CRITICAL NOTES.—
Genesis 33:17. Made booths for his cattle.] “Booths, or folds, composed of upright stakes wattled together, and sheltered with leafy branches.” (Murphy.)—
Genesis 33:18. Shalem, a city of Shechem.] “It seems very improbable that the word Shalem should be a proper name, as the A.V. after the LXX. and Vulgate has rendered it. No such place is known in the neighbourhood of Sichem (Nablus), nor mentioned elsewhere in the Bible. The meaning is far more probably ‘in peace.’ ” (Alford.)—
Genesis 33:19. An hundred pieces of money.] This coin is called kesitah (lamb). Gesenius suggests that this was probably of the value of a lamb. Ancient coins were often stamped with the image of an animal, which they represented.
Genesis 33:20. Called it El-Elohe-Israel.] That is God, the God of Israel.
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Genesis 33:17-20
JACOB’S FAITH AND PIETY
I. His faith. He bought a parcel of ground as a pledge of his faith in the future possession of that country by his posterity (Genesis 33:19). This purchase of a portion of land, concerning which God had promised Abraham that it should be his, showed Jacob’s deep conviction that the promise was renewed to him and to his seed.
II. His piety. This was an evidence of his faith. He gave himself up entirely to God, and this inward feeling was expressed outwardly by acts of obedience and devotion. His piety is seen—
1. In an act of worship. “He erected there an altar.” This was in keeping with his vow (Genesis 28:21).
2. In the use of blessings already given. He called the altar “El-elohe-Israel” (Genesis 33:20). He now uses his own new name, Israel, for the first time, in association with the name of God. He uses that name which signifies the Mighty One, who was now his covenant God. He lives up to his privilege, uses all that God had given. He had vowed that he would take the Lord to be his God.
3. In the peace he enjoyed. He arrived in peace at his journey’s end (Genesis 33:18).—(See Critical Notes.)
SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS ON THE VERSES
Genesis 33:16-17. We view Jacob’s settlement at Succoth—
1. In the light of a building of booths and houses for refreshment, after a twenty years’ servitude, and the toils and soul-conflicts connected with his journeyings.
2. As a station where he might regain his health, so that he could come to Shechem well and in peace.
3. As a station where he could tarry for a time on account of Esau’s importunity. (Lange.)
Genesis 33:18-19. The acquisition of a parcel of land at Shechem by Jacob, forms a counterpart to the purchase of Abraham at Hebron. But there is an evident progress here, since he made the purchase for his own settlement during life, while Abraham barely gained a burial place. In Jacob’s life, too, the desire to exchange the wandering nomadic life for a more fixed abode becomes more apparent than in the life of Isaac.—(Lange.)
Genesis 33:20. Jacob consecrates his ground by the erection of an altar. He calls it the altar of the Mighty One, the God of Israel, in which he signalises the omnipotence of Him who had brought him safely to the land of promise through many perils, the new name by which he himself had been lately designated, and the blessed communion which now existed between the Almighty and himself. This was the very spot where Abraham, about 185 years ago, built the first altar he erected in the promised land (Genesis 12:6-7). It is now consecrated anew to the God of promise.—(Murphy.)
He erected an altar—
1. As a memorial of the promises, and a symbol of God’s presence.
2. As an external profession of his piety.
3. That he might set up God in his family, and season all his worldly affairs with a relish of religion.—(Trapp.)