k

the men of the place, and made a feast. [[Leah, and served with him yet seven 23 And it came to pass in the evening, other years. that he took Leah his daughter, and c brought her to him: and he went in unto her.

m

31 And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.

B. C.

27 Fulfil her 'week, and we will give 34 And she conceived again, and thee this also, for the service which thoubare a son; and said, Now this time [1750. shalt serve with me yet seven other years. will my husband be joined unto me, be 23 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her cause I have born him three sons: there week: and he gave him Rachel his daugh- fore was his name called Levi. ter to wife also.

any child, and a hundred years of age before Isaac was born. It was again made to Isaac, who was childless till the age of sixty; and then it was ratified to Jacob, who did not marry till he was about eighty-three or four years old. These circumstances were suitable evidences or exercises of their faith: but it might be expected, that the descendants of these patriarchs, as the progenitors of so numerous a posterity, would marry and have children as soon as possible; which was accordingly the case.

V. 22, 23. The public feast, made on this occasion, formed the regular method of recognizing the marriage; and in the evening it was customary to convey the bride, veiled, to her husband's house. Thus Jacob, who had deceived Isaac by personating Esau, was imposed on by Laban and Leah, in a most important concern, by a similar deception! In this the Lord was righteous, but the parties concerned were highly criminal.-If Rachel had been led to expect, that she was to be given to Jacob at that time; probably she was not undeceived, till it was too late to undeceive Jacob: though, if it had been otherwise, it might not have been practicable or expedient to do so.

V. 26. This seems to have been a mere pretence; but, if it was the custom of the country, Laban ought previously to have informed Jacob

35 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah, and left bearing. 18. 30:25,26. 31:15. 1 Sam. 130. 27:41. Deut. 21:15. Mal.

18:17-27. Hos. 12:12.

1:25.

p 30:6,8,18,20.
q 34:30. 42:24.
1:3. Matt. 6:24. 10:37. Luke That is, Hearing.
14:26. John 12:25.

m 21:1,2. 25:21. 30:2,22. Judg.
13:2,3. 1 Sam. 1:5,20,27. 2:21.
Ps. 127:3.

n 35:22. 49:3,4. 1 Chr. 5:1.
†That is, See a son.

o Ex. 3:7. 4:31. 1 Sam. 1:11,20.
2 Sam. 16:12. Ps. 25:18. Luke

r 49:5-7. Ex. 2:1. 32:26-29. Deut. 33:8-10.

That is, Joined. Num. 13:2,4.

$ 44:18-34. 49:8-12. Deut. 39
7. 1 Chr. 5:2. Matt. 1:2.
That is, Praise.

Heb. stood from bearing.

V. 30, 31. Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah, not only as most beautiful and amiable, and the object of his first and most endeared affection; but likewise, because he considered Leah as having concurred in the imposition put on him by Laban. Thus his preference of Rachel led him, in some respects, to treat Leah with an indifference and neglect, which resembled hatred.

V. 32-35. From the names which Leah gave her sons, and the reasons which she assigned for them, it seems probable that she was piously disposed; though criminal in imposing on Jacob, and faulty in some other respects. (Marg. Ref.)

PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.

V. 1-15.

Gracious consolations are intended as cordials, to animate and strengthen us, that we may proceed without weariness or fainting, in the arduous and self-denying paths of obedience: and in so doing, we shall speedily experience the faithfulness of God to his promises; even as he accompanied and kept Jacob, in all the places to which he went. We cannot but approve the simplicity, courteousness, and benevolence, which mark this first interview between Jacob and the shepherds; the frank nanner in which he makes his observations, V. 27, 28. The week, here mentioned, was offers his advice, and affords his assistance; and that of the marriage-feast; and did not relate the mild and candid reception that he meets to the years Jacob afterwards served.-There with from them: for the proud are offended existed no express and positive law, against when intimations are given, that they are mispolygamy; Jacob considered Rachel as his wife, taken or to blame.-He, who has all hearts in and yet he could not desert Leah; and so he his hands, disposes all things for the good of seems to have thought himself obliged to retain those who trust in him, and works upon the both.--The division of time by weeks, inti-natural affection even of selfish hearts, to promates that some regard was paid to the sabbath. || cure them kind entertainment. And they who

of it.

CHAP. XXX.

Fachel envies Leah, and complains impatiently to Jacob, who who bears Dan and Naphtali, 1-8. Leah gives Zilpah to Ja cob, and she bears Gad and Asher, 9-13. Leah purchases Jacob's company, of Rachel, by her son's mandrakes; and bears Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah, 14-21. Rachel bears Joseph, 22-24. Jacob desires to leave Laban, who agrees

sharply rebukes her; yet at her instance takes Bilhah to wife,

6 And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name † Dan.

7 And Bilhah Rachel's maid conceived

with him for his future services, 25-36. The means by again, and bare Jacob a second son.

which Jacob grew rich, 37-43.

b

8 And Rachel said, With ‡ great wrest

AND when Rachel Rachel envied lings have I wrestled with my sister, and Jacob no children, Rachel envied I have prevailed: and she called his her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me name Naphtali. children, or else I die.

2 And Jacob's danger was kindled against Rachel; and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from me the fruit of the womb?

3 And she said, Behold my maid. Bilhah, go in unto her: and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also *have children by her.

9 ¶ When Leah saw that she had left

bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife.

10 And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a son. 11 And Leah said, A troop cometh: she called his name || Gad. 12 And Zilpah Leah's maid bare B. C. Jacob a second son.

and

4 And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her. 5 And Bilhah conceived, and bare Ja-she

cob a son.

a 29:31.

Je 25:21. 50:19. 1 Sam. 1:5. 2:5,||
6. 2 Kings 5:7.

f Deut. 7:13,14. Ps. 113:9. 127:
3. Luke 1:42.

b 37:11. 1 Sam. 1:4-8. Ps. 106:
16. Prov. 14:30. 27:4. 1 Cor.
3:3. Gal. 5:21. Jam. 4:5.
c 35:16-19. Num. 11:15. g 9. 16:2,3.
1 Kings 19:4. Job 3:1-3,11, h 1,23. Job 3:12.
30-22. 5:2. 13:19. Jer. 20:14 Heb. be built up by her. 16:2.
-18. Jon. 4:3,8. 2 Cor. 7:10. Marg. Ruth 4:11.
d 31:36. Ex. 32:19. Matt. 5.22. i 16:3. 21:10. 25:1,6. 33:2. 35:
Mark 3:5. Eph. 4:26.

22. 2 Sam. 12:11.

[1748.

for

13 And Leah said, ¶ Happy am I, the daughters will call me blessed: ° and called his name ** Asher.

are skilful and active in business, being capa- of selfish and malignant passions, Rachel impable of rendering themselves useful, will gen- tiently murmured against God, and expressed erally, when known, be made welcome.-Re-her f etfulness in very absurd language, which lations, however, should not be less rewarded for their services than others, but meet with greater encouragement.

V. 16-35.

Jacob justly, though sharply,reproved.-Instead of humbly entreating the Lord, as Isaac and no doubt Rebekah had done, and waiting his time of granting her requests; she declared that her heart would break with grief and vexation, if she continued any longer childless!--she who said, "Give me children, or else I die," afterwards died in child-birth. (Marg. Ref.) Hannah, whose trial resembled Rachel's, but was much heavier, acted far more properly, and had several children with comfort and a blessing. (1 Sam. 1:2-28. 2:1-11,20,21.)

Love, whatever be its object, is a most active and powerful principle; and not only engages a man in hard and difficult services, but even renders them delightful. If then the Lord possess our supreme love, we shall greatly delight in his commandments, and all other affections will be regulated and subordinated by it, and rendered lawful and useful: yet times may come, when we must, in the superiority of our love to V.3. Rachel intended to adopt and nurse him, be called to disregard our dearest friends, Bilhah's children as her own, and thus solace as if we hated them. But, on the other hand, herself under the trial and reproach of barrenif they have our supreme regard, we shall for ness. But had not her sister been her rival, their sakes despise and neglect the Lord.-How and had she not been influenced by envy and often in Providence are men reminded of their resentment, she would have thought Leah's sin in their punishment, and corrected by oth-children nearer to her, and more entitled to her ers much worse than themselves! One cannot care than_Bilhah's could be. but lament to see Jacob cheated into polygV. 4. Rachel might, in some measure, be amy, in so extraordinary a manner; and indeed induced to this conduct by the same motives the malice and artifice of Satan are clearly which influenced Sarah in a similar case; and discernable in the transaction.-The Lord, Jacob doubtless supposed that he was merely however, so sets one thing against another, that imitating his illustrious progenitor: but the there is less difference in the comparative hap-circumstances were, in all respects, so differpiness of mankind, than superficial observers ent, as to render their conduct far less excusaimagine: and in the most ordinary circumstan-ble. (Notes, 16:1-3.)

ces of private life, his hand should be acknowl- V. 8. The literal riarginal translation, wrestedged; especially when he relieves our dis- ||lings of God, in this connexion, seems to imply, tresses, and answers our prayers.-And let us always remember, that "children and the fruit of the womb are a heritage and gift that cometh of the LORD," and should be received as from his hand, and trained up for his service.

that Rachel thought there was some excellency, as well as earnestress, in her contest; and that her success was a token of God's favor, if not an answer to her prayers. Yet she seems to have been mistaken; ner motive might in part be good, but her measures cannot be justified. V. 11. A troop cometh.] The word in the HeCHAP. XXX. V. 1, 2. Under the influence brew text (2) more obviously means, “In a [119

NOTES.

30 For it was little which thou hadst 20 And Leah said, God hath endued before I came, and it is now || increased me with a good dowry: k now will my unto a multitude, and the LORD hath husband dwell with me, because I have blessed thee since my coming: and now born him six sons: " and she called his when shall I provide for mine own house name Zebulun. also?

V. 15, 16. The desire, good in itself, but V. 25, 26. The fourteen years being expired, often inordinate and irregular, of being the Jacob, depending on the promise of God, was mother or ancestor of the promised Seed; to-willing to depart, without any other recomgether with the honor of being prolific, and the reproach of being barren, may be supposed to have had considerable influence in these contests; though combined with jealousy and other selfish passions.

31 And he said, What shall I give thee? And Jacob said, "Thou shalt not give me any thing: if thou wilt do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep thy flock: 32 I will pass through all thy flock to day, removing from thence all the speckled and spotted cattle, and all the brown cattle among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats: and of such shall be my hire.

"

33 So shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come, when it shall come for my hire before thy face: every one that is not speckled and spotted amongst the goats, and brown amongst the sheep, that shall be accounted stolen with me.

34 And Laban said, Behold, P I would it might be according to thy word.

35 And he removed that day the hegoats, that were ring-streaked and spotted, and all the she-goats that were speckled and spotted, and every one that had some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons.

36 And he set three days' journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks.

V. 31-34. Jacob chose to refer his cause to God, in the way here proposed, rather than to enter into an agreement for stated wages with Laban, whose selfishness was excessive. He would have no such cattle left under his care, as were colored in any unusual way; and then he required that the spotted and speckled, &c. which they bred, should be given to him. Thus it would appear, whenever the question concerning his hire should be started, that he had acted honestly; provided none, but those of the stipulated colors, were found in his possession. And Laban, judging from common observation, that his cattle would breed but few colors different from their own, eagerly acceded to his proposal.

37 T And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazel and chestnut-tree; and pilled white streaks in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods.

38 And he set the rods which he had pilled before the flocks in the gutters in the watering-troughs, when the flocks came to drink; that they should conceive when they came to drink.

S

39 And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ringstreaked, speckled, and spotted.

40 And Jacob did separate the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the ring-streaked, and all the brown in the flock of Laban: and he put his own flocks by themselves; and put them not unto Laban's cattle.

41 And it came to pass whensoever the stronger cattle did conceive, that Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the cattle. in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods.

42 But when the cattle were feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's.

43 And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maid-servants, and men-servants, and camels, and

easy to imitate the misconduct of those whom we esteem, than to copy their faith and obedience. And when we tread their devious footsteps, it is natural for us to go further than they did: nay, we are apt to think ourselves authorized, or at least excused, in so doing. What an unhappy precedent was Sarah to Rachel and Leah, and Abraham to Jacob! We are grieved to see this plain man, in his old age, yielding to one suggestion after another to multiply wives; though by that means he multiplied bitter envy ing and contention in his family. This "his way was his folly," though many of his posterity approved and imitated his example.-To carry matters even, between two wives, who have an equal claim to affection, is almost, if not utterly, V. 37-42. Jacob's conduct in this transac- impossible; and to fail of it ensures emulation tion has commonly been considered, as an in- and strife, and may even perpetuate discord to stance of his policy and management; and it has posterity. How much more comfortably did by many been objected to, by others vindicated Isaac live with Rebekah, according to God's and commended. But, as the means which he primary institution, than Jacob with his two used would not in general produce similar ef-wives and their handmaids!-Envy and jealousy fects; nay, probably the experiment was never in any other instance tried with success; it is more reasonable to suppose, that he was directed by some divine intimation; and rendered successful, if not by a direct miracle, yet at least by the Lord's giving a new and uncommon bias to the tendency of natural causes. (Note, 31:10-13.)

are most tormenting passions to the breast which harbors them, vexatious to all around, and introductory to much impatience and ungodliness: observing therefore, how absurd and odious they appear in Rachel, we should watch and pray against them in ourselves; and turn aside from all such objects and pursuits as tend to excite them.-Too frequently they, who possess the most beautiful countenances, are lamentably deficient in "the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit; which is in the sight of God" and of all wise men, of much greater value; and partial affections are often corrected by the persons on whom they are misplaced. They who are angry

[121

CHAP. XXXI.

Jacob is envied by Laban and his sons, 1, 2. Being commanded by God to return to his kindred, he proposes it to his wives; explains the Lord's dealings with him; and, with their consent,

privately departs, taking his family and substance, 3--21. La he overtakes Jacob and expostulates with him, 22-32. Laban concealed, 33-35. Jacob vindicates himself, and complains of Laban, 36-42; they enter into a covenant, and Laban returns

ban pursues him, but is warned in a dream not to injure him:

searches in vain for his images, which Rachel had stolen and

home, 43-55.

a

ND he heard the words of Laban's AND he words of sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father's; and of that which was our father's hath he gotten all this glory.

b

c

2 And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and behold, it was not toward him as before.

f

e

3 And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.

4 T And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock;

5 And said unto them, I see your father's countenance, that it is not toward me as before: but the God of my father hath been with me.

6 And ye know that with all my power I have served your father.

5.

7 And your father hath deceived me,

8,9. Job 31:31. Ps. 120:3

before. Ex. 4:10. Deut. 19:4.
1 Sam. 19:7. Margins.

e 28:15,20,21. 32:9. 35:1. 46:
2,3. 50:24.

f 26:3-5. 28:4,13. 30:25.
g 2,3.

h 42:53. 32:9. 48:15. 50:17.
i 38-42. 30:29. Tit. 2.9,10.

only at sin, and express that anger by reasonable, though sharp, rebukes, and with zeal for the honor of God, are not sinfully angry: nor must those whom we love best be connived at in wickedness. Our natural conscience is a partial and erroneous judge, and, if left to itself, will often excuse, nay commend, our very faults: we ought, therefore, to seek to the word, and pray for the Spirit, of God, to illuminate our understandings, and deliver our consciences from mistake and self-flattery.

V. 25-43.

and changed my wages

ten times: but God suffered him not to hurt me.

8 If he said thus, "The speckled shalt be thy wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstreaked shall be thy hire; then bare all the cattle ring-streaked.

9 Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me. 10 And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in ° a dream, and bethe hold, the trams which leaped upon cattle were ring-streaked, speckled, and grizzled.

11 And the P Angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, q Here am I.

12 And he said, Lift up now thine eyes and see all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ring-streaked, speckled, and grizzled: for I have seen all that

NOTES.

CHAP. XXXI. V. 1-3. Laban's sons were probably younger than his daughters; but were now grown up, and resembled him in selfishness. Instigated by them, Laban appeared so dissatisfied, and expressed in his looks so much envy and resentment, that Jacob deemed it dangerous to continue longer with him. But, though he had overheard the words of Laban's sons, and evidently perceived the effect which they had produced; yet he did not attempt to remove, till the Lord expressly commanded him: per haps thinking it still more dangerous to come within the reach of his brother Esau.

V. 7. Ten times.] As the history of these six years is very compendious, we cannot determine, whether Laban changed Jacob's wages exactly ten times, or whether the expression only meant in general, many times. It is plain, however, that Laban tried all methods of circumventing and defrauding him, but in vain. (Marg. Ref. k.)

The Lord is ever ready to hear the prayer of faith, and to forgive the transgression of his people; and he graciously recompenses and honors their integrity and faithful industry. He convinces all, with whom they are connected, that he hath loved them, and that he blesses others on their account; so that it is not uncommon for those, who love neither them nor their religion, to value them from interested motives; and to desire to employ them in preference to|| others and "all who name the name of Christ" V. 10-13. It has before been supposed, that should for the honor of his gospel, be ambitious Jacob had some previous divine intimation, sugof this distinction.-The Lord will also, in one gesting the plan which he adopted respecting way or other, plead the cause of the injured and the cattle; (Note, 30:37-42.) but the dream, oppressed; and honor those who simply trust his which he here relates to Rachel and Leah, seems providence, avoid evil and the appearance of it, to have taken place towards the close of his and walk so wisely, as to give no occasion of re- service. Thus he accounted to them for the proach to those who manifestly are seeking it. rapid increase of his flocks, and introduced the And, as "the earth is the LORD's, and the ful- subsequent proposal, in which he made known ness thereof," he hath an indisputable right to to them the will of God, and the justice of his dispose of every one's property as he pleases; cause; that by thus appealing to them, and conand who shall dare to find fault with his appoint-sulting with them, he might obtain their willing

ments?

acquiescence. The Lord himself pointed out