Worthy.Bible » STRONG » Genesis » Chapter 35 » Verse 12

Genesis 35:12 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

12 And the land H776 which I gave H5414 Abraham H85 and Isaac, H3327 to thee I will give it, H5414 and to thy seed H2233 after thee H310 will I give H5414 the land. H776

Cross Reference

Genesis 12:7 STRONG

And the LORD H3068 appeared H7200 unto Abram, H87 and said, H559 Unto thy seed H2233 will I give H5414 this H2063 land: H776 and there builded H1129 he an altar H4196 unto the LORD, H3068 who appeared H7200 unto him.

Genesis 28:13 STRONG

And, behold, the LORD H3068 stood H5324 above it, and said, H559 I am the LORD H3068 God H430 of Abraham H85 thy father, H1 and the God H430 of Isaac: H3327 the land H776 whereon thou liest, H7901 to thee will I give it, H5414 and to thy seed; H2233

Genesis 26:3-4 STRONG

Sojourn H1481 in this land, H776 and I will be with thee, and will bless H1288 thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, H2233 I will give H5414 all these H411 countries, H776 and I will perform H6965 the oath H7621 which I sware H7650 unto Abraham H85 thy father; H1 And I will make H7235 thy seed H2233 to multiply H7235 as the stars H3556 of heaven, H8064 and will give H5414 unto thy seed H2233 all these H411 countries; H776 and in thy seed H2233 shall all the nations H1471 of the earth H776 be blessed; H1288

Genesis 13:14-17 STRONG

And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Abram, H87 after H310 that Lot H3876 was separated H6504 from him, Lift up H5375 now thine eyes, H5869 and look H7200 from the place H4725 where thou art northward, H6828 and southward, H5045 and eastward, H6924 and westward: H3220 For all the land H776 which thou seest, H7200 to thee will I give it, H5414 and to thy seed H2233 for H5704 ever. H5769 And I will make H7760 thy seed H2233 as the dust H6083 of the earth: H776 so that H834 if a man H376 can H3201 number H4487 the dust H6083 of the earth, H776 then shall thy seed H2233 also be numbered. H4487 Arise, H6965 walk H1980 through the land H776 in the length H753 of it and in the breadth H7341 of it; for I will give H5414 it unto thee.

Genesis 15:18 STRONG

In the same H1931 day H3117 the LORD H3068 made H3772 a covenant H1285 with Abram, H87 saying, H559 Unto thy seed H2233 have I given H5414 this land, H776 from the river H5104 of Egypt H4714 unto the great H1419 river, H5104 the river H5104 Euphrates: H6578

Genesis 28:3-4 STRONG

And God H410 Almighty H7706 bless H1288 thee, and make thee fruitful, H6509 and multiply H7235 thee, that thou mayest be a multitude H6951 of people; H5971 And give H5414 thee the blessing H1293 of Abraham, H85 to thee, and to thy seed H2233 with thee; that thou mayest inherit H3423 the land H776 wherein thou art a stranger, H4033 which God H430 gave H5414 unto Abraham. H85

Genesis 48:4 STRONG

And said H559 unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, H6509 and multiply H7235 thee, and I will make H5414 of thee a multitude H6951 of people; H5971 and will give H5414 this land H776 to thy seed H2233 after thee H310 for an everlasting H5769 possession. H272

Exodus 3:8 STRONG

And I am come down H3381 to deliver H5337 them out of the hand H3027 of the Egyptians, H4714 and to bring H5927 them up out of that land H776 unto a good H2896 land H776 and a large, H7342 unto a land H776 flowing H2100 with milk H2461 and honey; H1706 unto the place H4725 of the Canaanites, H3669 and the Hittites, H2850 and the Amorites, H567 and the Perizzites, H6522 and the Hivites, H2340 and the Jebusites. H2983

Joshua 6:1-21 STRONG

Now Jericho H3405 was straitly H5462 shut up H5462 because H6440 of the children H1121 of Israel: H3478 none went out, H3318 and none came in. H935 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Joshua, H3091 See, H7200 I have given H5414 into thine hand H3027 Jericho, H3405 and the king H4428 thereof, and the mighty men H1368 of valour. H2428 And ye shall compass H5437 the city, H5892 all ye men H582 of war, H4421 and go round about H5362 the city H5892 once. H6471 H259 Thus shalt thou do H6213 six H8337 days. H3117 And seven H7651 priests H3548 shall bear H5375 before H6440 the ark H727 seven H7651 trumpets H7782 of rams' horns: H3104 and the seventh H7637 day H3117 ye shall compass H5437 the city H5892 seven H7651 times, H6471 and the priests H3548 shall blow H8628 with the trumpets. H7782 And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long H4900 blast with the ram's H3104 horn, H7161 and when ye hear H8085 the sound H6963 of the trumpet, H7782 all the people H5971 shall shout H7321 with a great H1419 shout; H8643 and the wall H2346 of the city H5892 shall fall down H5307 flat, H8478 and the people H5971 shall ascend up H5927 every man H376 straight before him. And Joshua H3091 the son H1121 of Nun H5126 called H7121 the priests, H3548 and said H559 unto them, Take up H5375 the ark H727 of the covenant, H1285 and let seven H7651 priests H3548 bear H5375 seven H7651 trumpets H7782 of rams' horns H3104 before H6440 the ark H727 of the LORD. H3068 And he said H559 unto the people, H5971 Pass on, H5674 and compass H5437 the city, H5892 and let him that is armed H2502 pass on H5674 before H6440 the ark H727 of the LORD. H3068 And it came to pass, when Joshua H3091 had spoken H559 unto the people, H5971 that the seven H7651 priests H3548 bearing H5375 the seven H7651 trumpets H7782 of rams' horns H3104 passed on H5674 before H6440 the LORD, H3068 and blew H8628 with the trumpets: H7782 and the ark H727 of the covenant H1285 of the LORD H3068 followed H1980 them. H310 And the armed H2502 men went H1980 before H6440 the priests H3548 that blew H8628 H8628 with the trumpets, H7782 and the rereward H622 came H1980 after H310 the ark, H727 the priests going on, H1980 and blowing H8628 with the trumpets. H7782 And Joshua H3091 had commanded H6680 the people, H5971 saying, H559 Ye shall not shout, H7321 nor make any noise H8085 with your voice, H6963 neither shall any word H1697 proceed H3318 out of your mouth, H6310 until the day H3117 I bid H559 you shout; H7321 then shall ye shout. H7321 So the ark H727 of the LORD H3068 compassed H5437 the city, H5892 going about H5362 it once: H6471 H259 and they came H935 into the camp, H4264 and lodged H3885 in the camp. H4264 And Joshua H3091 rose early H7925 in the morning, H1242 and the priests H3548 took up H5375 the ark H727 of the LORD. H3068 And seven H7651 priests H3548 bearing H5375 seven H7651 trumpets H7782 of rams' horns H3104 before H6440 the ark H727 of the LORD H3068 went on H1980 continually, H1980 and blew H8628 with the trumpets: H7782 and the armed men H2502 went H1980 before H6440 them; but the rereward H622 came H1980 after H310 the ark H727 of the LORD, H3068 the priests going on, H1980 and blowing H8628 with the trumpets. H7782 And the second H8145 day H3117 they compassed H5437 the city H5892 once, H6471 H259 and returned H7725 into the camp: H4264 so they did H6213 six H8337 days. H3117 And it came to pass on the seventh H7637 day, H3117 that they rose early H7925 about the dawning H5927 of the day, H7837 and compassed H5437 the city H5892 after the same manner H4941 seven H7651 times: H6471 only on that day H3117 they compassed H5437 the city H5892 seven H7651 times. H6471 And it came to pass at the seventh H7637 time, H6471 when the priests H3548 blew H8628 with the trumpets, H7782 Joshua H3091 said H559 unto the people, H5971 Shout; H7321 for the LORD H3068 hath given H5414 you the city. H5892 And the city H5892 shall be accursed, H2764 even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: H3068 only Rahab H7343 the harlot H2181 shall live, H2421 she and all that are with her in the house, H1004 because she hid H2244 the messengers H4397 that we sent. H7971 And ye, in any wise H7535 keep H8104 yourselves from the accursed thing, H2764 lest ye make yourselves accursed, H2763 when ye take H3947 of the accursed thing, H2764 and make H7760 the camp H4264 of Israel H3478 a curse, H2764 and trouble H5916 it. But all the silver, H3701 and gold, H2091 and vessels H3627 of brass H5178 and iron, H1270 are consecrated H6944 unto the LORD: H3068 they shall come H935 into the treasury H214 of the LORD. H3068 So the people H5971 shouted H7321 when the priests blew H8628 with the trumpets: H7782 and it came to pass, when the people H5971 heard H8085 the sound H6963 of the trumpet, H7782 and the people H5971 shouted H7321 with a great H1419 shout, H8643 that the wall H2346 fell down flat, H5307 so that the people H5971 went up H5927 into the city, H5892 every man H376 straight before him, and they took H3920 the city. H5892 And they utterly destroyed H2763 all that was in the city, H5892 both man H376 and woman, H802 young H5288 and old, H2205 and ox, H7794 and sheep, H7716 and ass, H2543 with the edge H6310 of the sword. H2719

Nehemiah 13:1-31 STRONG

On that day H3117 they read H7121 in the book H5612 of Moses H4872 in the audience H241 of the people; H5971 and therein was found H4672 written, H3789 that the Ammonite H5984 and the Moabite H4125 should not come H935 into the congregation H6951 of God H430 for H5704 ever; H5769 Because they met H6923 not the children H1121 of Israel H3478 with bread H3899 and with water, H4325 but hired H7936 Balaam H1109 against them, that he should curse H7043 them: howbeit our God H430 turned H2015 the curse H7045 into a blessing. H1293 Now it came to pass, when they had heard H8085 the law, H8451 that they separated H914 from Israel H3478 all the mixed multitude. H6154 And before H6440 this, Eliashib H475 the priest, H3548 having the oversight H5414 of the chamber H3957 of the house H1004 of our God, H430 was allied H7138 unto Tobiah: H2900 And he had prepared H6213 for him a great H1419 chamber, H3957 where aforetime H6440 they laid H5414 the meat offerings, H4503 the frankincense, H3828 and the vessels, H3627 and the tithes H4643 of the corn, H1715 the new wine, H8492 and the oil, H3323 which was commanded H4687 to be given to the Levites, H3881 and the singers, H7891 and the porters; H7778 and the offerings H8641 of the priests. H3548 But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem: H3389 for in the two H8147 and thirtieth H7970 year H8141 of Artaxerxes H783 king H4428 of Babylon H894 came H935 I unto the king, H4428 and after H7093 certain days H3117 obtained I leave H7592 of the king: H4428 And I came H935 to Jerusalem, H3389 and understood H995 of the evil H7451 that Eliashib H475 did H6213 for Tobiah, H2900 in preparing H6213 him a chamber H5393 in the courts H2691 of the house H1004 of God. H430 And it grieved H3415 me sore: H3966 therefore I cast forth H7993 all the household H1004 stuff H3627 of Tobiah H2900 out of H2351 the chamber. H3957 Then I commanded, H559 and they cleansed H2891 the chambers: H3957 and thither brought I again H7725 the vessels H3627 of the house H1004 of God, H430 with the meat offering H4503 and the frankincense. H3828 And I perceived H3045 that the portions H4521 of the Levites H3881 had not been given H5414 them: for the Levites H3881 and the singers, H7891 that did H6213 the work, H4399 were fled H1272 every one H376 to his field. H7704 Then contended H7378 I with the rulers, H5461 and said, H559 Why is the house H1004 of God H430 forsaken? H5800 And I gathered them together, H6908 and set H5975 them in their place. H5977 Then brought H935 all Judah H3063 the tithe H4643 of the corn H1715 and the new wine H8492 and the oil H3323 unto the treasuries. H214 And I made treasurers H686 over the treasuries, H214 Shelemiah H8018 the priest, H3548 and Zadok H6659 the scribe, H5608 and of the Levites, H3881 Pedaiah: H6305 and next to them H3027 was Hanan H2605 the son H1121 of Zaccur, H2139 the son H1121 of Mattaniah: H4983 for they were counted H2803 faithful, H539 and their office was to distribute H2505 unto their brethren. H251 Remember H2142 me, O my God, H430 concerning this, and wipe not out H4229 my good H2617 deeds that I have done H6213 for the house H1004 of my God, H430 and for the offices H4929 thereof. In those days H3117 saw H7200 I in Judah H3063 some treading H1869 wine presses H1660 on the sabbath, H7676 and bringing in H935 sheaves, H6194 and lading H6006 asses; H2543 as also wine, H3196 grapes, H6025 and figs, H8384 and all manner of burdens, H4853 which they brought H935 into Jerusalem H3389 on the sabbath H7676 day: H3117 and I testified H5749 against them in the day H3117 wherein they sold H4376 victuals. H6718 There dwelt H3427 men of Tyre H6876 also therein, which brought H935 fish, H1709 H1709 and all manner of ware, H4377 and sold H4376 on the sabbath H7676 unto the children H1121 of Judah, H3063 and in Jerusalem. H3389 Then I contended H7378 with the nobles H2715 of Judah, H3063 and said H559 unto them, What evil H7451 thing H1697 is this that ye do, H6213 and profane H2490 the sabbath H7676 day? H3117 Did H6213 not your fathers H1 thus, and did H935 not our God H430 bring H935 all this evil H7451 upon us, and upon this city? H5892 yet ye bring H935 more H3254 wrath H2740 upon Israel H3478 by profaning H2490 the sabbath. H7676 And it came to pass, that when the gates H8179 of Jerusalem H3389 began to be dark H6751 before H6440 the sabbath, H7676 I commanded H559 that the gates H1817 should be shut, H5462 and charged H559 that they should not be opened H6605 till after H310 the sabbath: H7676 and some of my servants H5288 set H5975 I at the gates, H8179 that there should no burden H4853 be brought in H935 on the sabbath H7676 day. H3117 So the merchants H7402 and sellers H4376 of all kind of ware H4465 lodged H3885 without H2351 Jerusalem H3389 once H6471 or twice. H8147 Then I testified H5749 against them, and said H559 unto them, Why lodge H3885 ye about H5048 the wall? H2346 if ye do so again, H8138 I will lay H7971 hands H3027 on you. From that time H6256 forth came H935 they no more on the sabbath. H7676 And I commanded H559 the Levites H3881 that they should cleanse H2891 themselves, and that they should come H935 and keep H8104 the gates, H8179 to sanctify H6942 the sabbath H7676 day. H3117 Remember H2142 me, O my God, H430 concerning this also, and spare H2347 me according to the greatness H7230 of thy mercy. H2617 In those days H3117 also saw H7200 I Jews H3064 that had married H3427 wives H802 of Ashdod, H796 of Ammon, H5984 and of Moab: H4125 And their children H1121 spake H1696 half H2677 in the speech of Ashdod, H797 and could H5234 not speak H1696 in the Jews' language, H3066 but according to the language H3956 of each H5971 people. H5971 And I contended H7378 with them, and cursed H7043 them, and smote H5221 certain H582 of them, and plucked off their hair, H4803 and made them swear H7650 by God, H430 saying, Ye shall not give H5414 your daughters H1323 unto their sons, H1121 nor take H5375 their daughters H1323 unto your sons, H1121 or for yourselves. Did not Solomon H8010 king H4428 of Israel H3478 sin H2398 by these things? yet among many H7227 nations H1471 was there no king H4428 like him, who was beloved H157 of his God, H430 and God H430 made H5414 him king H4428 over all Israel: H3478 nevertheless even him H1571 did outlandish H5237 women H802 cause to sin. H2398 Shall we then hearken H8085 unto you to do H6213 all this great H1419 evil, H7451 to transgress H4603 against our God H430 in marrying H3427 strange H5237 wives? H802 And one of the sons H1121 of Joiada, H3111 the son H1121 of Eliashib H475 the high H1419 priest, H3548 was son in law H2860 to Sanballat H5571 the Horonite: H2772 therefore I chased H1272 him from me. Remember H2142 them, O my God, H430 because they have defiled H1352 the priesthood, H3550 and the covenant H1285 of the priesthood, H3550 and of the Levites. H3881 Thus cleansed H2891 I them from all strangers, H5236 and appointed H5975 the wards H4931 of the priests H3548 and the Levites, H3881 every one H376 in his business; H4399 And for the wood H6086 offering, H7133 at times H6256 appointed, H2163 and for the firstfruits. H1061 Remember H2142 me, O my God, H430 for good. H2896

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Keil & Delitzsch Commentary » Commentary on Genesis 35

Commentary on Genesis 35 Keil & Delitzsch Commentary


Verses 1-7

Journey to Bethel . - Jacob had allowed ten years to pass since his return from Mesopotamia, without performing the vow which he made at Bethel when fleeing from Esau (Genesis 28:20.), although he had recalled it to mind when resolving to return (Genesis 31:13), and had also erected an altar in Shechem to the “God of Israel” (Genesis 33:20). He was now directed by God (Genesis 35:1) to go to Bethel, and there build an altar to the God who had appeared to him on his flight from Esau. This command stirred him up to perform what had been neglected, viz., to put away from his house the strange gods, which he had tolerated in weak consideration for his wives, and which had no doubt occasioned the long neglect, and to pay to God the vow that he had made in the day of his trouble. He therefore commanded his house (Genesis 35:2, Genesis 35:3), i.e., his wives and children, and “ all that were with him, ” i.e., his men and maid-servants, to put away the strange gods, to purify themselves, and wash their clothes. He also buried “all the strange gods,” i.e., Rachel's teraphim (Genesis 31:19), and whatever other idols there were, with the earrings which were worn as amulets and charms, “ under the terebinth at Shechem, ” probably the very tree under which Abraham once pitched his tent (Genesis 12:6), and which was regarded as a sacred place in Joshua's time (vid., Joshua 24:26, though the pointing is אלּה there). The burial of the idols was followed by purification through the washing of the body, as a sign of the purification of the heart from the defilement of idolatry, and by the putting on of clean and festal clothes, as a symbol of the sanctification and elevation of the heart to the Lord (Joshua 24:23). This decided turning to the Lord was immediately followed by the blessing of God. When they left Shechem a “ terror of God, ” i.e., a supernatural terror, “ came upon the cities round about, ” so that they did not venture to pursue the sons of Jacob on account of the cruelty of Simeon and Levi (Genesis 35:5). Having safely arrived in Bethel, Jacob built an altar, which he called El Bethel (God of Bethel) in remembrance of the manifestation of God on His flight from Esau.


Verse 8

There Deborah , Rebekah's nurse, died, and was buried below Bethel under an oak, which was henceforth called the “oak of weeping,” a mourning oak, from the grief of Jacob's house on account of her death. Deborah had either been sent by Rebekah to take care of her daughters-in-law and grandsons, or had gone of her own accord into Jacob's household after the death of her mistress. The mourning at her death, and the perpetuation of her memory, are proofs that she must have been a faithful and highly esteemed servant in Jacob's house.


Verses 9-15

The Fresh Revelation at Bethel. - After Jacob had performed his vow by erecting the altar at Bethel, God appeared to him again there (“ again, ” referring to Gen 28), “ on his coming out of Padan-Aram, ” as He had appeared to him 30 years before on his journey thither, - though it was then in a dream, now by daylight in a visible form (cf. Genesis 35:13, “ God went up from him ”). The gloom of that day of fear had now brightened into the clear daylight of salvation. This appearance was the answer, which God gave to Jacob on his acknowledgement of Him; and its reality is thereby established, in opposition to the conjecture that it is merely a legendary repetition of the previous vision.

(Note: This conjecture derives no support from the fact that the manifestations of God are ascribed to Elohim in Genesis 35:1 and Genesis 35:9., although the whole chapter treats of the display of mercy by the covenant God, i.e., Jehovah . For the occurrence of Elohim instead of Jehovah in Genesis 35:1 may be explained, partly from the antithesis of God and man (because Jacob , the man, had neglected to redeem his vow, it was necessary that he should be reminded of it by God), and partly from the fact that there is no allusion to any appearance of God, but the words “God said” are to be understood, no doubt, as relating to an inward communication. The use of Elohim in Genesis 35:9. follows naturally from the injunction of Elohim in Genesis 35:1; and there was the less necessity for an express designation of the God appearing as Jehovah , because, on the one hand, the object of this appearance was simply to renew and confirm the former appearance of Jehovah (Genesis 28:12.), and on the other hand, the title assumed in Genesis 35:11, El Shaddai , refers to Genesis 27:1, where Jehovah announces Himself to Abram as El Shaddai .)

The former theophany had promised to Jacob divine protection in a foreign land and restoration to his home, on the ground of his call to be the bearer of the blessings of salvation. This promise God had fulfilled, and Jacob therefore performed his vow. On the strength of this, God now confirmed to him the name of Israel, which He had already given him in Genesis 32:28, and with it the promised of a numerous seed and the possession of Canaan, which, so far as the form and substance are concerned, points back rather to Genesis 17:6 and Genesis 17:8 than to Genesis 28:13-14, and for the fulfilment of which, commencing with the birth of his sons and his return to Canaan, and stretching forward to the most remote future, the name of Israel was to furnish him with a pledge. - Jacob alluded to this second manifestation of God at Bethel towards the close of his life (Genesis 48:3-4); and Hosea (Hosea 12:4) represents it as the result of his wrestling with God. The remembrance of this appearance Jacob transmitted to his descendants by erecting a memorial stone, which he not only anointed with oil like the former one in Genesis 28:17, but consecrated by a drink-offering and by the renewal of the name Bethel.


Verses 16-20

Birth of Benjamin and Death of Rachel. - Jacob's departure from Bethel was not in opposition to the divine command, “dwell there” (Genesis 35:1). For the word שׁב does not enjoin a permanent abode; but, when taken in connection with what follows, “make there an altar,” it merely directs him to stay there and perform his vow. As they were travelling forward, Rachel was taken in labour not far from Ephratah. הארץ כּברת is a space, answering probably to the Persian parassang, though the real meaning of כּברה is unknown. The birth was a difficult one. בּלדתּהּ תּקשׁ : she had difficulty in her labour (instead of Piel we find Hiphil in Genesis 35:17 with the same signification). The midwife comforted her by saying: “ Fear not, for this also is to thee a son, ” - a wish expressed by her when Joseph was born (Genesis 30:24). But she expired; and as she was dying, she called him Been-oni , “son of my pain.” Jacob, however, called him Ben-jamin , probably son of good fortune, according to the meaning of the word jamin sustained by the Arabic, to indicate that his pain at the loss of his favourite wife was compensated by the birth of this son, who now completed the number twelve. Other explanations are less simple. He buried Rachel on the road to Ephratah, or Ephrath (probably the fertile, from פּרה ), i.e., Bethlehem (bread-house), by which name it is better known, though the origin of it is obscure. He also erected a monument over her grave ( מצּבה , στήλη ), on which the historian observes, “ This is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day: ” a remark which does not necessarily point to a post-Mosaic period, but which could easily have been made even 10 or 20 years after its erection. For the fact that a grave-stone had been preserved upon the high road in a foreign land, the inhabitants of which had no interest whatever in it, might appear worthy of notice even though only a single decennary had passed away.

(Note: But even if this Mazzebah was really preserved till the conquest of Canaan by the Israelites, i.e., more than 450 years, and the remark referred to that time, it might be an interpolation by a later hand. The grave was certainly a well-known spot in Samuel's time (1 Samuel 10:2); but a monumentum ubi Rachel posita est uxor Jacob is first mentioned again by the Bordeaux pilgrims of a.d. 333 and Jerome . The Kubbet Rahil (Rachel's grave), which is now shown about half an hour's journey to the north of Bethlehem, to the right of the road from Jerusalem to Hebron, is merely “an ordinary Muslim wely, or tomb of a holy person, a small square building of stone with a dome, and within it a tomb in the ordinary Mohammedan form” (Rob. Pal. 1, p. 322). It has been recently enlarged by a square court with high walls and arches on the eastern side (Rob. Bibl. Researches. p. 357). Now although this grave is not ancient, the correctness of the tradition, which fixes upon this as the site of Rachel's grave, cannot on the whole be disputed. At any rate, the reasons assigned to the contrary by Thenius , Kurtz , and others are not conclusive.)


Verses 21-26

Genesis 35:21-22

Reuben's Incest. - As they travelled onward, Jacob pitched his tent on the other side of Migdal Eder , where Reuben committed incest with Bilhah, his father's concubine. It is merely alluded to her in the passing remark that Israel heard it, by way of preparation for Genesis 49:4. Migdal Eder (flock-tower) was a watch-tower built for the protection of flocks against robbers (cf. 2 Kings 18:8; 2 Chronicles 26:10; 2 Chronicles 27:4) on the other side of Bethlehem, but hardly within 1000 paces of the town, where it has been placed by tradition since the time of Jerome. The piska in the middle of Genesis 35:22 does not indicate a gap in the text, but the conclusion of a parashah , a division of the text of greater antiquity and greater correctness than the Masoretic division.

Genesis 35:22-29

Jacob's Return to His Father's House, and Death of Isaac. - Jacob had left his father's house with no other possession than a staff, and now he returned with 12 sons. Thus had he been blessed by the faithful covenant God. To show this, the account of his arrival in his father's tent at Hebron is preceded by a list of his 12 sons, arranged according to their respective mothers; and this list is closed with the remark, “ These are the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padan-Aram ” ( ילּד for ילּדוּ ; Ges. §143, 1), although Benjamin, the twelfth, was not born in Padan-Aram, but on the journey back.


Verses 27-29

Jacob's arrival in “ Mamre Kirjath-Arbah, ” i.e., in the terebinth-grove of Mamre (Genesis 13:18) by Kirjath-Arbah or Hebron (vid., Genesis 23:2), constituted his entrance into his father's house, to remain there as Isaac's heir. He had probably visited his father during the ten years that had elapsed since his return from Mesopotamia, though no allusion is made to this, since such visits would have no importance, either in themselves or their consequences, in connection with the sacred history. This was not the case, however, with his return to enter upon the family inheritance. With this, therefore, the history of Isaac's life is brought to a close. Isaac died at the age of 180, and was buried by his two sons in the cave of Machpelah (Genesis 49:31), Abraham's family grave, Esau having come from Seir to Hebron to attend the funeral of his father. But Isaac's death did not actually take place for 12 years after Jacob's return to Hebron. For as Joseph was 17 years old when he was sold by his brethren (Genesis 37:2), and Jacob was then living at Hebron (Genesis 37:14), it cannot have been more than 31 years after his flight from Esau when Jacob returned home (cf. Genesis 34:1). Now since, according to our calculation at Genesis 27:1, he was 77 years old when he fled, he must have been 108 when he returned home; and Isaac would only have reached his 168th year, as he was 60 years old when Jacob was born (Genesis 25:26). Consequently Isaac lived to witness the grief of Jacob at the loss of Joseph, and died but a short time before his promotion in Egypt, which occurred 13 years after he was sold (Genesis 41:46), and only 10 years before Jacob's removal with his family to Egypt, as Jacob was 130 years old when he was presented to Pharaoh (Genesis 47:9). But the historical significance of his life was at an end, when Jacob returned home with his twelve sons.