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821 lines
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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Genesis, Chapter XXIX].</TITLE>
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"This site is for those friends and family members who may or may not know Our Lord Jesus Christ, and if not, they may come to know Our Lord through His Prophets."> <meta name="author" content="Brian Duncalfe">
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1></center>
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<HR>
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<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC01028.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC01030.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
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</TD></TR></TABLE>
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<A NAME="Page174"> </A>
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>G E N E S I S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XXIX.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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This chapter gives us an account of God's providences concerning
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Jacob, pursuant to the promises made to him in the foregoing
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chapter.
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I. How he was brought in safety to his journey's end,
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and directed to his relations there, who bade him welcome,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+29:1-14">ver. 1-14</A>.
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II. How he was comfortably disposed of in marriage,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+29:15-30">ver. 15-30</A>.
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III. How his family was built up in the birth of
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four sons,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+29:31-35">ver. 31-35</A>.
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The affairs of princes and mighty nations
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that were then in being are not recorded in the book of God, but
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are left to be buried in oblivion; while these small domestic concerns
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of holy Jacob are particularly recorded with their minute
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circumstances, that they may be in everlasting remembrance.
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For "the memory of the just is blessed."</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ge29_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge29_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge29_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge29_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge29_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge29_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge29_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge29_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Jacob's Arrival at Padan-aram.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1760.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Then Jacob went on his journey,
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and came into the land of the people of the
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east.
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2 And he looked,
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and behold a well in the field, and, lo,
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there <I>were</I> three flocks of sheep lying
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by it; for out of that well they watered
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the flocks: and a great stone
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<I>was</I> upon the well's mouth.
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3 And
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thither were all the flocks gathered:
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and they rolled the stone from the
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well's mouth, and watered the sheep,
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and put the stone again upon the well's
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mouth in his place.
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4 And Jacob
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said unto them, My brethren, whence
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<I>be</I> ye? And they said, Of Haran <I>are</I>
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we.
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5 And he said unto them, Know
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ye Laban the son of Nahor? And
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they said, We know <I>him.</I>
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6 And he
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said unto them, <I>Is</I> he well? And they
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said, <I>He is</I> well: and, behold, Rachel
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his daughter cometh with the sheep.
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7 And he said, Lo, <I>it is</I> yet high day,
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neither <I>is it</I> time that the cattle should
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be gathered together: water ye
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the sheep, and go <I>and</I> feed <I>them.</I>
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8 And they said, We cannot, until all the
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flocks be gathered together, and <I>till</I>
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they roll the stone from the well's
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mouth; then we water the sheep.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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All the stages Israel's march to Canaan
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are distinctly noticed, but no particular
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journal is kept of Jacob's expedition further
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than Beth-el; no, he had no more such happy
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nights as he had at Beth-el, no more such
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visions of the Almighty. That was intended
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for a feast; he must not expect it to be his
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daily bread. But,
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1. We are here told how
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cheerfully he proceeded in his journey after
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the sweet communion he had with God at Beth-el:
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<I>Then Jacob lifted up his feet;</I> so
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the margin reads it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+29:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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Then he went on
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with cheerfulness and alacrity, not burdened
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with his cares, nor cramped with his fears,
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being assured of God's gracious presence
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with him. Note, After the visions we have
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had of God, and the vows we have made to
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him in solemn ordinances, we should run
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the way of his commandments with enlarged
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hearts,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+12:1">Heb. xii. 1</A>.
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2. How happily he arrived
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at his journey's end. Providence
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brought him to the very field where his
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uncle's flocks were to be watered, and there
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he met with Rachel, who was to be his wife.
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Observe,
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(1.) The divine Providence is to be
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acknowledged in all the little circumstances
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which concur to make a journey, or other
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undertaking, comfortable and successful. If,
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when we are at a loss, we meet seasonably
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with those that can direct us--if we meet
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with a disaster, and those are at hand that
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will help us--we must not say that it was by
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chance, nor that fortune therein favoured us,
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but that it was by Providence, and that God
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therein favoured us. Our ways are ways of
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<A NAME="Page175"> </A>
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pleasantness, if we continually acknowledge
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God in them.
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(2.) Those that have flocks
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must look well to them, and be diligent to
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know their state,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+27:23">Prov. xxvii. 23</A>.
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What is
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here said of the constant care of the shepherds
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concerning their sheep
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+29:2,3,7,8"><I>v.</I> 2, 3, 7, 8</A>)
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may
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serve to illustrate the tender concern which
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our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the
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sheep, has for his flock, the church; for he
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is the good Shepherd, that knows his sheep,
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and is known of them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+10:14">John x. 14</A>.
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The stone at the well's mouth, which is so often
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mentioned here, was either to secure their
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property in it (for water was scarce, it was
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not there <I>usus communis aquarum--for every
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one's use</I>), or it was to save the well from
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receiving damage from the heat of the sun,
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or from any spiteful hand, or to prevent the
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lambs of the flock from being drowned in it.
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(3.) Separate interests should not take us
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from joint and mutual help; when all the
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shepherds came together with their flocks,
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then, like loving neighbours, at watering-time,
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they watered their flocks together.
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(4.) It becomes us to speak civilly and respectfully
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to strangers. Though Jacob was no courtier,
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but a plain man, dwelling in tents, and a
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stranger to compliment, yet he addresses
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himself very obligingly to the people he met
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with, and calls them his <I>brethren,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+29:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
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The law of kindness in the tongue has a commanding
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power,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+31:26">Prov. xxxi. 26</A>.
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Some think
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he calls them brethren because they were of
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the same trade, shepherds like him. Though
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he was now upon his preferment, he was not
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ashamed of his occupation.
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(5.) Those that
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show respect have usually respect shown to
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them. As Jacob was civil to these strangers,
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so he found them civil to him. When he
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undertook to teach them how to despatch
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their business
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+29:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>),
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they did not bid him
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meddle with his own concerns and let them
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alone; but, though he was a stranger, they
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gave him the reason of their delay,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+29:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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Those that are neighbourly and friendly shall
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have neighbourly and friendly usage.</P>
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<A NAME="Ge29_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge29_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge29_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge29_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge29_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge29_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Rachel's Humility and Industry.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1760.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>9 And while he yet spake with them,
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Rachel came with her father's sheep:
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for she kept them.
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10 And it came
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to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the
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daughter of Laban his mother's brother,
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and the sheep of Laban his mother's
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brother, that Jacob went near,
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and rolled the stone from the well's
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mouth, and watered the flock of Laban
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his mother's brother.
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11 And
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Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his
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voice, and wept.
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12 And Jacob told
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Rachel that he <I>was</I> her father's brother,
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and that he <I>was</I> Rebekah's son:
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and she ran and told her father.
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13 And it came to pass, when Laban
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heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's
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son, that he ran to meet him, and
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embraced him, and kissed him, and
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brought him to his house. And he
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told Laban all these things.
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14 And
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Laban said to him, Surely thou <I>art</I>
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my bone and my flesh. And he abode
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with him the space of a month.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here we see,
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1. Rachel's humility and industry:
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<I>She kept her father's sheep</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+29:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>),
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that is, she took the care of them, having
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servants under her that were employed about
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them. Rachel's name signifies <I>a sheep.</I> Note,
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Honest useful labour is that which nobody
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needs be ashamed of, nor ought it to be a
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hindrance to any one's preferment.
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2. Jacob's
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tenderness and affection. When he understood
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that this was his kinswoman (probably
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he had heard of her name before), knowing
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what his errand was into that country, we
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may suppose it struck his mind immediately
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that his must be his wife. Being already
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smitten with her ingenuous comely face
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(though it was probably sun-burnt, and she
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was in the homely dress of a shepherdess), he
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is wonderfully officious, and anxious to serve
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her
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+29:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>),
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and addresses himself to her with
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tears of joy and kisses of love,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+29:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
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She runs
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with all haste to tell her father; for she will
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by no means entertain her kinsman's address
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without her father's knowledge and approbation,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+29:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>.
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These mutual respects, at
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their first interview, were good presages of
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their being a happy couple.
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3. Providence
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made that which seemed contingent and fortuitous
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to give speedy satisfaction to Jacob's
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mind, as soon as ever he came to the place
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which he was bound for. Abraham's servant,
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when he came upon a similar errand, met
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with similar encouragement. Thus God guides
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his people with his eye,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+32:8">Ps. xxxii. 8</A>.
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It is a
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groundless conceit which some of the Jewish
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writers have, that Jacob, when he kissed
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Rachel, wept because he had been set upon
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in his journey by Eliphaz the eldest son of
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Esau, at the command of his father, and
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robbed of all his money and jewels, which
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his mother had given him when she sent him
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away. It was plain that it was his passion
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for Rachel, and the surprise of this happy
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meeting, that drew these tears from his eyes.
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4. Laban, though none of the best-humoured
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men, bade him welcome, was satisfied in the
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account he gave of himself, and of the reason
|
||
|
|
of his coming in such poor circumstances.
|
||
|
|
While we avoid the extreme, on the one
|
||
|
|
hand, of being foolishly credulous, we must
|
||
|
|
take heed of falling into the other extreme,
|
||
|
|
of being uncharitably jealous and suspicious.
|
||
|
|
Laban owned him for his kinsman: <I>Thou art
|
||
|
|
my bone and my flesh,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+29:14">v. 14</A>.
|
||
|
|
Note, Those
|
||
|
|
are hard-hearted indeed that are unkind
|
||
|
|
to their relations, and that <I>hide themselves
|
||
|
|
from their own flesh,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+58:7">Isa. lviii. 7</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge29_15"> </A>
|
||
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|
<A NAME="Ge29_16"> </A>
|
||
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|
<A NAME="Ge29_17"> </A>
|
||
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<A NAME="Ge29_18"> </A>
|
||
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|
<A NAME="Ge29_19"> </A>
|
||
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|
<A NAME="Ge29_20"> </A>
|
||
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<A NAME="Ge29_21"> </A>
|
||
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<A NAME="Ge29_22"> </A>
|
||
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|
<A NAME="Ge29_23"> </A>
|
||
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|
<A NAME="Ge29_24"> </A>
|
||
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|
<A NAME="Ge29_25"> </A>
|
||
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|
<A NAME="Ge29_26"> </A>
|
||
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|
<A NAME="Ge29_27"> </A>
|
||
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|
<A NAME="Ge29_28"> </A>
|
||
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<A NAME="Ge29_29"> </A>
|
||
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<A NAME="Ge29_30"> </A>
|
||
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|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Jacob's Marriage.</I></FONT></TD>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1753.</TD></TR>
|
||
|
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
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|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>15 And Laban said unto Jacob,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Page176"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Because thou <I>art</I> my brother, shouldest
|
||
|
|
thou therefore serve me for nought?
|
||
|
|
tell me, what <I>shall</I> thy wages <I>be?</I>
|
||
|
|
16 And Laban had two daughters: the
|
||
|
|
name of the elder <I>was</I> Leah, and the
|
||
|
|
name of the younger <I>was</I> Rachel.
|
||
|
|
17 Leah <I>was</I> tender eyed; but Rachel
|
||
|
|
was beautiful and well favoured.
|
||
|
|
18 And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I
|
||
|
|
will serve thee seven years for Rachel
|
||
|
|
thy younger daughter.
|
||
|
|
19 And
|
||
|
|
Laban said, <I>It is</I> 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
|
||
|
|
Rachel; and they seemed unto him
|
||
|
|
<I>but</I> a few days, for the love he had to
|
||
|
|
her.
|
||
|
|
21 And Jacob said unto Laban,
|
||
|
|
Give <I>me</I> 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.
|
||
|
|
24 And Laban
|
||
|
|
gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah
|
||
|
|
his maid <I>for</I> a handmaid.
|
||
|
|
25 And
|
||
|
|
it came to pass, that in the morning,
|
||
|
|
behold, it <I>was</I> Leah: and he said to
|
||
|
|
Laban, What <I>is</I> 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
|
||
|
|
firstborn.
|
||
|
|
27 Fulfil her week, and we
|
||
|
|
will give thee this also for the service
|
||
|
|
which thou shalt serve with me yet
|
||
|
|
seven other years.
|
||
|
|
28 And Jacob did
|
||
|
|
so, and fulfilled her week: and he
|
||
|
|
gave him Rachel his daughter to wife
|
||
|
|
also.
|
||
|
|
29 And Laban gave to Rachel
|
||
|
|
his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to
|
||
|
|
be her maid.
|
||
|
|
30 And he went in
|
||
|
|
also unto Rachel, and he loved also
|
||
|
|
Rachel more than Leah, and served
|
||
|
|
with him yet seven other years.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Here is,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. The fair contract made between
|
||
|
|
Laban and Jacob, during the month that
|
||
|
|
Jacob spent there as a guest,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+29:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
|
||
|
|
It seems
|
||
|
|
he was not idle, nor did he spend his time in
|
||
|
|
sport and pastime; but like a man of business,
|
||
|
|
though he had no stock of his own, he
|
||
|
|
applied himself to serve his uncle, as he
|
||
|
|
had begun
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+29:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>)
|
||
|
|
when he <I>watered his flock.</I>
|
||
|
|
Note, Wherever we are, it is good to be
|
||
|
|
employing ourselves in some useful business,
|
||
|
|
which will turn to a good account to ourselves
|
||
|
|
or others. Laban, it seems, was so
|
||
|
|
taken with Jacob's ingenuity and industry
|
||
|
|
about his flocks that he was desirous he
|
||
|
|
should continue with him, and very fairly
|
||
|
|
reasons thus: "<I>Because thou art my brother,
|
||
|
|
shouldst thou therefore serve me for nought?</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+29:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
|
||
|
|
No, what reason for that?" If Jacob
|
||
|
|
be so respectful to his uncle as to give him
|
||
|
|
his service without demanding any consideration
|
||
|
|
for it, yet Laban will not be so unjust
|
||
|
|
to his nephew as to take advantage either of
|
||
|
|
his necessity or of his good-nature. Note,
|
||
|
|
Inferior relations must not be imposed upon;
|
||
|
|
if it be their duty to serve us, it is our duty
|
||
|
|
to reward them. Now Jacob had a fair
|
||
|
|
opportunity to make known to Laban the
|
||
|
|
affection he had for his daughter Rachel;
|
||
|
|
and, having no worldly goods in his hand
|
||
|
|
with which to endow her, he promises him
|
||
|
|
seven years' service, upon condition that, at
|
||
|
|
the end of the seven years, he would bestow
|
||
|
|
her upon him for his wife. It appears by
|
||
|
|
computation that Jacob was now seventy-seven
|
||
|
|
years old when he bound himself
|
||
|
|
apprentice for a wife, <I>and for a wife he kept
|
||
|
|
sheep,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+12:12">Hos. xii. 12</A>.
|
||
|
|
His posterity are there
|
||
|
|
reminded of it long afterwards, as an instance
|
||
|
|
of the meanness of their origin: probably
|
||
|
|
Rachel was young, and scarcely marriageable,
|
||
|
|
when Jacob first came, which made him
|
||
|
|
the more willing to stay for her till his seven
|
||
|
|
years' service had expired.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. Jacob's honest performance of his part
|
||
|
|
of the bargain,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+29:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>.
|
||
|
|
He served seven years
|
||
|
|
for Rachel. If Rachel still continued to keep
|
||
|
|
her father's sheep (as she did,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+29:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>),
|
||
|
|
his innocent
|
||
|
|
and religious conversation with her,
|
||
|
|
while they kept the flocks, could not but
|
||
|
|
increase their mutual acquaintance and affection
|
||
|
|
(Solomon's song of love is a pastoral); if
|
||
|
|
she now left it off, his easing her of that care
|
||
|
|
was very obliging. Jacob honestly served
|
||
|
|
out his seven years, and did not forfeit his
|
||
|
|
indentures, though he was old; nay, he
|
||
|
|
served them cheerfully: <I>They seemed to him
|
||
|
|
but a few days, for the love he had to her,</I> as
|
||
|
|
if it were more his desire to earn her than to
|
||
|
|
have her. Note, Love makes long and hard
|
||
|
|
services short and easy; hence we read of
|
||
|
|
<I>the labour of love,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+6:10">Heb. vi. 10</A>.
|
||
|
|
If we know
|
||
|
|
how to value the happiness of heaven, the
|
||
|
|
sufferings of this present time will be as
|
||
|
|
nothing to us in comparison of it. An age
|
||
|
|
of work will be but as a few days to those
|
||
|
|
that love God and long for Christ's appearing.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
III. The base cheat which Laban put upon
|
||
|
|
him when he was out of his time: he put
|
||
|
|
Leah into his arms instead of Rachel,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+29:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>.
|
||
|
|
This was Laban's sin; he wronged both
|
||
|
|
Jacob and Rachel, whose affections, doubtless,
|
||
|
|
were engaged to each other, and, if (as some
|
||
|
|
say) Leah was herein no better than an adulteress,
|
||
|
|
it was no small wrong to her too.
|
||
|
|
But it was Jacob's affliction, a damp to the
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Page177"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
mirth of the marriage-feast, when in the
|
||
|
|
morning behold it was Leah,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+29:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>.
|
||
|
|
It is
|
||
|
|
easy to observe here how Jacob was paid in
|
||
|
|
his own coin. He had cheated his own
|
||
|
|
father when he pretended to be Esau, and
|
||
|
|
now his father-in-law cheated him. Herein,
|
||
|
|
how unrighteous soever Laban was, the Lord
|
||
|
|
was righteous; as
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:7">Judges i. 7</A>.
|
||
|
|
Even the
|
||
|
|
righteous, if they take a false step, are sometimes
|
||
|
|
thus recompensed on the earth. Many
|
||
|
|
that are not, like Jacob, disappointed in the
|
||
|
|
person, soon find themselves, as much to
|
||
|
|
their grief, disappointed in the character.
|
||
|
|
The choice of that relation therefore, on both
|
||
|
|
sides, ought to be made with good advice and
|
||
|
|
consideration, that, if there should be a disappointment,
|
||
|
|
it may not be aggravated by a
|
||
|
|
consciousness of mismanagement.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IV. The excuse and atonement Laban made
|
||
|
|
for the cheat.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. The excuse was frivolous:
|
||
|
|
<I>It must not be so done in our country,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+29:26"><I>v.</I> 26</A>.
|
||
|
|
We have reason to think there was no such
|
||
|
|
custom of his country as he pretends; only
|
||
|
|
he banters Jacob with it, and laughs at
|
||
|
|
his mistake. Note, Those that can do wickedly
|
||
|
|
and then think to turn it off with a jest,
|
||
|
|
though they may deceive themselves and
|
||
|
|
others, will find at last that God is not
|
||
|
|
mocked. But if there had been such a custom,
|
||
|
|
and he had resolved to observe it, he
|
||
|
|
should have told Jacob so when he undertook
|
||
|
|
to serve him for his younger daughter. Note,
|
||
|
|
As saith the proverb of the ancients, <I>Wickedness
|
||
|
|
proceeds from the wicked,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+24:13">1 Sam. xxiv. 13</A>.
|
||
|
|
Those that deal with treacherous men must
|
||
|
|
expect to be dealt treacherously with.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. His
|
||
|
|
compounding the matter did but make bad
|
||
|
|
worse: <I>We will give thee this also,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+29:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>.
|
||
|
|
Hereby he drew Jacob into the sin, and
|
||
|
|
snare, and disquiet, of multiplying wives,
|
||
|
|
which remains a blot in his escutcheon, and
|
||
|
|
will be so to the end of the world. Honest
|
||
|
|
Jacob did not design it, but to have kept as
|
||
|
|
true to Rachel as his father had done to Rebekah.
|
||
|
|
He that had lived without a wife to the
|
||
|
|
eighty-fourth year of his age could then have
|
||
|
|
been very well content with one; but Laban, to
|
||
|
|
dispose of his two daughters without portions,
|
||
|
|
and to get seven years' service more out of
|
||
|
|
Jacob, thus imposes upon him, and draws
|
||
|
|
him into such a strait by his fraud, that
|
||
|
|
(the matter not being yet settled, as it was
|
||
|
|
afterwards by the divine law,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+18:18">Lev. xviii. 18</A>,
|
||
|
|
and more fully since by our Saviour,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+19:5">Matt. xix. 5</A>)
|
||
|
|
he had some colourable reasons for
|
||
|
|
marrying them both. He could not refuse
|
||
|
|
Rachel, for he had espoused her; still less
|
||
|
|
could he refuse Leah, for he had married her;
|
||
|
|
and therefore Jacob must <I>be content, and take
|
||
|
|
two talents,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+5:23">2 Kings v. 23</A>.
|
||
|
|
Note, One sin
|
||
|
|
is commonly the inlet of another. Those that
|
||
|
|
go in by one door of wickedness seldom find
|
||
|
|
their way out but by another. The polygamy
|
||
|
|
of the patriarchs was, in some measure, excusable
|
||
|
|
in them, because, though there was a
|
||
|
|
reason against it as ancient as Adam's marriage
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mal+2:15">Mal. ii. 15</A>),
|
||
|
|
yet there was no express
|
||
|
|
command against it; it was in them a sin of
|
||
|
|
ignorance. It was not the product of any
|
||
|
|
sinful lust, but for the building up of the
|
||
|
|
church, which was the good that Providence
|
||
|
|
brought out of it; but it will by no means
|
||
|
|
justify the like practice now, when God's will
|
||
|
|
is plainly made known, that one man and
|
||
|
|
one woman only must be joined together,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+7:2">1 Cor. vii. 2</A>.
|
||
|
|
The having of many wives
|
||
|
|
suits well enough with the carnal sensual
|
||
|
|
spirit of the Mahomedan imposture, which
|
||
|
|
allows it; but we have not so learned Christ.
|
||
|
|
Dr. Lightfoot makes Leah and Rachel to be
|
||
|
|
figures of the two churches, the Jews under
|
||
|
|
the law and the Gentiles under the gospel:
|
||
|
|
the younger the more beautiful, and more in the
|
||
|
|
thoughts of Christ when he came in the
|
||
|
|
form of a servant; but he other, like Leah,
|
||
|
|
first embraced: yet in this the allegory does
|
||
|
|
not hold, that the Gentiles, the younger, were
|
||
|
|
more fruitful,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ga+4:27">Gal. iv. 27</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge29_31"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge29_32"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge29_33"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge29_34"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge29_35"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Sec4"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Increase of Jacob's Family.</I></FONT></TD>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1749.</TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>31 And when the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> saw that
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Leah <I>was</I> hated, he opened her womb:
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but Rachel <I>was</I> barren.
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32 And Leah
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conceived, and bare a son, and she
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called his name Reuben: for she said,
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Surely the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> hath looked upon
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my affliction; now therefore my husband
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will love me.
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33 And she conceived
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again, and bare a son; and said,
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Because the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> hath heard that I
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<I>was</I> hated, he hath therefore given
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me this <I>son</I> also: and she called his
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name Simeon.
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34 And she conceived
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again, and bare a son; and said, Now
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this time will my husband be joined
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unto me, because I have born him
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three sons: therefore was his name
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called Levi.
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35 And she conceived
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again, and bare a son: and she said,
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Now will I praise the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>: therefore
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she called his name Judah; and
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left bearing.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here the birth of four of Jacob's
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sons, all by Leah. Observe,
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1. That Leah,
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who was less beloved, was blessed with children,
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when Rachel was denied that blessing,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+29:31"><I>v.</I> 31</A>.
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See how Providence, in dispensing
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its gifts, observes a proportion, to keep the
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balance even, setting crosses and comforts
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one over-against another, that none may be
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either too much elevated or too much depressed.
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Rachel wants children, but she is
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blessed with her husband's love; Leah wants
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that, but she is fruitful. Thus it was between
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Elkana's two wives
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+1:5">1 Sam. i. 5</A>);
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for the
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Lord is wise and righteous. <I>When the Lord
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saw that Leah was hated,</I> that is, loved less
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than Rachel, in which sense it is required
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that we hate father and mother, in comparison
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with Christ
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+14:26">Luke xiv. 26</A>),
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then the
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Lord granted her a child, which was a rebuke
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<A NAME="Page178"> </A>
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to Jacob, for making so great a difference
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between those that he was equally related to,--a
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check to Rachel, who perhaps insulted over
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her sister upon that account,--and a comfort
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|
to Leah, that she might not be overwhelmed
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|
with the contempt put upon her: thus <I>God
|
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|
giveth abundant honour to that which lacked,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+12:24">1 Cor. xii. 24</A>.
|
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|
|
|
||
|
|
2. The names she gave her
|
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|
|
children were expressive of her respectful
|
||
|
|
regards both to God and to her husband.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) She appears very ambitious of her husband's
|
||
|
|
love: she reckoned the want of it her affliction
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+29:32"><I>v.</I> 32</A>);
|
||
|
|
not upbraiding him with it as his
|
||
|
|
fault, nor reproaching him for it, and so
|
||
|
|
making herself uneasy to him, but laying it
|
||
|
|
to heart as her grief, which yet she had reason
|
||
|
|
to bear with the more patience because she
|
||
|
|
herself was consenting to the fraud by which
|
||
|
|
she became his wife; and we may well bear that
|
||
|
|
trouble with patience which we bring upon
|
||
|
|
ourselves by our own sin and folly. She
|
||
|
|
promised herself that the children she bore
|
||
|
|
him would gain her the interest she desired
|
||
|
|
in his affections. She called her first-born
|
||
|
|
<I>Reuben</I> (<I>see a son</I>), with this pleasant thought,
|
||
|
|
<I>Now will my husband love me;</I> and her third
|
||
|
|
son <I>Levi</I> (<I>joined</I>), with this expectation, <I>Now
|
||
|
|
will my husband by joined unto me,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+29:34"><I>v.</I> 34</A>.
|
||
|
|
Mutual affection is both the duty and comfort
|
||
|
|
of that relation; and yoke-fellows should
|
||
|
|
study to recommend themselves to each other,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+7:33,34">1 Cor. vii. 33, 34</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) She thankfully
|
||
|
|
acknowledges the kind providence of God in
|
||
|
|
it: <I>The Lord hath looked upon my affliction,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+29:32"><I>v.</I> 32</A>.
|
||
|
|
"<I>The Lord hath heard,</I> that is, taken
|
||
|
|
notice of it, <I>that I was hated</I> (for our afflictions,
|
||
|
|
as they are before God's eyes, so they
|
||
|
|
have a cry in his ears), <I>he has therefore given
|
||
|
|
me this son.</I>" Note, Whatever we have that
|
||
|
|
contributes either to our support and comfort
|
||
|
|
under our afflictions or to our deliverance from
|
||
|
|
them, God must be owned in it, especially his
|
||
|
|
pity and tender mercy. Her fourth she called
|
||
|
|
<I>Judah</I> (<I>praise</I>), saying, <I>Now will I praise the
|
||
|
|
Lord,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+29:35"><I>v.</I> 35</A>.
|
||
|
|
And this was he of whom, as
|
||
|
|
concerning the flesh, Christ came. Note,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] Whatever is the matter of our rejoicing
|
||
|
|
ought to be the matter of our thanksgiving.
|
||
|
|
Fresh favours should quicken us to praise
|
||
|
|
God for former favours. <I>Now will I praise
|
||
|
|
the Lord</I> more and better than I have done.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] All our praises must centre in Christ,
|
||
|
|
both as the matter of them and as the Mediator
|
||
|
|
of them. He descended from him whose
|
||
|
|
name was praise, for he is our praise. Is
|
||
|
|
Christ formed in my heart? <I>Now will I praise
|
||
|
|
the Lord.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<!-- (End Body) -->
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<HR>
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<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC01028.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC01030.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
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<!--Matthew_Henry's_Commentary_on_the_Whole_Bible:_Genesis_XXIX.--><a href="http://www.biblesnet.com" target="_blank"><b>Back to Bibles Net . Com - Online Christian Library </b></a><br>
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<b>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Free Download</b></a><br>
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