9 And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she kept them. 10 And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother. 11 And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. 12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son: and she ran and told her father. 13 And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things. 14 And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him 'the space of a month. 15 And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for naught? tell me what shall thy wages be? e Ex. 2. 17. f c. 33. 4. 45. 14. g c. 13. 8. 14. 14, 16. k c. 24. 28. ⚫ hearing. i Rom. 16. 6. k Judg. 9, 2. 2 Sam. 5. 1. 19. 12. so he found them civil to him: When he undertook to teach them how to despatch their business, (v. 7,) they did not bid him meddle with his own concerns, and let them alone; but though he was a stranger, they gave him the reason of their delay, v. 8. Those that are neighbourly and friendly, shall have neighourly and friendly usage. V. 9-14. Here we see, I. Rachel's humility and industry; she kept her father's sheep, (v. 9,) that is, she took care of them, having servants under her that were employed about them. Rachel's name signifies a sheep. Note, Honest useful labour is that which nobody needs be ashamed of, nor ought it to be a hinderance to any one's preferment. 2. Jacob's tenderness and affection; when he understood that this was his kinswoman, (probably, he had heard of her name before,) knowing what his errand was into that country, we may suppose that it struck into his mind immediately, that this must be his wife, he being already smitten with her ingenuous and comely face, though it was, probably, sunburnt, and she was in the homely dress of a shepherdess: hence, he is attentive, and courteous, and peculiarly anxious to serve her, v. 10. Hence he addresses himself to her with tears of joy and kisses of affection, v. 11. She runs with all haste to tell her father; for she will by no means entertain her kinsman's address, without her father's knowledge and approbation, v. 12. These mutual respects, at their first interview, were good presages of their being a happy couple. 3. Providence made that which seemed contingent and fortuitous, to give speedy satisfaction to Jacob's mind, as soon as ever he came to the place which he was bound for. Abraham's servant, when he came upon a like errand, met with the like encouragement. Thus God guides his people with his eye, Ps. 32. 8. It is a groundless conceit which some of the Jewish writers have, that Jacob, when he kissed Rachel, wept because he had been set upon in his journey by Eliphaz the eldest son of Esau, at the command of his father, and robbed of all his money and jewels, which his mother had given him when she sent him away: it is plain that it was his passion for Rachel, and the surprise of this happy meeting, that drew these tears from his eyes. 4. Laban, though none of the besthumoured men, bid him welcome, was satisfied in the account he gave of himself, and of the reason of his coming in such poor circumstances; while we avoid the extreme, on the one hand, of being foolishly credulous, we must take heed of falling into the other extreme, of being uncharitably jealous and suspicious. Laban owned him for his kinsman, (v. 14,) Thou art my bone and my flesh. Note, Those are hard-hearted indeed, that are unkind to their relations, and that hide themselves from their own flesh, Is. 58. 7. V. 15-30. Here is, I. The fair contract made between Laban and Jacob, during the month that Jacob spent there as a guest, v. 14. It seems he was not idle, nor did he spend his time in sport and pastime; but, like a man of business, though he had no stock of his own, he applied himself to serve his uncle, as he had begun, (v. 10,) when he watered his flock. Note, Wherever we are, it is good to be employing ourselves in some useful business, which will turn to a good account to ourselves or others. Laban, it seems, was so taken with Jacob's ingenuity and industry about his flocks, that he was desirous he should continue with him, and very fairly reasons thus, (v. 15,) "Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for naught? No, what reason for that?" If Jacob be so respectful to his uncle as to give him his service without demanding any consideration for it, yet Laban will not be so unjust to his nephew as to take advantage either of his necessity or of his good nature. Note, Inferior relations must not be imposed upon; if it be their duty to serve us, it is our duty to reward them. Now 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 beautiful and well-favoured. 18 And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. 19 And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man : abide with me. 20 And Jacob served "seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her." 21 And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. 22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. 23 And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. 24 And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah, Zilpah his maid, for an handmaid. ↑ a month of days. Ruth 4. 11. m Hos. 12. 12. n Cant. 8. 7. o Judg. 14. 10. John 2.1, 2. p c. 30. 9. 46. 18. Jacob had a fair opportunity to make known to Laban the affection he had for his daughter Rachel; and, having no worldly goods in his hand with which to endow her, he promises him seven years' service, upon condition that, at the end of seven years, he would bestow her upon him for his wife. It appears, by computation, that Jacob was now seventy-seven years old when he bound himself apprentice for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep, Hos. 12. 12. His posterity are there reminded of it long afterward, as an instance of the meanness of their original: probably, Rachel was young, and scarcely marriageable, when Jacob first came, which made him the more willing to stay for her till his seven years' service were expired. II. Jacob's honest performance of his part of the bargain, v. 20. He served seven years for Rachel: if Rachel still continued to keep her father's sheep as she did, (v. 9,) his innocent and religious conversation with her, while they kept the flocks, could not but increase their mutual acquaintance and affection; (Solomon's song of love is a pastoral;) if she now left it off, his easing her of that care was very obliging. Jacob honestly served out his seven years, and did not forfeit his indentures, though he was old; nay, he served them cheerfully, they seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had to her. As if it was more his desire to earn her than to have her. Note, Love makes long and hard services short and easy; hence we read of the labour of love, Heb. 6. 10. If we know how to value the happiness of heaven, the sufferings of this present time will be as nothing to us, in comparison of it. An age of work will be but as a few days to those that love God, and long for Christ's appearing. III. The base cheat which Laban put upon him when he was out of his time; he put Leah into his arms instead of Rachel, v. 23. This was Laban's sin; he wronged both Jacob and Rachel, whose affections, doubtless, were engaged to each other, and if (as some say) Leah was herein no better than an adulteress, it was no small wrong to her too. But it was Jacob's affliction, a damp to the mirth of the marriagefeast, when in the morning, behold, it was Leah, v. 25. It is easy to observe here how Jacob was paid in his own coin. He had cheated his own father when he pretended to be Esau, and now his father-in-law cheated him. Herein, how unrighteous soever Laban was, the Lord was righteous; as Judg. 1. 7. Even the righteous, if they take a false step, are sometimes thus recompensed in the earth. Many that are not, like Jacob, disappointed in the person, soon find themselves, as much to their grief, disappointed in the character. The choice of that relation therefore on both sides, ought to be made with good advice and consideration, that if there should be a disappointment, it may not be aggravated by a consciousness of mismanagement. IV. The excuse and atonement Laban made for the cheat. 1. The excuse was frivolous, v. 26, It must not be so done in our country. We have reason to think there was no such custom of his country, as he pretends; only he banters Jacob with it, and laughs at his mistake. Note, Those that can do wickedly, and then think to turn it off with a jest, though they may deceive themselves and others, will find, at last, that God is not mocked. But if there had been such a custom, and he had resolved to observe it, he should have told Jacob so, when he undertook to serve him for his younger daughter. As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceeds from the wicked, 1 Sam. 24. 13. Those that deal with treacherous men, must expect to be dealt treacherously with. 2. His compounding of the matter did but make bad worse; We will give thee this also, v. 27. Hereby he drew Jacob into the sin, and snare, and disquiet, of multiplying wives, which remains a blot in his escutcheon, and will be so to the 25 And it came to pass, that in the morning, be- | hold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? Did I not serve with thee for Rachel? Wherefore then hast thou beguiled me? 26 And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. 28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. 29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter, Bilhah his handmaid, to be her maid. 30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years. 31 And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he barren." opened her womb, but achel was ba, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction: now, therefore, my husband will love me. 33 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon. • place. 127.3. Judg. 14. 12. T c. 35. 22. 37. 2. #ver. 20. Deut: 21. 15. t Ps. c. 30. 1. † 1. e. see a son. Deut. 26. 7. 1 Sam. 1. 20. Luke 1. 25. end of the world. Honest Jacob did not design it, but to have kept as true to Rachel as his father had done to Rebekah; he that had lived without a wife to the 84th year of his age, could then have been very well content with one: but Laban, to dispose of his two daughters without portions, and to get seven years' service more out of Jacob, thus imposes upon him, and draws him into such a strait by his fraud, that (the matter not being yet settled as it was afterward by the divine law, Lev. 18. 18, and more fully since by our Saviour, Matt. 19. 5,) he had some colourable reason for marrying them both. He could not refuse Rachel, for he had espoused her; still less could he refuse Leah; and therefore Jacob must be content, and take two talents, 2 Kings 5. 23. Note, One sin is commonly the inlet of of another. They that go in by one door of wickedness, seldom find the way out but by another. The polygamy of the patriarchs was, in some measure, excusable in them, because, though there was a reason against it as ancient as Adam's marriage, (Mal. 2. 15,) yet there was no express command against it; it was in them a sin of ignorance, it was not the product of any sinful lust, but for the building up of the church, which was the good that Providence brought out of it: but it will by no means justify the like practice now, when God's will is plainly made known, that one man and one woman only must be joined together, 1 Cor. 7. 2. The having of many wives suits well enough with the carnal sensual spirit of the Mahometan imposture, which allows it; but we have not so learned Christ. Dr. Lightfoot makes Leah and Rachel to be figures of the two churches, the Jews under the law, and the Gentiles under the Gospel: the younger, the more beautiful, and more in the thoughts of Christ when he came in the form of a servant; but the other, like Leah, first embraced; yet, in this, the allegory does not hold, that the Gentiles, the younger, were more fruitful, Gal. 4. 27. V. 31-35. We have here the birth of four of Jacob's sons, all by Leah. Observe, I. That Leah, who was less beloved, was blessed with children, when Rachel was denied that blessing, v. 31. See how Providence, in dispensing its gifts, observes a proportion, to keep the balance even, setting crosses and comforts one over against another, that none may be either too much elevated, or too much depressed. Rachel wants children, but she is blessed with her husband's love; Leah wants that, but she is fruitful. Thus it was between Elkanah's two wives, (1 Sam. 1.5;) for the Lord is wise and righteous. When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, that is, loved less than Rachel, in which sense it is required that we hate father and mother, in comparison with Christ, (Luke 14. 26,) then the Lord granted her a child; which was a rebuke to Jacob, for making so great a difference between those that he was equally related to; a check to Rachel, who perhaps insulted over her sister upon that account; and a comfort to Leah, that she might not be overwhelmed with the contempt put upon her: thus God giveth abundant honour to that which lacked, 1 Cor. 12. 24. II. That the names she gave her children, were expressive of her respectful regards both to God and to her husband. 1. She appears very ambitious of her husband's love: she reckoned the want of it her affliction, (v. 32;) not upbraiding him with it as his fault, nor reproaching him for it, and so making herself uneasy to him, but laying it to heart as her grief, which yet she had reason to bear with the more patience, because she herself was consenting to the fraud by which she became his wife; and we may well bear that trouble with patience, which 34 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have borne him three sons: therefore was his name called $Levi. 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. CHAPTER XXX. In this chapter we have an account of the increase. I. Of Jacob's family. Eight children more we find registered in this chapter; Dan and Naphtali by Bilhah, Rachel's maid, v. 1-8. Gad and Asher by Zilpah, Leah's maid, v. 9-13. Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah, by Leah, v. 14-21. And, last of all, Joseph, by Rachel, v. 22-24. II. Of Jacob's estate. He makes a new bargain with Laban, v. 25-34. And in the six years' further service he did to Laban, God wonderfully blessed him, so that his stock of cattle became very considerable, v. 35 43. Herein was fulfilled the blessing which Isaac dismissed him with, (ch. 28. 3,) God make thee fruitful, and multiply thee. Even these small matters concerning Jacob's house and field, though they seem inconsiderable, are improvable for our learning. For the scriptures were written, not for princes and statesmen, to instruct them in politics; but for all people, even the meanest, to direct them in their families and callings: yet some things are here recorded concerning Jacob, not for imitation but for admonition. ND children Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no unto Jacob, Give me children, cor else I die. 2 And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee 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. fi.e. hearing. i. e. joined. i. e. praise. i.e. stood from bearing, a c. 29.31. 1 Cor. 3. 3. Jam. 4. 5. c Job 5. 2. d 1 Sam. 1.5. be buill by her. we bring upon ourselves by our own sin and folly. She promised herself that the children she bare him, would gain her the interest she desired in his affections. She called her firstborn Reuben, See a son, with this pleasant thought, Now will my husband love me; and her third son, Levi, Joined, with this expectation, Now will my husband be joined unto me, v. 34. Mutual affection is both the duty, and comfort, of that relation; and yokefellows should study to recommend themselves to each other, 1 Cor. 7. 33, 34. 2. She thankfully acknowledges the kind providence of God in it, The Lord hath looked upon my affliction, v. 32. "The Lord hath heard, that is, taken notice of it, that I was hated;" (for our afflictions, as they are before God's eyes, so they have a cry in his ears;) He hath therefore given me this son. Note, Whatever we have, that contributes either to our support and comfort under our afflictions, or to our deliverance from them, God must be owned in it, especially his pity and tender mercy. Her fourth she called Judah, Praise, saying, Now will I praise the Lord, v. 35. And this was he, of whom, as concerning the flesh, Christ came. Note, (1.) Whatever is the matter of our rejoicing, ought to be the matter of our thanksgiving: fresh favours should quicken us to praise God for former favours. Now will I praise the Lord more and better than I have done. (2.) All our praises must centre in Christ, both as the matter of them, and as the Mediator of them. He descended from him whose name was Praise, for he is our Praise. Is Christ formed in my heart? Now will I praise the Lord. NOTES TO CHAPTER XXX. V. 1-13. We have here the bad consequences of that strange marriage which Jacob made with the two sisters. Here is, I. An unhappy disagreement between him and Rachel, (v. 1, 2,) occasioned, not so much by her own barrenness, as by her sister's fruitfulness. Rebekah, the only wife of Isaac, was long childless, and yet we find no uneasiness between her and Isaac; but here, because Leah bears children, Rachel cannot live peaceably with Jacob. 1. Rachel frets; (v. 1,) she envied her sister; envy is grieving at the good of another, than which no sin is more offensive to God, or more injurious to our neighbour and ourselves. She considered not that it was God that made the difference, and that though, in this single instance, her sister was preferred before her, yet in other things she had the advantage. Let us carefully watch against all the risings and workings of this passion in our minds. Let not our eye be evil towards any of our fellow servants, because our master's is good. But this was not all; she said to Jacob, Give me children, or else I die. Note, We are very apt to miss it in our desires of temporal mercies, as Rachel here; (1.) One child would not content her; but, because Leah has more than one, she must have more too; Give me children. (2.) Her heart is inordinately set upon it, and if she have not what she would have, she will throw away her life, and all the comforts of it. "Give them me, or else I die," that is, "I shall fret myself to death; the want of this satisfaction will shorten my days." Some think she threatens Jacob to lay violent hands upon herself, if she could not obtain this mercy. (3.) She did not apply herself to God by prayer, but to Jacob only, forgetting that children are an heritage of the Lord, Ps. 127. 3. We wrong both God and ourselves, when our eye is more to men, the instruments of our crosses and comforts, than to God the Author. Observe a difference between 4 And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife and Jacob went in unto her. 5 And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son. 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 again, and bare Jacob a second son. 8 And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali. 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: and she called his name $Gad. 12 And Zilpah, Leah's maid, bare Jacob a second son. 13 And Leah said, "Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name "Asher. 14 And Reuben went in the days of wheat-harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son's mandrakes. 15 And she said unto her, Is it a small matter* that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest ec. 15. 3. f Ps. 35, 24. 43. 1. Lam. 3. 59. i. e. juding. † wrestlings of God. 1.e. my breathing. §. e. a troop or company. g c. 49. 19. in my happinesa. A Cant. 6. 9, Luke 1. 48. Ti, e. happy. i Cant. 7. 13. k Num. 16. 9, Rachel's asking for this mercy, and Hannah's, 1 Sam. 1. 10, &c. Rachel envied, Hannah wept; Rachel must have children, and she died of the second; Hannah prayed for one child, and she had four more. Rachel is importunate and peremptory, Hannah is submissive and devout. If thou wilt give me a child, I will give him to the Lord. Let Hannah be imitated, and not Rachel; and let our desires be always under the conduct and check of reason and religion. 2. Jacob chides, and most justly, (v. 2;) he loved Rachel, and therefore reproved her for what she said amiss. Note, Faithful reproofs are products and instances of true affection, Ps. 141. 5. Prov. 27. 5, 6. Job reproved his wife when she spake the language of the foolish woman, Job 2. 10. See 1 Cor. 7. 16. He was angry, not at the person, but at the sin; he expressed himself so as to show his displeasure. Note, Sometimes it is requisite that a reproof should be given warm, like a physical potion; not too hot, lest it scald the patient; yet not cold, lest it prove ineffectual. It was a very grave and pious reply which Jacob gave to Rachel's peevish demand: Am I in God's stead? The Chaldee paraphrases it well, Dost thou ask sons of me? Oughtest thou not to ask from before the Lord? The Arabic reads it, "Am I above God; can I give thee that which God denies thee?" This was said like a plain man. Observe, (1.) He acknowledges the hand of God in the affliction which he was a sharer with her in. He hath withheld the fruit of the womb. Note, Whatever we want, it is God that withholds it, a sovereign Lord, most wise, holy, and just, that may do what he will with his own, and is debtor to no man; that never did, nor ever can do, any wrong to any of his creatures. The keys of the clouds, of the heart, of the grave, and of the womb, are four keys which God has in his hand, and which (the Rabbins say) he intrusts neither with angel nor seraphim. See Rev. 3. 7. Job 11. 10.-12. 14. (2.) He acknowledges his own inability to alter what God had appointed, "Am I in God's stead? What! Dost thou make a God of me?" Deos qui rogat ille facit He to whom we offer supplications, is to us a God. Note, [1.] There is no creature that is or can be, to us, in God's stead. God may be to us instead of any creature, as the sun instead of the moon and stars; but the moon and all the stars will not be to us instead of the sun. No creature's wisdom, power, and love, will be to us instead of God's. [2.] It is therefore our sin and folly to place any creature in God's stead, and to place that confidence in any creature, which is to be placed in God only. II. An unhappy agreement between him and the two handmaids. 1. At the persuasion of Rachel, he took Bilhah her handmaid to wife, that, according to the usage of those times, his children by her might be adopted and owned as her mistress's children, r. 3, &c. She would rather have children by reputation than none at all; children that she might fancy to be her own, and call her own, though they were not so. One would think her own sister's children were nearer akin to her than her maid's, and she might with more satisfaction have made them her own, if she had so pleased; but (so natural is it for us all to be fond of power) children that she had a right to rule, were more desirable to her than children that she had more reason to love; and, as an early instance of her dominion over the children born in her apartment, she takes a pleasure in giving them names that carry in them nothing but marks of emulation with her sister. As if she had overcome her, (1.) At law; she calls the first son of her handmaid Dan, Judgment, saying "God hath thou take away my son's mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee tonight for thy son's mandrakes. 16 And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee with my son's mandrakes. And he lay with her that night. 17 And God hearkened 'unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son. 18 And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name **Issachar." 19 And Leah conceived again, and bare Jacob the sixth son. 20 And Leah said, God hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me," because I have borne him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun. 21 And afterward she bare a daughter, and called her name Dinah. 22 And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb. 23 And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach: 24 And she called his name Joseph; and said, the LORD shall add to me another son. 13. Is. 7. 13. Ez. 16. 47. 1 Ex. 3. 7. 1 Sam. 1. 20. Luke 1. 13. i. e. an hire. c. 49, 14. Deut. 33. 18. 1 Chr. 12. 22. nc. 29. 34. 11 i. e. dwelling. 11. e. judgment. o 1 Sam. 1. 19. c. 29. 31. p 1 Sam. 1.6. Is. 4. 1. 65. e. adding. judged me," v. 6, (that is,)" given sentence in my favour." (2.) In battle; she calls the next Naphtali, Wrestlings, saying, I have wrestled with my sister, and have prevailed, (v. 8;) as if all Jacob's sons must be born men of contention. See what roots of bitterness envy and strife are, and what mischief they make among relations. 2. At the persuasion of Leah, he took Zilpah her handmaid to wife also, v. 9. Rachel had done that absurd and preposterous thing, of giving her maid to her husband, in emulation with Leah; and now Leah (because she missed one year in bearing children) does the same, to be even with her, or rather to keep before her. See the power of jealousy and rivalship, and admire the wisdom of the divine appointment, which joins together one man and one woman only: for God hath called us to peace and purity, 1 Cor. 7. 15. Two sons Zilpah bare to Jacob, whom Leah looked upon herself as entitled to; in token of which, she called one Gad, (v. 11,) promising herself a little Troop of children; and children are the militia of a family, they fill the quiver, Ps. 127. 4, 5. The other she called Asher, Happy, thinking herself happy in him, and promising herself that her neighbours would think so too, v. 13, The daughters will call me blessed. Note, It is an instance of the vanity of the world, and the foolishness bound up in our hearts, that most people value themselves, and govern themselves, more by reputation, than either by reason or religion; they think themselves blessed, if the daughters do but call them so. There was much amiss in the contest and competition between these two sisters, yet God brought good out of this evil; for the time being now at hand when the seed of Abraham must begin to increase and multiply, thus Jacob's family was replenished with twelve sons, heads of the thousands of Israel, from whom the celebrated twelve tribes descended, and were named. V. 14-24. Here is, I. Leah fruitful again, after she had, for some time, left bearing. Jacob, it should seem, associated more with Rachel than with Leah. The law of Moses supposes it a common case, that if a man had two wives, one would be loved, and the other hated, Deut. 21. 15. But, at length, Rachel's strong passions betrayed her into a bargain with Leah, that Jacob should return to her apartment. Reuben, a little lad, five or six years old, playing in the field, found mandrakes, dudaim. It is uncertain what they were, the critics are not agreed about them; we are sure they were some rarities, either fruits or flowers that were very pleasant to the smell, Cant. 7. 13. Note, The God of nature has provided not only for our necessities, but for our delights: there are products of the earth in the exposed fields, as well as in the planted protected gardens, that are very valuable and useful. How plentifully is nature's house furnished, and her table spread! Her precious fruits offer themselves to be gathered by the hands of little children. It is a laudable custom of the devout Jews, when they find pleasure, suppose in eating an apple, to lift up their hearts, and say, "Blessed be he that made this fruit pleasant!" Or, in smelling a flower, "Blessed be he that made this flower sweet." Some think these mandrakes were jessamine flowers; whatever they were, Rachel could not see them in Leah's hands, into which the child had brought them, but she must covet them. She cannot bear the want of these pretty flowers, but, at any rate, she will purchase them. Note, There may be great sin and folly in the inordinate desire of a small thing. Leah takes this advantage, (as Jacob had of Esau's coveting his red pottage,) to obtain that which was justly due to her, but which Rachel would not 25 And it came to pass, when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country. 26 Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and let me go: for thou knowest my service which I have done thee. I 27 And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake. 28 And he said, Appoint me thy wages" and I will give it. 29 And he said unto him, Thou knowest how I have served thee," and how thy cattle was with me. 30 For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it is now *increased unto a multitude; and the LORD hath blessed thee since my coming and now, when shall I provide for mine own house also? 31 And he said, What shall I give thee? And c. 21. 54. re. 31. 55. c. 31. 6. t Ex. 3. 21. Neh. 1. 11. Dan. 1. 9. Acts 7. 10 c. 39.3,5 Ps. 1. 3. Is. 61. 9. c. 29. 15. 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 among the goats, and brown among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen with me. 34 And Laban said, Behold, I would it might be according to thy word. 35 And he removed that day the he-goats that were ring-streaked and spotted, and all the shegoats 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. otherwise have consented to. Note, Strong passions often thwart one another, and those cannot but be continually uneasy, that are hurried by them. Leah is overjoyed that she shall have her husband's company again, that her family might yet further be built up, which is the blessing she desires and devoutly prays for, as is intimated, v. 17, where it is said, God hearkened unto Leah. The learned Bishop Patrick very well suggests here, that the true reason of this contest between Jacob's wives for his company, and their giving of him their maids to be his wives, was, the earnest desire they had to fulfil the promise made to Abraham, (and now lately renewed to Jacob,) that his seed should be as the stars of heaven for multi-trust in God, and in his providence and promise, though they tude, and that in one Seed of his, the Messiah, all the nations of the earth should be blessed. And he thinks it had been below the dignity of this sacred history, to take such particular notice of these things, if there had not been some such great consideration in them. Leah was now blessed with two sons; the first she called Issachar, A hire, (v. 18,) and reckoning herself well repaid for her mandrakes, nay, (which is a strange construction of the providence,) rewarded for giving her maid to her husband. Note, We abuse God's mercy, when we reckon that his favours countenance and patronise our follies. The other she called Zebulun, Dwelling, (v. 20,) owning God's bounty to her, God has endowed me with a good dowry. Jacob had not endowed her when he married her, nor had he wherewithal in possession; but she reckons a family of children, not a bill of charges, but a good dowry, Ps. 113. 9. She promises herself more of her husband's company, now that she had borne him six sons, and that, in love to his children, at least, he would often visit her lodging. Mention is made, v. 21, of the birth of a daughter, Dinah, because of the following story concerning her, ch. 34. Perhaps Jacob had other daughters, though not registered. II. Rachel fruitful at last, v. 22, God remembered Rachel whom he seemed to have forgotten, and hearkened to her whose prayers had been long denied; and then she bare a son. Note, As God justly denies the mercy we have been inordinately desirous of, so sometimes he graciously grants, at length, that which we have long waited for. He corrects our folly, and yet considers our frame, and does not contend for ever. Rachel calied her son Joseph, which, in Hebrew, is akin to two words of a contrary signification, Asaph, Abstulit, He has taken away my reproach, as if the greatest mercy she had in this son, was that she had saved her credit; and Jasaph, Addidit, The Lord shall add to me another son; which may be looked upon, either as the language of her inordinate desire, (she scarcely knows how to be thankful for one, unless she may be sure of another,) or of her faith; she takes this mercy as an earnest of further mercy; "Has God given me his grace? I may call it Joseph, and say, He shall add more grace. Has he given me his joy? I may call it Joseph, and say, He will give more joy. Has he begun, and shall he not make an end?" V. 25-36. We have here, I. Jacob's thoughts of home. He faithfully served his time out with Laban, even his second apprenticeship, though he was an old man, had a growing family to provide for, and it was high time for him to set up for himself; though Laban's service was hard, and he had cheated him in the first bargain he had made, yet, Jacob honestly performs his engagements. Note, A good man, though he swears to his own hurt, will not change. And though others have deceived us, that will not justify us in deceiving them. Our rule is, to do as we would be done by, not as we are done by. Jacob's term being expired, he begs leave to be gone, v. 25. Observe, 1. He retained his affection for the land of Canaan, not only because it was the land of his nativity, and his father and mother were there, whom he longed to see; but because it was the land of promise, and in token of his dependence upon the promise of it; though he sojourn in Haran, he can by no means think of settling there. Thus should we be affected towards our heavenly country, looking upon ourselves as strangers here, viewing the heavenly country as our home, and longing to be there, as soon as the days of our service upon earth are numbered and finished. We must not think of taking root here, for this is not our place and country, Heb. 13. 14. 2. He was desirous to go to Canaan, though he had a great family to take with him, and no provision yet made for them. He had got wives and children with Laban, but nothing else; yet he does not solicit Laban to give him either a portion with his wives, or the maintenance of some of his children. No, all his request is, Give me my wives and my children, and send me away, v. 25, 26. Note, Those that have great families and small incomes, can cheerfully hope that he who sends mouths will send meat. He who feeds the brood of the ravens, will not starve the seed of the righteous. II. Laban's desire of his stay, v. 27. In love to himself, not to Jacob or to his wives or children, he speaks fairly and gently, that he may engage him to continue his chief shepherd; entreating him, by the regard he bore him, not to leave him; If I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry. Note, Churlish selfish men know how to give good words, when it is to serve their own ends. Laban found that his stock had wonderfully increased with Jacob's good management, and he owns it, with very good expressions of respect both to God and Jacob; I have learned by experience, that the Lord has blessed me for thy sake. Observe, 1. Laban's learning. I have learned by experience. Note, There is many a profitable good lesson to be learned by experience. We are very unapt scholars, if we have not learned by experience the evil of sin, the treachery of our own hearts, the vanity of the world, the goodness of God, the gains of godliness and the like. 2. Laban's lesson; he owns, (1.) That his prosperity was owing to God's blessing; The Lord has blessed me. Note, Worldly men that choose their portion in this life, are often blessed with an abundance of this world's goods. Common blessings are given plentifully to many that have no title to covenant-blessings. (2.) That Jacob's piety had brought that blessing upon him; The Lord has blessed me, not for my own sake, (let not such a man as Laban, that lives without God in the world, think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord, Jam. 1. 7,) but for thy sake. Note, [1.] Good men are blessings to the places where they live, even there where they live meanly and obscurely, as Jacob in the field, and Joseph in the prison, ch. 39. 23. [2.] God often blesses bad men with outward mercies, for the sake of their godly relations, though it is seldom that they have either the wit to see it, or the grace to own it, as Laban did here. III. The new bargain they came upon. Laban's craft and covetousness took advantage of Jacob's plainness, honesty, and good nature; and, perceiving that Jacob began to be won upon by his fair speeches, instead of making him a generous offer, and bidding high, as he cught to have done, all things considered, he puts it upon him to make his demands; (v. 28,) Appoint me thy wages; knowing he would be very modest in them, and would ask less than he could for shame offer. Jacob accordingly makes a proposal to him, in which, 1. He shows what reason he had to insist upon so much, considering, (1.) That Laban was bound in gratitude to do well for him, because he had served him not only faithfully, but very successfully, v. 30. Yet here observe, how he speaks, like himself, very modestly. Laban had said, The Lord has blessed me for thy sake; Jacob will not say so, but, The Lord has blessed thee since my coming. Note, Humble saints take more pleasure in doing good than in hearing of it again. (2.) That he himself was bound in duty to take care of his own family; Now, when shall I provide for mine own house also? Note, Faith and charity, though they are excellent things, must not take us off from making necessary provisions for our own support, and the support of our families. We must, like Jacob, trust in the Lord, and do good, and yet we must, like him, pro 36 And he set three days' journey betwixt him- much cattle, and maid-servants, and men-servants, self and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's and camels, and asses. flocks. CHAPTER XXXI. 37 And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the haze and chestnut-tree: and pilled white! streaks in them, and made the white appear which Jacob was a very honest good man, a man of great devotion, and integrity, and yet was in the rods. 38 And he set the rods, which he had pilled, before the flocks in the gutters in the wateringtroughs, when the flocks came to drink, that they should conceive when they came to drink. 39 And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ring-streaked, "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 a c. 31.9, 12. b ver. 30. e c. 13. 2. 24. 35. 26. 13, 14. Job 42. 12. a Ps. 49. 16. Fc. 4. 4. 1 Tim. 6. 4. vide for our own houses also; he that does not, is worse than an infidel, 1 Tim. 5. 8. 2. He is willing to refer himself to the providence of God, which, he knew, extends itself to the smallest things, even the colour of the cattle; and he will be content to have for his wages the sheep and goats of such and such a colour, speckled, spotted, and brown, which should hereafter be brought forth, v. 32, 33. This, he thinks, will be a most effectual way both to prevent Laban's cheating him, and to secure himself from being suspected of cheating Laban. Some think he chose this colour, because in Canaan it was generally most desired, and delighted in; their shepherds in Canaan are called Nekodim, (Am. 1. 1,) the word here used for speckled; and Laban was willing to consent to this bargain, because he thought if the few he had that were now speckled and spotted, were separated from the rest, which by agreement was to be done immediately, the body of the flock which Jacob was to tend, being of one colour, either all black, or all white, would produce few or none of mixed colours, and so he should have Jacob's service for nothing, or next to nothing. According to this bargain, those few that were party-coloured, were separated, and put into the hands of Laban's sons, and sent three days' journey off; so great was Laban's jealousy, lest any of those should mix with the rest of the flock, to the advantage of Jacob. And now a fine bargain Jacob has made for himself! Is this his providing for his own house, to put it upon such an uncertainty If these cattle bring forth, as usually cattle do, young ones of the same colour with themselves, he must still serve for nothing, and be a drudge and a beggar all the days of his life; but he knows whom he has trusted, and the event showed, (1.) That he took the best way that could be taken with Laban, who otherwise would certainly have been too hard for him. And, (2.) That it was not in vain to rely upon the Divine Providence, which owns and blesses honest humble diligence. Those that find men whom they deal with unjust and unkind, shall not find God so, but that, some way or other, he will right the injured, and be a good Paymaster to those that commit their cause to him. V. 37-43. Here is Jacob's honest policy to make his bargain more advantageous to himself than it was likely to be; if he had not taken some course to help himself, it would have been a bad bargain indeed, which he knew Laban would never have considered, or rather, which he would have been well pleased to see him a loser by, so little did Laban consult any one's interest but his own. Now Jacob's contrivances were, 1. To set pilled sticks before the cattle where they were watered, that, looking much at those unusual party-coloured sticks, by the power of imagination, they might bring forth young ones in like manner party-coloured, v. 37-39. Probably, this custom was commonly used by the shepherds of Canaan, who coveted to have their cattle of this motley colour. Note, It becomes a man to be master of his trade, whatever it is, and to be not only industrious, but ingenious in it, and to be versed in all its lawful arts and mysteries; for what is a man but his trade? There is a discretion which God teaches the husbandman, (as plain a trade as that is,) and which he ought to learn, Is. 28. 26. 2. When he began to have a stock of ring-streaked and brown, he contrived to set them first, and to put the faces of the rest toward them, with the same design as he did the former with; but would not let his own that were motley-coloured, look at Laban's that were of one colour, v. 40. Strong impressions, it seems, are made by the eye, with which therefore we have need to make a covenant. 3. When he found that his project succeeded, through the he had more trouble and vexation than any of the patriarchs. He had left his father's house in a fright, came to his uncle in distress, very hard usage he had met with there, and now is going back surrounded with fears. Here is, I. His resolution to return, v. 1-16. II. His clandestine departure, v. 17-21. III. Laban's pursuit of him in displeasure, v. 22-25. IV. The hot words that passed between them, v. 26-42. V. Their amicable agreement at last, v. 43-55. 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. 7 And your father hath deceived me, and b c. 4. 5. c Deut. 28. 54. as yesterday and the day before. d c. 28. 15. e ver. 2, 3. f ver. 41. special blessing of God upon it, he contrived, by using it only with the stronger cattle, to secure to himself those that were most valuable, leaving the feebler to Laban, v. 41, 42. Thus Jacob increased exceedingly, (v. 43,) and grew very rich in a little time. This success of his policy, it is true, was not sufficient to justify it, if there had been any thing fraudulent or unjust in it, which we are sure there was not, for he did it by divine direction, (ch. 31. 12;) nor was there any thing in the thing itself, but the honest improvement of a fair bargain, which the Divine Providence wonderfully prospered, both in justice to Jacob, whom Laban had wronged and dealt hardly with, and in pursuance of the particular promises made to him of the tokens of the divine favour. Note, Those who, while their beginning is small, are humble and honest, contented and industrious, are in a likely way to see their latter end greatly increasing; he that is faithful in a little, shall be intrusted with more: he that is faithful in that which is another man's shall be intrusted with something of his own. Jacob, that had been a just servant, became a rich master. NOTES TO CHAPTER XXXI. V. 1-16. Jacob is here taking up a resolution immediately to quit his uncle's service, and to take what he had, and go back to Canaan. He took up this resolution, upon a just provocation, by divine direction, and with the advice and consent of his wives. I. Upon a just provocation; for Laban and his sons were become very cross and ill-natured toward him, so that he could not stay among them with safety and satisfaction. 1. Laban's sons showed it in what they said, v. 1. It should seem, they said it in Jacob's hearing, with a design to vex him. The last chapter began with Rachel's envying Leah; this begins with Laban's sons' envying Jacob. Observe, (1.) How greatly they magnify Jacob's prosperity, He has gotten all this glory. And what was this glory that they make so much ado about? It was a parcel of brown sheep, and speckled goats, (and perhaps the fine colours made them seem more glorious,) and some camels and asses, and such like trading; and that was all this glory. Note, Riches are glorious things in the eyes of carnal people, while to all those that are conversant with heavenly things, they have no glory in comparison with the glory which excelleth. Men's over-valuing worldly wealth, is that fundamental error which is the root of covetousness, envy, and all evil. (2.) How basely they reflect upon Jacob's fidelity, as if what he had, he had not gotten honestly; Jacob has taken away all that was our r father's. Not all, sure. What has become of those cattle which were committed to the custody of Laban's sons, and sent three days' journey off? ch. 30. 35, 36. They mean all that was committed to him; but speaking invidiously, they express themselves thus generally. Note, [1.] Those that are ever so careful to keep a good conscience, yet cannot always be sure of a good name. [2] This is one of the vanities and vexations which attend outward prosperity, that it makes a man to be envied of his neighbour, (Ec. 4. 4;) and who can stand before envy? Prov. 27. 4. Whom Heaven blesses Hell curses, and all its children on earth. 2. Laban himself said little, but his countenance was not toward Jacob as it used to be; and Jacob could not but take notice of it, v. 2, 5. He was but a churl at the best, but now he was more churlish than formerly. Note, Envy is a sin that often appears in the countenance; hence we read of an evil eye, Prov. 23. 6. Sour looks may do a great deal toward the ruin of peace and love in a family, and the making of those un |