Have you never cried to God in your distress, and been heard? Have you never called upon the Lord in your troubles, and been delivered? If so, mark such events. Let every mercy thus received call forth your grateful praise and thanksgiving.

Observe the faithfulness of God. Esau comes to meet Jacob: four hundred armed men are with him. There can be little doubt that his object was to take full revenge for the loss of the birthright. Before this he had proposed in his heart to slay his brother. Hitherto he had been disappointed; Jacob had gone away; but now he returns. Now he knows where to find him; now he will utterly destroy him, and all that he has. Thus he marches forward, breathing out threatening and slaughter. He draws near. Jacob lifts up his eyes, and, behold, Esau came, and his four hundred men with him. Jacob probably expected instant destruction, unless the Lord should interpose for his deliverance. Esau, however, hesitates to give the fatal order to his men, who look on with surprise; when lo! he runs towards his

your trials? Whatever they may be, cast them all upon the Lord; call upon him; seek his blessing, and, in some way or other, you will find that he will both hear and answer the cries of your distress.

We may be sure that Jacob could never forget this deliverance; and we see that he evinces his gratitude by building his altar, and dedicating it to the God, who is the God of Israel. And, many years after, God reminds his seed of his mercy on this occasion, and encourages them to call on his name in their distress, as Jacob did in his fears. Learn you to do the same. It is the praying soul that will be heard, answered, delivered, blessed, and saved. "Ask, and receive," therefore," that your joy may be full." (John xvi. 4.)

CHAPTER XXXIV.

1 Dinah is ravished by Shechem. 4 He sueth to marry her. 13 The sons of Jacob offer the condition of circumcision to the Shechemites. 20 Humor and Shechem persuade them to accept it. 25 The sons of Jacob upon that advantage slay them, 27 and spoil their city. 30 Jacob reproveth Simeon and Levi.

kisses him, and weeps as he feels the burning tears of Jacob trickling down his face! Oh! what a spectacle is here! The two brothers are held in each other's arms! He who had so lately resolved to slay, is now melted into love! And he who was so recently overcome with fear of his brother, now leans on his breast in the fulness of confidence and affection.

she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.

2 And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.

3 And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel.

4 And Shechem spake unto his father Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to wife.

5 And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter: now his sons were with his cattle in the field: and Jacob held his peace until they were come.

6 And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to commune with him.

7 And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob's daughter; which thing ought not to be done.

8 And Hamor communed with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter: I. pray you give her him to wife.

9 And make ye marriages with us, and give your daughters unto us, and take our daughters unto you.

10 And ye shall dwell with us: and the

land shall be before you: dwell and trade ye therein, and get you possessions therein.

11 And Shechem said unto her father and unto her brethren, Let me find grace in your eyes, and what ye shall say unto me I will give.

12 Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me: but give me the damsel to wife.

13 And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister:

14 And they said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach

unto us:

15 But in this will we consent unto you: If ye will be as we be, that every male of you be circumcised;

16 Then will we give our daughters unto you, and we will take your daughters to us, and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people.

17 But if ye will not hearken unto us, to be circumcised; then will we take our daughter, and we will be gone.

18 And their words pleased Hamor, and Shechem Hamor's son.

19 And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob's daughter and he was more honourable than all the house of his father.

20 ¶ And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying,

21 These men are peaceable with us; therefore let them dwell in the land, and trade therein; for the land, behold, it is large enough for them; let us take their daughters to us for wives, and let us give them our daughters.

22 Only herein will the men consent unto us for to dwell with us, to be one people, if every male among us be circumcised, as they are circumcised.

23 Shall not their cattle and their substance and every beast of their's be our's? only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us.

24 And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate, of his city.

25 ¶ And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males.

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26 And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem's house, and went out.

27 The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister.

28 They took their sheep, and their oxen, and their asses, and that which was in the city, and that which was in the field,

29 And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives took they captive, and spoiled even all that was in the house.

30 And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.

31 And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?

NEITHER the trials nor the dangers of life will cease till our journey is over, and we enter the heavenly rest. This is wisely ordered by our gracious God, who knows what is, at all times, for our good. By such means the soul is kept in active exercise, and hastens on to the glorious termination of the race set before us. Thus, as one mercy makes way for another, so one trial prepares for another, and all work together for good.

We have seen Jacob's distress on account of Esau, and how the Lord delivered him from his brother's fury. But now he has trouble from another quarter. Sorrow springs up in his own family, and first one child, and then others, are the cause of fresh humility. Alas! how often is this the case in families! The heart of many parents is wrung with sorrow at the thoughtless, wicked, or scandalous behaviour of their children. Oh, let all beware how they add to a parent's sorrow. Let all take heed to their goings; keep out of the way of temptation, and pray God to preserve them from evil.

What was the nature of this distress? Jacob was dwelling at Shalem, a city of Shechem. The Was he right in doing so? direction was to return to his own country, and kindred, and "I will be with thee." (ch. xxxi. 3.) But was not this dwelling at She

chem, tarrying by the way? If so, was it not wrong? Perhaps it might have been for the sake of the cattle; to recruit their strength after so long a journey. But, however this may be, certain it is, that his troubles were increased, and his perils renewed. In our heavenly journey, God allows of no halting by the way. We should still be going on; still pressing "towards the mark.” (Phil. iii. 14.) And if you once settle down in the world, you must not be surprised if fresh troubles knock at your door to break your slumbers, and call you forward on your way.

Let young persons study Dinah's history with caution and improvement. She went out to see the daughters of the land, and that led to her ruin. Perhaps she felt some sort of idle curiosity to see how they lived, or to form some sort of friendly intercourse with them. But she was in the way of temptation; and she fell into sin. Is not this a loud warning to all young persons to beware of giving way to feelings of idle curiosity; and to take heed of putting themselves in the way of temptation? How many such have brought sorrow upon their parents, and disgrace upon themselves, by going about at unseasonable hours, and mixing with improper associates? And does not this circumstance speak loudly to all Christian parents to beware how they allow their children to associate with the ungodly world? Surely the daughters of the land are no fit companions for the "sons and daughters" of the Lord Almighty! (2 Cor. vi. 18.) If you once depart from the Scripture rule to come out from among them and be separate," (2 Cor. vi. 17) you cannot tell what the consequences may be; and you must expect corrections, in order to be brought to a better mind.

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What a complication of evils is here related! Dinah humbled; Jacob grieved; his sons exasperated and waiting for revenge! Then the men of the place scheming to seize all that Jacob had; Hamon, who avowed such regard for the damsel, setting forward the plot; and all consenting to adopt the religion of their victims, in order the more effectually to succeed! What a striking specimen of the baseness and villany of the human heart! And to crown the whole, the brothers of

Dinah, who proposed the covenant rite, bathing their swords in human blood! "How great a matter a little fire kindleth." (James iii. 5.) All these evils sprang from the one unguarded step of going out to see the daughters of the land!

Learn, then, to pray against idle curiosity. Keep aloof from intimate society with the wicked sinners of the world. Never place yourselves in the way of temptation. Seek the counsel of those who are more experienced than yourselves. And, above all, put yourselves under the Lord's guidance, seek his blessing, and regulate all your steps according to his word.

CHAPTER XXXV.

1 God sendeth Jacob to Beth-el. 2 He purgeth his house of

idols. 6 He buildeth an altar at Beth-el. 8 Deborah dieth at Allon-bachuth. 9 God blesseth Jacob at Beth-el. 16 Rachel travaileth of Benjamin, and dieth in the way to Edur. 22 Reuben lieth with Bilhah. 23 The sons of Jacob. 27 Jacob cometh to Isaac at Hebron. 28 The age, death, and burial of Isaac.

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ND God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Beth-el, and dwell there and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.

2 Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:

3 And let us arise, and go up to Beth-el; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.

4 And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.

5 And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.

6¶ So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Beth-el, he and all the people that were with him.

7 And he built there an altar, and called the place 'El-beth-el: because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother.

8 But Deborah Rebekah's nurse died, and she was buried beneath Beth-el under an oak: and the name of it was called Allon-bachuth. 9 ¶ And God appeared unto Jacob again,

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when he came out of Padan-aram, and blessed him.

10 And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel.

11 And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;

12 And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land.

13 And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him.

14 And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon.

15 And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Beth-el.

16 And they journeyed from Beth-el; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour.

17 And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also.

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18 And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name 'Ben-oni: but his father called him Benjamin.

19 And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Beth-lehem.

20 And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day.

21 And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar.

22 And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:

23 The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun:

24 The sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin :

25 And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali:

26 And the sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid; Gad, and Asher: these are the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padan

aram.

27 And Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamre, unto the city of Arbah, which is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned.

28 And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years.

WHEN we are acting according to the divine directions, we may safely rely on the promised blessing. But we need to be frequently reminded, both of what the Lord has done. for us, and what he has promised to us. The God who appeared on our behalf in the day of our distress ought never to be forgotten; and he who interposed for our redemption and salvation demands our constant love and praise. These remarks apply to Jacob's position at this time. From the occurrences mentioned in the last chapter, he had fresh cause for alarm. But the terror of God fell upon the enraged multitudes, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob. How astonishing is this interposition. The same God who melted the murderous heart of Esau into feelings of the most ardent affection, now casts forth such a sense of dread and terror upon the Shechemites, that they were afraid to follow him! Blessed proof of divine love! Precious token of omnipotent power put forth for the safety of his people!

Jacob has no doubt about his movements; he is commanded to go directly to Bethel, and dwell there; and there establish the worship of God who aided him in his distress. All these altars were attended with sacrifices. These sacrifices were types of the great Redeemer, and wherever these were offered, there was in fact a proclamation or exhibition of the gospel through the typical oblations; and thus, it is probable, the truth was diffused, and the faith of the patriarch, and others around, was strengthened and confirmed. Ought we not to keep this in mind? Let us learn from Jacob's conduct to carry our religion with us wherever we go, and to serve the Lord in the gospel of his Son, under all circumstances, and in all places. Surely we are not upright before God, if this be neglected; nor can we expect his blessing.

But we see that in the most pious families many evils will creep in; and these will eat like a canker till they are removed. We see,

even in Jacob's household, much that was wrong.

Strange gods had crept in among them, and the Lord commanded him to put them away. Look, then, into your own families. Is there nothing wrong going on there? Is the voice of social and private prayer and praise daily heard? Is the Bible studied as the one rule of your faith and practice? Is there any forbidden thing practised by any one in your household? If so, you cannot expect God's blessing, until the strange god be put away.

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When Jacob had thus commanded his household, God appeared again to him, and renewed his previous blessings, and especially the change of his name to a prince" that had power with God and men and prevailed. (Gen. xxxii. 28.) Thus honour God in your families as Jacob did, and you may expect similar renewals of mercy, grace, and blessing.

But in this chapter we are again reminded of death. Deborah dies, and is buried ; Rachel dies, and is consigned to the earth; and Isaac gave up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people. So must we all die; yes, all! The saint and the sinner must die; but not alike: nor do they come to the same end. The saint dies, and enters into the joy of his Lord. (Matt. xxv. 21.) The sinner dies, and is cast into hell, with all the nations that forget God. (Ps. ix. 17.)

2 Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan; Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite;

3 And Bashemath Ishmael's daughter, sister of Nebajoth.

4 And Adah bare to Esau Eliphaz; and Bashemath bare Reuel;

5 And Aholibamah bare Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah: these are the sons of Esau, which were born unto him in the land of Canaan.

6 And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the 'persons of his house, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and

all his substance, which he had got in the land of Canaan; and went into the country from the face of his brother Jacob.

7 For their riches were more than that they might dwell together; and the land wherein they were strangers could not bear them because of their cattle.

8 Thus dwelt Esau in mount Scir: Esau is Edom.

9 ¶ And these are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in mount Seir:

10 These are the names of Esau's sons; Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau, Reuel the son of Bashemath the wife of Esau. 11 And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz.

12 And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau's son; and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek: these were the sons of Adah Esau's wife.

13 And these are the sons of Reuel; Nahath, and Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah : these were the sons of Bashemath Esau's wife.

14 And these were the sons of Aholibamah, the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon, Esau's wife: and she bare to Esau Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah.

15¶These were dukes of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz the firstborn son of Esau; duke Teman, duke Omar, duke Zepho, duke Kenaz,

16 Duke Korah, duke Gatam, and duke Amalek these are the dukes that came of Eliphaz in the land of Edom; these were the sons of Adah.

17 And these are the sons of Reuel Esau's son; duke Nahath, duke Zerah, duke Shammah, duke Mizzah: these are the dukes that came of Reuel in the land of Edom; these are the sons of Bashemath Esau's wife.

18 ¶ And these are the sons of Aholibamah Esau's wife; duke Jeush, duke Jaalam, duke Korah: these were the dukes that came of Aholibamah the daughter of Anah, Esau's wife.

19 These are the sons of Esau, who is Edom, and these are their dukes.

20 ¶ These are the sons of Seir the Horite, who inhabited the land; Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah,

21 And Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan: these are the dukes of the Horites, the children of Seir in the land of Edom.