Genesis 33:17

17 And Jacob journeyed to Succoth,[a] and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.

Genesis 33:17 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 33:17

And Jacob journeyed to Succoth
Perhaps after he had been at Seir, and stayed there some little time. Succoth was on the other side of Jordan, so called by anticipation, for it had its name from what follows; as yet there was no city built here, or at least of this name; afterwards there was, it lay in a valley, and belonged to Sihon king of Heshbon, and was given to the tribe of Gad, ( Joshua 13:27 ) ; it is mentioned along with Penuel, and was not far from it, ( Judges 8:8 ) . It is said to be but two miles distant from it F21, but one would think it should be more: and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle;
an house for himself and family, and booths or tents for his servants or shepherds, and for the cattle they had the care of, some for one, and some for the other. This he did with an intention to stay some time here, as it should seem; and the Targum of Jonathan says he continued here a whole year, and Jarchi eighteen months, a winter and two summers; but this is all uncertain: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth;
from the booths or tents built here, which this word signifies.


FOOTNOTES:

F21 Bunting's Travels, p. 72.

Genesis 33:17 In-Context

15 And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord.
16 So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.
17 And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.
18 And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padanaram; and pitched his tent before the city.
19 And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for an hundred pieces of money.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Succoth: that is, Booths
The King James Version is in the public domain.