Holly Bible - KJV with Concise Commentaries by Z Selam - HTML preview
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altars, as an earnest of his building an altar when he should have conveniences for it, as afterwards he did, in gratitude to God for this vision, Ge 35:7. Note, Grants of mercy call for returns of duty, and the sweet communion we have with God ought ever to be remembered.
2. He gave a new name to the place, Ge 28:19. It had been called Luz, an almond-tree; but he will have it henceforward called Beth-el, the house of God. This gracious appearance of God to him put a greater honour upon it, and made it more remarkable, than all the almond-trees that flourished there. This is that Beth-el where, long after, it is said, God found Jacob, and there (in what he said to him) he spoke with us, Ho 12:4. In process of time, this Beth-el, the house of God, became Beth-aven, a house of vanity and iniquity, when Jeroboam set up one of his calves there.
19 And he called the name of that place Beth-el [the house of God]:
but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.
20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will
keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,
21 so that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the
Lord be my God:
He made a solemn vow upon this occasion, Ge 28:20-22. By religious vows we give glory to God, own our dependence upon him, and lay a bond upon our own souls to engage and quicken our obedience to him. Jacob was now in fear and distress; and it is seasonable to make vows in times of trouble, or when we are in pursuit of any special mercy, Jon 1:16,Ps 66:13,14,1Sa 1:11,Nu 21:1-3. Jacob had now had a gracious visit from heaven. God had renewed his covenant with him, and the covenant is mutual. When God ratifies his promises to us, it is proper for us to repeat our promises to him. Now in this vow observe,
1. Jacob's faith. God had said (Ge 28:15), I am with thee, and will keep thee. Jacob takes hold of this, and infers, "Seeing God will be with me, and will keep me, as he hath said, and