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Jacob meets with Rachel, and

B. C. cir. 1779.

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A. M. cir. 2225. 5 And he said unto them, Rachel the daughter of Laban A. M. cir. 2225. Know ye Laban the son of his mother's brother, and the

Nahor? And they said, We know him.
6 And he said unto them, Is he well?
And they said, He is well and behold, Ra-
chel 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.

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.

9 And while he yet spake with them, h Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she kept them.

10 And it came to pass, when Jacob saw

Heb. Is there peace to him? yet the day is great.- h Exod. ii. 16.xxxiii. 4; xlv. 14, 15.

Chap. xliii. 27.

- Heb.

B. C. cir. 1779.

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1 Chap. xiii. 8; xiv. 14, 16.-
i Exod. ii. 17. Ch. | hearing.-
Chap. xxiv. 29.-
2 Sam. v. 1; xix. 12, 13.

guage of Laban and his family was Chaldee and not Hebrew; (see chap. xxxi. 47;) but from the names which Leah gave to her children we see that the two languages had many words in common, and therefore Jacob and the shepherds might understand each other with little difficulty. It is possible also that Jacob might have learned the Chaldee or Aramítish language from his mother, as this was his mother's tongue.

Verse 5. Laban the son of Nahor] Son is here put for grandson, for Laban was the son of Bethuel the son of Nahor.

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Chapter xxiv, 28. Heb. -P Chapter ii. 23; Judg. ix. 2;

The

the well, as in the case of Rebekah; or tend sheep,
as in the case of Rachel. The chief property in those
times consisted in flocks: and who so proper to take
care of them as those who were interested in their
safety and increase? Honest labour, far from being
a discredit, is an honour both to high and low.
king himself is served by the field; and without it, and
the labour necessary for its cultivation, all ranks must
perish. Let every son, let every daughter, learn that
it is no discredit to be employed, whenever it may be
necessary, in the meanest offices, by which the inte-
rests of the family may be honestly promoted.

Verse 6. Is he well?] in hashalom lo? Is Verse 10. Jacob went near, and rolled the stone] there peace to him? Peace among the Hebrews sig- Probably the flock of Laban was the last of those nified all kinds of prosperity. Is he a prosperous man which had a right to the well; that flock being now in his family and in his property? And they said, come, Jacob assisted the shepherds to roll off the stone, He is well, he shalom, he prospers. (for it is not likely he did it by himself,) and so assisted Rachel-cometh with the sheep.] rachel (the chhis cousin, to whom he was as yet unknown, to water sounded strongly guttural) signifies a sheep or ewe; and she probably had her name from her fondness for these animals.

Verse 7. It is yet high day] The day is but about half run; neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together-it is surely not time yet to put them into the folds; give them therefore water, and take them again to pasture.

her flock.

Verse 11. Jacob kissed Rachel] A simple and pure method by which the primitive inhabitants of the earth testified their friendship to each other, first abused by hypocrites, who pretended affection while their vile hearts meditated terror, (see the case of Joab,) and afterwards disgraced by refiners on morals, who, while they pretended to stumble at those innocent expressions of affection and friendship, were capable of committing the grossest acts of impurity.

Verse 8. We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together] It is a rule that the stone shall not be removed till all the shepherds and the flocks which And lifted up his voice] It may be, in thanksgiving have a right to this well be gathered together; to God for the favour he had shown him, in conductthen, and not before, we may water the sheep. Seeing him thus far in peace and safety.

on ver. 3.

Verse 9. Rachel came with her father's sheep] So we find that young women were not kept concealed in the house till the time they were married, which is the common gloss put on y almah, a virgin, one concealed. Nor was it beneath the dignity of the daughters of the most opulent chiefs to carry water from

And wept.] From a sense of the goodness of his heavenly Father, and his own unworthiness of the success with which he had been favoured. The same expressions of kindness and pure affection are repeated on the part of Laban, ver. 13.

Verse 14. My bone and my flesh.] One of my nearest relatives.

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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?

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

a Heb. a month of days.- Prov. xxxi. 30.

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17 Leah was tender-eyed; but A. M. cir. 2225. Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.

18 And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.

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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 Chap. xii. 11; xxiv. 16; xxxix. 6; Psa. xii. 2.- Lu Chap. xxx. 26; Hos. xii. 12; Cant. viii. 6,7; Chap. xxxi. 41; xxxiv. 12. 1 Cor. xiii. 7.

David, in order to be Saul's son-in-law, must, instead of a dowry, kill Goliath; and when this was done, he was not permitted to espouse Michal till he had killed one hundred Philistines. The Prophet Hosea bought his wife for fifteen pieces of silver, and a homer and

the ancient Greeks, Indians, and Germans. The Romans also had a sort of marriage entitled per coemptionem, "by purchase." The Tartars and Turks still buy their wives; but among the latter they are bought as a sort of slaves.

Verse 15. Because thou art my brother, &c.] Though thou art my nearest relative, yet I have no right to thy services without giving thee an adequate recompense. Jacob had passed a whole month in the family of Laban, in which he had undoubtedly rendered himself of considerable service. As Laban, who | a half of barley. The same custom prevailed among was of a very saving if not covetous disposition, saw that he was likely to be of great use to him in his secular concerns, he wished to secure his services, and therefore asks him what wages he wished to have. Verse 17. Leah was tender-eyed] raccoth, soft, delicate, lovely. I believe the word means just the reverse of the signification generally given to it. The design of the inspired writer is to compare both the sisters together, that the balance may appear to be greatly in favour of Rachel. The chief recommendation of Leah was her soft and beautiful eyes; but Rachel was yephath toar, beautiful in her shape, person, mien, and gait, and ♬ ♫ɔ' yephath mareh, beautiful in her countenance. The words plainly signify a fine shape and fine features, all that can be considered as essential to personal beauty. Therefore Jacob loved her, and was willing to become a bond servant for seven years, that he might get her to wife; for in his destitute state he could produce no dowry, and it was the custom of those times for the father to receive a portion for his daughter, and not to give one with her. One of the Hindoo lawgivers says, "A person may become a slave on account of love, or to obtain a wife." The bad system of education by which women are spoiled and rendered in general good for nothing, makes it necessary for the husband to get a dowry with his wife to enable him to maintain her; whereas in former times they were well educated and extremely useful, hence he who got a wife almost invariably got a prize, or as Solomon says, got a good thing.

Verse 20. And Jacob served seven years for Rachel] In ancient times it appears to have been a custom among all nations that men should give dowries for their wives; and in many countries this custom still prevails. When Shechem asked Dinah for wife, he said, Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me. When Eliezer went to get Rebekah for Isaac, he took a profusion of riches with him, in silver, gold, jewels, and raiment, with other costly things, which, when the contract was made, he gave to Rebekah, her mother, and her brothers.

Herodotus mentions a very singular custom among the Babylonians, which may serve to throw light on Laban's conduct towards Jacob. "In every district they annually assemble all the marriageable virgins on a certain day; and when the men are come together and stand round the place, the crier rising up sells one after another, always bringing forward the most beautiful first; and having sold her for a great sum of gold, he puts up her who is esteemed second in beauty. On this occasion the richest of the Babylonians used to contend for the fairest wife, and to outbid one another. But the vulgar are content to take the ugly and lame with money; for when all the beautiful virgins are sold, the crier orders the most deformed to stand up; and after he has openly demanded who will mary her with a small sum, she is at length given to the man that is contented to marry her with the least. And in this manner the money arising from the sale of the handsome served for a portion to those whose look was disagreeable, or who had any bodily imperfection. A father was not permitted to indulge his own fancy in the choice of a husband for his daughter; neither might the purchaser carry off the woman which he had bought without giving sufficient security that he would live with her as his own wife. Those also who received a sum of money with such as could bring no price in this market, were obliged also to give sufficient security that they would live with them, and if they did not they were obliged to refund the money." Thus Laban made use of the beauty of Rachel to dispose of his daughter Leah, in the spirit of the Babylonian custom, though not in the letter.

And they seemed unto him but a few days] If Jacob had been obliged to wait seven years before he married Rachel, could it possibly be said that they could appear to him as a few days? Though the letter of the text seems to say the contrary, yet there are emi

Jacob demands Rachel, but

CHAP. XXIX.

Laban gives him Leah A. M. cir. 2225. Rachel; and they seemed unto 25 And it came to pass, that in A. M. cir. 2232. B. C. cir. 1779. him but a few days, for the love the morning, behold, it was Leah:

he had to her.

A. M. cir. 2232. 21 And Jacob said unto La

B. C. cir. 1772. ban, 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.

B. C. cir. 1772.

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?

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

27 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee. this also, for the service which thou shalt

24 And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah serve with me, yet seven other years. Zilpah his maid for a handmaid.

28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week:

Judges xv. 1. Judges xiv. 10; Matthew xxii. 2-10; Heb. place.- -y Judg. xiv. 12; Lev. xviii. 18; Mal. ii. 15;

John ii. 1, 2.

chap. xxix. 20.

brought to Jacob in the evening, the imposition here practised might easily pass undetected by Jacob, till the ensuing day discovered the fraud.

Verse 24. And Laban gave-Zilpah his maid]

were the peculiar property of the daughter; and over them the husband had neither right nor power.

nent men who strongly contend that he received Rachel soon after the month was finished, (see ver. 14,) and then served seven years for her, which might really appear but a few days to him, because of his increasing love to her; but others think this quite incompati-Slaves given in this way to a daughter on her marriage, ble with all the circumstances marked down in the text, and on the supposition that Jacob was not now seventy-seven years of age, as most chronologers make him, but only fifty-seven, (see on chap. xxxi.,) there will be time sufficient to allow for all the transactions which are recorded in his history, during his stay with Laban. As to the incredibility of a passionate lover, as some have termed him, waiting patiently for seven years before he could possess the object of his wishes, and those seven years appearing to him as only a few days, it may be satisfactorily accounted for, they think, two ways: 1. He had the continual company of his elect spouse, and this certainly would take away all tedium in the case. 2. Love affairs were not carried to such a pitch of insanity among the patriarchs as they have been in modern times; they were much more sober and sedate, and scarcely ever married before they were forty years of age, and then more for conveniency, and the desire of having an offspring, than for any other purpose. At the very lowest computation Jacob was now fifty-seven, and consequently must have passed those days in which passion runs away with reason. Still, however, the obvious construction of the text shows that he got Rachel the week after he had married Leah.

Verse 21. My days are fulfilled] My seven years are now completed, let me have my wife, for whom I have given this service as a dowry.

Verse 26. It must not be so done in our country] It was an early custom to give daughters in marriage according to their seniority; and it is worthy of remark that the oldest people now existing, next to the Jews, I mean the Hindoos, have this not merely as a custom, but as a positive law; and they deem it criminal to give a younger daughter in marriage while an elder daughter remains unmarried. Among them it is a high offence, equal to adultery, "for a man to marry while his elder brother remains unmarried, or for a man to give his daughter to such a person, or to give his youngest daughter in marriage while the eldest sister remains unmarried."-Code of Gentoo Laws, chap. xv., sec. 1, p. 204. This was a custom at Mesopotamia; but Laban took care to conceal it from Jacob till after he had given him Leah. The words of Laban are literally what a Hindoo would say on such a subject.

Verse 27. Fulfil her week] The marriage feast, it appears, lasted seven days; it would not therefore have been proper to break off the solemnities to which all the men of the place had been invited, ver. 22, and probably Laban wished to keep his fraud from the public eye; therefore he informs Jacob that if he will fulfil the marriage week for Leah, he will give him Rachel at the end of it, on condition of his serving seven other Verse 22. Laban-made a feast.] mishteh years. To this the necessity of the case caused Jacob signifies a feast of drinking. As marriage was a very to agree; and thus Laban had fourteen years' service solemn contract, there is much reason to believe that instead of seven; for it is not likely that Jacob would sacrifices were offered on the occasion, and libations have served even seven days for Leah, as his affection poured out; and we know that on festival occasions a was wholly set on Rachel, the wife of his own choice. cup of wine was offered to every guest; and as this By this stratagem Laban gained a settlement for both was drunk with particular ceremonies, the feast might his daughters. What a man soweth, that shall he reap. derive its name from this circumstance, which was the Jacob had before practised deceit, and is now deceived; most prominent and observable on such occasions. and Laban, the instrument of it, was afterwards deVerse 23. In the evening—he took Leah his daugh-ceived himself.

ter] As the bride was always veiled, and the bride Verse 28. And Jacob did so—and he gave him Rachamber generally dark, or nearly so, and as Leah was chel] It is perfectly plain that Jacob did not serve

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A. M. cir. 2232. and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.

B. C. cir. 1772.

29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter z Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.

b

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 opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.

C

Leah bears four sons.

B. C. eir. 1770.

B. C. cir. 1769.

33 And she conceived again, A. M. cir. 2234. 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. 34 And she conceived again, A. M. cir. 2235. 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 h Levi. A. M. cir. 2233. 32 And Leah conceived, and 35 And she conceived again, A. M. cir. 2236. bare a son, and she called his and bare a son; and she said, name Reuben for she said, Surely the Now will I praise the LORD: LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now she called his name Judah; and left therefore my husband will love me. bearing.

B. C. cir. 1771.

z Verse 24; chapter xxx. 3-8.—a Verse 20; Deut. xxi. 15. b Chap. xxx. 26; xxxi. 41; Hosea xii. 12.- e Psa. cxxvii. 3. d Chap. xxx. 1. That is, see a son.

i

B. C. eir. 1768.

therefore

f Exod. iii. 7; iv. 31; Deut. xxvi. 7; Psa. xxv. 18; cvi. 44. That is, hearing.- h That is, joined; see Num. xviii. 2, 4. i Matt. i. 2. k That is, praise. Heb. stood from bearing.

seven years more before he got Rachel to wife; but
having spent a week with Leah, and in keeping the
marriage feast, he then got Rachel, and served after-
wards seven years for her. Connections of this kind
are now called incestuous; but it appears they were
allowable in those ancient times. In taking both sis-
ters, it does not appear that any blame attached to Ja-loved less than Rachel was.
cob, though in consequence of it he was vexed by their
jealousies. It was probably because of this that the
law was made, Thou shall not take a wife to her sister,
to vex her, besides the other in her life-time. After
this, all such marriages were strictly forbidden.

ben, literally, see ye or behold a son; for Jehovah hath
looked upon, raah, beheld, my affliction; behold
then the consequence, I have got a son!

Verse 33. She called his name Simeon.] shimon, hearing; i. e., God had blessed her with another son, because he had heard that she was hated

Verse 34. Therefore was his name called Levi.] " levi, joined; because she supposed that, in consequence of all these children, Jacob would become joined to her in as strong affection, at least, as he was to Rachel. From Levi sprang the tribe of Levites, who instead of the first-born, were joined unto the priests in the service of the sanctuary. See Num. xviii. 2, 4. Verse 35. She called his name Judah] ye

acknowledges that all good comes from his hands, and gives him the praise due to his grace and mercy. From this patriarch the Jews have their name, and could it be now rightly applied to them, it would intimate that they were a people that confess God, acknowledge his bounty, and praise him for his grace.

Verse 31. The Lord saw that Leah was hated] From this and the preceding verse we get the genuine meaning of the word N sane, to hate, in certain disputed places in the Scriptures. The word simply sig-hudah, a confessor; one who acknowledges God, and nifies a less degree of love; so it is said, ver. 30: "Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah," i. e., he loved Leah less than Rachel; and this is called kating in - ver. 31: When the Lord saw that Leah was hated that she had less affection shown to her than was her due, as one of the legitimate wives of Jacob, he opened her womb-he blessed her with children. Now the Left bearing.] That is, for a time; for she had frequent intercourse of Jacob with Leah (see the fol- several children afterwards.. Literally translated, the lowing verses) sufficiently proves that he did not hate original yn taamod milledeth-she stood still her in the sense in which this term is used among us; from bearing, certainly does not convey the same but he felt and showed less affection for her than for meaning as that in our translation; the one appearing her sister. So Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I to signify that she ceased entirely from having hated, simply means, I have shown a greater degree children; the other, that she only desisted for a time, of affection for Jacob and his posterity than I have which was probably occasioned by a temporary susdone for Esau and his descendants, by giving the for-pension of Jacob's company, who appears to have mer a better earthly portion than I have given to the deserted the tent of Leah through the jealous managelatter, and by choosing the family of Jacob to be the ment of Rachel. progenitors of the Messiah. But not one word of all The intelligent and pious care of the original inthis relates to the eternal states of either of the two habitants of the world to call their children by those nations. Those who endeavour to support certain names which were descriptive of some remarkable peculiarities of their creed by such scriptures as these, event in providence, circumstance of their birth, or dodo greatly err, not knowing the Scripture, and not pro-mestic occurrence, is worthy, not only of respect, but perly considering either the sovereignty or the mercy of imitation. As the name itself continually called to of God. the mind, both of the parents and the child, the circumstance from which it originated, it could not fail to

Verse 32. She called his name Reuben] 1

reu

Rachel envies her sister,

be a lasting blessing to both.

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How widely different | names, so called, are absurd, others are ridiculous, is our custom! Unthinking and ungodly, we impose and a third class impious; these last being taken from names upon our offspring as we do upon our cattle; and often the dog, the horse, the monkey, and the parrot, share in common with our children the names which are called Christian! Some of our Christian

the demon gods and goddesses of heathenism. May we hope that the rational and pious custom recommended in the Scriptures shall ever be restored, even among those who profess to believe in, fear, and love God!

CHAPTER XXX.

Reuben

Rachel envies her sister, and chides Jacob, 1. He reproves her and vindicates himself, 2. She gives him her maid Bilhah, 3, 4. She conceives, and bears Dan, 5, 6; and afterwards Naphtali, 7, 8. Leah gives Zilpah her maid to Jacob, 9. She conceives and bears Gad, 10, 11, and also Asher, 12, 13. finds mandrakes, of which Rachel requests a part, 14. The bargain made between her and Leah, 15. Jacob in consequence lodges with Leah instead of Rachel, 16. She conceives, and bears Issachar, 17, 18, and Zebulun, 19, 20, and Dinah, 21. Rachel conceives, and bears Joseph, 22-24. Jacob requests permission from Laban to go to his own country, 25, 26. Laban entreats him to tarry, and offers to give him what wages he shall choose to name, 27, 28. Jacob details the importance of his services to Laban, 29, 30, and offers to continue those services for the speckled and spotted among the goats, and the brown among the sheep, 31-33. Laban consents, 34, and divides all the ring-streaked and spotted among the he-goats, the speckled and spotted among the she-goats, and the brown among the sheep, and puts them under the care of his sons, and sets three days' journey between himself and Jacob, 35, 36. Jacob's stratagem of

In consethe pilled rods, to cause the cattle to bring forth the ring-streaked, speckled, and spotted, 37-39. quence of which he increased his flock greatly, getting all that was strong and healthy in the flock of Laban, 40-43.

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b

Job v. 2.
Chap. xvi. 2.- Chap. 1. 23;
h Heb. be built by her.-
Li Ch.

Chapter xxix. 31. Chapter xxxvii.-11.-
Chap. xvi. 2; 1 Sam. i. 5.-
Job iii. 12.- - Chap. xvi. 2.-

NOTES ON CHAP. XXX.
Verse 1. Give me children, or else I die.] This is
a most reprehensible speech, and argues not only envy
and jealousy, but also a total want of dependence on
God. She had the greatest share of her husband's
affection, and yet was not satisfied unless she could
engross all the privileges which her sister enjoyed! |
How true are those sayings, Envy is as rottenness of
the bones! and, Jealousy is as cruel as the grave!
Verse 2. Am I in God's stead] Am I greater than
God, to give thee what he has refused?

Verse 3. She shall bear upon my knees] The handmaid was the sole property of the mistress, as has already been remarked in the case of Hagar; and therefore not only all her labour, but even the children borne by her, were the property of the mistress. These female slaves, therefore, bore children vicari

7 And Bilhah Rachel's maid A. M. cir. 2239. B. C. cir. 1765. conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son.

8 And Rachel said, With m great wrest lings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed and she called his name " Naphtali.

n

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ously for their mistresses; and this appears to be the import of the term, she shall bear upon my knees.

That I may also have children by her.] D MIDNI veibbaneh mimmennah, and I shall be built up by her. Hence ¡ ben, a son or child, from 7 banah, to build ; because, as a house is formed of the stones, &c., that enter into its composition, so is a family by children.

Verse 6. Called she his name Dan.] Because she found God had judged for her, and decided she should have a son by her handmaid; hence she called his name 1 dan, judging.

Verse 8. She called his name Naphtali.] naphtali, my wrestling, according to the common mode of interpretation; but it is more likely that the root Hence Mr. pathal signifies to twist or entwine. Parkhurst translates the verse, "By the twistingsagency or operation,. of God, I am entwisted with my 183

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