Ver. l. Arise, go up to Bethel.] This is not the first time that God tells him of that vow, and calls for performance. See Genesis 31:13. It is with us, as with children—Eaten bread is soon forgotten: deliverances, commonly, are but nine days’ wonderment at most; and it is ten to one, that any leper returns to give praise to God. If anything arouse and raise up our hearts to thankful remembrance of former mercy, it must be the sense of some present misery, as here. Jacob was in a great strait and fright: his sons had troubled him; the country was ready to rise upon him, and root him out: God also was justly displeased with him for his forgotten vow; yet chides him not, now that he was in heaviness; but takes his opportunity, for we are best when at worst, and gently minds him of what was his duty, and would be for his safety. Numa is said to have put so much confidence in his gods, that when he was sacrificing and news came that the enemy was at hand, he laughed, and said, At ego rein divinam facio. Those Philistines were even ambitious of destruction, and ran to meet their ruin, that gathered themselves against Israel, while they were sacrificing and serving the Lord in their meet at Mizpeh. (1 Samuel 7:7) The Church, in her worship, is “terrible as an army with banners”; (Song of Solomon 6:10) “a cup of trembling to all the people round about”; “a burdensome stone for all people”; “a torch of fire in a sheaf.” (Zechariah 12:2,3,6) He is a mad man that will meddle with her while she is upon good terms with Christ, her Champion. (Isaiah 37:22) Balaam knew this, and therefore gave that villanous counsel. All Germany was in arms against that handful of Hussites in Bohemia, yet could not suppress them. Geneva, a small people, surrounded with enemies, and barred from aid of neighbours, yet faithful with God, hath been hitherto strangely upheld. At the siege of Mountabone in France, the people of God, using daily humiliation, as their service would permit, did sing a Psalm after, and immediately before, their sallying forth. With which practice the enemy coming acquainted, ever, upon the singing of the Psalm, upon which they expected a sally, they would so quake and tremble, crying, They come, they come, as though the wrath of God had been breaking out upon them. Εγω δε ηυω — Plut Germani nondum, viso hoste, Danico terrore perculsi diffugerunt. -Pareus. Spec. Belli Sacri, 282.
Ver. 2. Then Jacob said unto his household.] So Gideon began his reformation at his father’s house. David also would walk wisely in the midst of his house; and this he calls “a perfect way,” a sign of sincerity. (Psalms 101:2) This Psalm Bishop Ridley read over often to his family, hiring them to learn it by heart; and taking care that they might be a spectacle to all others of virtue and honesty. Put away the strange gods.] Strange it was that such idols should be suffered among them. Calvin thinks that Jacob winked at Rachel’s superstition, of a blind love to her; as Solomon gratified his mistresses of Moab. I should think rather that they were the idols of Shechem, brought into the house either by Jacob’s sons and servants, or by the captive women. Be clean, and change your garments.] God is to be approached unto with the best preparation we can make. Heathens saw that God is not to be drawn nigh unto, hand over head, but preparation to be made at home. We wash us every day; but, when to dine with great ones, we wash us with balls, and put on our best. Ουκ εκ παροδου προσκυνειν, αλλ ´ οικοθεν παρεσκυασμενοι.— Plut. Heathens had their caena pura before their solemn sacrifices.— Godw., Antiq.
Ver. 3. And was with me in the way, &c.] Deducendo, reducendo, fraenumque socero, fratri, finitimisque Shecemi inieciendo, ne me ullo pacto laederent, saith Junius. All this called for thankfulness. Prayer and thanks should be like the double motion of the lungs. The air that is sucked in by prayer should be breathed out again by praises. God had heard Jacob; now he should hear of him.
Ver. 4. And they gave unto Jacob.] Now they were in danger of destruction, they would do anything. So those false Israelites, when God “slew them, then they sought him.” (Psalms 78:34) So many, when they are deadly sick, are wondrous good; as William Rufus, who vowed, upon his recovery, to see all vacancies furnished. In the sweating sickness, so long as the ferventness of the plague lasted, there was crying, Peccavi, peccavi: the ministers were sought for in every corner—You must come to nay lord, you must come to my lady, &c. The walnut tree is most fruitful when most beaten. Fish thrive best in cold and salt waters. The most plentiful summer follows upon the hardest winter. David was never so tender as when hunted like a partridge; nor Jonah so watchful, prayerful, as in the whale’s belly. When men suffer for their sin, (Lamentations 3:39,41) hands and hearts and all are lift up to heaven, that before were as “without God in the world,” and thought they could do well enough without him. A lethargy is commonly cured by a fever; worms killed with aloes; so are crawling lusts by bitter afflictions. Israel under the cross, will “defile” the idols that they had deified; (Isaiah 30:22) and after that they were captives in Babylon, they could never be drawn to that sin, whatever they suffered for their refusal, as under Antiochus. I end, with St Ambrose: Beata anima, quae est instar domus Iacobi, in qua nulla simulachra, nulla effigies vanitatis: Blessed is that soul, that, like Jacob’s house, hath no idol in it. Daniel’s Chro., fol. 58. Dike, Of Deceitf., p. 217. Vigilabat in ceto, qui stertebat in navi.