: but it is to be supposed, that their domesticks were engaged in the execution of it. Nothing is more known and common in history, than to ascribe an action, especially in military affairs, to the chief commanders in it, however many underagents they may employ. Stackhouse. slew all the males.] Though this was a base action, yet God permitted it, to punish the sin of Shechem, and the connivance of his father. Bp. Wilson. The women and children were always spared in the most deadly wars. As when the Midianites were killed, Numb. xxxi. 7.9; and the Edomites, 1 Kings xi. 16. And so Moses commanded they should do even with the Canaanites, Deut. xx. 13, 14. Bp. Patrick. 26. And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son] To execute rigour upon a submissive offender, is more merciless than just or if the punishment had been both just and proportionable from another, yet from them, who had avowed peace and affinity, it was shamefully unjust. To disappoint the trust of another, and to neglect our own promise and fidelity for private purposes, adds faithlessness unto our cruelty. That they were impotent, was caused by their circumcision: what impiety was this! instead of honouring a holy sign, to take an advantage by it! Bp. Hall. Before CHRIST about 1732. go up to Beth-el, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee a when a Chap. 27. thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother. 2 Then Jacob said unto his houshold, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments: 3 And let us arise, and go up to Beth-el; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went. 4 And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid 43. Chap. XXXV. ver. 2. - Put away the strange gods that are among you,] Hence it is supposed, that some of Jacob's family were addicted to idolatry. But "the strange gods," or "the gods of the stranger," as the words may be rendered, probably mean the gods of the Shechemites, whom Jacob's sons had taken captive, and brought into his family. These were to be put away, in order to preserve in his family that purity of worship, which he designed to keep up among them. Shuckford. be clean, and change your garments:] The manner in which Jacob required his domesticks to purify themselves, was by washing their bodies, and putting on fresh apparel. This was a custom among other nations, as well as the Jews: and may be regarded as an external profession of the purity of heart and mind, with which persons should approach God in solemn and religious offices. Bp. Patrick. 4.- and all their earrings which were in their ears ;] Besides the earrings, which were for ornament, there were others worn in the nature of amulets or charms, Jacob's name is changed. Before CHRIST them under the oak which was by | even a pillar of stone: and he poured about 1732. Shechem. b Chap. 28. 19. That is, the God of Beth-el. That is, the oak of weeping. c Chap. 32. 28. 5 And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob. 6 So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is Beth-el, he and all the people that were with him. 7 And he built there an altar, and called the place || El-beth-el: because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother. 8 But Deborah Rebekah's nurse died, and she was buried beneath Beth-el, under an oak: and the name of it was called || Allon-bachuth. 9 And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him. 10 And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel. 11 And God said unto him, I am God Almighty be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins; 12 And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land. 13 And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him. 14 And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, or for some other superstitious uses; having the effigies of some false god, or some symbolical notes, in which was fancied to be a power to preserve them from evil. Bp. Patrick. I have seen some Eastern earrings with figures upon them, and strange characters, which, I believe, may be talismans or charms, or perhaps nothing but the amusement of old women. The Indians say they are preservatives against enchantment. Perhaps the earrings of Jacob's family were of this kind. Sir J. Chardin. 8. — Deborah Rebekah's nurse died,] She attended Rebekah on her marriage with Isaac. Jacob had probably been at his father's house before this time; and Rebekah being dead, Deborah was desirous of living with his wives, who were her country-women. Bp. Patrick. Mons". Savary, speaking of the Egyptian women, says, "When circumstances compel them to have recourse to a nurse, she is not looked upon as a stranger. She becomes part of the family, and passes the rest of her life in the midst of the children she has suckled. She is honoured and cherished like a second mother." Before CHRIST a drink offering thereon, and he about 1732. poured oil thereon. 15 And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Beth-el. 16 And they journeyed from Beth-el; and there was but a little + Heb. a little piece of way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel ground. travailed, and she had hard labour. 17 And it came to pass when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also. 1729. So this Syrian nurse continued until her death with Rebekah's family, and was buried with great solemnity of mourning: since the oak, under which she was buried, was from that time distinguished by the name of the oak of weeping. Harmer. 16. Ephrath:] Which is Beth-lehem, ver. 19, called Beth-lehem Ephratah, Mic. v. 2, where Christ was born. Bp. Kidder. 20. And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave:] This monument of Rachel's is the first that we read of in Scripture. It was certainly standing, when Moses wrote, as appears from this verse; and mention is made of it, just before Saul was anointed king, 1 Sam. x. 2. The monument, now shewn for it, is a modern and Turkish structure; for though the work is rude enough, and without any ornament, yet the whole is as entire, as if it had been only just made. Maundrell. Reuben went] Moses mentions this, that he may give us a true account, why the right of inheritance, which was originally in Reuben, was transferred to Joseph; and the kingdom, or right of dominion, which was forfeited by his transgression, was conferred Esau's generations; and the CHAP. XXXV, XXXVI. dukes which descended of his sons. 1716. 26 And the sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid; Gad, and Asher: these are the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padan-aram. 27 And Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamre, unto the city of Arbah, which is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned. 28 And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years. 29 And Isaac gave up the ghost, e Chap. 25. 8. and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him. about 1796. about 1760. a 1 Chron. 1. 35. about 1740. CHAP. XXXVI. 1 Esau's three wives. 6 His removing to mount Seir. 9 His sons. 15 The dukes which descended of his sons. 20 The sons and dukes of Seir. 24 Anah findeth mules. 31 The kings of Edom. 40 The dukes that descended of Esau. TOW these are the generations Nor Esau, who is Edom. 2 Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan; Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite; 3 And Bashemath Ishmael's daughter, sister of Nebajoth. 4 Anda Adah bare to Esau Eliphaz; and Bashemath bare Reuel; 5 And Aholibamah bare Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah: these are the sons of Esau, which were born unto him in the land of Canaan. 6 And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all + Heb. souls. the + persons of his house, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all his substance, which he had got in the land of Canaan; and went into the country from the face of his brother Jacob. 7 For their riches were more than on the tribe of Judah: and that he might furnish his countrymen with matter for humiliation, by giving them to understand, from this and the like instances, that it was not their merit, but purely God's mercy, that advanced them to the honour of being his peculiar people. Stackhouse. 26.-born to him in Padan-aram.] All except Benjamin. 27.-Jacob came unto Isaac his father] To dwell with him, and to be the comfort of his old age. Bp. Patrick. Isaac had the comfort of seeing the promise of God, in this instance of earthly prosperity, made good to himself and to Abraham; as a sure pledge that the spi C 10 These are the names of Esau's sons; Eliphaz the son of Adah the c1 Chron. 1. wife of Esau, Reuel the son of Bashemath the wife of Esau. 11 And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz. 12 And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau's son; and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek: these were the sons of Adah Esau's wife. 13 And these are the sons of Reuel; Nahath, and Zerah, Shammah, and Missah: these were the sons of Bashemath Esau's wife. 14 And these were the sons of Aholibamah, the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon, Esau's wife: and she bare to Esau Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah. 35, &c. 15 These were dukes of the sons about 1715. of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz the firstborn son of Esau; duke Teman, duke Omar, duke Zepho, duke Kenaz, 16 Duke Korah, duke Gatam, and duke Amalek: these are the dukes that came of Eliphaz in the land of Edom; these were the sons of Adah. 17 And these are the sons of Reuel Esau's son; duke Nahath, duke Zerah, duke Shammah, duke Mizzah: these are the dukes that came of Reuel in the land of Edom; these are the sons of Bashemath Esau's wife. 18 And these are the sons of Aholibamah Esau's wife; duke Jeush, duke Jaalam, duke Korah: these were ritual promises, that "in their Seed all the nations of the earth should be blessed," would be made good in God's due time. Bp. Wilson. his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.] As Isaac and Ishmael had buried Abraham. Hence it appears the friendship between Esau and Jacob continued after their interview on Jacob's return. Bp. Patrick. Chap. XXXVI. ver. 2. Esau took his wives] They had probably several names as well as he. Bp. Kidder. See chap. xxvi. 34. 15. These were dukes] Heads, chiefs, or rulers of families. Bp. Patrick. 1 The kings of Edom. Before CHRIST the dukes that came of Aholibamah | reigned in Edom: and the name of about 1715. the daughter of Anah, Esau's wife. about 1780. about 1676. 24. 21 And Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan: these are the dukes of the Horites, the children of Seir in the land of Edom. 22 And the children of Lotan were Hori and Hemam; and Lotan's sister was Timna. 23 And the children of Shobal were these; Alvan, and Manahath, and Ebal, Shepho, and Onam. 24 And these are the children of Zibeon; both Ajah, and Anah: this was that Anah that found the mules in the wilderness, as he fed the asses of Zibeon his father. 25 And the children of Anah were these; Dishon, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah. 26 And these are the children of Dishon; Hemdan, and Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran. 27 The children of Ezer are these; Bilhan, and Zaavan, and Akan. 28 The children of Dishan are these; Uz, and Aran. 29 These are the dukes that came of the Horites; duke Lotan, duke Shobal, duke Zibeon, duke Anah, 30 Duke Dishon, duke Ezer, duke Dishan: these are the dukes that came of Hori, among their dukes in the land of Seir. 31 ¶ And these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the children of Israel. 32 And Bela the son of Beor that found the mules in the wilderness,] Or, that discovered springs of warm water, or encountered the Emim, a gigantick people, whom he overthrow. Calmet. 31.-before there reigned any king over the children of Israel.] Moses having recently mentioned the promise of God to Jacob, that "kings should come out of his loins," observes it as remarkable, that Esau's posterity should have so many kings, and yet there was no king in Israel when he wrote this book. Moses might have written this by inspiration; or he might well write it without a spirit of prophecy; and we might affirm, if necessary, that his meaning is, "All these were kings in Edom, before his own time;" who was, in a certain sense, the first king in Israel, Deut. xxxiii. 5; for he his city was Dinhabah. 33 And Belah died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his stead. 34 And Jobab died, and Husham of the land of Temani reigned in his stead. 35 And Husham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad, who smote Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Avith. 36 And Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his stead. 37 And Samlah died, and Saul of Rehoboth by the river reigned in his stead. 38 And Saul died, and Baalhanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead. 39 And Baal-hanan the son of Achbor died, and Hadar reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Pau; and his wife's name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab. Before CHRIST about 1676. 40 And these are the names of the about 1496. dukes that came of Esau, according to their families, after their places, by their names; duke Timnah, duke Alvah, duke Jetheth, 41 Duke Aholibamah, duke Elah, duke Pinon, 42 Duke Kenaz, duke Teman, duke Mibzar, 43 Duke Magdiel, duke Iram: these be the dukes of Edom, according to their habitations in the land of their possession: he is Esau the father of the Edomites. t CHAP. XXXVII. 2 Joseph is hated of his brethren. 5 His two dreams. 13 Jacob sendeth him to visit his brethren. 18 His brethren conspire his + Heb. Edom. truly exercised royal authority over them, as Selden observes. Bp. Patrick. See the note on Deut. xxxiii. 5. Chap. XXXVII. The history of Joseph sets before our eyes such a scene of the wonders of Providence, as will confirm our faith in God. His brethren conspire to kill him: God sends a company of merchants at that very moment to buy him. A thousand others might have purchased him in the land of Egypt: but God had trials for him to pass through, and work for him to do, in the palace of the king. Thither he is to be sold. In the next place we find him run the hazard of his very life, rather than do what he knew would displease God: and God rewarded him for it, beyond what Potiphar could do for him. The very dreams of Pharaoh |