GENESIS 35
This chapter gives an account of Jacob’s going to Bethel, and building an altar there by the order and direction of God, Ge 35:1, where Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died and was buried, Ge 35:8, and where God appeared to Jacob, confirmed the new name of Israel he had given him, and renewed to him the promises of the multiplication of his seed, and of their inheriting the land of Canaan, Ge 35:9; all which is gratefully acknowledged by Jacob, who erected a pillar in the place, and called it Bethel, in memory of God’s gracious appearance to him there, Ge 35:14; from hence he journeyed towards his father’s house, and on the way Rachel his wife fell in travail, and bore him a son, and died, and was buried near Ephrath, Ge 35:16; near this place Reuben committed family relations with Bilhah, Ge 35:22, and the names of the dozen sons of Jacob are given, Ge 35:23; and the chapter is closed with an account of Jacob’s arrival at his father’s house, of the death of Isaac, and of his burial at the direction of his two sons, Ge 35:27.
GENESIS 36
This chapter gives us a genealogical account of Esau’s family, of his wives and sons, with whom he removed from Seir, Ge 36:1; of his sons’ sons, or grandsons, who were dukes in the land of Edom, Ge 36:11; after which is inserted a genealogy of Seir the Horite, into whose family Esau married, and of his children, and the dukes among them, Ge 36:20; then follows a list of the kings of Edom, before there were any in Israel, Ge 36:31; and the chapter is closed with a brief narration of the dukes of Esau, according to their families, Ge 36:40.
GENESIS 37
In this chapter begins the history of Joseph, with whom the remaining part of this book is chiefly concerned; and here are related the hatred of his brethren to him, because he brought an ill report of them to his father, and because his father loved him, and which was increased by the dream he dreamed, and told them of, Ge 37:1; a visit of his to his brethren in the fields, whom he found after a long search of them, Ge 37:12; their conspiracy on sight of him to slay him, but by the advice of Reuben it was agreed to cast him into a pit, which they did, Ge 37:18; and after that, at the motion of Judah, sold him to the Ishmaelites, who were going to Egypt, Ge 37:25; this being done, Reuben being absent, and not finding Joseph in the pit, was in great distress, Ge 37:29; their contrivance to deceive their father, and make him believe that Joseph was destroyed by a wild beast, which on the sight of the coat he credited, and became inconsolable, Ge 37:31; and the chapter concludes with the sale of Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, Ge 37:36.
Taken from John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible, published roughly around 1748-1760.
Chronological Bible Readings 