Chapter Twenty-Eight
Jacob is Sent to Laban
28:1 Then Isaac called Jacob and blessed him and directed him, “You must not take a wife from the Canaanite women. 2 Arise, go to Paddan-aram to the house of Bethuel your mother’s father, and take as your wife from there one of the daughters of Laban your mother’s brother. 3 God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples. 4 May he give the blessing of Abraham to you and to your offspring with you, that you may take possession of the land of your sojournings that God gave to Abraham!” 5 Thus Isaac sent Jacob away. And he went to Paddan-aram, to Laban, the son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob’s and Esau’s mother.
Isaac now realizing his error, agreed with Rebekah that Jacob should go find a wife outside of Canaan. He then blesses Jacob appropriately this time, along with some specific instructions:
Even though marriage was not previously discussed for Jacob, he did not hesitate nor question and apparently left as soon as he could for his mother’s brother’s home. This adventure would keep him safe from his brother Esau and help him find a wife to have sons of his own.
Esau Marries Again
28:6 Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan-aram to take a wife from there, and that as he blessed him he directed him, “You must not take a wife from the Canaanite women,” 7 and that Jacob had obeyed his father and his mother and gone to Paddan-aram. 8 So when Esau saw that the Canaanite women did not please Isaac his father, 9 Esau went to Ishmael and took as his wife, besides the wives he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebaioth.
Some suggest that Esau may have thought he had his father’s support all along and didn’t have to be too concerned over a birthright or blessing, until everything changed. Now, he was angry and bitter at his whole family. The text almost portrays Esau as some dark figure lurking in the shadows around his family. Seeing that his choice of women displeased his father (and mother, see Genesis 26:35), Esau decided to deliberately marry an Ishmaelite woman, perhaps he did not know the difference and thought that marrying a relative would help mend the relationship. Esau went to Ishmael’s home, although his uncle Ishmael would have already been dead, and married Mahalath, one of Ishmael’s daughters. It is possible that Ishmael's family may have been taught about the true God, so perhaps Mahalath would get along better with Isaac and Rebekah, than Esau’s other wives, Judith and Bashemath.
Jacob’s Dream
28:10 Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran. 11 And he came to a certain place and stayed there that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep.
Jacob was traveling with little supplies, certainly no servants and probably no camel or donkey, and apparently no tent. For a person who is often touted by commentators as being a homebody or a “mother’s boy,” Jacob was willing to take on this, over 500-mile, trip alone! Now, using a rock for a pillow, Jacob laid down to sleep.
28:12 And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! 13 And behold, the LORD stood above it and said, “I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. 14 Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
This dream, also known as Jacob’s Ladder, is perhaps the most remarkable dream ever recorded and truly one of the greatest! The Hebrew word ’sǔl·lām’,[2] is used only this one time in Scripture. Since there are other Hebrew words for ladder and stairway, this unique word is somewhat of a mystery, although everyone agrees that it is indeed a reference to either a ladder or stairway (some even suggest an escalator). The important part is not the mechanism itself; it is the person that is on it. This dream is the subject of great discussion, literature and, of course, much art.
Even though Jacob probably knew and firmly believed in God and His promises, experiencing a dream like this would have been a life changer. God provided for Jacob something that will serve to remind him for the rest of his life. He undoubtedly heard that God talked with Abraham and Isaac, and this was for him the first of eight encounters with God that Jacob will experience in his lifetime.
The backdrop of this dream was a large and long ladder that extended from the earth up into the sky and beyond, all the way to heaven, into the presence of God. On this ladder were several angels, some ascending and some descending, not only depicting the interaction between heaven and earth, but also the keen interest heaven has over what is going on here on earth. One way to view the separation between heaven and earth is that God is holy, and mankind is not, therefore the ladder, in a sense, is an image of a bridge from Him to us, something that only God can provide. In other words, there is no possible way to approach Him on our own. However, that has all changed, as Jesus refers to Himself as the One standing in that gap, being a permanent bridge, if you will. “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” (John 1:51, emphasis added)
Jacob saw God (undoubtedly a Christophany of Jesus),[3] standing above the ladder and heard Him identify Himself as the God of Abraham and Isaac, then He reiterated to Jacob essentially the same blessing and promises (He gave both Abraham and Isaac regarding his offspring and the land. Here he added that Jacob’s people will spread abroad to all points of the world. Plus, He promises to Jacob that He will not leave him, regardless of where he goes and that He will bring him back into this land.
28:16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.” 17 And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” 18 So early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. 19 He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first. 20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, 21 so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God, 22 and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.”
Jacob was understandably excited, frightened and overwhelmed when he woke up. God was indeed there, this experience was beyond comprehension for Jacob, as he simply proclaimed, “How awesome is this place!” (Hebrew word ‘nô·rā’,[4] meaning to fear or revere). He had just had an encounter with the God of the universe, the Creator, the God of Abraham and Isaac! It almost sounds like he was so excited that he did not know what to do next. He may have recognized it as the location where Abraham had once built an altar and worshiped God many years earlier (see Genesis 12:8 and 13:3), but he knew that it should be called the House of God, or Bethel. Jacob undoubtedly understood the practice of building an altar to approach God through animal sacrifices, however this was different, God came to him. So he built a pillar (Hebrew word ‘mǎṣ·ṣē·ḇā(h)’,[5] a monument), placing the rock he used the night before as a pillow as the top rock and poured oil on it (Hebrew word ‘šě·měn’,[6] referring to oil, used here for the first time in Scripture, the pouring of oil will be a major theme of the Old Testament, as the word ‘Christ’ is Greek for the Hebrew word for “anointed one,” see Genesis 31:13). The location was originally known as the city of Luz, and since it is approximately 70 miles north of Beersheba, this dream may have occurred on the second or third night (or perhaps later), after he started his trek north.
Here at Bethel, Jacob made a vow to God, saying that if God keeps His promise of watching over him during this journey and provides what he needs in clothing and food, as well as return home safely, then God will be his God. In addition, the rock and this pillar will be a place to honor God. He will also give God back a tenth of everything God gives him. This should be considered more of an expression of faith rather than a conditional statement, as Jacob would have known that God is always faithful in keeping His promises. This is the first appearance of the noun (Hebrew ‘ně’·ḏěr’)[7] and the verb (Hebrew ‘yid·dǎr’),[8] an equivalent translation could have been, “Jacob vowed a vow.” Making promises and especially vows to God is an important theme in the Bible.
Considerations
Giving a tenth of possessions, or tithing as it is often called, is a practice that has been somewhat controversial, even today. At the time of this story, Jacob had no real possessions to speak of, he believed that God would supply everything he needed and voluntarily promised to give back one-tenth of everything received from God, as an expression of thanksgiving and love. Since there was no written law at that time, it is believed that Jacob may have remembered how Abraham offered a tenth of the spoils to Melchizedek (see Genesis 14:20) and used that as a reference. However, no one knows for certain why Jacob chose to give back one tenth.
Several years later, tithing will become a requirement of the law given to Moses (see Leviticus 27:30-33; Numbers 18:21-32; Deuteronomy 12:5-18; 14:22-29; 26:12-14) While not considered a tax, there have been many forms of tithing, both voluntary and compulsory throughout history, including a tithing of produce of both soil and live-stock. In the Old Testament there were periods where several forms of tithing, offerings, taxation, or other obligations that were either requested or required, some examples include free-will offerings (see Exodus 25:1-7); atonement money, which was also known as a census tax (see Exodus 30:11-16); first-fruits offering (see Deuteronomy 26:1-4); a Temple maintenance tax (see Nehemiah 10:28-39, see also Matthew 17:24-27); as well as a number of taxes and assessments required by different monarchs.
Does God Require Tithing Today?
The answer is a firm, no! The law was fulfilled by Jesus (see Matthew 5:17), negating the requirement of tithing, as well as all other aspects of the law. However, giving is still an important element of a Christian’s life. Even though tithing is not required to serve God and while it is certainly not required for salvation, the apostle Paul reminds us that giving to God continues to be an expression of love and concern for the Lord and His service: “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:6-15)
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[1] Strong’s Hebrew 6951.
[2] Strong’s Hebrew 5551.
[3] See commentary under Genesis 3:8-10.
[4] Strong’s Hebrew 3372.
[5] Strong’s Hebrew 4676.
[6] Strong’s Hebrew 8081.
[7] Strong’s Hebrew 5088.
[8] Strong’s Hebrew 5087.