4. they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods . . . and
earrings--Strange gods, the "seraphim" (compare
Ge 31:30),
as well, perhaps, as other idols acquired among the Shechemite
spoil--earrings of various forms, sizes, and materials, which are
universally worn in the East, and, then as now, connected with
incantation and idolatry (compare
Ho 2:13).
The decided tone which Jacob now assumed was the probable cause of the
alacrity with which those favorite objects of superstition were
surrendered.
Jacob hid them under the oak--or terebinth--a towering tree,
which, like all others of the kind, was a striking object in the
scenery of Palestine; and beneath which, at Shechem, the patriarch had
pitched his tent. He hid the images and amulets, delivered to him by
his Mesopotamian dependents, at the root of this tree. The oak being
deemed a consecrated tree, to bury them at its root was to deposit them
in a place where no bold hand would venture to disturb the ground; and
hence it was called from this circumstance--"the plain of
Meonenim"--that is, "the oak of enchantments"
(Jud 9:37);
and from the great stone which Joshua set up--"the oak of the pillar"
(Jud 9:6).
JFB.
Outline
1 God sends Jacob to Bethel
2 Jacob puts away the strange gods from his household
6 He builds an altar at Bethel
8 Deborah dies
9 God blesses Jacob at Bethel
16 Rachel travails with Benjamin, and dies in the way to
Bethlehem
23 The sons of Jacob
27 Jacob comes to Isaac at Hebron
28 The age, death, and burial of Isaac.
Quick Reference Map
Map of the Jordan River
(Click to Enlarge)
Ancient Customs
strange gods
altar
change your garments
earrings
hid them under the oak
nurse
buried under an oak
name change
set up a pillar of stone
poured a drink offering
poured oil thereon
hard labour
midwife
buried
set a pillar upon her grave
concubine
handmaid
Ancient Topics
The terror of God
God Almighty
Israel
Allonbachuth
Ancient People
Jacob, Deborah, Rebekah, Rachael, Benjamin,
Reuben, Bilhah, Isaac, Esau
Jacob's 12 sons
Geography
Bethel
Shechem
Luz
land of Canaan
Elbethel
Padanaram
Ephrath
The tower of Edar
Mamre
Arbah
The Old Testament
Genesis Resources
Creation
Adam and Eve
The
Flood
The Tower of Babel
Abraham the First Hebrew
Isaac, Son of Promise
Jacob
and the 12 Tribes
Joseph
and Egypt