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3,811 commentary entries
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible
Esau's Foolish Marriage. (b. c. 1760.)
ESAU'S FOOLISH MARRIAGE. (B. C. 1760.) Here is, 1. Esau's foolish marriage—foolish, some think, in marrying two wives together, for which perhaps he is called a fornicator (Hebrews 12:16), or rather in marrying Canaanit…
Rebekah's Contrivance. (b. c. 1760.)
REBEKAH'S CONTRIVANCE. (B. C. 1760.) Here is, I. Isaac's design to make his will, and to declare Esau his heir. The promise of the Messiah and the land of Canaan was a great trust, first committed to Abraham, inclusive…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 27:6-17
Rebekah is here contriving to procure for Jacob the blessing which was designed for Esau; and here, I. The end was good, for she was directed in this intention by the oracle of God, by which she had been governed in dis…
The Fraud of Jacob. (b. c. 1760.)
THE FRAUD OF JACOB. (B. C. 1760.) Observe here, I. The art and assurance with which Jacob managed this intrigue. Who would have thought that this plain man could have played his part so well in a design of this nature?…
The Blessing Pronounced on Jacob and Esau. (b. c. 1760.)
THE BLESSING PRONOUNCED ON JACOB AND ESAU. (B. C. 1760.) Here is, I. The covenant-blessing denied to Esau. He that made so light of the birthright would now have inherited the blessing, but he was rejected, and found no…
Jacob's Life Threatened by Esau. (b. c. 1760.)
JACOB'S LIFE THREATENED BY ESAU. (B. C. 1760.) Here is, I. The malice Esau bore to Jacob upon account of the blessing which he had obtained, Genesis 27:41. Thus he went in the way of Cain, who slew his brother because h…
Jacob Dismissed with a Blessing. (b. c. 1760.)
JACOB DISMISSED WITH A BLESSING. (B. C. 1760.) Jacob had no sooner obtained the blessing than immediately he was forced to flee from his country; and, as it if were not enough that he was a stranger and sojourner there,…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 28:6-9
This passage concerning Esau comes in in the midst of Jacob's story, either, 1. To show the influence of a good example. Esau, though the greater man, now begins to think Jacob the better man, and disdains not to take h…
Jacob's Vision at Bethel. (b. c. 1760.)
JACOB'S VISION AT BETHEL. (B. C. 1760.) We have here Jacob upon his journey towards Syria, in a very desolate condition, like one that was sent to seek his fortune; but we find that, though he was alone, yet he was not…
Jacob's Vow. (b. c. 1760.)
JACOB'S VOW. (B. C. 1760.) God manifested himself and his favour to Jacob when he was asleep and purely passive; for the spirit, like the wind, blows when and where he listeth, and God's grace, like the dew, tarrieth no…
Jacob's Arrival at Padan-aram. (b. c. 1760.)
JACOB'S ARRIVAL AT PADAN-ARAM. (B. C. 1760.) All the stages Israel's march to Canaan are distinctly noticed, but no particular journal is kept of Jacob's expedition further than Beth-el; no, he had no more such happy ni…
Rachel's Humility and Industry. (b. c. 1760.)
RACHEL'S HUMILITY AND INDUSTRY. (B. C. 1760.) Here we see, 1. Rachel's humility and industry: She kept her father's sheep (Genesis 29:9), that is, she took the care of them, having servants under her that were employed…
Jacob's Marriage. (b. c. 1753.)
JACOB'S MARRIAGE. (B. C. 1753.) Here is, I. The fair contract made between Laban and Jacob, during the month that Jacob spent there as a guest, Genesis 29:14. It seems he was not idle, nor did he spend his time in sport…
Increase of Jacob's Family. (b. c. 1749.)
INCREASE OF JACOB'S FAMILY. (B. C. 1749.) We have here the birth of four of Jacob's sons, all by Leah. Observe, 1. That Leah, who was less beloved, was blessed with children, when Rachel was denied that blessing, Genesi…
Increase of Jacob's Family. (b. c. 1745.)
INCREASE OF JACOB'S FAMILY. (B. C. 1745.) We have here the bad consequences of that strange marriage which Jacob made with the two sisters. Here is, I. An unhappy disagreement between him and Rachel (Genesis 30:1-2), oc…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 30:14-24
Here is, I. Leah fruitful again, after she had, for some time, left off bearing. Jacob, it should seem, associated more with Rachel than with Leah. The law of Moses supposes it a common case that, if a man had two wives…
Jacob's Bargain with Laban. (b. c. 1745.)
JACOB'S BARGAIN WITH LABAN. (B. C. 1745.) We have here, I. Jacob's thoughts of home. He faithfully served his time out with Laban, even his second apprenticeship, though he was an old man, had a large family to provide…
Jacob's Ingenious Policy. (b. c. 1745.)
JACOB'S INGENIOUS POLICY. (B. C. 1745.) Here is Jacob's honest policy to make his bargain more advantageous to himself than it was likely to be. If he had not taken some course to help himself, it would have been a bad…
Jacob's Departure. (b. c. 1739.)
JACOB'S DEPARTURE. (B. C. 1739.) Jacob is here taking up a resolution immediately to quit his uncle's service, to take what he had and go back to Canaan. This resolution he took up upon a just provocation, by divine dir…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 31:17-24
Here is, I. Jacob's flight from Laban. We may suppose he had been long considering of it, and casting about in his mind respecting it; but when now, at last, God had given him positive orders to go, he made no delay, no…
Laban's Pursuit after Jacob. (b. c. 1739.)
LABAN'S PURSUIT AFTER JACOB. (B. C. 1739.) We have here the reasoning, not to say the rallying, that took place between Laban and Jacob at their meeting, in that mountain which was afterwards called Gilead, Genesis 31:2…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 31:36-42
See in these verses, I. The power of provocation. Jacob's natural temper was mild and calm, and grace had improved it; he was a smooth man, and a plain man; and yet Laban's unreasonable carriage towards him put him into…
Jacob's Covenant with Laban. (b. c. 1739.)
JACOB'S COVENANT WITH LABAN. (B. C. 1739.) We have here the compromising of the matter between Laban and Jacob. Laban had nothing to say in reply to Jacob's remonstrance: he could neither justify himself nor condemn Jac…
Jacob Pursuing His Journey. (b. c. 1739.)
JACOB PURSUING HIS JOURNEY. (B. C. 1739.) Jacob, having got clear of Laban, pursues his journey homewards towards Canaan: when God has helped us through difficulties we should go on our way heaven-ward with so much the…