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did Jacob； and be as earnest and persevering as he was； will succeed as he
succeeded。 〃Shall not God avenge His own elect； which cry day and night unto
Him； though He bear long with them？ I tell you that He will avenge them
speedily。〃 Luke 18：7； 8。
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Chapter 19
The Return to Canaan
Crossing the Jordan； 〃Jacob came in peace to the city of Shechem； which is
in the land of Canaan。〃 Genesis 33：18； R。V。 Thus the patriarch's prayer at
Bethel； that God would bring him again in peace to his own land； had been
granted。 For a time he dwelt in the vale of Shechem。 It was here that
Abraham； more than a hundred years before； had made his first encampment and
erected his first altar in the Land of Promise。 Here Jacob 〃bought the
parcel of ground where he had spread his tent； at the hand of the children
of Hamor； Shechem's father； for a hundred pieces of money。 And he erected
there an altar； and called it El…elohe…Israel〃 （verses 19； 20）God； the God
of Israel。〃 Like Abraham； Jacob set up beside his tent an altar unto the
Lord； calling the members of his household to the morning and the evening
sacrifice。 It was here also that he dug the well to which； seventeen
centuries later； came Jacob's Son and Saviour； and beside which； resting
during the noontide heat； He told His wondering hearers of that 〃well of
water springing up into everlasting life。〃 John 4：14。
The tarry of Jacob and his sons at Shechem ended in violence and bloodshed。
The one daughter of the household had been brought to shame and sorrow； two
brothers were involved in the guilt of murder； a whole city had been given
to ruin and slaughter； in retaliation for the lawless deed of one rash
youth。 The beginning that led to results so terrible was the act of Jacob's
daughter； who 〃went out to see the daughters of the land；〃 thus venturing
into association with the ungodly。 He who seeks pleasure among those that
fear not God is placing himself on Satan's ground and inviting his
temptations。
The treacherous cruelty of Simeon and Levi was not unprovoked； yet in their
course toward the Shechemites they committed a grievous sin。 They had
carefully concealed from Jacob their
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intentions； and the tidings of their revenge filled him with horror。
Heartsick at the deceit and violence of his sons； he only said； 〃Ye have
troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land： 。 。 。 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。〃 But the grief and
abhorrence with which he regarded their bloody deed is shown by the words in
which； nearly fifty years later； he referred to it； as he lay upon his
deathbed in Egypt： Simeon and Levi are brethren； instruments of cruelty are
in their habitations。 O my soul； come not thou into their secret； unto their
assembly； mine honor； be not thou united。 。 。 。 Cursed be their anger； for
it was fierce； and their wrath； for it was cruel。〃 Genesis 49：5…7。
Jacob felt that there was cause for deep humiliation。 Cruelty and falsehood
were manifest in the character of his sons。 There were false gods in the
camp； and idolatry had to some extent gained a foothold even in his
household。 Should the Lord deal with them according to their deserts； would
He not leave them to the vengeance of the surrounding nations？
While Jacob was thus bowed down with trouble； the Lord directed him to
journey southward to Bethel。 The thought of this place reminded the
patriarch not only of his vision of the angels and of God's promises of
mercy； but also of the vow which he had made there； that the Lord should be
his God。 He determined that before going to this sacred spot his household
should be freed from the defilement of idolatry。 He therefore gave direction
to all in the encampment； 〃Put away the strange gods that are among you； and
be clean； and change your garments： and let us arise； and go up to Bethel；
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。〃
With deep emotion Jacob repeated the story of his first visit to Bethel；
when he left his father's tent a lonely wanderer； fleeing for his life； and
how the Lord had appeared to him in the night vision。 As he reviewed the
wonderful dealings of God with him； his own heart was softened； his children
also were touched by a subduing power； he had taken the most effectual way
to prepare them to join in the worship of God when they should arrive at
Bethel。 〃And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which
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were in their hand； and all their earrings which were in their ears； and
Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem。〃
God caused a fear to rest upon the inhabitants of the land； so that they
made no attempt to avenge the slaughter at Shechem。 The travelers reached
Bethel unmolested。 Here the Lord again appeared to Jacob and renewed to him
the covenant promise。 〃And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He
talked with him； even a pillar of stone。〃
At Bethel； Jacob was called to mourn the loss of one who had long been an
honored member of his father's familyRebekah's nurse； Deborah； who had
accompanied her mistress from Mesopotamia to the land of Canaan。 The
presence of this aged woman had been to Jacob a precious tie that bound him
to his early life； and especially to the mother whose love for him had been
so strong and tender。 Deborah was buried with expressions of so great sorrow
that the oak under which her grave was made； was called 〃the oak of
weeping。〃 It should not be passed unnoticed that the memory of her life of
faithful service and of the mourning over this household friend has been
accounted worthy to be preserved in the word of God。
From Bethel it was only a two days' journey to Hebron； but it brought to
Jacob a heavy grief in the death of Rachel。 Twice seven years' service he
had rendered for her sake； and his love had made the toil but light。 How
deep and abiding that love had been； was shown when long afterward； as Jacob
in Egypt lay near his death； Joseph came to visit his father； and the aged
patriarch； glancing back upon his own life； said； 〃As for me； when I came
from Padan； Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way； when yet
there was but a little way to come unto Ephrath： and I buried her there in
the way of Ephrath。〃 Genesis 48：7。 In the family history of his long and
troubled life the loss of Rachel was alone recalled。
Before her death Rachel gave birth to a second son。 With her parting breath
she named the child Benoni； 〃son of my sorrow。〃 But his father called him
Benjamin； 〃son of my right hand；〃 or 〃my strength。〃 Rachel was buried where
she died； and a pillar was raised upon the spot to perpetuate her memory。
On the way to Ephrath another dark crime stained the family of Jacob；
causing Reuben； the first…born son； to be denied the privileges and honors
of the birthright。
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