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Ver. 5. The terror of God was upon the cities.] The Hebrews tell us, that they pursued Jacob, and were beaten back by him: whereupon he saith, (Genesis 48:22) that he took that country “out of the hand of the Amorites, with his sword and with his bow.” God might send a panic terror upon them as they were fighting against Jacob, and so bridle them from further attempts. The Syrians heard a noise of chariots and horses in the air, (2 Kings 7:7) made by angels, likely; or whether it were but their own fancy, as Judges 9:36, and as the Burgundians took a field of standing corn for an army of fighting men, and fled for their lives. Theodosius, the Emperor, overcame the Persians and Saracens by means of a panic terror smitten into them by God; so that they ran into the river Euphrates, and above a hundred thousand of them perished in the waters. Alsted, Chronol, p. 300.
Ver. 6. So Jacob came to Luz.] Which was thirty miles from Shechem: a long journey for such a large family, who went it with hearts full of heaviness, for, “without were fightings, within fears”: but this was their comfort, they went to see the face of God at Bethel. As they that “passed through the valley of Baca,” though they took many a weary step, yet went “from strength to strength,” because they were to “appear before God in Zion.” (Psalms 84:6,7) Popish pilgrims, though used hardly and put to much expense and inconvenience, yet satisfy themselves in this, I have that I came for, viz., the sight of a dumb idol, as Calvin notes. What, then, should not we suffer to see God in his ordinances? “They shall bring your brethren as an offering to the Lord, upon horses, in chariots, and in litters,” saith the prophet: (Isaiah 66:20) that is, though sick, weakly, and unfit for travel; yet, rather in litters, than not at all.
Ver. 7. Because there God appeared.] Heb., Revelavissent Dii. Not the angels, but the sacred Trinity. [See Trapp on “Ge 1:1”]
Ver. 8. But Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died.] A grave matron she was; of great use while she lived, and much missed when she died. This is not every man’s case. Some have their souls, as swine, for no other use, than, as salt, to keep their bodies from putrefaction. And when they die, they are no more missed than the sweepings of the house, or parings of the nails. Suillo pecori anima pro sale.
Ver. 9. And God appeared, &c.] A sweet allayment of his late heaviness for Deborah, and a gracious preparative to the ensuing loss of Rachel. The joy of the Lord is the Christian man’s strength. (Nehemiah 8:10) One sight of him is enough to carry one through all conditions with comfort. As a man that hath his bones filled with marrow, and that hath abundance of good blood and fresh spirits in his body, he can endure to go with less clothes than another, because he is well lined within; so it is with a heart that hath a great deal of fat and marrow, communion with God, and feeling of his favour; he will go through troubles, in the fail of outward comforts. And as the lily is fresh, and looks fair, though among thorns; so will he, amidst miseries.
Ver. 10. And God said unto him, &c.] It is usual with God to revive and renew the promises with fresh supplies of comforts upon the hearts of his faithful servants, for the further confirmation of their faith and hope. Thus he seals to us at every sacrament, besides those sweet supplies of the Spirit of promise, [επιχορηγια, Philippians 1:19] whereby we are daily sealed to the day of redemption, as the merchant’s goods are signed with his seal. (Ephesians 1:13,4:30)
Ver. 11. I am God Almighty.] This is hardly persuaded; and yet it is the ground of all true comfort and spiritual security. We are apt to measure things according to our own model, as to think God so powerful as our understanding can reach, &c. But, for a finite creature to believe the infinite all-sufficiency of God, he is not able to do it thoroughly without supernatural grace; nor can he be soundly comforted till he comes to comprehend it. Of his will to do us good we doubt not, till, in some measure, we doubt of his power to help.
Ver. 13. And God went up from him.] Not by local ascension; for he is everywhere; but in respect of that visible sign of his glory, which he now withdrew from over, or from upon Jacob. For the righteous are as God’s chariot, say the Hebrews on this text. Compare Song of Solomon 6:12. Where he talked with him.] Prayer is a free and familiar conference or intercourse with God; a parling with his Majesty, as St Paul calls it; [εντευξις, 1 Timothy 2:1] a standing upon interrogatories with him; especially when Satan, sin, and conscience accuse. It was a part of the Persian kings’ silly glory, to keep their greatest subjects from coming near them without special licence. (Esther 4:11) To God we have free access upou all occasions, and are bid to “come boldly.” (Hebrews 4:16) If Seneca could say, Audacter Deum roges, nihil illum de alieno rogaturus; how much more may the faithful Christian, since all is his, God and all! (1 Corinthians 3:22) Moses and Luther could have what they would of God. Fiat voluntas mea, saith Luther; and then he adds, Mea voluntas, Domine, quia tua: Let my will be done; but no otherwise mine, than as thine, Lord.
Ver. 14. And Jacob set up a pillar.] Or, Had set up a pillar, had poured a drink offering, &c., -to wit, Genesis 28:18,19. And now he either repeats it in the presence, and for the edification of his family; or else he repairs the pillar now ruinated, and new consecrates it, by the old name Bethel.
Ver. 16. She had hard labour.] Woman, of all creatures, bringeth forth with most pain and peril, as the philosopher observeth, and experience confirmeth. Her only way is to send for Lady Faith, the best midwife; (1 Timothy 2:15) and thereby to repose upon him whose “voice causeth the hinds to calve,” (Psalms 29:9) which yet, of all brute creatures, bring forth with greatest trouble, “bowing themselves,” bruising their young, and “casting out their sorrows.” (Job 39:3,4) Arist., De Anima., lib. vii.
Ver. 17. Thou shalt have this son also.] So she had “children,” according to her desire; but this last, to her cost, for a chastisement of her strong affections, which drew on strong afflictions; as hard knots must have hard wedges. They that would needs have a penny for their pains, had no joy of their penny: when the end of the day came, (Matthew 20:13) when they were to go into another world, they saw that their penny was no such good silver; that preferment, profit, credit, were but empty things, and could not satisfy. It is best to be moderate in our desires after these outward things; and not so set upon it as to indent with God for such, and so much: this may be dangerous.
Ver. 18. As her soul was in departing,] viz., To God that gave it. It is a spiritual, immortal substance, distinct from the body; and can subsist of itself; as the mariner can, when the ship is broken. For she died.] In our birth, we rent our mothers, to death sometimes, whom before we had burdened; so far nature witnessing our viperous generation, because of sin, which we bring into the world. But his father called him Benjamin.] Lest the former name should be a daily reminder of his loss. Let men make their burdens as light as they can, and not increase their worldly sorrow by sight of sad objects. It will come, as we say of foul weather, soon enough; we need not send for it. What should dropsy men do eating salt meats? Epicharmium est illud; concretum fuit et discretum est, rediitque unde venerat, terra deorsum, spiritus sursum.
Ver. 19. And Rachel died.] We forfeit many favours, by over loving them. Our jealous God will not endure us to idolise any creature. Let them that have wives, or any other thing they hold most dear to themselves, be as if they had none. So love, as to think of loss. Let all outward things hang loose, as an upper garment that we can throw off at pleasure. (1 Corinthians 7:29) Iudaei vitrum ex quo sponsus et sponsa biberunt, confringunt; ut memores sint sponsi fragilitatis humanae.
Ver. 20. And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave.] To testify his love, and continue her remembrance. Dead friends may be lawfully thus honoured with monuments; modo vitetur luxus et superstitio..
Ver. 21. Beyond the tower of Edar.] Or, Of the flock. This tower was built, it seems, for the safety and service of shepherds. There it was, probably, that those shepherds, Luke 2:8, watched their flocks. There also, Helena, mother to Constantine the Great, did afterwards build a temple, for a memorial of the angels that there appeared to those shepherds, carolling Christ into the world.
Ver. 22. Reuben went and lay with Bilhah.] A foul fault, in so good a family: but so it sometimes falls out, by the malice of Satan, for the discrediting of religion. Such ugly incest was committed at Corinth, as was hardly “heard of among heathen, that a man should have his father’s wife.” (1 Corinthians 5:1) Some such there were among the kings of Egypt; but not many. Ethelbald, king of West Saxons, with great infamy marrying his father’s widow Judith, enjoyed his kingdom but two years and a half. But how hateful is that Spanish incest, by Papal dispensation! King Philip of Spain might call the Archduke Albert, both brother, cousin, nephew, and son: for all this was he unto him, either by blood or affinity; being uncle to himself, first cousin to his father, husband to his sister, and father to his wife. Abhorred filth! And Israel heard it.] And held his peace, because he saw God in it, chastising him for his polygamy. The punishment is sometimes so like the sin, that a man may boldly say, Such a sin was the mother of such a misery. And here is a pause in the Hebrew, to show Jacob’s great amazement at this sad tidings. Dolores ingentes stupent. He was even “dumb, and opened not his mouth, because God was in it.” (Psalms 39:9) Seleucus, Syriae rex, tradidit filio Antiocho novercam Stratonicen, cuius amore ille decumbebat. -Appian, in Syriacis. Dan., Chron., p. 12. Sandys’s Relation of West. Religion.
Ver. 23. Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn.] Who, though by his sin he fell from his birthright, yet is here reckoned as a patriarch, and afterwards, upon his repentance, not a little honoured. (Exodus 28:21,29 Revelation 21:12) God is not off and on with his elect; their frowardness interrupts not the course of his goodness.
Ver. 29. And Isaac gave up the ghost.] Twelve years after Joseph was sold, and forty years after he first became blind. Three special friends Jacob buries, in this chapter. Crosses come thick: be patient.