The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 1 — Section 22

HOMILETICS. Vers. I-5.-The patriarchal names. I. THE NA.MES IN THEMSELVES. Nothing seems to the ordinary reader of Holy Scripture so dry and uninteresting as a bare catalogue of names. Objections are even made to reading them as parts of Sunday or week-day " lessons." But "ALL Scripture," rightly viewed, " is profitable" (2 'l'im. iii. 16). Each Hebrew name has a meaning, and was given with a purpose. What a wealth of joys and sorrows, hopes and fears, surmises, triumphs, jealousies, is hid up in the list before us! Jacob, the supplanter (Gen. x.xvii. 36); Reuben, the son of God's gracious re,qard (i"b. :=.ix.. 32); Simeon, the proof that God hears prayers and answers them (ib. ver. 33); Levi, the bond of association between wife and husband; Judah, he for whom God is p1·aised; lssachax, the son given as a. reward; Zebulon, he who will make the husband and wife dwell together ; Benjamin "son of my strength," otherwise Benoni, "son of my sorrow" (i'b. mv. 16); Dan, the sign that there is a. God who fudges us; Naphtali, " one wrestled for" ; Gad, " good fortune cometh" ; Asher, " the happy one" ! How the private life of Jacob, how the rivalries and heats and contentions of that polygamist household, come before us, as we read the names ! How again, amid all these heats and contentions, is revealed on all sides a faithful trust in God, a conviction of his over- ruling providence, and an acceptance of that aspect of his character which the Apostle holds up to view, when he calls him "a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Heb. xi. 6). Again, how strong the feeling, that, whatever cares and troubles they bring with them, children are a blessing! What a desire is shown to have children I What a pride in the possession of many children! Already " the Desire of all nations" was looked for, and each Hebrew mother hoped that in the line of descent from her might be born that Mighty One, who would "bruise the serpent's head 11 (Gen. iii. 15), and in whom " all the nations of the earth would be blessed" ( ib. xii. 3; xviii. 18). Thus this list of names, if we will consider the meaning of them and the occasion of their being given, may teach us many a lesson, and prove "profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." II. THE ORDER OF THE NAMES. The order in which the names are given assigns a just advantage to legitimate and true marriage over even the most strictly legal union which falls short of true marriage. Let .men beware lest they forfeit God's blessing 1;1-pon their domestic life, by contracting marrjage in any but the most solemn way that 1s open to them. There is a sanctity in the relation of husband and wife, that should lead us to surround the initial contract with every sacred association and every holy form that the piety of bygone ages has provided for us. Again, the order followed assigns a just and rightful advantage to priority of birth. Primc,geniture is in a certain se!l-se, a law of nature. The eld,er brother. superior iu ua. 1. 1-6,) THE BOOK OF EXODUS. 3