Free Bible Commentary
“Genesis 33:15-20”
Categories: Genesis“Esau said, 'Please let me leave with you some of the people who are with me.' But he said, 'What need is there? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.' So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built for himself a house and made booths for his livestock; therefore the place is named Succoth. Now Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Paddan-aram, and camped before the city. He bought the piece of land where he had pitched his tent from the hand of the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for one hundred pieces of money. Then he erected there an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.”
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“'Esau said, 'Please let me leave with you some of the people who are with me.'” (verse 15) When Esau offered to leave some of his men behind to provide protection for Jacob's caravan, he appreciated the offer, but said it really wasn't necessary (“What need is there?”) “Esau having offered some of his men to be his guard and convoy, Jacob humbly refuses his offer. He is under the divine protection, and needs no other. Those are sufficiently guarded who have God for their guard, and are under a convoy of his hosts, as Jacob was. 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.” (Benson Commentary)
“So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir.” (verse 16) Jacob and Esau had parted ways as enemies two decades earlier, but this time they separated the way that family members always should—as beloved brothers. Esau “now fades from the scene of recorded history, reappearing briefly for Isaac's funeral (35:29). Esau's genealogies are given in chapter 36.” (Nahum Sarna) “We have both 'land of Seir,' (Genesis 32:3; 36:50 ) and 'Mount Seir.' (Genesis 14:6) It is the original name of the mountain range extending along the east side of the valley of Arabah, from the Dead Sea to the Elanitic, Gulf. The Horites appear to have been the chief of the aboriginal inhabitants, (Genesis 36:20) but it was ever afterward the possession of the Edomites, the descendants of Esau. The Mount Seir of the Bible extended much farther south than the modern province, as is shown by the words of (Deuteronomy 2:1-8) It had the Arabah on the west, vs. 1 and 8; it extended as far south as the head of the Gulf of Akabah, ver. 8; its eastern border ran along the base of the mountain range where the plateau of Arabia begins. Its northern, order is not so accurately determined. There is a line of 'naked' white hills or cliffs which run across the great valley about eight miles south of the Dead Sea, the highest eminence being Mount Hor, which is 4800 feet high.” (Smith's Bible Dictionary online)
“Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built for himself a house and made booths for his livestock; therefore the place is named Succoth.” (verse 17) We might be familiar with the word “Succoth” because of the Hebrew Feast of Booths, Tents or Tabernacles (Sukkot) that commemorated Israel's forty year wilderness wandering when they lived as nomads in tents. “No sooner has Esau departed southward for Seir than Jacob turns northward, recrossing the Jabbok. Judges 8:5,8 show that Succoth was quite near Penuel, but much closer to the Jordan. Jacob obviously wishes to position himself on the east-west road that connected Canaan with the major north-south artery that led from Damascus.” (Nahum Sarna) Jacob may have made tents for the cattle because it was winter if they had young calves. He remained there an undisclosed duration of time, maybe two years, and then departed for Shechem
“Now Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Paddan-aram, and camped before the city.” (verse 18) After having spent the night in Bethel where God revealed Himself to Jacobin a dream, “Then Jacob made a vow, saying, 'If God will be with me and will keep me on this journey that I take, and will give me food to eat and garments to wear, and I return to my father’s house in safety, then the Lord will be my God.'” (Genesis 28:20-21) Upon delivering Jacob back to his native land “safely,” the Lord had made good on all of Jacob's conditions. “Abraham similarly made this city of Shechem his first goal when he entered the land. There he built the first altar, and there he received the first divine promise that his offspring would inherit the land (12:7).” (Nahum Sarna)
“He bought the piece of land where he had pitched his tent from the hand of the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for one hundred pieces of money.” (verse 19) Having acquired a plot of land from the Hamor, his first purchase in the land of promise, it appears that Israel intended to put down roots in Shechem and stay for a while. “This is an expression of faith in God's promise that his descendants would inherit the land.” (Nahum Sarna) He purchased the property for “one hundred pieces of money,” or “hesitahs.” “The exact price is given, as in the case of the purchase of Machpelah in chapter 23, because the real estate is to be acquired in perpetuity and the sale must be final and incontestable.” (Nahum Sarna)
“Then he erected there an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.” (verse 20) The meaning of this name is “Mighty is the God of Israel,” or “God is the God of Israel.” It is an uncertainty as to just how long Jacob (Israel) stayed in Shechem. Some people suggest ten to twelve years., but one thing is for certain in light of the events of the next chapter—however long he stayed was too long! We know from the Gospel accounts in the New Testament that Jacob did something in Shechem that had great significance for Jesus—he dug a well there. Christ Himself sat on the edge of that well and taught a Samaritan woman about the true meaning life and the “living water” that only the Savior could provide (John chapter 4)!
Please read Genesis 34:1-7 for tomorrow.
Have a great day!
-Louie Taylor
