Gen 28:16-22 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Gen 28:16-22: 28:16-22 The second half of the passage gives Jacob’s response to the revelation. He felt reverential fear and awe in the Lord’s presence, and his acts of devotion became archetypes of Israel’s worship. When God graciously visits his people and promises to be with them and make them a blessing to the world, his people respond in faith with reverential fear, worship, offerings, and vows. They preserve their faith in memory for future worshipers.

Summary for Gen 28:16-22: 28:16-22 ^a The second half of the passage gives Jacob’s response to the revelation. He felt reverential fear and awe in the Lord’s presence, and his acts of devotion became archetypes of Israel’s worship. When God graciously visits his people and promises to be with them and make them a blessing to the world, his people respond in faith with reverential fear, worship, offerings, and vows. They preserve their faith in memory for future worshipers.
28:18 ^b Anointing with oil became a way of setting something apart for divine use in Israel’s worship (Exod 29:1-7 ^c; 40:9 ^d; Lev 2:1 ^e; 1 Sam 10:1 ^f).
28:19 ^g Bethel later became a holy site for Israel (see Judg 20:18-27 ^h; 1 Sam 7:16 ⁱ; 10:3 ^j; 1 Kgs 12:26–13:10 ^k; 2 Kgs 2:2-3 ^l).
Summary for Gen 28:20-22: 28:20-22 ^m In view of what God would do for him, Jacob vowed to do certain things for God. He believed the Lord’s words and responded in gratitude. Jacob’s vow influenced Israel’s way of making commitments to God in worship.
28:22 ⁿ I will present to God a tenth: By paying a tithe (a tenth) as an act of worship, a person acknowledges that everything is a gift from God and belongs to God (see 14:19-20 ^o; Num 18:21-32 ^p; Deut 14:22-29 ^q; 2 Chr 31:5-6 ^r; Mal 3:7-12 ^s; Matt 23:23 ^t).