Genesis
29
1 “Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the
land of the people of the east.”
Then Jacob went on his journey (literally, lifted up his feet - a graphic description of
traveling. Inspired by new hopes, and conscious of loftier aims than when he fled from
people of the east -
literally, the land of the sons of the east, i.e.
about 450 miles distant from
2 “And he looked, and behold
a well in the field, and, lo, there were three
flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well
they watered the flocks: and
a great stone was upon the well's mouth.” And he looked (either to discover
where he was, or in search of water), and behold a well in the field, - not the
well at which Eliezer's caravan halted, which was a well for the village maidens,
situated in front of the town, and approached by steps (see ch.14), but a well in
the open field for the use of flocks, and covered at the time of Jacob's arrival
with a huge stone - and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it. A frequent
Oriental scene (compare ibid. v. 11; Exodus 2:16). "Who that has traveled much
in this country has not often arrived at a well in the heat of the day which was
surrounded with numerous flocks of sheep waiting to be watered? I once saw
such a scene in the burning plains
of
men were drawing up water in leather buckets; flock after flock was brought up,
watered, and sent away; and after all the men had ended their work, then several
women and girls brought up their flocks, and drew water for them. Thus it was with
Jethro's daughters; and thus, no doubt, it would have been with Rachel if Jacob had
not rolled away the stone and
watered her sheep" ('Land and Book,' p. 589). For
out
of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well's mouth.
"Most of the cisterns are covered with a large thick, flat stone, in the center of which
a hole is cut, which forms the mouth of the cistern. This hole, in many instances, we
found covered with a heavy stone, to the removal of which two or three men were
requisite" (Robinson,
2. p. 180).
3 “And thither were all the flocks gathered: and
they rolled the stone from the
well's mouth, and
watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well's
mouth in his place.” And thither were all the flecks gathered. "Fifteen minutes
later we came to a large well in a valley among the swells, fitted up with troughs
and reservoirs, with flocks waiting around" (Robinson,
3. p. 21). And they rolled
the stone from the well's mouth, find
watered the sheep, and put the stone again
upon the well's mouth in his place. From the middle of v. 2 the words are
parenthetical, the watering of the flocks not having taken place till Rachel had
arrived (v. 9) and Jacob had uncovered the well (v. 10).
4 “And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be
ye? And they said,
Of
flocks), My brethren (a friendly salutation from one who was himself a shepherd),
whence be ye? Anticipating
that their reply would reveal his whereabouts. And
they said, Of
promise to guide him in his journey.
5 “And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they
said,
We know him.” And he said unto them (with the view of discovering his
kinsmen), Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? - i.e. the grandson, Laban's father
having been Bethuel, who, however, here, as in ch. 14, retires into the background.
And they said, We know him. The language of the shepherds being Chaldaean
(see ch. 31:47), Jacob, who spoke Hebrew, was able to converse with them either
because he had learned Chaldee from his mother (Clericus), or, as is more probable,
because the dialects were not then
greatly dissimilar (Gosman in Lange).
6 “And he said unto them, Is
he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold,
Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.” And he said unto them, Is he well?
Literally, is there peace to him?
meaning not simply bodily health, but all
manner
of felicity; ὑγιαίνει – hugiainei - (Septuagint); sanusne est? (Vulgate). Compare
the Christian salutation, tax vobiscum And they said, He is well (literally, peace):
and, behold, Rachel -
"Ewe" (Gesenius) - his
daughter cometh with the sheep.
7 “And he said, Lo, it is yet high day,
neither is it time that the cattle should
be gathered together:
water ye the sheep, and go and feed them.” And he said,
Lo, it is yet high day (literally, the day is yet great, i.e. much of it still remains),
neither is it time that the cattle should he gathered together (i.e. to shut them up
for the night): water ye the sheep, and go and feed them - being desirous to get
the shepherds away from the well that he might meet Rachel alone (Keil, Lange,
Murphy), though perhaps his words with as much correctness may be traced to
that prudent and industrious habit of mind which afterwards shone forth so
conspicuously in himself, and which instinctively caused him to frown upon
laziness and inactivity (Starke, Kalisch,
Bush).
8 “And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be
gathered together, and
till they roll
the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep.”
And they said, We cannot, - not because of any physical difficulty (Kalisch),
since three men could easily have accomplished what Jacob by himself did,
but because they had agreed not to do so (Rosenmüller, Murphy), but to wait –
until all the flocks be gathered together (when the watering was done at once,
instead of at so many different times), and
till they roll the stone from the well's
mouth; - more correctly rendered, and (sc. then, i.e. when the flocks are assembled)
they (i.e. the shepherds) roll away the stone - then (or, and) we water the sheep.
The object of watering the flocks collectively may have been, as above stated,
for convenience, or to prevent the well from being opened too frequently, in
which case dust might rapidly accumulate within it (Kalisch), or perhaps to
secure an equal distribution of the water (Murphy).
9 “And while he yet spake
with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep:
for she kept
them.” And while he yet spake
with them (literally, he yet speaking
with them), Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she kept them - or, she was
a shepherdess, the participle רֹעָה being used as a substantive (Gesenius, 'Lex.,'
sub. nom.).
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.” And it came to pass, when Jacob
saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, - "the term mother's
brother is not unintentionally repeated three times in this verse to describe with
the greatest possible stress that Jacob had met with his own relations, with
"his bone and his flesh" (Kalisch) - and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother
(Jacob from the first takes particular notice of Laban's flock, perhaps regarding
them as a sign of Laban s wealth. If Laban s daughter had her attractions for the
son of Isaac, so also had Laban s
sheep), that Jacob went near, and rolled the
stone from the well's mouth (probably disregarding the shepherds' rule to wait
for the gathering of all the flocks, unless, indeed, Rachel
s was the last), and
watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother. The threefold repetition of
this phrase does not prove that Jacob acted in all this purely as a cousin (Lange).
The phrase is the historian's, and Jacob had not yet informed
Rachel of his name.
11 “And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his
voice, and wept.”
And Jacob kissed Rachel, - in demonstration of his cousinly affection. If Jacob
had not yet discovered who he was to the fair shepherdess, his behavior must
have filled her with surprise, even allowing for the unaffected simplicity of the
times; but the fact that she does not resent his conduct as an undue liberty perhaps
suggests that he had first informed her of his relationship to the inmates of Laban s
house (Calvin). On kissing see ch. 27:26 - and lifted up his voice, and wept - partly
for joy in finding his relatives (compare ch. 43:30; ch. 45:2, 14-15); partly in
grateful acknowledgment of God's kindness in conducting him to his mother’s
brother's house.
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.” And Jacob told (or, had told,
ut
supra) Rachel that he was her father’s brother, — as
brother, though in reality his nephew (ch. 13:8; 14:14, 16) — and that he was
Rebekah’s son (this clause would
explain the meaning of the term
“brother in the former): and she ran and told her father. Like Rebekah,
believing the stranger’s words and running to report them, though,
unlike
Rebekah, first relating them to her father (compare ch. 24:28).
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.” And it came to
pass, when
Laban heard the tidings (literally, heard
the hearing, or thing heard, i.e. the
report of the arrival) of Jacob his sister’s son, — he acted very much as he did
ninety-seven years before, when Abraham’s servant came to woo his sister
(ch. 24:20,
30) — that
(literally, and) he ran to meet
him, and embraced him,
so afterwards
Esau did Jacob (ch. 33:4), and Jacob the two sons of
Joseph (ch. 48:10) — and kissed him, and brought him to his
house — thus evincing the same kindness and hospitality that had
characterized him on the previous occasion. And he (Jacob) told Laban
all these things — what his mother had
instructed him to say to attest his
kinship (Calvin); the things related in the immediate context (Keil); more
likely the entire story of his life, and in particular of his
exile from home,
with its cause and object (Rosenmüller, Kalisch, Lange).
14 “And Laban said to him,
Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he
abode with him the space of a month.” And Laban
said unto him (giving
utterance to the impression Jacob s recital had produced upon his
mind),
Surely thou art my bone and my flesh — i.e. my
blood relation (compare
Judges 9:2; II Samuel 5:1). Laban meant that Jacob had satisfactorily proved
himself Rebekah’s son. And he abode with him the space of a month
— literally,
a month
of days (compare
ch. 41:1; Numbers 11:20), or a month as regards
time, “the second substantive describing the general notion of which the
first is a specification” (Kalisch).
Jacob at the Well of
(vs. 1-14)
Ø The providential discovery. The well in the field with the three flocks of
sheep lying by it enabled Jacob to ascertain his
whereabouts, and ultimately
led to his finding Rachel. God guides the steps of His people
without
interfering with the ordinary course of nature, simply directing
them in the
exercise of sense and intelligence; and doubtless Jacob
recognized in his,
lighting on the
had been lately promised. Saints should practice
the art of discerning the
movement
of God’s finger in the minutest and commonest events of life.
Ø The
friendly conversation. Saluting
the shepherds as his brethren, i.e. as
masters of a common craft, Jacob gathers from their frank
communications
that he was on the outskirts of
prosperous and wealthy citizen, and that his cousin Rachel was
on the road
to that very well beside which he stood with a flock of
her father’s sheep.
Great is the virtue of asking questions, especially when they are
prefaced
with
politeness. Seldom anything is lost, but frequently much is gained, by
courteous inquiries.
Ø The prudent counsel. Observing his friends disposed to
indolence, and
perhaps
desirous of meeting Rachel alone, Jacob recommends them to
uncover
the well, water their flocks, and drive them off again to pasture,
since
much of the day yet remained. If it was their advantage he sought, his
advice
was good; if it was his own interest he served, the stratagem was
ingenious.
God’s people should be
wise as serpents, but harmless as doves.
(Matthew 10:16)
Ø The gallant action. The lovely shepherdess arriving made a
deep
impression
on her cousin’s heart. Springing to his feet, he rolls the stone
from the
well’s mouth, fills the troughs, and waters Laban’s
sheep —
impelled
thereto, shall we say, as much by consideration for the fair girl
who
attended them as for the rich flock-master who possessed them.
Kindly acts
proceeding from loving hearts are sometimes largely assisted
by the
attractions of their recipients.
Ø The loving salutation. “And Jacob kissed Rachel.” If before
explaining
who he was, it must have taken her by surprise even in
those
unconventional times; but it is probable he may have first announced
his
name, in which case his behavior was only in accordance
with the manners
of the age. Suitable expressions of, affection to
friends beseem both grace
and nature.
Ø The irrepressible emotion. And Jacob lifted up his voice and wept” —
expressive both of:
o
joy at finding
his relatives, and
o
gratitude for
God’s goodness guiding him to the
o
house of his mother’s brother.
Unexpected
good and eminent providences kindle transports of
delight in gracious souls.
Ø The important communication. “Jacob told Rachel that he was her
father’s brother, and that he was Rebekah’s
son: and she ran and
told her father.” Friends,
and much more Christians, meeting on life’s
journey, should
with frankness discover themselves to each other,
and give each other
hearty welcome.
Ø
The uncle’s
reception of his nephew, “Laban ran to meet his sister s
son, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his
house.” Kinship and kindness should ever be allied. Laban’s
hospitality to Jacob was grounded on the fact of their relationship.
So is Christ’s
entertainment of His people based
upon the
circumstance that they are “members
of His body, of His flesh,
and of His bones.” (Ephesians 5:30)
Ø
The nephew’s return
to his uncle. Ingenuous confidence —
“Jacob told Laban all these things” — and faithful service.
It is implied in v. 15 that
during the month Jacob abode with
Laban he served in keeping Laban’s
sheep. God’s people
should endeavor as far as in them lies to requite the
kindnesses of relatives and friends.
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?”
And Laban said unto Jacob (probably at the month's end), Because thou art –
literally, is it not that. thou art (cf. Genesis 27:36; 2 Samuel 23:19) - my brother, -
my kinsman (see on v. 12) - shouldest thou therefore serve me for naught?
(literally, and thou server me gratuitously) tell me, what shall thy wages be?
A proof of Laban's generosity and justice (Kalisch); of his selfishness and greed
(Keil); of his prudence and sagacity in opening up the way for a love-suit (Large).
16 “And Laban had two
daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and
the name
of the younger was Rachel.” And Laban had two daughters (the wife of Laban is
not mentioned in the story): the name of the elder was Leah, - "Wearied" (Gesenius);
"Dull," "Stupid"
(Furst); "Pining," "Yearning"
(Lange) - and the name of the younger
was Rachel - "Ewe" (Gesenius).
17 “Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was
beautiful and well favored.”
Leah was tender eyed. Literally, the eyes of Leah were tender, i.e. weak, dun;
ἀσθενεῖς –astheneis - (Septuagint), lippi (Vulgate); compare I Samuel 16:12.
Leah's face was not ugly (Bohlen), only her eyes were not clear and lustrous, dark
and sparkling, as in all
probability Rachel's were (Knobel). But Rachel was beautiful
and well favored. Literally, beautiful in form (i.e. in outline and make of body;
compare ch. 39:6; also 1 Samuel 16:18 - "a man of form," i.e. formosus, well made)
and beautiful in appearance (i.e. of a lovely countenance). "If authentic history was
not in the way, Leah, as the mother
of
ought to have carried off the prize of beauty after Sarah and Rebakah (Lange).
18 “And Jacob
loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel
thy younger daughter.” And Jacob loved Rachel (it is more than probable that
this was an illustration of what is known as "love at first sight" on the part of Rachel
as well as Jacob); and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger
daughter. Having no property, with which to buy his wife, according to Oriental
custom (Kalisch), or to give the usual dowry for her to her father (Keil), - compare
ch. 24:53; 34:12; 1 Samuel 18:25, - Jacob's offer was at once accepted by his
grasping uncle, though he was that
uncle's "brother" (v. 15).
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.” Orientals commonly prefer alliances within
the circle of their own relatives. Burckhardt, Volney, Layard, and Lane testify that
this is still the case among the Bedouins, the Druses, and other Eastern tribes.
Abide with me - a formal
ratification of the compact on the part of Laban.
20 “And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and
they seemed unto him
but a few days, for the love he had to her.” And Jacob served - hard service
(ch. 31:40-41), in keeping sheep (Hosea 12:12) - seven years for Rachel. The
purity and intensity of Jacob's affection was declared not alone by the proposal
of a seven years' term of servitude, - a long period of waiting for a man of
fifty-seven, if not seventy-seven, years of age, - but also by the spirit in which
he served his avaricious relative. Many as the days were that required to intervene
before he obtained possession of his bride, they were rendered happy by the sweet
society of Rachel. And they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to
her. "Words breathing the purest tenderness, and expressing more emphatically
than the flowery hyperboles of romantic phraseology the deep attachment of an
affectionate heart" (Kalisch); words too which show the lofty appreciation Jacob
had of the personal worth of his future bride.
The Power of True Affection (v. 20)
“And Jacob served seven years for Rachel.”
heart over the will, over the circumstances, over flesh. Time is
measured by
the motions of our thought. The world needs to be taught that
the material
rests on the immaterial.
CONSUMMATION OF HUMAN ENERGY. CHRIST IS THE
HIGHEST OBJECT OF AFFECTION! Compare the life of a
servant of His
with the life of selfish caprice.
Christ; Rachel, of His Church.
He served for her. His love made obedience,
even unto death, his delight.
doubly for Rachel; but his service was amply paid afterwards,
although for
a time the veil of disappointment hid the purpose of God.
While Leah, as
the mother of
Joseph, the son of Rachel, that
Jacob’s heart was satisfied, and that the
history of the
set forth. As in the case of Sarah and Rebekah,
so in that of Rachel, the
birth of the representative seed is connected with special
bestowments of
grace.
Grace is when God gives us good things that
we don’t deserve.
Mercy
is when He spares us from bad things that we deserve.
Blessings
are when He is generous with both.
GOD
IS GOOD ALL THE TIME! (copied)
Christ’s Love for the Church (v. 20)
“And Jacob served seven years for Rachel.” On the surface this is a step in
Jacob’s training, in the fulfillment of God’s promise at
new
feature in his character. We see not the man of cunning devices, but
one
full of pure, self-sacrificing love. Fourteen years of service willingly
given to purchase, according to Eastern custom, his bride. But
Jacob’s love
suggests the deeper and purer love of Christ for the Church. Rachel
is a type
of
the Bride:
Ø
a shepherdess and “fairest
among women” (Song of Solomon 1:7-8);
Ø
sharer of the
sufferings of the Church (Jeremiah 31:15; Matthew 2:18;
Revelation 12:17).
For the Church’s sake (Ephesians 5:25) Christ:
Ø
“served” (Philippians
2:7);
Ø
became a Shepherd (John
10:11);
Ø
with His service and
life-blood was “obedient unto death,”
(Philippians 2:8),
Ø
He purchased her (Acts
20:28), to unite her to Himself forever.
·
THE LORD “SERVED” BECAUSE HE LOVED HIS CHURCH.
Ø
In condescending to
unite Himself with human nature;
Ø
in bearing the infirmities
of childhood and state of subjection;
Ø
in bearing the contradiction of sinners and the wrath of God.
And still:
Ø
in standing and
knocking (Revelation 3:20);
Ø
in bearing with
half-hearted believers (II Peter 3:9);
Ø
in pleading with and
for the wayward (I John 2:1; II Corinthians
5. 20);
Ø
in seeking and following individual sheep.
The love which led to this was
free, not deserved or purchased. Rachel
brought no dowry to Jacob. The
Church has of its own no spiritual wealth
(Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:23). The Bridegroom
had to sanctify and cleanse it.
By nature she is unholy and at
variance with God’s will; yet, knowing
this,
He loved it (compare Romans
8:35). For love to Rachel Jacob gave the
labor of fourteen years. For the Church Christ grudged nothing
and GAVE
HIMSELF! Sacrifice is a mark of true love. How many
will not sacrifice
anything — will not leave a gain, a companion, an amusement — to
“win Christ.” (Philippians
3:8 In the
garden his human nature shrank
from the bitterness of the cup, but He persevered. Why?
HIMSELF.
Marriage, the closest earthly tie, is used as a type. No mere
removal of condemnation satisfied that love, nor even our being
made
happy; He became such as we are, that we might become such as He
is.
Ø
The Church is his Bride (Ephesians 5:27; Revelation 21:9),
sharer of His kingdom (Revelation 3:21; 20:4), of His blessedness
and glory (John 17:22-24).
Ø
This blessing belongs
to its humblest and weakest member.
o
It is a union in this
life (Song of Solomon 2:16; John 15:4);
there is peace in committing all our cares to Him, even our
own steadfastness (John 10:28; Romans 8:35; Hebrews 13:6).
o
It is a union after
our departure more close (Philippians 1:23).
§
Here
and now we see dimly
(I Corinthians 13:12). The
conditions
of mortal life hinder clear visions (Exodus 33:20),
the law of
sin in our members hinders perfect union.
§
Then
no impediment (Luke
23:43). The union will be
perfected
after the resurrection (I Thessalonians 4:7).
The body, which now limits conscious
union, shall then minister to its
completeness.
Not till then
shall we be perfectly like Him
in His human nature.
LOVE. Jacob’s
love not shaken by time, or by the deceit practiced
upon
him, is a type of
Christ’s. Often forgetful, often faithless, we might well think,
How dare I trust to a love so
often neglected? But His love is not wearied
out (Isaiah 49:15). He has graven us with THE NAIL-PRINTS ON HIS
HANDS! His word is still, “Look unto me” (Isaiah 45:22 –
Charles Spurgeon
was converted by this verse – I recommend the following on
this website which
may be accessed by control; click: CY – 2018)
747a. Isaiah 45 – Spurgeon Sermon – The Solar Eclipse
748. Isaiah 45 – Spurgeon Sermon – Life for a Look
749. Isaiah 45 – Spurgeon Sermon – Sovereignty and Salvation
trust my love (Psalm 37:5).
21 “And Jacob said unto Laban,
Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled,
that I may go in unto her.” (Why was Jacob able to wait seven years before
becoming intimate with Rachel, and many people of today are not waiting?
(CY – 2018) And Jacob said unto Laban (who, though the term of servitude
had expired, appeared to be in no haste to implement his part of the bargain),
Give me my wife (i.e. my affianced wife, as in Deuteronomy 22:23-24;
Matthew 1:20), for my days are fulfilled (i.e. my term of service is completed),
that I may go in unto her - quo significant intactam adhuc esse virginem (Calvin);
a proof that Jacob's love was pure and true.
22 “And Laban gathered
together all the men of the place, and made a feast.”
And Laban (unable to evade or delay the fulfillment of his agreement with Jacob)
gathered together all the men of the place (not the entire population, but the
principal inhabitants), and made a feast - a "mishteh, or drinking (compare
ch. 19:3), i.e. a wedding banquet (compare bride-ale - bridal), which commonly
lasted seven days (Judges 14:10; Tobit 11:18), though it appears to have varied
according to the circumstances of the bridegroom.
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.” The deception practiced on Jacob
was rendered possible by the fact that the bride was usually conducted into the
marriage chamber veiled; the veil being so long and close as to conceal not only
the face, but much of the person (see ch. 24:65). And he went in unto her. The
conduct of Laban is perfectly intelligible as the outcome of his sordid avarice; but
it is difficult to understand how Leah could acquiesce in a proposal so base as to
wrong her sister by marrying one who neither sought nor loved her. She must herself
have been attached to Jacob; and it is probable that Laban had explained to her his
plan for bringing about a double
wedding.
24 “And Laban gave unto
his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.”
And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah - "the Dropping"? (Gesenius),
"Myrrh-juice" (Furst) - his maid (according to Gesenius the word is closely
connected with an unused root signifying to spread out, hence a maid-servant)
for an handmaid. This was in accordance with Oriental custom (see ch. 24:61 –
why did not Isaac go into Sarah’s handmaids as Jacob did to his wives? CY –
2018). That Leah obtained only one damsel need not be ascribed to Laban's
parsimonious character, but to his already-formed intention to bestow a second
on Rachel.
25 “And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold,
it was Leah: and he said
to Laban, What is
this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee
for
Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?” And it came to pass, that
in the morning, Behold, it was Leah. If Jacob's deception, even with the veiled
bride, may still be difficult to understand, it is easy to perceive in Leah's
substitution for Rachel a clear instance of Divine retribution for the imposition
he had practiced on his father. So the Lord oftentimes rewards evil-doers according
to their wickedness (compare II Samuel 12:10-12). And he said to Laban (who,
Calvin conjectures, had given Jacob a splendid entertainment the night before to
make him say nothing about the
fraud), What is this thou hast done unto me?
did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?
It says much for Jacob that he did not seek to repudiate the marriage. Perhaps
he saw the hand of God in what had happened, and probably considered that
though he had chosen Rachel, God had selected Leah as his wife. If so, it must
be set to Jacob's credit that at the call of God, thus providentially addressed to him,
he was prepared to sacrifice his best affections to the claims of religion and duty.
It is not Jacob, but Laban, who
proposes that he should also marry Rachel.
26 “And Laban said, It
must not be so done in our country, to give the younger
before the firstborn.” And Laban said, It must not be so done - the future
expresses the thought that the custom has grown into a strong moral obligation
(Kalisch) - in our country (Hebrew, place), to give the younger before the first-born.
The same custom exists among the Indians (Rosenmüller; cf. Roberts, 'Oriental
Illustrations,' p. 34), Egyptians (Lane),
and other Oriental countries (Delitzsch).
27 “Fulfil her week, and
we will give thee this also for the service which thou
shalt serve
with me yet seven other years.” Fulfill her week,
- literally, make
full the week of this one, i.e. of Leah, if Leah was given to Jacob on the first night
of the festivities (Calmer, Rosenmüller, Keil, Kalisch, Lange, Ainsworth); but if
Leah was married at the close of the seven days, then it must refer to Rachel s week
(Bush, Murphy) - and we (including Laban's wife and eldest son, as in ch. 24:50, 55)
will give thee this also (i.e. Rachel) for the service which thou shalt serve with me
yet seven other years. Almost every motive that is mean, base, and despicable
appears in this behavior of Laban's; if he attached little value to his daughters'
affections, he had a keen
appreciation of Jacob's qualities as a shepherd.
28 “And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he
gave him Rachel his
daughter to wife also.” And Jacob did so, and fulfilled
her week. Literally, the
week of this one, either of Leah or of Rachel, as above. Rosenmüller, assigning
the first week (v. 27) to Leah, refers this to Rachel; but the expression can scarcely
have two different meanings within
the compass of two verses. And he gave him
Rachel his daughter to wife also. The polygamy of Jacob, though contrary to the
law of nature (ch. 2:21-25), admits of some palliation, since Rachel was the choice
of his affections The marriage of sisters was afterwards declared incestuous
29 “And Laban gave to Rachel
his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.
And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah - "Bashful," "Modest" (Gesenius) –
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.” And he went in also unto Rachel,
and he loved also Rachel more than Leah (implying, however, that Leah had a
place in his affections), and served with him yet seven other years. The seven years
cunningly exacted for Leah was thus the second fraud practiced upon Jacob
(ch. 30:26; ch. 31:41; Hosea 12:12).
Jacob and Laban,
or the Deceiver Deceived (vs. 15-30)
Ø
The promised service — seven years of
pastoral assistance.
o
Freely offered. “I will serve thee seven years.”
Contracts are legally and
morally
invalid where freedom in the promiser does not exist.
o
Faithfully rendered. Jacob “served seven years,” as
he had stipulated.
Voluntary
engagements should be deemed sacred.
o
Readily accepted. Laban both
appreciated Jacob’s merits as a shepherd
and
regarded Jacob’s terms as easy. If Laban’s words in
closing with
Jacob’s offer
did not indicate his guile, they were at least evidence of his
greed.
o
Harshly exacted. Jacob testifies as much on leaving Laban. Covetous
souls do not’ shrink from making hard bargains
even with relatives and
friends.
Ø
The stipulated wages — Rachel in
marriage as a wife. This part of the
contract was:
o
Eagerly desired by Jacob. “Jacob loved Rachel,” who was
beautiful
both in
face and form. It is not
sinful either to appreciate or desire
personal
symmetry and grace in those to whom we yield our affections.
Female loveliness,
though it may enkindle love, need not render the
heart
that loves less pure.
o
Patiently waited for by Jacob. This was a testimony to the purity,
tenderness,
and strength of Jacob’s affection. Besides transforming
seven years
into a few days, and making pleasant and lightsome
labor of
what would otherwise have been galling bondage, it enabled
him to
wait God’s time for receiving his bride.
o
Cheerfully assented to by Laban. “It is better
that I give her to
thee
than that I should give her to another man.” Yet:
o
Guilefully withheld by Laban.
Avaricious men seldom scruple at
deceiving
others for the sake of profit. Greed of gain is commonly
accompanied by guile of men.
Ø
The just request. “Give
me my wife.” “The
laborer is worthy of
his hire” (I Timothy
5:18) and the servant is entitled to his wages.
Ø
The marriage festival. “Laban made a feast.” Seemingly assenting
to his nephew’s request, the crafty uncle prepares a wedding
banquet.
Feasting and rejoicing are
both becoming and allowable in connection
with marriage celebrations.
Ø
The substituted bride. Either at the end
of the first day or at the
close of the festivities, “Laban took Leah
and brought her,”
veiled and in silence, to the bridal chamber. For the wickedness
of Laban in breaking his promise, defrauding
his nephew, wronging
his younger daughter, and practically prostituting his elder,
excuse
is, impossible; for Leah’s acquiescence in her father’s plot
explanation,
though not apology, may be found in her manifest love for Jacob,
and
perhaps in her belief that Laban had
secured Jacob’s consent to the
arrangement. The man who could sell one daughter’s affections and
sacrifice another’s would not stick at deceiving both, if he could.
Ø
The discovered fraud. “In the morning, behold, it was Leah.” The day
manifests what the night hides the sins of men; and
the light of the
great day will disclose what the darkness of time conceals.
Ø
The lame excuse. Interrogated by
Jacob, Laban offers in extenuation of
his heartless deception that popular custom demanded the
marriage of an
elder sister before a younger. So, public
opinion, prevailing habit,
universal practice, are often pled in apology for offences against the
law of God. But the conventional maxims of society are of no weight
when set against Divine
commandments.
Ø
The righteous retribution. Though indefensible
on the part of Laban,
the substitution of Leah for Rachel was a deserved punishment
of Jacob.
Having wronged Esau his brother,
he is in turn wronged by “a brother” -
Laban. Having
substituted the younger (himself) for the older (Esau), he
is recompensed by having the older put into the place of the
younger. As
Isaac knew not when he blessed
Jacob, so Jacob knows not when he
marries Leah. As Jacob acted at the instigation of his mother,
Leah yields
to the suggestion of her father.
Ø
The amicable settlement. Jacob celebrates
the week of festival for Leah,
and then receives Rachel as a wife, engaging to serve another
term of
seven years for her who had lightened the labor of the previous
seven. If
Jacob’s conduct evinced sincere
attachment to Rachel and peaceful
disposition towards Laban, it displayed
doubtful regard for the law
of God.
31 ”And
when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, He opened her womb:
but Rachel was barren.” And when the Lord saw - literally, and Jehovah saw.
As Eve's son was obtained from Jehovah (compare 4:1), and Jehovah visited Sarah
(ch. 21:1), and was entreated for Rebekah (ch. 25:21), so here He again interposes
in connection with the onward development of the holy seed by giving children to
Jacob s wives. The present section (vs. 31-35) is by Davidson, Kalisch, and others
assigned to the Jehovist, by Tuch left undetermined, and by Colenso in several
parts ascribed to the Elohist. Kalisch thinks the contents of this section must have
found a place in the earlier of the two documents - that Leah was hated, - i.e. less
loved (cf. Malachi 1:3) - He opened her womb (compare I Samuel 1:5-6; Psalm
127:3): but Rachel was barren - as Sarai (ch. 11:30) and Rebekah (ch. 25:21)
had been. The fruitfulness of Leah and the sterility of Rachel were designed not
so much to equalize the conditions of the sisters, the one having beauty and the
other children (Lange), or to punish Jacob for his partiality (Keil), or to discourage
the admiration of mere beauty (Kalisch), but to prove that "the
origin of
to be a work not of nature, but of grace" (Keil).
32 “And Leah conceived, and bare
a son, and she called his name Reuben:
for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon
my affliction; now therefore
my husband will love me.” And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she
called
his name Reuben (literally, Reu-ben, Behold a Son! an expression of joyful
surprise at the Divine compassion):
for she said, Surely the Lord hath looked
upon my affliction. Though not directly contained in the term Reuben, the sense
of these words is implied (Kalisch). As Leah's child was an intimation that she
had been an object of Jehovah's compassion, so did she expect it to be a means
of drawing towards herself Jacob s affection. Now therefore (literally, for now)
my husband will love me. She was confident in the first flush of maternal joy that
Jacob's heart would turn towards her; she believed that God had sent her child to
effect this conversion of her husband's affections; and she regarded the birth of
Reuben as a signal proof of the Divine
pity.
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.” And she conceived again, and bare a son
(probably the following year); and said, Because the Lord hath heard that
I was hated (the birth of Reuben had obviously not answered Leah's expectations
in increasing Jacob's love), He hath therefore given me this son also (the faith
and piety of Leah are as
conspicuous as her affection for Jacob): and she
called
his name Simeon - i.e. Hearing, because God had heard that she was hated.
34 “And she conceived again, and bare a son; and
said, Now this time will
my husband be joined unto me, because I have
born him three sons:
therefore was his name called Levi.” And she conceived again (say, in the
third year of her marriage), and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my
husband be joined unto me, - לָוָה, to join, is the root from which comes לֵוִי.
(Levi), her son's name - because I have borne
him three sons: therefore was
his name called Levi - Associated,
or Joined.
35 “And she conceived again, and bare
a son: and she said, Now will I praise
the LORD: therefore she called his name
And she conceived again, and bare a son (possibly in the fourth year of marriage,
and in Jacob's eighty-eighth year of age, he having been seventy-seven when he
arrived in
and she said, Now will I praise the Lord. Well she might; for this was the
ancestor of the promised seed (Murphy). There cannot be a doubt that her
excellence of character as well as eminence of piety eventually wrought a
change upon her husband (see ch. 31:4, 14; ch. 49:31).
Therefore she called
his name
from bearing. Not altogether (ch. 30:16); only for a time, "that she might not be
unduly lifted up by her good fortune, or attribute to the fruitfulness of her own womb
what the faithfulness of Jehovah, the covenant God, had bestowed upon her" (Keil.).
Jacob among His Mother’s Kindred (vs. 1-35)
* Taught by experience to be
patient.
* His own craft reflected in Laban.
* Lessons to be learned.
INNER MAN AND HIS LEADINGS IN
what he needed to learn — dependence and self-humiliation. He
saw the
evil of selfishness; understood that the Divine purposes must
not be
identified in our thought with our personal feelings and desires.
We must wait on God to know what His will is.
are not chosen for their own sake. Often that which displeases
us is our
special help.
Ø
Leah, not chosen by
Jacob, bore him sons.
Ø
Rachel, whom he loved,
was barren.
Even in such mixed soil as these
characters the seed of Divine
life will grow. Leah gave names to her children which betokened
an
increasing faith. Jacob’s willingness to serve was a gracious victory
over
self, preparing him for higher filings. Thwarted man is taught to WAIT
UPON GOD!
AND MARRIED LIFE.
Ø
The misery
of all that interferes with the sanctity of affection
and its supremacy.
Ø
The certainty that
lack of candor and truthfulness will be
fruitful in evil results.
Ø
The importance of
right feeling in sustaining religious
character;
how difficult, where the relationship is not founded on affection,
to maintain truth, purity, and a lofty standard of life. We must try
to see disappointments from a higher point of view. God may
withhold what we
desire, but only to give afterwards a fuller
blessing.
Leah and Rachel, or The
Two Wives (vs. 31-35)
That Leah was not hated in the
sense of being regarded with aversion, the
numerous family she bore to Jacob proves; that she occupied a lower
place
than Rachel in her husband’s affections is explicitly declared.
This
preference of Rachel to Leah was:
Ø Natural in Jacob. Rachel had been his heart’s choice from the first,
while Leah
had been thrust upon him against his inclination. But even had
this been
otherwise, as no man can serve two masters, so can no husband
love two wives equally — an argument against polygamy.
Ø Painful to Leah. Had Leah loved Jacob less than she manifestly did, it is
doubtful
if the undue regard shown to Rachel would not have inflicted a
grievous
wound upon her wifely heart; but, entertaining towards him an
affection
strong and tender, she
yearned for a larger share of his esteem,
and at each successive child’s birth gave
utterance to a hope that he would
yet be joined to her. No heavier blow can be dealt by a
husband to the
tender
heart of a loving wife than to withdraw from her his love, or even to
be cold and indifferent in its expression.
Ø Sinful in the sight of God. Though not so beautiful as Rachel, Leah
was
yet
entitled to an equal share with her in Jacob’s affection. Equally with
Rachel she was
Jacob’s wife. It was Jacob’s sin that he had married her at
all when
he did not either love or desire her. On detecting the fraud he
should
have instantly repudiated the engagement. But having publicly
ratified
the contract with Leah by fulfilling her week, he owed to Leah a
full
share of his affection as a husband. Nay, though not the wife his
inclination
had selected, there is
reason for believing that Leah,
rather than
Rachel, was the bride God had chosen (Leah was the ancestress of
the
Savior); hence doubly was Jacob bound to love Leah equally with
Rachel.
Jacob’s affection, she was “barren”
— a grievous affliction to one who
might possibly be the mother of the promised Seed. The
fruitfulness of
Leah was:
Ø Expressly caused by God. The Lord, who had decreed temporary
barrenness
for Rachel the fair, opened the womb of Leah the despised;
neither
to compensate Leah for the loss of Jacob’s love, nor to punish
Jacob for his
sinful partiality; but
to manifest His power,
to show that
children
are the heritage of the Lord (Psalm
127:3) - to vindicate His
sovereignty, to attest that God giveth families to
whomsoever He will,
and
to suggest that the line of promise was designed to be not the fruit of
nature,
but the gift of grace.
Ø Thankfully acknowledged by Leah. While cherishing the hope that her
children
would eventually unite Jacob’s heart to her own, she delightedly
recognized
her exceptional fruitfulness as a special mark of Jehovah’s
favor,
and gave expression to her gratitude in the naming of her sons:
o
Reuben,
see, a son!
o
Simeon,
hearing;
o
Levi,
joined;
o
Ø Enviously beheld by Rachel. This appears from the opening statement
in
the
ensuing chapter; and this, though perhaps as natural as Leah’s sense
of pain
at Rachel’s preference by Jacob, was yet as sinful as Jacob’s
excessive
partiality towards herself.
1. The sinfulness and sorrow of having more wives at once than
one.
2. The wickedness of wedding where one does not love.
3. The sovereignty of God in giving and withholding children.
4. The cruelty and criminality of showing partiality towards
those who
possess an equal
claim on our affections.
5. The duty and profit of remembering and acknowledging family mercies.
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