(The Lord speaking is red text)
And Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamre, unto the city of Arbah, which [is] Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned.
Ya'akov came home to his father Yitz'chak at Mamre, near Kiryat-Arba (also known as Hevron), where Avraham and Yitz'chak had lived as foreigners.
Jacob returned to his father Isaac at Mamre, near Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had stayed.
And Jacob came unto Isaac his father to Mamre, to Kiriath-arba (the same is Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac sojourned.
And Jacob{H3290} came{H935} unto Isaac{H3327} his father{H1} unto Mamre{H4471}, unto the city of Arbah{H7153}, which is Hebron{H2275}, where Abraham{H85} and Isaac{H3327} sojourned{H1481}.
Genesis 35:27 is a verse that captures a significant moment of familial reunion and continuity in the patriarchal narrative of the Bible. The verse states, "And Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamre, unto the city of Arbah, which [is] Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned." This verse is set within the broader context of Jacob's life, following his return to Canaan after a prolonged sojourn in Padan-aram, where he had married and built a large family, and after his transformative encounter with God, where his name was changed to Israel.
The historical context of this verse is rooted in the early history of the Israelite people, who trace their lineage through the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Mamre, identified with the city of Hebron, was an important site in the lives of the patriarchs. It was there that Abraham had pitched his tent and built an altar to the Lord (Genesis 13:18), and where he later bargained with God over the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18). It was also the location of the family tomb, the Cave of Machpelah, purchased by Abraham as a burial site for his wife Sarah (Genesis 23).
The themes present in this verse include family unity, the fulfillment of divine promises, and the importance of heritage and land. Jacob's return to his father Isaac in Hebron symbolizes the continuity of the covenantal relationship between God and the patriarchs. It also underscores the significance of Hebron as a place of ancestral connection and divine encounter. The verse reflects the biblical emphasis on the land of Canaan as the Promised Land, a central theme in the narrative of Israel's formation as a people and nation.
In summary, Genesis 35:27 is a verse that encapsulates the themes of family, divine promise, and historical connection to the land. It marks the reunification of Jacob with his father Isaac in Hebron, a city laden with patriarchal history and religious significance. This moment in the biblical narrative underscores the importance of generational continuity and the fulfillment of God's covenant with the patriarchs, as the family of Israel returns to the land that was promised to their forefathers.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)