Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 1.djvu/215

Rh in tents; the city is reserved for him in the other world.

2. The sin of Reuben; a piece of abominable wickedness it was, that he was guilty of; {v. 22.) that very sin which, the apostle says, (l Cor. 5. 1.) is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. It is said to be when Israel dwelt in that land; as if he were then absent from his family, which might be the unhappy occasion of these disorders. Though perhaps Bilhah was the greater criminal, and, it is probable, was abandoned by Jacob for it, yet Reuben's crime was so provoking, that, for it, he lost his birth-right and blessing, ch. 49. 4. The first-born is not always the best, nor the most promising. This was Reuben's sin, but it was Jacob's affliction; and what a sore affliction it was, is intimated in a little compass, and Israel heard it. No more is said, that is enough; he heard it with the utmost grief and shame, horror and displeasure. Reuben thought to conceal it, that his father should never hear of it; but those that promise themselves secrecy in sin, are generally disappointed; a bird of the air carries the voice.

3. A complete list of the sons of Jacob, now that Benjamin the youngest was born. This is the first time we have the names of these heads of the twelve tribes together; afterward, we find them very often spoken of and enumerated, even to the end of the Bible, Rev. 7. 4.—21. 12.

4. The visit which Jacob made to his father Isaac at Hebron. We may suppose he had visited him before, since his return, for he sore longed after his father's house; but never, till now, brought his family to settle with him, or near him, v. 27. Probably, he did this now upon the death of Rebekah, by which Isaac was left solitary, and not disposed to marry again.

5. The age and death of Isaac are here recorded, though it appears, by computation, that he died not till many years after Joseph was sold into Egypt, and much about the time that he was preferred there. Isaac, a mild quiet man, lived the longest of all the patriarchs, for he was 180 years old; Abraham was but 175. Isaac lived about 40 years after he had made his will, ch. 27. 2. We shall not die an hour the sooner, but abundantly the better, for our timely setting of our heart and house in order. Particular notice is taken of the amicable agreement of Esau and Jacob, in solemnizing their father's funeral; (v. 29.) to show how wonderfully God had changed Esau's mind, since he vowed his brother's murder, immediately after his father's death, ch. 27. 41. Note, God has many ways of preventing bad men from doing the mischief they intended; he can either tie their hands, or turn their hearts.

CHAP. XXXVI. In this chapter, we have an account of the posterity of Esau, who, from him, were called Edomites; that Esau, who sold his birth-right, and lost his blessing, and was not loved of God as Jacob was. Here is a brief register kept of his family for some generations. 1. Because he was the son of Isaac, for whose sake this honour is put upon him. 2. Because the Edomites were neighbours to Israel, and their genealogy would be of use to give light to the following stories of what passed between them. 3. It is to show the performance of the promise of Abraham, that he should be the father of many nations, and of that answer which Rebekah had from the oracle she consulted, Two nations are in thy womb; and of the blessing of Isaac, Thy dwelling shall be of the fatness of the earth. We have here, I. Esau's wives, v. 1..5. II. His remove to Mount Seir, v. 6..8. III. The names of his sons, v. 9..14. IV. The dukes which descended of his sons, v. 15..19. V. The dukes of the Horites, v. 20..30. VI. The kings and dukes of Edom, v. 31..43. Little more is recorded than their names, because the history of those that were out of the church, (though perhaps it might have been serviceable in politics,) yet would have been but little use in divinity. It is in the church that the memorable instances are found of special grace, and special providences; for that is the enclosure, the rest is common. This chapter is abridged. 1 Chron. 1. 35, &c.

OW these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom. 2. Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan; Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite; 3. And Bashemath, Ishmael's daughter, sister of Nebajoth. 4. And Adah bare to Esau, Eliphaz; and Bashemath bare Reuel. 5. And Aholibamah bare Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah: these are the sons of Esau, which were born unto him in the land of Canaan. 6. And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the persons of his house, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all his substance, which he had got in the land of Canaan; and went into the country, from the face of his brother Jacob. 7. For their riches were more than that they might dwell together; and the land wherein they were strangers, could not bear them, because of their cattle. 8, Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir: Esau is Edom.

Observe here,

1. Concerning Esau himself, v. 1. He is called Edom, (and again, v. 8.) that name by which he perpetuated the remembrance of the foolish bargain he made, when he sold his birth-right for that red, that red pottage. The very mention of that name is enough to intimate the reason why his family is turned off with such a short account. Note, If men do a wrong thing, they must thank themselves, when it is, long afterward, remembered against them to their reproach.

2. Concerning his wives, and the children they bare him in the land of Canaan. He had three wives, and, by them all, but five sons: many a one has more by one wife. God in his providence often disappoints those who take indirect courses to build up a family; yet here the promise prevailed, and Esau's family was built up.

3. Concerning his remove to mount Seir, which was the country God had given him for a possession, when he reserved Canaan for the seed of Jacob. God owns it, long afterward, I gave to Esau mount Seir, (Deut. 2. 5. Josh. 24. 4.) which was the reason why the Edomites must not be disturbed in their possession. Those that have not a right by promise, such as Jacob had, to Canaan, may have a very good title by providence, to their estates, such as Esau had to mount Seir. Esau had begun to settle among his wives' relations, in Seir, before Jacob came from Padan-aram, ch. 32. 3. Isaac, it is likely, had sent him thither, (as Abraham in his life-time had sent the sons of the concubines from Isaac his son into the east-country, ch. 25. 6.) that Jacob might have the clearer way made for him in the possession of the promised land; but, probably, during the life of Isaac, Esau had still some effects remaining in Canaan. But, after his death, he wholly withdrew to mount Seir, took with him what came to his share of his father's personal estate, and left Canaan to Jacob; not only because he had the promise of it, but because he saw that if they should both continue to thrive as they had begun, there would not be room for both.