Wesley Corpus

Chapter XXXV In this chapter we have, Three communions between God and Jacob. God ordered Jacob to Beth - el, and in obedience to that order, he purged his house of idols, and prepared for that journey, ver. 1 - 5. Jacob built an altar at Beth - el to the honour of God that had appeared to him, and in performance of his vow, ver. 6, 7. God appeared to him again, and confirmed the change of his name, and the covenant with him, ver 9 - 13. of which appearance Jacob made a grateful acknowledgement, ver. 14, 15. Three funerals. Deborah's, ver. 8. Rachel's, ver. 16 - 20. Isaac's, ver. 27 - 29. Here is also Reuben's incest, ver. 22. and an account of Jacob's sons, ver. 23 - 26. Arise go to Bethel - Here God minds Jacob of his vow at Beth - el, and sends him thither to perform it, Jacob had said in the day of his distress, If I come again in peace, this stone shall be God's house, Ge 28:22. God had performed his part, had given Jacob more than bread to eat, and raiment to put on; but it should seem he had forgotten his vow, or, at least, deferred the performance of it. And dwell there - That is, Not only go himself, but take his family with him, that they might join with him in his devotions. Put away the strange Gods - Strange God's in Jacob's family! Could such a family, that was taught the knowledge of the Lord, admit them Could such a master, to whom God had appeared twice, and oftner, connive at them And be clean, and change your garments - These were ceremonies signifying the purification and change of the heart. And they gave to Jacob - His servants, and even the retainers to his family, gave him all the strange gods, and the ear - rings they wore either as charms, or to the honour of their gods. Jacob took care to bury their images, we may suppose, in some place unknown to them, that they might not afterwards find and return to them.