And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that [was] our father's; and of [that] which [was] our father's hath he gotten all this glory. Ver. l. And he heard the words of Laban's sons.] These were chips off the old block, as they say; as like the father, as if spit o... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it [was] not toward him as before. Ver. 2. _And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban._] He said little, for shame, but thought the more, and could not so conceal his discontent, but that it appeared in his lowering looks. That which he had pa... [ Continue Reading ]
And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee. Ver. 3. _Return unto the land of thy fathers._] Laban's frowns were a grief to Jacob; the Lord calls upon him therefore to look homeward. Let the world's affronts, and the change of men's... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock, Ver. 4. _And Jacob sent and called Rachel, &c._] He consults with his wives; so should we in matters of weight, of remove especially. They are our "companions," the wives "of our covenant," Mal 2:14 not our vassals or footstools... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 5. I see your father's countenance, &c.] This is the world's wages. All Jacob's good service is now forgotten. Do an unthankful person nineteen kindnesses, unl... [ Continue Reading ]
And ye know that with all my power I have served your father. Ver. 6. _With all my power I have served._] The word translated power signifieth that natural moisture of the body that maketh it lively and lusty, vigorous and valorous to do service. So it is used, Genesis 49:3 Psalms 22:15. Now if Jac... [ Continue Reading ]
And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me. Ver. 7. _Changed my wages ten times._] And ever for the worse. The matter mended, with poor Jacob, as sour ale doth in summer. Laban, the churl, the richer he grew by him, the harder he was to him... [ Continue Reading ]
If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstraked shall be thy hire; then bare all the cattle ringstraked. Ver. 8. _Ring-straked._] _See Trapp on "_ Gen 30:39 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given [them] to me. Ver. 9. _Thus God hath taken away, &c._] He is the true proprietary, and gives and takes away these outward things at pleasure; as Hannah hath it. 1Sa 2:7 And, "promotion cometh neither from the east nor west," saith David;... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle [were] ringstraked, speckled, and grisled. Ver. 10-12. _I saw in a dream, &c._] Of divine dreams, such as this was, _See Trapp on "_ Gen 20:3... [ Continue Reading ]
And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, [saying], Jacob: And I said, Here [am] I. Ver. 11. _See Trapp on "_ Gen 31:10 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle [are] ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee. Ver. 12. _I have seen all that Laban doeth._] And am resolved to fleece him for thy hire. Gain ill got will burn men's fing... [ Continue Reading ]
I [am] the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, [and] where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred. Ver. 13. _I am the God of Bethel, &c._] Here God pulls Jacob by the ear, as it were, and reminds him of his vow which... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, [Is there] yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house?_ Ver. 14. _Is there yet any portion,_] q.d., We have all we are like to have. In setting forth their father's ill usage of them, they offend not in some respect - viz., in that t... [ Continue Reading ]
Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money. Ver. 15. _Are we not counted of him strangers?_] Well might that father _a_ say, Aεινος και παντολμος πης φιλοχρηματιος ερως. "The love of money is the root of all evil," as the apostle hath it. 1Ti 6:... [ Continue Reading ]
For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that [is] ours, and our children's: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do. Ver. 16. _For all the riches, &c._] Here they speak the truth; but offend, (1.) In that they utter it passionately, and with perturbation of spirit; (2.) In... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels; Ver. 17. _Then Jacob rose up._] Taking his time, when Laban was from home, shearing his sheep.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padanaram, for to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan. Ver. 18. _To go to Isaac._] But was long in going; about ten years.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that [were] her father's. Ver. 19. _Rachel had stolen the images._] She was somewhat tackt _a_ with her father's superstition, though somewhat reclaimed. "Little children, keep yourselves from idols". 1Jn 5:21 Nothing so natural to... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled. Ver. 20. _And Jacob stole away._] God's saints are put upon the use of such means sometimes, for their own safety, as render them contemptible to worldly men; all whose contumelies they can bravely bear, so lon... [ Continue Reading ]
So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the river, and set his face [toward] the mount Gilead. Ver. 21. _He passed over the river._] Euphrates; and so declined the ordinary way, that Laban might not overtake him; which yet he did. So God would have it, that he might have th... [ Continue Reading ]
And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled. Ver. 22. _That Jacob was fled._] Here was verified that saying of Eliphaz, Job 5:12,13 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days' journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead. Ver. 23. _And he took his brethren._] The wicked may band themselves, and bend their strength against the saints; but they are bounded by God. He lets them have the ball on their... [ Continue Reading ]
And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad. Ver. 24. _Take heed thou speak not good or bad._] That is, that thou seek not, either by flattery or force, by allurement or affrightment, to bring him back. They writ... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount: and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead. Ver. 25. _Jacob had pitched his tent._] Seeing Laban so near, he set himself in as good order as he could, fearing the worst, saith Musculus. But God was better to him... [ Continue Reading ]
And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives [taken] with the sword? Ver. 26. _As captives taken with the sword._] No such matter; but that the old churl must have somewhat to say: for Jacob had their goodwills t... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp? Ver. 27. _That I might have sent thee away with mirth._] A likely matter! but it is the hypocrite's best now, to say the b... [ Continue Reading ]
_And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast now done foolishly in [so] doing._ Ver. 28. _Thou hast now done foolishly._] And yet he had done no more than God bade him do. Wretched men dare reprehend that which they do not comprehend. But if a wise man speak evil of thee, o... [ Continue Reading ]
It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad. Ver. 29. _It is in the power of my hand._] It was, he might have said, till God forbade him: though indeed it never was (as our... [ Continue Reading ]
And now, [though] thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father's house, [yet] wherefore hast thou stolen my gods? Ver. 30. _Why hast thou stolen my gods?_] Goodly gods that could not save themselves from the thief! See Jeremiah 10:5; Jeremiah 10:11; Jeremiah 10:15. But J... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, Peradventure thou wouldest take by force thy daughters from me. Ver. 31. _Because I was afraid._] Note the patriarch's simplicity and veracity, without cunning or colouring. Truth is like our first parents; most beautiful when... [ Continue Reading ]
With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what [is] thine with me, and take [it] to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them. Ver. 32. _Let him not live._] This was a rash sentence. Hasty speech may work much woe. How sorry would Jacob hav... [ Continue Reading ]
And Laban went into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the two maidservants' tents; but he found [them] not. Then went he out of Leah's tent, and entered into Rachel's tent. Ver. 33. And Laban went into Jacob's tent.] Hypocrites are suspicious of others better than themselves, and impuden... [ Continue Reading ]
Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel's furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found [them] not. Ver. 34. Put them in the camel's furniture, and sat upon them.] Presumptuous sinners deal as homely with the dear mercies of Almighty God, pleading and p... [ Continue Reading ]
And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before thee; for the custom of women [is] upon me. And he searched, but found not the images. Ver. 35. _For the custom of women is upon me._] A subtle, but sinful excuse, to shift a shame. Women's wits, we say, are best... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob answered and said to Laban, What [is] my trespass? what [is] my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued after me? Ver. 36. _And Jacob was wroth, and chode._] An angry expostulation; but not without some error, in the heat of altercation. "Be angry,... [ Continue Reading ]
Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff, what hast thou found of all thy household stuff? set [it] here before my brethren and thy brethren, that they may judge betwixt us both. Ver. 37. _Set it here before my brethren._] See the confidence of a clear conscience! Happy is he that can be acquitted b... [ Continue Reading ]
This twenty years [have] I [been] with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten. Ver. 38. _The rams of thy flock have I not eaten._] A lively picture of a careful pastor. 2Co 11:9 He fats not himself, but feeds the flock; he seeks not th... [ Continue Reading ]
That which was torn [of beasts] I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, [whether] stolen by day, or stolen by night. Ver. 39. _Of my hand didst thou require it._] Which was against all right and reason; Exodus 22:10 _; _ Exo 22:13 but that weighed little wi... [ Continue Reading ]
Genesis 31:40 [Thus] I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes. Ver. 40. _Thus I was; in the day, &c._] Nonresidents do none of all this, those idol, and idle shepherds: they cry out, as he, _Pan curet oves, oviumque magistros; _ _a_ bei... [ Continue Reading ]
Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times. Ver. 41. _I served thee fourteen years, &c._] If all this, to be son-in-law to Laban; what should not we do, or suffer gladly, to b... [ Continue Reading ]
Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked [thee] yesternight. Ver. 42. _The fear of Isaac._] God, the proper object of fear; whence he is a... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, [These] daughters [are] my daughters, and [these] children [are] my children, and [these] cattle [are] my cattle, and all that thou seest [is] mine: and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born?_ Ver. 43. _T... [ Continue Reading ]
Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee. Ver. 44. _Now therefore come thou, &c._] "A fool is full of words," saith Solomon. Which odious custom of his is expressed, μιμητικως, in his vain tautologies: "A man cannot tell what shall... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Jacob took a stone, and set it up [for] a pillar._ Ver. 45. _A stone._] Or stones, as Genesis 31:46 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather stones; and they took stones, and made an heap: and they did eat there upon the heap. _Ver.46. And Jacob said unto his brethren._] As well Laban's company as his own, Genesis 31:51 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And Laban called it Jegarsahadutha: but Jacob called it Galeed. Ver. 47. _See Trapp on "_ Gen 31:44 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And Laban said, This heap [is] a witness between me and thee this day. Therefore was the name of it called Galeed; Ver. 48. _See Trapp on "_ Gen 31:44 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And Mizpah; for he said, The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another. Ver. 49. _See Trapp on "_ Gen 31:44 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take [other] wives beside my daughters, no man [is] with us; see, God [is] witness betwixt me and thee. Ver. 50. _See Trapp on "_ Gen 31:44 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold [this] pillar, which I have cast betwixt me and thee; Ver. 51. _See Trapp on "_ Gen 31:44 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
This heap [be] witness, and [this] pillar [be] witness, that I will not pass over this heap to thee, and that thou shalt not pass over this heap and this pillar unto me, for harm. Ver. 52. _See Trapp on "_ Gen 31:44 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us. And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac. Ver. 53. _And Jacob swear by the Fear of his father._] The Chaldee Paraphrast sometimes useth the word fear, or terror, for God, for the reason above given. Gen 31:4... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount._ Ver. 54. _Called his brethren to eat bread._] And so overcame evil with good; which is the noblest of all victories. God cannot but love in us this imitat... [ Continue Reading ]
And early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them: and Laban departed, and returned unto his place. Ver. 55. _Laban rose up._] Laban leaves him, Esau meets him, and both with a kiss. "When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be a... [ Continue Reading ]