Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Genesis
Book: Genesis
Chapter: 33
Overview:
The friendly meeting of
Jacob and
Esau.
(1-16) Jacob comes to
Succoth and
Shalem, He builds an
Altar.
(17-20)
1-16 Jacob, having
By Prayer committed his case to
God, went
On
his way. Come what will, nothing can come amiss to him whose
Heart is fixed, trusting in
God.
Jacob bowed to
Esau. A humble,
submissive behaviour goes far towards turning away wrath.
Esau
embraced
Jacob.
God has the hearts of all men in his hands, and
can turn them when and how he pleases. It is not in vain to
trust in
God, and to
Call upon him in the
Day of trouble. And
when a
Man's ways please the
Lord he maketh even his enemies to
be at peace with him.
Esau receives
Jacob as a
Brother, and much
tenderness passes between them.
Esau asks, Who are those with
thee? To this common question,
Jacob spoke like himself, like a
Man whose eyes are ever directed towards the
Lord.
Jacob urged
Esau, though his fear was over, and he took his present. It is
Well when men's religion makes them generous, free-hearted, and
open-handed. But
Jacob declined
Esau's offer to accompany him.
It is not desirable to be too intimate with superior ungodly
relations, who will expect us to join in their vanities, or at
least to wink at them, though they blame, and perhaps mock at,
our religion. Such will either be a
Snare to us, or offended
with us. We shall venture the loss of all things, rather than
endanger our souls, if we know their value; rather than renounce
Christ, if we truly
Love him. And let
Jacob's care and tender
attention to his family and flocks remind us of the good
Shepherd of our souls, who gathers the lambs with his
Arm, and
carries them in his
Bosom, and gently leads those that are with
young, Isa 40:11. As parents, teachers or pastors, we should
all follow his
Example.
17-20 Jacob did not content himself with words of thanks for
God's favour to him, but gave real thanks. Also he kept up
religion, and the
Worship of
God in his family. Where we have a
Tent,
God must have an
Altar.
Jacob dedicated this
Altar to the
honour of El-elohe-
Israel,
God, the
God of
Israel; to the honour
of
God, the only living and true
God; and to the honour of the
God of
Israel, as a
God in
Covenant with him.
Israel's
God is
Israel's
Glory. Blessed be his name, he is still the mighty
God,
the
God of
Israel. May we praise his name, and rejoice in his
Love, through our pilgrimage here
On Earth, and for ever in the
heavenly
Canaan.