And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.
Ver. l. Arise, go up to Bethel.] This is not the first time that God tells him of that vow, and calls for performance. See Genesis 31:13. It is with us, as with children - Eaten bread is soon forgotten: deliverances, commonly, are but nine days' wonderment at most; and it is ten to one, that any leper returns to give praise to God. If anything arouse and raise up our hearts to thankful remembrance of former mercy, it must be the sense of some present misery, as here. Jacob was in a great strait and fright: his sons had troubled him; the country was ready to rise upon him, and root him out: God also was justly displeased with him for his forgotten vow; yet chides him not, now that he was in heaviness; but takes his opportunity, for we are best when at worst, and gently minds him of what was his duty, and would be for his safety. Numa is said to have put so much confidence in his gods, that when he was sacrificing and news came that the enemy was at hand, he laughed, and said, At ego rein divinam facio. a Those Philistines were even ambitious of destruction, and ran to meet their ruin, that gathered themselves against Israel, while they were sacrificing and serving the Lord in their meet at Mizpeh. 1Sa 7:7 The Church, in her worship, is "terrible as an army with banners"; Son 6:10 "a cup of trembling to all the people round about"; "a burdensome stone for all people"; "a torch of fire in a sheaf." Zechariah 12:2,3 ; Zec 12:6 He is a mad man that will meddle with her while she is upon good terms with Christ, her Champion. Isa 37:22 Balaam knew this, and therefore gave that villanous counsel. All Germany was in arms against that handful of Hussites in Bohemia, yet could not suppress them. b Geneva, a small people, surrounded with enemies, and barred from aid of neighbours, yet faithful with God, hath been hitherto strangely upheld. At the siege of Mountabone in France, the people of God, using daily humiliation, as their service would permit, did sing a Psalm after, and immediately before, their sallying forth. With which practice the enemy coming acquainted, ever, upon the singing of the Psalm, upon which they expected a sally, they would so quake and tremble, crying, They come, they come, as though the wrath of God had been breaking out upon them. c
a Eγω δε ηυω - Plut
b Germani nondum, viso hoste, Danico terrore perculsi diffugerunt. - Pareus.
c Spec. Belli Sacri, 282.