Bible Commentaries
Genesis 35

Verse 1

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

Jacob. See notes on Genesis 32:28 ; Genesis 43:8 ; Genesis 45:26 , Genesis 45:28 .

Beth-el. House of GOD. Hebrew. El. App-4 (Genesis 28:19 ).

Verse 2

Put away. Purification necessary in going up to Beth-el = the house of God.

strange gods. Doubtless part of the spoils taken from the houses of the Shechemites. Compare Genesis 35:4 , and See Genesis 34:28 , Genesis 34:29 .

be clean. First occurance. Here and always used of ceremonial cleansing

Verse 3

with me. Compare Genesis 28:20 ; Genesis 3:3 ; Gen 3:42 .

Verse 4

Jacob = Supplanter, or Contender. See on Genesis 32:28 ; Genesis 43:8 ; Genesis 45:26 , Genesis 45:28 .

earrings. Showing that the "strange gods" were part of the booty: probably of precious metals.

Verse 5

God. Hebrew. Elohim . App-4 .

Verse 6

Luz. Compare Genesis 28:19 .

Verse 7

El-Beth-el = GOD of the House of GOD.

appeared: or revealed Himself.

his brother. Some Manuscripts, with Samaritan Pentateuch, The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel, Septuagint, Syriac, read "Esau his brother".

Verse 8

Deborah Rebekah's nurse. We hear no more of Rebekah from the time Jacob left home (Genesis 27:45 ), not even of her death! Deborah may have come with a message, or she may, on Rebekah's death, have joined his household.

Allon-bachuth. Hebrew The oak of weeping.

Verse 10

Israel = GOD rules. See note on Genesis 32:28 .

Verse 11

GOD ALMIGHTY = Hebrew. El-Shaddai, GOD the all-bountiful or allsufficient. The title which best accords with the promise here given.

Verse 12

I gave. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject). App-6 . = which I promised to give.

Verse 13

He. i.e. God.

Verse 14

set up a pillar = Hebrew pillared a pillar. Figure of speech Polyptoton. App-6 .

poured a drink offering. See App-15 . First occurrence of "drink offering": afterward provided for in Leviticus 23:13 , Leviticus 23:18 , Leviticus 23:37 , and in Numbers 15:5-10 . Always "poured out, "never drunk.

Verse 16

Ephrath. Hebrew fertility.

Verse 18

her soul = her life. Hebrew. nephesh ( App-13 ), rendered "life" in Genesis 1:20 .

in departing = ebbing away, or failing (Genesis 42:28 . Song of Solomon 5:6 ); or ending (Exodus 23:16 ). In Ezekiel 7:10 rendered "gone forth"; Exodus 23:26 . In Ezekiel 26:18 rendered "departure".

Ben-oni = Son of my sorrow.

Benjamin = Son of my right hand. The word rendered "sorrow" ( 'avon ) is a Homonym, the other meaning being "strength", and is so rendered in Genesis 49:3 .Deuteronomy 21:17 . Job 18:7 , Job 18:12 &c. It is rendered "mourning" in Deuteronomy 26:14 .Hosea 9:4 . This Homonym is the basis of Jacobs change of Benjamin's name. The Authorized Version and Revised Version both recognize this Homonym.

Verse 19

Beth-lehem = House of bread.

Verse 20

grave. Hebrew. keber, first Occurance. Genesis 23:4 . = A sepulchre, from kabar to bury. Not sheol, which = THE grave. Compare App-35 .

unto this day. Wellknown in the days of Samuel. See 1 Samuel 10:2 .

Verse 22

lay with. Compare Genesis 49:4 .

twelve. The number of governmental perfection. See App-10 . Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Whole), App-6 . For the various orders of the twelve tribes, see App-45 ,

Verse 27

came. It does not follow that Jacob did not often see Isaac. As soon as Isaac was married, Abraham disappears from the history. It is the same with Isaac when Jacob married: and the same with Jacob when Joseph comes into prominence. They do not appear together in the history: but Abraham is described as "dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob " (Hebrews 11:9 ).

Verse 29

and died. Figure of speech Synonymia, for great emphasis. They all mean the same thing, repeated in other words, to add solemnity to the event.

was gathered. See note on Genesis 49:33 . 2 Samuel 12:23 .