Genesis 33:17

17 And Jacob came into Succoth, where when he had builded an house, and had set tents, he called the name of that place Succoth, that is, tabernacles. (But Jacob went to Succoth, where when he had built a house, and some shelters for his beasts, he called that place Succoth, or Shelters.)

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.

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FOOTNOTES:

F21 Bunting's Travels, p. 72.

Genesis 33:17 In-Context

15 Esau answered, I pray thee, that (some) of the people which is with me, dwell they namely fellows of thy way. Jacob said, It is no need; I have need to this one thing only, that I find grace in thy sight, my lord. (Esau answered, Then I pray thee, let some of the people who be with me give thee fellowship on the way. But Jacob said, There is no need; yea, I only have need of this one thing, that I find grace in thine eyes, my lord.)

16 And so Esau turned again in that day in the way by which he came, into Seir. (And so Esau returned that day by the way by which he came, back toward Seir.)

17 And Jacob came into Succoth, where when he had builded an house, and had set tents, he called the name of that place Succoth, that is, tabernacles. (But Jacob went to Succoth, where when he had built a house, and some shelters for his beasts, he called that place Succoth, or Shelters.)

18 And Jacob passed into Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, after that he turned again from Mesopotamia of Syria, and he dwelled beside the city. (And then Jacob passed safely into the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, after that he had returned from Paddan-aram, and he lived there in a field beside the city.)

19 And he bought for an hundred lambs a part of the field, in which he set tabernacles, of the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem. (And he bought part of that field from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem, for a hundred lambs, or for a hundred pieces of money, and he pitched his tents there.)