ven him, v. 13. And this Vow was therefore Eucharifti

cal.

22. And this ftone which I have fet for a pillar, fhall be God's boufe: and of all that thou shalt give me, I will furely give the tenth unto thee.

22. Tenth: Chap.

14. 20..

CHAP. XXIX.

The ARGUMENT.

Jacob's journey: He comes to the well of Haran; rolls the Stone from the mouth of it, and acquaints himself with Rachel. He is entertained into Laban's boufe, and becomes his fervant. He contracts with Laban to ferve him feven years for Rachel; and is beguiled with Leah in ber ftead. He agrees to ferve other feven years for Rachel, who was barren for fome time. Leah who was hated bears Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah.

THen

Hen Facob went on bi journey, and came into the = land of the people of the east.

2. And he looked, and behold a =well in the field, and lo there were three flocks of jheep lying by it: for out of that well they watered the flocks and a great ftone was upon the well's mouth.

3. And thither were all the flocks gathered, and they rolled the ftone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the ftone again upon the well's mouth in his place.

4. And Jacob faid unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? and they faid, of Haran are we.

5. And he faid unto them Know ye Laban the fon of Nabor? And they faid, we know him.

bor

5. The Son of Nai.e. His Grandchild. See the Note on ch.20. 12.

well? and they faid,

6. And he faid unto them, Is he He is well: and behold Rachel his daughter cometh with

the sheep.

7. And he said, Lo, it is yet bigb day, neither is it time that the cattel fhould be gathered together: water ye the sheep and and feed them.

go

8. And they faid, We cannot, ntill all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well's mouth: then we wa ter the fheep.

7. High day: i. e. It is a great while to night.

8. We cannot: i. e. We have not strength enough, (v. 2.) and perhaps they could not juftly do it till the whole company

met. The word will bear this fenfe, ch. 34. 14.

them.

10. Rolled the ftoné: In which poffibly he might be affifted by the Shepherds pre

9. And while he yet Spake with them, Rachel came with her father's fheep: for fhe kept 10. And it came to pass, when Facob Saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the fheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the ftone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother.

fent.

11. And Jacob kiffed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.

12. And Jacob told Rachel that be was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's fon fhe ran and told her father.

and

12. Brother: i. e.

Kinfman. Compare ch. 13.8. and v.13. of this Chapter.

13. And

13. And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his fifter's fon, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kiffed him, and brought him to his houfe: thefe things.

14. And Laban faid to him, Surely thou art my bone, and my flesh and he abode with him the Space of a month.

13. All these things: viz. Which were the occafion of this Journey of his. and he told Laban all

14. My Bone: The Chaldee well renders it my Kinf man. Month: A time of tryal. See

V. 21.

15. And Laban faid unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, fhouldeft thou therefore ferve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?

16. And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.

17. Leah was tender-eyed: but Rachel was beautifull and well-favoured.

18. And Jacob loved Rachel, and faid, I will ferve thee feven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.

19. And Laban faid, It is better that I give her to thee, then that I Should give her to another man: abide with me.

20. And Jacob ferved feven years for Rachel: and they feemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had

to her.

19. To thee: Who art a Kinfman,and of

whom I have already made fome tryal.

20. Seven years: Not before he married her, but after

ward Hence 'tis faid, That they feem

ed to him but a few days; whereas the time would rather have feemed long, had he not been married to her, Prov.

13.12.

21. And Jacob faid unto Laban, Give me my wife, (for my days are fulfilled) that I may go in unto her.

Or

21. Said had faid. For my days are fulfilled:

i. e. It is time that I were married. He was now at leaft Seventy fix years old: And, Efau who was of the fame age, had been married about Thirty fix years, (ch. 26. 34.) It is poffible that Ja cob may in thefe words referr to the Months tryal mentioned v. 14. It is certain that these words cannot be meant of the Expiration of his feven years fervice. And that will appear to any Man who fhall confider the following Particulars. [1] This would fuppofe that Jacob had twelve Children in the fpace of feven years, Gen. 30. 25. 31.41. which is by no means allowable. For Leah had feven at feven feveral Births, which might well take up feven years. Befides, 'tis certain, that the intermitted bearing for fome time, Gen.29. 35. 30. 17. And in the mean time we have an account of the birth of Dan and Naphtali, Gad and ATher, before Leah bore Iffachar, Zebulun and Dinah, Gen. 30. (II.] This Opinion fuppofeth Reuben to have been but about four years old at moft, when he brought the Mandrakes mentioned Gen, 30. 14. For after this, his Mother (not being then with Child) bore three Children at three several births. And it is probable, that Jofeph was born after this, Gen. 30. 22. [III.] The confideration of Jacob's age (who was, when he went to Laban, about feventy fix years old) and the birth of Hezron and Hamul (ch. 46. 12) forbids us to receive this Opinion, according to which Judah could not be above three or four years older than Jofeph, and confequently, could not be above forty three or forty four years old when he, with his Grand-children, went into Egypt (Jofeph being then, at moft, but forty years old, Gen. 41. 46.) To compofe this, it must be fuppos'd (by thofe who would defend this Opinion) That Judah married at twelve, and had Er when' he was thirteen years old; That Er married at twelve and Onan at the fame age. Tamar ftaid for Shelah after the days were multiplied and Judah's Wife died, (Gen. 38. 12.) and then fhe bore Pharez to Judah: We will allow but three years for this. And then fuppofing Pharez to marry at twelve years of age, and that he had Hezron and Hámul (fuppofing them twins) at the age of thirteen, and

that

that they went into Egypt at one year old. All this amounts but to forty three years. These things being duly put together, do juftify this Interpretation, and fufficiently expofe that Opinion, That Jacob ferved feven years before he married Leah. That I may go in, &c. Not take = her away; that he could not juftly do till he had ferved Eleven years.

22. And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.

23. And it came to pass in the I evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him, and he went in unto her.

23. In the Evening: Jacob might eafily be deceived partly from the darknefs [which Jofephus

mentions] and also because they that were newly married were veiled, ch. 24. v. 65.

24. And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid, for an hand-maid.

25. And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold,it was Leh: and he faid to Laban, what is this thou haft done unto me? did not I Serve with thee for Rachel? where fore then haft thou beguiled me?

25. Did not I ferve thee, &c. i. e. Not onely Covenant_to ferve thee, but actually ferved thee, and gave thee a proof of my Industry for a Month (v. 14.) Be

guiled me: 'Twas great fraud in Laban, and to Jacob a great affliction, but fuch as might put him in mind of the guile which he had used in procuring his Father's Bleffing.

26. And Laban faid, It must not be fo done in our country, to give the younger before the first born.

26. It must not : This is a mere pretence: And he ought to have told Jacob of it before, had there been any weight in it.

27. Fulfill her week, and we will give thee this alfo, for the fervice which thou shalt ferve with me yet Seven other years:

27. Fulfill her week: i. e. Keep the Solemnity of leven days feafting, which fpace

L 2