_A.M. 2265. B.C. 1739._ Jacob was, in general, a man of devotion and integrity; yet he had more trouble than any of the patriarchs. Here is, ( 1,) _ His resolution to return, Genesis 31:1._ (2,) _ His clandestine departure, Genesis 31:17._ (3,) _ Laban's pursuit of him in displeasure, Genesis 31... [ Continue Reading ]
_He heard the words of Laban's sons_ For it seems they spoke them in Jacob's hearing. The last chapter began with Rachel's envying Leah; this begins with Laban's sons envying Jacob. _Hath taken away all that was our father's_ Not all, sure: what was become of those cattle which were committed to the... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord said unto Jacob, Return_ God, who orders all things aright, having blessed Jacob with greater substance in the house of Laban than he could have obtained in his father's house, without great inconveniences, perhaps irreconcilable, fatal hatred between him and his brother Esau, now orders h... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hath changed my wages ten times_ That is, oft-times, as is often the signification of the number _ten._ It appears that Laban, through envy and covetousness, often broke his agreement made with Jacob, and altered it as he thought fit, and that Jacob patiently yielded to all such changes _Then all t... [ Continue Reading ]
_God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me_ Thus the righteous God paid Jacob for his hard service out of Laban's estate, as he afterward paid the seed of Jacob for the service of the Egyptians with the spoils of that people.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The angel of the Lord spake, I am the God of Beth-el_ This, no doubt, was the _Word_, or _Son of God_, who now condescended to be the _angel_ or _messenger_ of the Father to Jacob, and yet styles himself _the God of Beth-el._ Thus was Jacob reminded of Beth-el, and of the promises made to him there... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have seen all that Laban doeth to thee_ If we attend to this vision we cannot but see reason to conclude that it was really communicated to Jacob at this time to make use of the speckled rods; for here is a plain declaration that God would effect the thing, and the reason why; because he had seen... [ Continue Reading ]
_Is there any portion_ Any hope of benefit; _for us in our father's house?_ They both agree in acknowledging that his behaviour had been extremely ungenerous and sordid, even to them, his own children. _Are we not counted of him strangers?_ Dealt with as strangers, rather than children: _for he hath... [ Continue Reading ]
_Laban went to shear his sheep_ That part of his flock which was in the hands of his sons, _three days' journey_ off. Now, 1st, It is certain it was lawful for Jacob to leave his service suddenly: it was not only justified by the particular instructions God gave him, but warranted by the fundamental... [ Continue Reading ]
_He took his brethren_ That is, his relations, and pursues Jacob to bring him back into bondage, or to strip him of what he had. _They overtook him in the mount Gilead_ This mount was about two hundred and fifty miles from Haran; so that Jacob travelled twenty-five miles each day, and Laban, in purs... [ Continue Reading ]
_Speak not to Jacob either good or bad_ The Hebrew is, _from good to bad_ That is, enter into no altercations, and use no harsh language with him, which may occasion a quarrel. Say nothing against his going on with his journey, for the thing proceedeth from the Lord. The same _Hebraism_ we have, Gen... [ Continue Reading ]
_I might have sent thee away with mirth and with songs_ Not as Rebekah was sent away out of the same family above one hundred and twenty years before, with prayers and blessings, but with sport and merriment; which was a sign that religion was much decayed in the family.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The God of your fathers spake to me yesterday_ We find here that Laban, whatever his disposition was, and how great soever his anger, paid regard to the heavenly vision. For though he supposed that he had both right and strength on his side, either to revenge the wrong or recover the right, yet he... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?_ Foolish man! to call those his gods that could be stolen! Could he expect protection from them that could neither resist nor discover their invaders? Happy are they who have the Lord for their God. Enemies may steal our goods, but not our God.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jacob_ clears himself by giving the true reason why he went away unknown to Laban; he feared lest Laban should _by force take away his daughters_, and so oblige him to continue in his service. As to the charge of stealing Laban's gods, he pleads _not guilty._ He not only did not take them himself,... [ Continue Reading ]
_That which was torn I brought not unto thee_ What Jacob here affirms, and for the truth of which he appeals to Laban, shows him to have been of a very industrious and faithful disposition, and that Laban's temper was exceedingly selfish and sordid: for though Jacob was his relation, and his substan... [ Continue Reading ]
_Except God had been with me_ Jacob, on every mention of his substance, attributes all the increase of it to the care that God had of him. And he here speaks of God, as the _God of his father_, intimating, that he thought himself unworthy to be thus regarded, but was _beloved for his father's sake._... [ Continue Reading ]
_All is mine_ That is, came by me. _Let us make a covenant _ It was made and ratified with great solemnity, according to the usages of those times. 1st, A pillar was erected, a heap of stones raised to perpetuate the memory of the thing, writing being then not known. 2d, A sacrifice was offered, a s... [ Continue Reading ]
_But Jacob called it Galeed_ The name Laban gave it signifies _the heap of witness_, in the Syrian tongue, which he used, and _Galeed_ signifies the same in Hebrew, the language which Jacob used. It appears that the name which Jacob gave it remained to it, and not the name which Laban gave it. _And... [ Continue Reading ]