1: And God (Elohim) said to Jacob (see 32:28; 43:8; 45:26,28), "Arise, go up to Beth-el, and dwell there: and make there an altar to Elohim, That appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother."
2: Then Jacob said to his household, and to all that were with him, "Put away the strange gods that are among you
(purification necessary in going up to Beth-el the house of God. The gods doubtless part of the spoils taken from the house of Shechem. Cp. v.4, and see 34:28,29), and be clean, and change your garments: (First occ. Here and always used of ceremonial cleansing)
3 And let us arise, and go up to Beth-el; and I will make there an altar to Elohim, Who answered me in the day of my
distress, and was with me in the way which I went."
(cp.28:20; 31:3,42)
4: And they gave to Jacob (=supplanter, or contender. Cp.32:28; 43:8; 45:26,28) all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears (showing that "strange gods" were part of the booty: probably of precious metals); and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.
5: And they journeyed: and the terror of God (Elohim) 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 (cp. 28:19), 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 (=God of the house of God): because there God (Elohim) revealed Himself to him, when he fled from the face of his brother.
8: But Deborah Rebekah's nurse died (we hear no more of Rebekah from the time Jacob left home-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), and she was buried beneath Beth-el under the oak: and the name of it was called Allon-bachuth. (=the oak of weeping)
9: And God (Elohim) appeared to Jacob again, when he came out of the plain of Syria, and blessed him.
10: And God (Elohim) said to him, "Your name is Jacob: your name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel (=God rules, see 32:28. His name Israel can have to meanings. Look for context which one is being applied. 1 = a pushy type & 2 = the prince that prevails with God [i.e. not against, as though standing with
16: And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a
little way to come to Ephrath (=fertility): and
Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour.
17: And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said to her, "Fear not; you shall have this son also."
18: And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing
(=ebbing away or failing [42:28. Song 5:6]. In Ezek 7:10 rendered "gone forth"; Ex.23:26. In Ezek 26 :18 rendered "departure), {for she died} that she called his name Benoni (=son of my sorrows): but his father called him Benjamin. (=Son of my right hand. The word rendered sorrow is a Homonym, the other meaning being "strength" and is so rendered in Gen.49:3, Deut.26:14, Hos.9:4. This Homonym is the basis of Jacob's change of Benjamin's name)
1728 B.C.
19: And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Beth-lehem. (=house of bread. Same place Christ was born Who is the Bread of Life.)
20: And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave (first occ. 23:4=a seplechure, from kabar to burry. Not sheol, which = THE grave = hell): that is the pillar of Rachel's grave to this day. (Well-known in the days of Samuel-1 Sam.10:2)
21: And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the
tower of Edar. (=a flock, 1,000 paces from Beth-lehem)
1728 B.C.
22: And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land,
that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine (cp. 49:4): and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve: (#12=the number of governmental perfection, or completeness)
23: The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and
Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun:
24: The sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin:
25: And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid; Dan, and
Naphtali:
26: And the sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid; Gad, and
Asher: these are the sons of Jacob, which were born to him
in the plains of Syria.
27: And Jacob came to Isaac his father to Mamre, to the
city of Arbah, which is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac
sojourned. (It does not follow that Jacob did not often see Isaac. As son 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 history: but Abraham is described as "dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob"-Heb.11:9)
28: And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore
years. (=180)
29: And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died
(for great emphasis, they all mean the same thing, repeated in other words, to add solemnity to the event), and was gathered to his people (see 49:33, 2 Sam.12:23), being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him. (5
"ands", #5=grace)
G A 1. Esau. In Canaan. B a 2-. Adah. b -2. Aholibamah. c 3. Bashemath. B a 4-. Adah's son, Eliphaz. c -4. Bashemath's son, Reuel. b 5. Aholibamah's sn, Jeush, &c. A 6-8. Esau. Removal from Canaan.
2: Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan; Adah (=ornamet, beauty, see 26:34) the daughter of Elon the Hittite,
and Aholibamah (see 26:34) the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite;
3: And Bashemath (see 28:9, her second name was Mahalath) Ishmael's daughter, sister of Nebajoth.
4: And Adah bare to Esau Eliphaz (=God is his strength);
and Bashemath bare Reuel (=friend of God);
5: And Aholibamah bare Jeush (=assembler), and Jaalam (=whom God hides), and Korah (=baldness): these are the sons of Esau, which were born to him in the land of Canaan.
6: And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his
daughters, and all the persons (souls) of his house, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all his substance, which he had got in the land of Canaan (Esau's sons born in the land and went out of it); and went into the country from the face of his brother Jacob.
7: For their riches were more than that they might dwell
together; and the land wherein they were strangers could
not bear them because of their cattle.
8: Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir: Esau is Edom.
H A 9. Sons of Esau (Edom). B a¹ 10-. Eliphaz, Adah's son. b¹ -10. Reuel, Bashemath's son. a² 11,12. Sons of Eliphaz. b² 13. sons of Reuel. C 14. Jeush, &c., Aholibamah's sons. B a³ 15,16. Dukes of Eliphaz (Adah). b³ 17. Dukes of Reuel (Bashemath). C 18. Dukes of Jeush (Aholbamah). A 19-43. Dukes of Edom, &c.9: And these are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in mount Seir (=hairy, shaggy):
10: These are the names of Esau's sons; Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau,
Reuel the son of Bashemath the wife of Esau.
11: And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman (=where came Eliphaz, the south), Omar (=eloquent, talkative), Zepho (=watch-tower), and Gatam
(=a burnt valley), and Kenaz (=hunting).
12: And Timna (=restraint) was concubine to Eliphaz Esau's son; and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek (=dweller in a valley. One of Israel's bitterest foes, which whom Yahaveh has perpetual war, Ex.17:8,14. Cp. Num.24:20, Deut.25:17-19. The land of the Amalekites so called by Fig. Anticipation, anticipating what is going to be, and speaing of future things as present, Gen.14:7): these were the sons of Adah Esau's wife. (The "sons" of Adah are her and grandsons)
13: And these are the sons of Reuel; Nahath (=rest), and Zerah (=ring of the sun), Shammah (=astonishment), and Mizzah (=fear): 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.
15: These were dukes (=chiefs or chieftons) of the sons 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 the dukes that came of Aholibamah the daughter of Anah, Esau's wife.
19: These are the sons of Esau, who is Edom, and these are their dukes.
20: These are the sons of Seir the Horite (the Horites were a branch of the Nephilim, see Gen.6:4), who inhabited the land; Lotan (=covering), and Shobal
(=flowing), and Zibeon (=robber), and Anah
(=one who answers),
21: And Dishon (=antelope), and Ezer (=treasure), and Dishan (=antelope): these are the dukes of the Horites, the children of Seir in the land of Edom.
22: And the children of Lotan were Hori (=cave-dweller) and Hemam (=exterminating); and Lotan's sister was Timna.
23: And the children of Shobal were these; Alvan (=tall), and Manahath (=rest), and Ebal (=stone, bare mountain), Shepho (=bareness), and Onam (=stong).
24: And these are the children of Zibeon; both Ajah
(=clamor), and Anah (=one who answers. This was the Anah who found the hot springs [=to happen on, discover, not invent, to find,not find out. Hence Anah got the name Beeri from Beer, a well, cp.26:24, and to distiquish him from Anah of v.20) 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 (=pleasant), and Eshban (=wise man), and Ithran (=excellence), and Cheran (=lyre).
27: The children of Ezer are these; Bilhan (=modest), and Zaavan (=migratory), and Akan (=sharp-sighted).
28: The children of Dishan are these; Uz (=wooded), and Aran (=wild goat).
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. (The reference is to 17:8 and 35:11. Deut.17:14-20.)
32: And Bela (=destruction) the son of Beor
(=burning or torch) reigned in Edom: and the name of his city was Dinhabah (=the capital city).
33: And Bela died, and Jobab (=a desert) the son of Zerah of Bozrah (=fortress) reigned in his stead.
34: And Jobab died, and Husham (=haste) of the land of Temani reigned in his stead.
35: And Husham died, and Hadad (=mighty) the son of Bedad, who smote Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Avith (=ruins).
36: And Hadad died, and Samlah (=garment) of Masrekah (=vineyard of noble vines) reigned in his stead.
37: And Samlah died, and Saul (=desire) of Rehoboth (=wide places, i.e. streets) by the river Euphrates reigned in his stead.
38: And Saul died, and Baalhanan (=poser of grace, i.e imposter) the son of Achbor (=mouse) reigned in his stead.
39: And Baalhanan the son of Achbor died, and Hadar
(=mighty) reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Pau (=bleating); and his wife's name was Mehetabel (=favored of God), the daughter of Matred (=pushing, forward), the daughter of Mezahab (=waters of gold).
40: And these are the names of the 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.
I A¹ 37:1. Jacob in Canaan. B¹ 37:2-45:28. Sons of Jacob. Posterity (Joseph & brethren). A² 46:1-7 Jacob. Removal to Egypt. B² 46:8-27. Sons of Jacob (Posterity). A³ 46:28-50:14. Jacob. Settlement and death in Egypt. Removal to Canaan. B³ 50:15-26. Sons of Jacob. Posterity (Joseph & brethren).
B¹ C 37:2-36. Joseph in Canaan. D 38:1-30. His brother (Judah). C 39:1-41:57. Joseph in Egypt. D 42:1-45:28. His brethren.
C a 1-4. With his brethren. b 5-11. His dreams (cmmunicated). a 12-17. Seeking hs brethren. b 18-36. His dreams (counteracted).1727 B.C.
5: And Joseph dreamed a dream (=had a significant dream), and he told it to his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.
6: And he said to them, "Hear, I pray you, this dream
which I have dreamed:
7: For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and was set upright (=took it's stand); and, behold,
your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my
sheaf." (=a bow, as a mark of deference)
8: And his brethren said to him, "Shall you indeed reign
over us? or shall you indeed have dominion over us?"
(cp. the rejection of Moses, Ex.2:14; and of Christ, Luke 19:14) And
they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his
words.
9: And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his
brethren, and said, "Behold, I have dreamed a dream more;
and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars
(=the 11 signs of the Zodiac, Joseph being the twelfth. See Num.2:2) made obeisance to me." (cp. 42:6; 43:26; 44:14)
10: And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said to him, "What is this
dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and
your brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to you to
the earth?"
11: And his brethren envied him; but his father observed
the saying.
12: And his brethren went to feed their father's flock in Shechem. (One of the 15 expressions with the "extraordinary points", indicating a doubtful reading, and suggesting that they had gone to feed themselves and make merry. Look around you this day and compare it to the times just before Israel's famine during Joseph's time, and compare Amos 8:11.)
13: And Israel said to Joseph, "Do not your brethren feed the flock in Shechem? (was Joseph afraid after 34:25-30?) come, and I will send you to them." And he said to him, "Here am I".
14: And he said to him, "Go, I pray you, see whether it be well with your brethren, and well with the flocks; and
bring me word again." So he sent him out of the vale of
Hebron, and he came to Shechem.
15: And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was
wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying,
"What do you seek?"
16: And he said, "I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray you, where they feed their flocks." (see v.13)
17: And the man said, "They are departed from this place; for I heard them say, 'Let us go to Dothan.' " (=on the high road to Egypt for caravans from the East) And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan (=two wells).
18: And when they saw him afar off, even before he came
near to them, they conspired against him to slay him.
(cp. Matt.27:1)
19: And they said one to another, "Behold, this
dreamer comes. (Heb.=master or lord, Baal of dreams)
20: Come now therefore, and let us slay him
(emphatic, shows the deliberateness of their actions), and cast him
into some pit, and we will say, 'Some evil beast has devoured him:' and we shall see what will become of
his dreams."
21: And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, "Let us not kill him." (=his soul, nephesh)
22: And Reuben said to them, "Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand
upon him;" {that he might rid him out of their hands, to
deliver him to his father again.}
23: And it came to pass, when Joseph was come to his
brethren, that they stripped Joseph out of his coat, his
coat of many colors that was on him; (see v.3)
24: And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the
pit was empty, there was no water in it.
25: And they sat down to eat bread (showing their indiference. Cp. 42:21 and Matt.27:36): and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a caravan (there was a well-organized trade going in the 16th dynasty) of Ishmeelites (so 39:1. In vv.28 and 36 called
Midianites. Ishmael was the son of Abraham by Hagar-16:11,12. Midian the son of Abraham by Keturah-25:2.
See Judg.8:24,25, where they were mixed together, and were
distinquished only by nose-rings, cp.24:47; 35:4. Ex.32:2
&c.) came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.
26: And Judah said to his brethren, "What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?
27: Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites (a Judas sold Joseph, and a Judas sold Christ. Slaves were in great demand in Egypt), and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh." And his brethren were content. (=listened)
1727 B.C.
28: Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen (see v.25); and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites or twenty (#20=dissapointed expectancy) pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.
29: And Reuben returned to the pit; and, behold, Joseph
was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.
30: And he returned to his brethren, and said, "The child is not; and I, where shall I go?" (as though to hide himself)
31: And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the
goats, and dipped the coat in the blood;
32: And they sent the coat of many colors, and they
brought it to their father; and said, "This have we found:
know now whether it be your son's coat or not."
33: And he knew it, and said, "It is my son's coat; an evil beast has devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces." (Fig. Polyptoton, ""tearing he has been torn". Decieved by the blood of a kid of a goat, as he had decieved his father with the skin of a goat, 27:16. This showing the results of the law "reaping and sowing")
34: And ( the "ands" denote the succesion of steps of Jacob's greif) the Jacob tore his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.
35: And all his sons and all his daughters (=daughters and granddaughters) rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, "For I will go down into the grave (=Sheol, first occ.) to my son
mourning." Thus his father wept for him.
36: And the Midianites sold him into Egypt to Potiphar
(=consecrated to Ra=one of the gods of lower Egypt), an officer of Pharaoh's, and captain of the guard. (Cp. 2 Kings 25:8,11,20: had charge of police, as well as millitary duties)