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Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible
Matthew Henry on Genesis 32:3-8
Now that Jacob was re-entering Canaan God, by the vision of angels, reminded him of the friends he had when he left it, and thence he takes occasion to remind himself of the enemies he had, particularly Esau. It is prob…
Jacob's Prayer. (b. c. 1739.)
JACOB'S PRAYER. (B. C. 1739.) Our rule is to call upon God in the time of trouble; we have here an example to this rule, and the success encourages us to follow this example. It was now a time of Jacob's trouble, but he…
Jacob's Present to Esau. (b. c. 1739.)
JACOB'S PRESENT TO ESAU. (B. C. 1739.) Jacob, having piously made God his friend by a prayer, is here prudently endeavouring to make Esau his friend by a present. He had prayed to God to deliver him from the hand of Esa…
Jacob Wrestles with an Angel. (b. c. 1739.)
JACOB WRESTLES WITH AN ANGEL. (B. C. 1739.) We have here the remarkable story of Jacob's wrestling with the angel and prevailing, which is referred to, Hosea 12:4. Very early in the morning, a great while before day, Ja…
Jacob's Interview with Esau. (b. c. 1739.)
JACOB'S INTERVIEW WITH ESAU. (B. C. 1739.) Here, I. Jacob discovered Esau's approach, Genesis 33:1. Some think that his lifting up his eyes denotes his cheerfulness and confidence, in opposition to a dejected countenanc…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 33:5-15
We have here the discourse between the two brothers at their meeting, which is very free and friendly, without the least intimation of the old quarrel. It was the best way to say nothing of it. They converse, I. About J…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 33:16-20
Here, 1. Jacob comes to Succoth. Having in a friendly manner parted with Esau, who had gone to his own country (Genesis 33:16), he comes to a place where, it should seem, he rested for some time, set up booths for his c…
Dinah Dishonoured. (b. c. 1732.)
DINAH DISHONOURED. (B. C. 1732.) Dinah was, for aught that appears, Jacob's only daughter, and we may suppose her therefore the mother's fondling and the darling of the family, and yet she proves neither a joy nor a cre…
Treachery of Dinah's Brethren. (b. c. 1732.)
TREACHERY OF DINAH'S BRETHREN. (B. C. 1732.) Jacob's sons, when they heard of the injury done to Dinah, showed a very great resentment of it, influenced perhaps rather by jealousy for the honour of their family than by…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 34:18-24
Here, 1. Hamor and Shechem gave consent themselves to be circumcised, Genesis 34:18-19. To this perhaps they were moved, not only by the strong desire they had to bring about this match, but by what they might have hear…
Murder of the Shechemites. (b. c. 1732.)
MURDER OF THE SHECHEMITES. (B. C. 1732.) Here, we have Simeon and Levi, two of Jacob's sons, young men not much above twenty years old, cutting the throats of the Shechemites, and thereby breaking the heart of their goo…
Jacob Summoned to Bethel; Jacob's Journeys towards Bethel. (b. c. 1732.)
JACOB SUMMONED TO BETHEL; JACOB'S JOURNEYS TOWARDS BETHEL. (B. C. 1732.) Here, I. God reminds Jacob of his vow at Beth-el, and sends him thither to perform it, Genesis 35:1. Jacob had said in the day of his distress, If…
Jacob's Arrival at Bethel. (b. c. 1732.)
JACOB'S ARRIVAL AT BETHEL. (B. C. 1732.) Jacob and his retinue having safely arrived at Beth-el, we are here told what passed there. I. There he built an altar (Genesis 35:7), and no doubt offered sacrifice upon it, per…
Death of Rachel. (b. c. 1732.)
DEATH OF RACHEL. (B. C. 1732.) We have here the story of the death of Rachel, the beloved wife of Jacob. 1. She fell in travail by the way, not able to reach to Bethlehem, the next town, though they were near it; so sud…
The Disgrace of Reuben. (b. c. 1716.)
THE DISGRACE OF REUBEN. (B. C. 1716.) Here is, 1. Jacob's removal, Genesis 35:21. He also, as his fathers, sojourned in the land of promise as in a strange country, and was not long in a place. Immediately after the sto…
The Generations of Esau. (b. c. 1780.)
THE GENERATIONS OF ESAU. (B. C. 1780.) Observe here, 1. Concerning Esau himself, Genesis 36:1. He is called Edom (and again, Genesis 36:8), that name by which was perpetuated the remembrance of the foolish bargain he ma…
The Dukes of Edom. (b. c. 1729.)
THE DUKES OF EDOM. (B. C. 1729.) Observe here, 1. That only the names of Esau's sons and grandsons are recorded, only their names, not their history; for it is the church that Moses preserves the records of, not the rec…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 36:20-30
In the midst of this genealogy of the Edomites here is inserted the genealogy of the Horites, those Canaanites, or Hittites (compare Genesis 26:34), that were the natives of Mount Seir. Mention is made of them, Genesis…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 36:31-43
By degrees, it seems, the Edomites wormed out the Horites, obtained full possession of the country, and had a government of their own. 1. They were ruled by kings, who governed the whole country, and seem to have come t…
The History of Joseph. (b. c. 1729.)
THE HISTORY OF JOSEPH. (B. C. 1729.) Moses has no more to say of the Edomites, unless as they happen to fall in Israel's way; but now applies himself closely to the story of Jacob's family: These are the generations of…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 37:5-11
Here, I. Joseph relates the prophetical dreams he had, Genesis 37:6-7. Though he was now very young (about seventeen years old), yet he was pious and devout, and well-inclined, and this fitted him for God's gracious dis…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 37:12-22
Here is, I. The kind visit which Joseph, in obedience to his father's command, made to his brethren, who were feeding the flock at Shechem, many miles off. Some suggest that they went thither on purpose, expecting that…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 37:23-30
We have here the execution of their plot against Joseph. 1. They stripped him, each striving to seize the envied coat of many colours, Genesis 37:23. Thus, in imagination, they degraded him from the birthright, of which…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 37:31-36
I. Joseph would soon be missed, great enquiry would be made for him, and therefore his brethren have a further design, to make the world believe that Joseph was torn in pieces by a wild beast; and this they did, 1. To c…