Genesis 29:15

_AND LABAN SAID UNTO JACOB, BECAUSE THOU ART MY BROTHER, SHOULDEST THOU THEREFORE SERVE ME FOR NOUGHT? TELL ME, WHAT SHALL THY WAGES BE?_ No JFB commentary on this verse....

15-30 During the month that Jacob spent as a guest, he was not idle. Wherever we are, it is good to employ ourselves in some useful business. Laban was desirous that Jacob should continue with him. Inferior relations must not be imposed upon; it is our duty to reward them. Jacob made known to Laban the affection he had for his daughter Rachel. And having no wordly goods with which to endow her, he promises seven years' service Love makes long and hard services short and easy; hence we read of the labour of love, Hebrews 6:10. If we know how to value the happiness of heaven, the sufferings of this present time will be as nothing to us. An age of work will be but as a few days to those that love God, and long for Christ's appearing. Jacob, who had imposed upon his father, is imposed upon by Laban, his father-in-law, by a like deception. Herein, how unrighteous soever Laban was, the Lord w...

Verse Genesis 29:15. _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 was of a very saving if not _covetous_ disposition, saw that he was 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....

- Jacob’s Marriage 6. רחל _rāchēl_, Rachel, “a ewe.” 16. לאה _lê'âh_, Leah, “wearied.” 24. זלפה _zı̂lpâh_, Zilpah, “drop?” 29. בלהה _bı̂lhâh_, Bilhah, “timidity.” 32. ראוּבן _re'uvbēn_, Reuben, “behold a son.” A paronomasia in allusion to the phrase בעניי ראה _be‛ānyı̂y_ _rā'âh_. Derivatives and compounds, being formed by the common speaker, are sometimes founded upon resemblance in sound, and not always on precise forms of the original sentence which prompted them. 33. ש

EXPOSITION GENESIS 29:15 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 (_vide_ on Genesis 29:12)—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

AND LABAN SAID UNTO JACOB, BECAUSE THOU [ART] MY BROTHER,.... Or nephew, his sister's son, Genesis 29:12: SHOULDEST THOU THEREFORE SERVE ME FOR NOUGHT? nearness of kin was no reason why he should serve him freely, or for nothing, but rather why he should be more kind to him than to a stranger, and give him better wages: TELL ME, WHAT [SHALL] THY WAGES [BE]? by the day, or month, or year; signifying he was willing to give him anything that was just and reasonable, which was very well spoken; and this gave Jacob a fair opportunity of opening his mind more freely to him, and for answering a principal end for which he came, as follows:...

CHAPTER 29 JACOB WITH LABAN _ 1. Jacob's arrival at Padan-aram (Genesis 29:1)_ 2. His service for Rachel (Genesis 29:15) 3. Laban's deception (Genesis 29:21) 4. Jacob receives Rachel (Genesis 29:26) 5. Leah's sons (Genesis 29:32) The Lord brought him to Padan-aram, where he was to dwell as an exile for twenty years. During these twenty years Jehovah did not manifest Himself to him, even as Israel dispersed among the nations has no communications from the Lord. His sojourn in Padan-aram produce

JACOB SERVES SEVEN YEARS FOR RACHEL. LABAN SUBSTITUTES LEAH AND SECURES FOURTEEN YEARS'SERVICE IN EXCHANGE FOR THE TWO. Apart from bits of P (Genesis 29:24; Genesis 29:28_ b_, Genesis 29:29) the section belongs to JE. Analysis is very uncertain. Probably Genesis 29:1 is from E, Genesis 29:2 from J. Opinions differ as to Genesis 29:15; for our purpose further analysis is unnecessary. Jacob comes in his journey to a well, and finds three flocks waiting to

Jacob's Marriage with Leah and Rachel 15. _Because … brother_ Lit. "art thou a brother, and shouldest thou serve me for nothing?" For "brother," see note on Genesis 29:12. Laban asks Jacob to state on what terms he would serve....

AND LABAN SAID, &C.— During the month which Jacob passed with Laban, he shewed so much industry and diligence that Laban was desirous of retaining his services; he therefore requests to know what salary, or gratuity, he would expect. And Jacob, who admired his younger daughter Rachel, offered, by way of dowry for her, his services for seven years. Jacob was now seventy-seven years old (according to Lightfoot). It was usual, in many countries, for the husbands to purchase their wives, and to give the parents a dowry: Herodotus, as quoted by Calmet, mentions a peculiar custom of this sort among the Babylonians. See lib. i. c. 196....