Jacob said] It belongs to the head of the family to have care of those under his charge, that they serve God aright; See Genesis 18:19. Jos. 24. 15. to all] All must serve God in the like pure, and religious manner, therefore no toleration of any in an idolatrous religion; See Deuteronomy 29. vers. 9, 10, 11. with him] Besides his own houshold, he might have some of the captive Shechemites with him, Chap. 34. 29. for some it is like were sent back, his house not being of a sufficient receit for them all. put away] (Joshua 24:23. Judges 10:16. 1 Samuel 7:3.) Whether such as were stolne by Rachel from Laban, or any taken in the spoile of Shechem, it is uncertain; but there must be no mixture of a false religion with a true; when Gods Altar is to be erected, Idolatry is to be deposed. God is too great to be served by the halves, and mans heart too little to entertain him, and Idols with him, whose rivall-ship in religion his jealousie cannot endure; therefore where his Arke was set up, Dagon was thrown down, 1 Samuel 5:4. 2 Corinthians 6:16. strange gods] Or estranging alienating gods, because they draw the heart from the true God; or strange, because it is strange that men should be so simple as to take those for gods, which are made with hands, as Demetrius and the Idolaters of Ephesus did, Acts 19:24. such as the Psalmist and the Prophet Jeremy deride, Jeremiah 10:3-5. Psalms 115:5. or such as are the gods of a strange people, with whom the Israelites must not hold communion, espcially in marriage, or matters of religion. among you] Jacob had not all this while since his departure from Labans service (which was about ten years space) wittingly tolerated Idolatry in his houshold, for he was ignorant of Rachels stealing away her fathers false gods, and confident (upon Labans curious search, and finding nothing in all his Tent) that there was no such vanity in his family; but it is like now Rachels theft was brought to light, and it may be some new strange gods were brought into it by the Shechemite captives. and be cleane] Outward washing is a sign of inward cleansing of the soule from the sin of Idolatry, Isaiah 1:16. which is principally required; for the outward ceremony is nothing to the inward sincerity of sorrow for sin, Joe 2:13. This cleansing argueth the filthinesse of Idols, though made of silver and gold, and therefore they are to be cast away as a mnstruous cloth with extreme detestation, saying, Get you hence, Esai. 30. 22. change your garments] They might be changed by washing them, as Exodus 19:10. or putting on other cloathes in stead of them. The cleansing by water, and changing of garments were both ceremonies, though yet the ceremoniall Law was not written, it was in part practised by the Patriarchs (who in many things were to be distinguished from the Heathens) and afterwards committed unto writing by the ministery of Moses.