A Help for the Understanding of the Holy Scriptures, Genesis · Chapter 29
CHAP. XXIX.
Verſ. 1. THen Jacob went on his journey and came into the land of the people of the East.]
That is, Meſopotamia, which lay Eaſtward from Canaan, Job 1. 3. He was the greatest of all the men of the East. Iſaiah 41. 2. Who raiſed up the righteous man from the East.
Verſ. 5. Know ye Laban the ſonne of Nahor.]
That is, the grandchild: for he was the ſonne of Bethuell, who was the ſonne of Nahor.
Verſ. 7. It is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattel ſhould be gathered together.]
That is, into the fold, there to reſt all night.
Verſ. 8. And they ſaid, We cannot untill all the flocks, &c.]
Their meaning is, either that they might not by right do it, they might not water their ſheep till all the flocks came together; ſo the like phraſe is uſed Gen. 34. 14. We cannot do this thing, to give our ſister to one that is uncircumciſed, that is, we may not do it; or elſe rather that they were not able to do it: which I rather approve▪ becauſe verſ. 2. there is expreſſe mention of the greatn…ſſe of the ſtone; and upon Rachels coming it was rolled away before all came together: or why may not both be included? we cannot, that is, we neither may do it, nor are we able to do it.
Verſ. 10. And rolled the ſtone from the wells month.]
To wit, either by his own ſtrength, or with the help of the ſhepherds.
Verſ. 12. And Jacob told Rachel that he was her fathers brother.]
That is, his kinſman, his ſiſters ſonne; for near kinſmen in the Scripture are uſually called brethren: Gen. 13. 18. Though Abraham were Lots uncl…, yet ſaith he, Let there be no ſtrife between me and thee, for we be brethren.
Verſ. 13. And he told Laban all theſe things.]
That is, what had been formerly related concerning Jacob, who were his parents, what had paſſed betwixt him and his brother, how he was ſent away thither by his father, and what had befallen him in his journey: elſe Laban might have wondred to ſee him come ſo unfurniſhed, whereas he had ſeen Abrahams ſervant come ſo richly provided when he fetched thence Rebekah.
Verſ. 14. And Laban ſaid to him, Surely thou art my bone and my fle….]
This is either an acknowledgement that he was ſatisfied concerning his perſon, to wit, that he was inde…d his ſi…ters ſonne; or elſe, a courteous reply to his relation, verſ. 13. as if he had ſaid, However, be the occaſion of thy journey what it will, thou art my near kingſma…, and muſt expect loving entertainment here.
Verſ. 15. Becauſe tho… art my brother, ſhouldest thou therefore ſerve me for nought.]
Laban perceiving in this moneths time of Jacobs abode with him, mentioned in the former verſ…, that he was wondrous able and active for his buſineſſe (for it ſeems Jacob not vvilling to be burdenſome to his uncle, nor to eat the bread of idleneſſe, did preſently buckle himſelf to do him what ſervice he might) he begins now to tamper with him about giving him ſome recompenſe for his labour, under a pretence that it was not fit that he ſhould do him ſervice for nothing, though he were his near kinſman, but aiming indeed to bind him thereby to ſome farther ſtay there, becauſe he ſaw his ſervice would be very profitable to him.
Verſ. 18. I will ſerve thee ſeven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.]
It was it ſeems the cuſtome in theſe Eaſtern countreys, that at making up of any match of marriage, both the husband and wife did mutually give dowries the one unto the other, as is evident chap. 34. 11, 12. And Shechem ſaid unto her father, and unto her brethren, what ye ſhall ask I will give; ask me never ſo much dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye ſhall ſay unto me: but give me the damſell to wife. 1. Sam. 18. 25. And Saul ſaid, Thus ſhall ye ſay to Dav…d, The King deſireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philiſtines, &c. and 2. Sam. …. 14. And David ſent Meſſengers to Iſhboſheth, Sauls ſonne, ſaying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I eſpouſed to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines. Jacob therefore being in a ſtrange place, and having nothing elſe to give, and being withall carried away with the ſtrength of his affection to Rachel, that he might prevail with his uncle, vvhoſe baſe covetouſneſſe by this time he had diſcovered, tenders him ſeven years ſervice for his daughter Rachel.
Verſ. 19. It is better that I give her to thee, then I ſhould give her to another man.]
Laban, regarding more his own profit then to deal fairly and ingenuouſly with ſo near a kinſman, makes advantage of the affection of Jacob to his daughter, and accepts of his proffer; yet becauſe his words are ſo ambiguous, and not an expreſſe promiſe, It is better that I give her to thee, then that I ſhould give her to another: abide with me; it may be probably ſuppoſed that h… did purpoſely equivocate, and had already ſome thought of dealing doubly and deceitfully vvith Jacob.
Verſ. 20. And Jacob ſerved ſeven years for Rachel.]
Junius conceives that immediately after Jacob had agreed with Laban to ſerve with him ſeven years for his daughter, the marriage was ſolemnized, and having then Leah given him in ſtead of Rachel, he then made a new agreement for Rachel, and ſo married them both in the very beginning of his foureteen years ſervice: But that cannot agree with his relation; for firſt, it might then as well have been ſaid here, that he ſerved fourteen years for Rachel; again ſecondly, it is ſaid, verſ. 27. Fulfill her week, and we will give thee this alſo, for the ſervice which thou ſhalt ſerve with me yet other ſeven years; and thirdly when Jacob expoſtulates the wrong which Laban had done him, ver. 25. he ſaith, Did not I ſerve with thee for Rachel? which ſhows that ſeven of his years ſervice were ſpent ere Leah was impoſed upon him.
And they ſeemed unto him but a few dayes for the love he had to her.]
Love makes men think every day a year till they enjoy the party loved; and therefore this muſt be underſtood with reference to his labour and ſervice, that the ſervice of ſeven years ſeemed as nothing to him, becauſe of the great love he bare to Rachel.
Verſ. 25. And it came to paſſe, that in the morning, behold it was Leah.]
He perceiveth it not before, both becauſe it was the cuſtome for brides to be veiled, and alſo becauſe by her fathers direction ſhe might be ſilent, vvhichwhich he might impute to her modeſty.
Verſ. 27. Fulfill her week, and we will give thee this alſo.]
The marriage feaſt or ſolemnitie uſed to be kept a vveek, Judg. 14. 12. I will now put forth a riddle unto you: If you can certainly declare it me within the ſeven dayes of the feaſ…, &c. this Laban deſires him to fulfill vvith Leah, that ſo by this his voluntary conſent the marriage might be confirmed, and then he promiſes to give him Rachel; ſo then vve ſee that he married Rachel vvithin a vveek after Leah, and ſerved ſeven years for her after the marriage.
Verſ. 31. And wh…n the Lord ſaw that Leah was hated.]
That is, not ſimply, but in compariſon of Rachel, ver. 30. He loved Rachel more then Leah.
Verſ. 35. And left bearing.]
That is, for a while: for afterwards ſhe conceived again, Gen. 30. 17. And God hearkned unto Leah, and ſhe conceived and bare Jacob the fifth ſonne. See the Note in the following chapter upon ver. 9.