Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 1.djvu/208

176 must take care to cultivate it, and not to be behind-hand with them in civilities.

2. Esau offers some of his men to be his guard and convoy, v. 15. He saw Jacob but poorly attended, no servants but his husbandmen and shepherds, no pages or footmen; and therefore, thinking he was as desirous as himself (if he could afford it) to take state upon him, and look great, he would needs lend him some of his retinue, to attend upon him, that he might appear like Esau's brother; but Jacob humbly refuses his offer, only desiring that he would not take it amiss that he did not accept it; What needeth it? (1.) Jacob is humble, and needs it not for state; he desires not to make a fair show in the flesh, by encumbering himself, with a needless retinue. Note, It is the vanity of pomp and grandeur, that they are attended with a great deal, of which it may be said, What needeth it? (2.) Jacob is under the divine protection, and needs it not for safety. Note, Those are sufficiently guarded, that have God for their Guard, and are under a convoy of his hosts, as Jacob was. They need not be beholden to an arm of flesh, that have God for their Arm every morning. Jacob adds, "Only let me find grace in the sight of my Lord; having thy favour, I have all I need, all I desire from thee." If Jacob thus valued the good-will of a brother, much more reason have we to reckon that we have enough, if we have the good will of our God.

16. So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. 17. And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth. 18. And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan-aram; and pitched his tent before the city. 19. And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for an hundred pieces of money. 20. And he erected there an altar, and called it El-elohe-Israel.

Here,

1. Jacob comes to Succoth; having in a friendly manner parted with Esau, who was gone to his own country, (v. 16.) he comes to a place where, it should seem, he rested for some time, set up booths for his cattle, and other conveniences for himself and family. The place was afterward known by the name of Succoth, a city in the tribe of Gad, on the other side Jordan; it signifies booths: that when his posterity afterward dwelt in houses of stone, they might remember that the Syrian ready to perish was their father, who was glad of booths; (Deut. 26. 5.) such was the rock whence they were hewn.

2. He comes to Shechem; we read it to Shalem, a city of Shechem; the critics generally incline to read it appellatively; he came safe, or, in peace, to the city of Shechem: after a perilous journey, in which he had met with many difficulties, he came safe at last, into Canaan. Note, Diseases and dangers should teach us how to value health and safety, and should help to enlarge our hearts in thankfulness, when our going out and coming in have been signally preserved.

Here, (1.) He buys a field, v. 19. Though the land of Canaan was his by promise, yet the time for taking possession being not yet come, he is content to pay for his own, to prevent disputes with the present occupants. Note, Dominion is not founded in grace. Those that have heaven on free-cost, must not expect to have earth so.

(2.) He builds an altar, v. 20. [1.] In thankfulness to God, for the good hand of his providence over him. He did not content himself with verbal acknowledgments of God's favour to him, but made real ones. [2.] That he might keep up religion, and the worship of God, in his family. Note, Where we have a tent, God must have an altar; where we have a house, he must have a church in it. He dedicated this altar to the honour of El-elohe-Israel, God, the God of Israel: to the honour of God, in general, the only living and true God, the best of beings and first of causes; and to the honour of the God of Israel, as a God in covenant with him. Note, in our worship of God, we must be guided and governed by the joint discoveries, both of natural and revealed religion. God had lately called him by the name of Israel, and now he calls God the God of Israel; though he is styled a prince with God, God shall still be a Prince with him, his Lord and his God. Note, Our honours then become honours indeed to us, when they are consecrated to God's honour; Israel's God is Israel's glory.

CHAP. XXXIV. At this chapter begins the story of Jacob's afflictions in his children, which were very great, and are recorded to show, 1. The vanity of this world. That which is dearest to us, may prove our greatest vexation, and we may meet with the greatest crosses in those things of which we said, This same shall comfort us. 2. The common griefs of good people. Jacob's children were circumcised, were well-taught, and prayed for, and had very good examples set them; yet some of them proved very untoward: The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong. Grace does not run in the blood, and yet the interrupting of the entail of grace does not cut off the entail of profession and visible church-privileges: nay, Jacob's sons, though they were his grief in some things, yet were all taken into covenant with God. In this chapter we have, I. Dinah debauched, v. 1..5. II. A treaty of marriage between her and Shechem who had defiled her, v. 6..19. III. The circumcision of the Shechemites, pursuant to that treaty, v. 20..24. IV. The perfidious and bloody revenge which Simeon and Levi took upon them, v. 25..31.

ND Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land. 2. And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her. 3. And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel. 4. And Shechem spake unto his father Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to wife. 5. And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter: now his sons were with his cattle in the field: and Jacob held his peace until they were come.

Dinah was, for aught that appears, Jacob's only daughter, and we may suppose her therefore the mother's fondling, and the darling of the family; and yet she proves neither a joy nor a credit to them; for those children seldom prove either the best, or the happiest, that are most indulged. She is reckoned now but fifteen or sixteen years of age, when she here occasioned so much mischief.

Observe,

1. Her vain curiosity, which exposed her; she went out, perhaps unknown to her father, but by the connivance of her mother, to see the daughters