Bible Commentaries
Genesis 28

Verse 1

blessed. This blessing God endorses (verses: Genesis 28:13-15 ), by sending Jacob to Haran, as he had blessed Abraham to bring him from Haran (Genesis 12:1-3 ).

Thou shalt not take. See Genesis 24:3 .

Verse 2

Padan-arain the plain of Syria.

Verse 3

And. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton in verses: Gen 28:28 , Genesis 28:3 and Genesis 28:4 ( App-6 ), marking 4 items in blessing. See App-10 .

GOD ALMIGHTY. EI Shaddai. See App-4 .

multitude: or convocation. Hebrew. kahal. First occurance. Occurs 123 times: rendered "multitude" 3, "assembly" 17, "congregation" 86, "company" 17. "Compare Genesis 49:6 . Psalms 22:22 , Psalms 22:25 .

people. Hebrew peoples.

Verse 4

wherein thou art a stranger. Hebrew of thy sojournings.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

Verse 6

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton , emphasizing (verses: Genesis 28:6-8 ) the effort of Esau to note what would please his parents.

Canaan. Compare Genesis 24:3 , and remember who these Canaanites were. See note on Genesis 12:6 .

Verse 8

pleased not. Compare Genesis 26:35 .

Verse 9

Mahalath. She had a second name, Bashemath, See Genesis 36:3 .

Verse 10

And. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ), emphasizing the items in verses: Genesis 28:10-15 .

Verse 11

of the stones. Hebrew from; i.e. one from among them. Compare verses: Genesis 28:18 , Genesis 28:22 .

Verse 12

ladder. Hebrew. sullam, from salal, to pile up like terraces; a way cast up, stairway. Occurs only here. Compare Isaiah 35:8-10 ; Isaiah 57:14 ; Isaiah 62:10 .

Verse 13

the LORD = Jehovah.

above it. The Hebrew accent ( zark'a) emphasizes this as meaning "beside him" (Compare Genesis 18:2 , where 'al is rendered "by"). It is not the angels, but the Divine faithfulness and promise, which mark "this place" (verses: Genesis 28:16 , Genesis 28:17 ) and make it "the house of God".

to thee. As He had said to Abraham (Genesis 13:15 ) and to Isaac (Genesis 26:3 ). See note on Genesis 50:24 .

will I. Note the "shalls" and "wills" in this and all these repetitions of Jehovah's covenant.

Verse 14

dust . . . &c. Figure of speech Paroemia. App-6 . See on Genesis 15:5 .

in thee. Mark the personal gift, and see note on Genesis 17:7 and Genesis 50:24 .

all. This can be fulfilled only in Christ.

I will not leave thee. This promise first made, here, to Jacob for covenant grace; to the People, for journey (Deuteronomy 31:6 ); to Joshua, for conflict (Joshua 1:5 , Joshua 1:8 ); to Solomon, for work (1 Chronicles 28:20 ); to us, for daily provision (Hebrews 13:5 , Hebrews 13:6 ).

Verse 16

Surely. Figure of speech Ecphonesis. App-6 .

this place. See on the word "above", Genesis 28:13 .

Verse 17

the house of God. This "house" is the place where God meets the unworthy in grace. It was so with David (1 Chronicles 22:1 ). It is so for us. Our "place of worship" is where God manifests Himself to us in grace. "The God of all grace" is emphatically "the God of Jacob" (Psalms 146:5 ).

Verse 18

the stone. See Genesis 28:11 . Not the so-called "Coronation stone" in London: inasmuch as the heads of the "Geological Survey of Great Britain" unanimously declared that "no stone of that kind was to be found in any part of the Holy Land whence it traditionally comes". Prof. Ramsay also pronounced it as being "not known to occur in Egypt or in the rocks around Bethel".

pillar. Afterwards forbidden. Leviticus 26:1 .Deuteronomy 16:22 .

poured oil. A law before Moses. See App-15 .

Verse 19

Beth-el. Hebrew the house of El.

Verse 20

vowed a vow = made a solemn vow. Figure of speech Polyptoton. App-6 . The first recorded vow.

Verse 22

this stone. See verses: Genesis 28:11 , Genesis 28:18 .

God's house. Hebrew. Beth-elohim, not Beth-el.

tenth. See App-15 and Compare Genesis 14:20 .