Genesis 28:4

28:1-5 Jacob had blessings promised both as to this world and that which is to come; yet goes out to a hard service. This corrected him for the fraud on his father. The blessing shall be conferred on him, yet he shall smart for the indirect course taken to obtain it. Jacob is dismissed by his father with a solemn charge. He must not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan: those who profess religion, should not marry with those that care not for religion. Also with a solemn blessing. Isaac had before blessed him unwittingly; now he does it designedly. This blessing is more full than the former; it is a gospel blessing. This promise looks as high as heaven, of which Canaan was a type. That was the better country which Jacob and the other patriarchs had in view.

And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee,.... Which was promised to Abraham, and was entailed upon Isaac and his seed, and now upon Jacob and his seed, which follows: that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave to Abraham; the land of Canaan, which was given to Abraham by promise, but not in possession; he was a sojourner and stranger in it, and so Isaac had been all his days, and now Jacob, who through the blessing was become heir of it; but as yet neither he nor his posterity must enjoy it, but be strangers and sojourners in it, for the exercise of faith, and for the leading of their minds off of all earthly enjoyments, to the better and heavenly country God has provided for his people; see Hebrews 11:9.

4 . the blessing of Abraham ] Probably a reference to Genesis 17:8 . The same blessing as Abraham received is now pronounced by Isaac upon Jacob, recognizing him as the religious representative of the family, and ignoring Esau. This verse would be almost unintelligible, if we were not on literary grounds sure that this section is from the P tradition, and is independent of the J narrative (chap. 27), which describes Isaac’s age and Jacob’s deceit towards his father in obtaining the blessing of the firstborn. This is not the blessing of a dying man, but of a father parting with a son. It repeats, in a summary form, the national aspect of Abraham’s blessing. It lacks the poetical vigour and spiritual interest of the blessing in J ( Genesis 27:27-29 ). the land of thy sojournings ] A P phrase: see note on Genesis 17:8 , and cf. Genesis 36:7 , Genesis 37:1 . It is here applied by Isaac to Jacob’s residence in Canaan after his return from Paddan-aram.

8 . the land of thy sojournings ] This is explained to be “all the land of Canaan.” The word “sojournings” denotes “residences of a stranger” (cf. Genesis 15:13 ). The stranger ( gêr ) has no fixed possession in a land. The land where he has been a stranger is now promised to become his settled possession. The promise, therefore, reverses Abraham’s present position. The land will be no longer one of “sojourning” ( megûrîm ), but a “possession” ( aḥuzzah ). Cf. Genesis 28:4 , Genesis 36:7 , Genesis 37:1 , Genesis 47:9 ; Exodus 6:4 (all in the P narrative). For “everlasting possession,” see Genesis 48:4 (P).

And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a {b} stranger, which God gave unto Abraham. (b) The godly fathers were continually reminded that they were but strangers in this world: so that they would lift up their eyes to the heavens where they have a certain dwelling.

CHAPTER 28 Ge 28:1-19. Jacob's Departure. 1. Isaac called Jacob and blessed him—He entered fully into Rebekah's feelings, and the burden of his parting counsel to his son was to avoid a marriage alliance with any but the Mesopotamian branch of the family. At the same time he gave him a solemn blessing—pronounced before unwittingly, now designedly, and with a cordial spirit. It is more explicitly and fully given, and Jacob was thus acknowledged "the heir of the promise."

CHAPTER 28 Ge 28:1-19. Jacob's Departure. 1. Isaac called Jacob and blessed him—He entered fully into Rebekah's feelings, and the burden of his parting counsel to his son was to avoid a marriage alliance with any but the Mesopotamian branch of the family. At the same time he gave him a solemn blessing—pronounced before unwittingly, now designedly, and with a cordial spirit. It is more explicitly and fully given, and Jacob was thus acknowledged "the heir of the promise."Isaac calls Jacob; charges him not to marry a Canaanite, but one of his kindred in Padan-aram, Genesis 28:1,2; confirms the blessing to him, Genesis 28:3,4. Jacob obeys his father, and goes to Laban, Genesis 28:5. Esau perceiving this, marries one of his kindred, but of Ishmael’s family, Genesis 28:6-9. Jacob journeys towards Haran; in his way takes of the stones of the place for pillows, Genesis 28:10,11. In a dream sees a ladder reaching from earth to heaven, angels ascending and descending on it, Genesis 28:12. The Lord standing above it, renews his covenant concerning Canaan and the promised seed, &c., Genesis 28:13-15. Jacob awakened, acknowledges God’s presence there, and is afraid, Genesis 28:16,17; sets up the stones for a pillar, pours oil on it, Genesis 28:18.

Verse 4. - And give thee the Blessing of Abraham , - i . e . promised to Abraham ( vide Genesis 12:2 ; Genesis 22:17, 18 ). The additions of τοῦ παρός μου (LXX.), אביך = τοῦ πατρὸς σου (Samaritan), are unwarranted - to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger , - literally, the land of thy sojournings ( Genesis 17:8 ) - which God gave unto Abraham - by promise (cf. Genesis 12:7 ; Genesis 13:15 ; Genesis 15:7, 18 ; Genesis 17:8 ). Genesis 28:4

Isaac has now become alive to the real destiny of Jacob. He therefore calls for him to bless him, and give him a command. The command is to take a wife, not from Kenaan, but from the kindred of his parents. The blessing comes from "God Almighty" ( Genesis 17:1 ). It is that belonging to the chosen seed, "the blessing of Abraham." It embraces a numerous offspring, the land of promise, and all else that is included in the blessing of Abraham. "A congregation of peoples." This is the word "congregation" (קהל qâhāl) which is afterward applied to the assembled people of God, and to which the Greek ἐκκλησία ekklēsia, "ecclesia," corresponds. Jacob complies with his mother's advice and his father's command, and, at the same time, reaps the bitter fruit of his fraud against his brother in the hardship and treachery of an exile of twenty years. The aged Isaac is not without his share in the unpleasant consequences of endeavoring to go against the will of God.

Jacob's Departure from his Parents' House. - Rebekah's complaint reminded Isaac of his own call, and his consequent duty to provide for Jacob's marriage in a manner corresponding to the divine counsels of salvation. Genesis 28:1-5 He called Jacob, therefore, and sent him to Padan-Aram to his mother's relations, with instructions to seek a wife there, and not among the daughters of Canaan, giving him at the same time the "blessing of Abraham," i.e., the blessing of promise, which Abraham had repeatedly received from the Lord, but which is more especially recorded in Genesis 17:2., and Genesis 22:16-18.

[Bible] 27:46. And Rebecca said to Isaac: I am weary of my life, because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the stock of this land, I choose not to live. Genesis Chapter 28 Jacob's journey to Mesopotamia: his vision and vow. 28:1. And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, saying: Take not a wife of the stock of Chanaan: 28:2. But go, and take a journey to Mesopotamia of Syria, to the house of Bathuel, thy mother's father, and take thee a wife thence of the daughters of Laban, thy uncle. 28:3. And God almighty bless thee, and make thee to increase and multiply thee: that thou mayst be a multitude of people. 28:4. And give the blessings of Araham to thee, and to thy seed after thee: that thou mayst possess the land of thy sojournment, which he promised to thy grandfather. 28:5. And when Isaac had sent him away, he took his journey and went to Mesopotamia of Syria, to Laban, the son of Bathuel, the Syrian, brother to Rebecca, his mother. 28:6. And Esau seeing that his father had blessed Jacob, and had sent him into Mesopotamia of Syria, to marry a wife thence; and that after the blessing he had charged him, saying: Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Chanaan: 28:7. And that Jacob obeying his parents, was gone into Syria: 28:8. Experiencing also, that his father was not well pleased with the daughters of Chanaan: 28:9. He went to Ismael, and took to wife, besides them he had before, Maheleth, the daughter of Ismael, Abraham's son, the sister of Nabajoth. 28:10. But Jacob being departed from Bersabee, went on to Haran. 28:11. And when he was come to a certain place, and would rest in it after sunset, he took of the stones that lay there, and putting under his head, slept in the same place. 28:12. And he saw in his sleep a ladder standing upon the earth, and the top thereof touching heaven: the angels also of God ascending and descending by it.