Holly Bible - KJV with Concise Commentaries by Z Selam - HTML preview
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of a brother, much more reason have we to reckon that we have enough if we have the good-will of our God.
14 Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant; and I will lead
on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir.
15 And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are
with me. And he said, what needeth it? Let me find grace in the sight of my lord.
16 So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.
1. Jacob comes to Succoth. Having in a friendly manner parted with Esau, who had gone to his own country (Ge 33:16), 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 afterwards 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 afterwards dwelt in houses of stone, they might remember that the Syrian ready to perish was their father, who was glad of booths (De 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 safely, or in peace, to the city of Shechem. After a perilous journey, in which he had met with many difficulties, he came safely, 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, Ge 33:19. Though the land of Canaan was his by promise, yet, the time for taking possession not having 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, Ge 33:20.