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1052 lines
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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Genesis, Chapter XXX].</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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<body background="../sueback.jpg" bgproperties="fixed" >
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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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<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
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<TR>
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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="MHC01029.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC01031.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="Page178"> </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. XXX.</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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In this chapter we have an account of the increase,
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I. Of Jacob's
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family. Eight children more we find registered in this chapter;
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Dan and Naphtali by Bilhah, Rachel's maid,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+30:1-8">ver. 1-8</A>.
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Gad and Asher by Zilpah, Leah's maid,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+30:9-13">ver. 9-13</A>.
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Issachar, Zebulun,
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and Dinah, by Leah,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+30:14-21">ver. 14-21</A>.
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And, last of all, Joseph,
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by Rachel,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+30:22-24">ver. 22-24</A>.
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II. Of Jacob's estate. He makes a new
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bargain with Laban,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+30:25-34">ver. 25-34</A>.
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And in the six years' further
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service he did to Laban God wonderfully blessed him, so that
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his stock of cattle became very considerable,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+30:35-43">ver. 35-43</A>.
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Herein was fulfilled the blessing with which Isaac dismissed him
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+28:3"><I>ch.</I> xxviii. 3</A>),
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"God make thee fruitful, and multiply thee." Even
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these small matters concerning Jacob's house and field, though
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they seem inconsiderable, are improvable for our learning. For
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the scriptures were written, not for princes and statesmen, to
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instruct them in politics; but for all people, even the meanest,
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to direct them in their families and callings: yet some things
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are here recorded concerning Jacob, not for imitation, but for
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admonition.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ge30_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge30_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge30_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge30_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge30_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge30_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge30_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge30_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge30_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge30_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge30_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge30_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge30_13"> </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>Increase of Jacob's Family.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1745.</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>
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1 And when Rachel saw that she
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bare Jacob no children, Rachel
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envied her sister; and said unto Jacob,
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Give me children, or else I die.
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2 And Jacob's anger was kindled
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against Rachel: and he said, <I>Am</I> I in
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God's stead, who hath withheld from
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thee the fruit of the womb?
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3 And
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she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go
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in unto her; and she shall bear upon
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my knees, that I may also have children
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by her.
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4 And she gave him
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Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob
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went in unto her.
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5 And Bilhah
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conceived, and bare Jacob a son.
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6 And Rachel said, God hath judged
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me, and hath also heard my voice,
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and hath given me a son: therefore
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called she his name Dan.
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7 And Bilhah
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Rachel's maid conceived again, and
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bare Jacob a second son.
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8 And Rachel
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said, With great wrestlings have I
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wrestled with my sister, and I have
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prevailed: and she called his name
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Naphtali.
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9 When Leah saw that she
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had left bearing, she took Zilpah her
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maid, and gave her Jacob to wife.
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10 And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a
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son.
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11 And Leah said, A troop cometh:
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and she called his name Gad.
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12 And
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Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a second
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son.
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13 And Leah said, Happy
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am I, for the daughters will call me
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blessed: and she called his name Asher.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here the bad consequences of that
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strange marriage which Jacob made with the
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two sisters. Here is,</P>
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<P>
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I. An unhappy disagreement between him
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and Rachel
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+30:1,2"><I>v.</I> 1, 2</A>),
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occasioned, not so much
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by her own barrenness as by her sister's fruitfulness.
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Rebekah, the only wife of Isaac,
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was long childless, and yet we find no uneasiness
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between her and Isaac; but here,
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because Leah bears children, Rachel cannot
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live peaceably with Jacob.</P>
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<P>
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1. Rachel frets. She <I>envied her sister,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+30:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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Envy is grieving at the good of another, than
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which no sin is more offensive to God, nor
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more injurious to our neighbour and ourselves.
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She considered not that it was God
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that made the difference, and that though, in
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this single instance her sister was preferred
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before her, yet in other things she had the
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advantage. Let us carefully watch against
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all the risings and workings of this passion
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in our minds. Let not our eye be evil
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<A NAME="Page179"> </A>
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towards any of our fellow-servants because our
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master's is good. But this was not all; she
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said to Jacob, <I>Give me children, or else I die.</I>
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Note, We are very apt to err in our desires
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of temporal mercies, as Rachel here.
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(1.) One child would not content her; but, because
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Leah has more than one, she must have
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more too: <I>Give me children.</I>
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(2.) Her heart
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is inordinately set upon it, and, if she have
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not what she would have, she will throw
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away her life, and all the comforts of it.
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"Give them to me, or <I>else I die,</I>" that is, "I
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shall fret myself to death; the want of this
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satisfaction will shorten my days." Some
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think she threatens Jacob to lay violent hands
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upon herself, if she could not obtain this
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mercy.
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(3.) She did not apply to God by
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prayer, but to Jacob only, forgetting that
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<I>children are a heritage of the Lord,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+127:3">Ps. cxxvii. 3</A>.
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We wrong both God and ourselves
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when our eye is more to men, the instruments
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of our crosses and comforts, than to
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God the author. Observe a difference between
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Rachel's asking for this mercy and
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Hannah's,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+1:10,11">1 Sam. i. 10</A>,
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&c. Rachel envied;
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Hannah wept. Rachel must have children,
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and she died of the second; Hannah prayed
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for one child, and she had four more. Rachel
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is importunate and peremptory; Hannah
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is submissive and devout. <I>If thou wilt
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give me a child, I will give him to the Lord.</I>
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Let Hannah be imitated, and not Rachel;
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and let our desires be always under the direction
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and control of reason and religion.</P>
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<P>
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2. Jacob chides, and most justly. He loved
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Rachel, and therefore reproved her for what
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she said amiss,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+30:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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Note, Faithful reproofs
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and products and instances of true affection,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+141:5,Pr+27:5,6">Ps. cxli. 5; Prov. xxvii. 5, 6</A>.
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Job reproved
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his wife when she spoke the language of the
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foolish women,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+2:10">Job ii. 10</A>.
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See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+7:16">1 Cor. vii. 16</A>.
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He was angry, not at the person, but at the
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sin; he expressed himself so as to show his
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displeasure. Note, sometimes it is requisite
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that a reproof should be given warm, like a
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medical potion; not too hot, lest it scald the
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patient; yet not cold, lest it prove ineffectual.
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It was a very grave and pious reply which
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Jacob gave to Rachel's peevish demand: <I>Am
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I in God's stead?</I> The Chaldee paraphrases
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it well, <I>Dost thou ask sons of me? Oughtest
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thou not to ask them from before the Lord?</I>
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The Arabic reads it, "<I>Am I above God?</I> can
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I give thee that which God denies thee?"
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This was said like a plain man. Observe,
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(1.) He acknowledges the hand of God in the
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affliction which he was a sharer with her in:
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He <I>hath withheld the fruit of the womb.</I> Note,
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Whatever we want, it is God that withholds
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it, a sovereign Lord, most wise, holy, and
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just, that may do what he will with his own,
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and is debtor to no man, that never did, nor
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ever can do, any wrong to any of his creatures.
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The keys of the clouds, of the heart,
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of the grave, and of the womb, are four keys
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which God had in his hand, and which (the
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rabbin say) he entrusts neither with angels
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nor seraphim. See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:7,Job+11:10,12:14">Rev. iii. 7. Job xi. 10; xii. 14</A>.
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(2.) He acknowledges his own inability
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to alter what God had appointed:
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"<I>Am I in God's stead?</I> What! dost thou
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make a god of me?" <I>Deos qui rogat ille
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facit--He to whom we offer supplications is to
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us a god.</I> Note,
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[1.] There is no creature
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that is, or can be, to us, in God's stead. God
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may be to us instead of any creature, as the
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sun instead of the moon and stars; but the
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moon and all the stars will not be to us instead
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of the sun. No creature's wisdom,
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power, and love, will be to us instead of God's.
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[2.] It is therefore our sin and folly to place
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any creature in God's stead, and to place
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that confidence in any creature which is to be
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placed in God only.</P>
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<P>
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II. An unhappy agreement between him
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and the two handmaids.</P>
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<P>
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1. At the persuasion of Rachel, he took
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Bilhah her handmaid to wife, that, according
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to the usage of those times, his children by
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her might be adopted and owned as her mistress's
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children,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+30:3-8"><I>v.</I> 3</A>,
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&c. She would rather
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have children by reputation than none at all,
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children that she might fancy to be her own,
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and call her own, though they were not so.
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One would think her own sister's children
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were nearer akin to her than her maid's, and
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she might with more satisfaction have made
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them her own if she had so pleased; but (so
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natural is it for us all to be fond of power)
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children that she had a right to rule were
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more desirable to her than children that she
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had more reason to love; and, as an early
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instance of her dominion over the children
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born in her apartment, she takes a pleasure
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in giving them names that carry in them nothing
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but marks of emulation with her sister,
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as if she had overcome her,
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(1.) At law. She
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calls the first son of her handmaid <I>Dan</I> (<I>judgement</I>),
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saying, "<I>God hath judged me</I>"
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+30:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>),
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that is, "given sentence in my favour."
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(2.) In battle. She calls the next <I>Naphtali</I> (<I>wrestlings</I>),
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saying, <I>I have wrestled with my sister,
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and have prevailed</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+30:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>);
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as if all Jacob's
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sons must be born men of contention. See
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what roots of bitterness envy and strife are,
|
||
|
|
and what mischief they make among relations.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. At the persuasion of Leah, he took
|
||
|
|
Zilpah her handmaid to wife also,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+30:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
|
||
|
|
Rachel had done that absurd and preposterous
|
||
|
|
thing of giving her maid to her husband, in
|
||
|
|
emulation with Leah; and now Leah (because
|
||
|
|
she missed one year in bearing children) does
|
||
|
|
the same, to be even with her, or rather to
|
||
|
|
keep before her. See the power of jealousy
|
||
|
|
and rivalship, and admire the wisdom of the
|
||
|
|
divine appointment, which unites one man
|
||
|
|
and one woman only; for <I>God hath called us
|
||
|
|
to peace</I> and purity,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+7:15">1 Cor. vii. 15</A>.
|
||
|
|
Two sons
|
||
|
|
Zilpah bore to Jacob, whom Leah looked
|
||
|
|
upon herself as entitled to, in token of which
|
||
|
|
she called one <I>Gad</I>
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+30:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>),
|
||
|
|
promising herself
|
||
|
|
a little <I>troop</I> of children; and children are
|
||
|
|
the militia of a family, they fill the quiver,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+127:4,5">Ps. cxxvii. 4, 5</A>.
|
||
|
|
The other she called <I>Asher</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Page180"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<I>happy</I>), thinking herself happy in him, and
|
||
|
|
promising herself that her neighbours would
|
||
|
|
think so too: <I>The daughters will call me
|
||
|
|
blessed,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+30:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
|
||
|
|
Note, It is an instance of the
|
||
|
|
vanity of the world, and the foolishness bound
|
||
|
|
up in our hearts, that most people value
|
||
|
|
themselves and govern themselves more by
|
||
|
|
reputation than either by reason or religion;
|
||
|
|
they think themselves blessed if the daughters
|
||
|
|
do but call them so. There was much amiss
|
||
|
|
in the contest and competition between these
|
||
|
|
two sisters, yet God brought good out of this
|
||
|
|
evil; for, the time being now at hand when
|
||
|
|
the seed of Abraham must begin to increase
|
||
|
|
and multiply, thus Jacob's family was replenished
|
||
|
|
with twelve sons, heads of the
|
||
|
|
thousands of Israel, from whom the celebrated
|
||
|
|
twelve tribes descended and were named.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge30_14"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge30_15"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge30_16"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge30_17"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge30_18"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge30_19"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge30_20"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge30_21"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge30_22"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge30_23"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge30_24"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>14 And Reuben went in the days
|
||
|
|
of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes
|
||
|
|
in the field, and brought them unto
|
||
|
|
his mother Leah. Then Rachel said
|
||
|
|
to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy
|
||
|
|
son's mandrakes.
|
||
|
|
15 And she said
|
||
|
|
unto her, <I>Is it</I> a small matter that thou
|
||
|
|
hast taken my husband? and wouldest
|
||
|
|
thou take away my son's mandrakes
|
||
|
|
also? And Rachel said, Therefore he
|
||
|
|
shall lie with thee to night for thy
|
||
|
|
son's mandrakes.
|
||
|
|
16 And Jacob came
|
||
|
|
out of the field in the evening, and
|
||
|
|
Leah went out to meet him, and said,
|
||
|
|
Thou must come in unto me; for
|
||
|
|
surely I have hired thee with my son's
|
||
|
|
mandrakes. And he lay with her that
|
||
|
|
night.
|
||
|
|
17 And God hearkened unto
|
||
|
|
Leah, and she conceived, and bare
|
||
|
|
Jacob the fifth son.
|
||
|
|
18 And Leah said,
|
||
|
|
God hath given me my hire, because
|
||
|
|
I have given my maiden to my husband:
|
||
|
|
and she called his name Issachar.
|
||
|
|
19 And Leah conceived again,
|
||
|
|
and bare Jacob the sixth son.
|
||
|
|
20 And
|
||
|
|
Leah said, God hath endued me <I>with</I>
|
||
|
|
a good dowry; now will my husband
|
||
|
|
dwell with me, because I have borne
|
||
|
|
him six sons: and she called his name
|
||
|
|
Zebulun.
|
||
|
|
21 And afterwards she bare
|
||
|
|
a daughter, and called her name Dinah.
|
||
|
|
22 And God remembered Rachel, and
|
||
|
|
God hearkened to her, and opened
|
||
|
|
her womb.
|
||
|
|
23 And she conceived, and
|
||
|
|
bare a son; and said, God hath taken
|
||
|
|
away my reproach:
|
||
|
|
24 And she called
|
||
|
|
his name Joseph; and said, The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>
|
||
|
|
shall add to me another son.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Here is, I. Leah fruitful again, after she
|
||
|
|
had, for some time, left off bearing. Jacob,
|
||
|
|
it should seem, associated more with Rachel
|
||
|
|
than with Leah. The law of Moses supposes
|
||
|
|
it a common case that, if a man had two wives,
|
||
|
|
one would be beloved and the other hated,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+21:15">Deut. xxi. 15</A>.
|
||
|
|
But at length Rachel's strong
|
||
|
|
passions betrayed her into a bargain with
|
||
|
|
Leah that Jacob should return to her apartment.
|
||
|
|
Reuben, a little lad, five or six years
|
||
|
|
old, playing in the field, found <I>mandrakes,
|
||
|
|
dudaim.</I> It is uncertain what they were, the
|
||
|
|
critics are not agreed about them; we are
|
||
|
|
sure they were some rarities, either fruits or
|
||
|
|
flowers that were very pleasant to the smell,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=So+7:13">Cant. vii. 13</A>.
|
||
|
|
Note, The God of nature has
|
||
|
|
provided, not only for our necessities, but for
|
||
|
|
our delights; there are products of the earth
|
||
|
|
in the exposed fields, as well as in the planted
|
||
|
|
protected gardens, that are very valuable and
|
||
|
|
useful. How plentifully is nature's house
|
||
|
|
furnished and her table spread! Her precious
|
||
|
|
fruits offer themselves to be gathered by the
|
||
|
|
hands of little children. It is a laudable
|
||
|
|
custom of the devout Jews, when they find
|
||
|
|
pleasure, suppose in eating an apple, to lift
|
||
|
|
up their hearts, and say, "Blessed be he that
|
||
|
|
made this fruit pleasant!" Or, in smelling
|
||
|
|
a flower, "Blessed be he that made this flower
|
||
|
|
sweet." Some think these mandrakes were
|
||
|
|
jessamine flowers. Whatever they were,
|
||
|
|
Rachel could not see them in Leah's hands,
|
||
|
|
where the child had placed them, but she
|
||
|
|
must covet them. She cannot bear the want
|
||
|
|
of these pretty flowers, but will purchase them
|
||
|
|
at any rate. Note, There may be great sin
|
||
|
|
and folly in the inordinate desire of a small
|
||
|
|
thing. Leah takes this advantage (as Jacob
|
||
|
|
had of Esau's coveting his red pottage) to
|
||
|
|
obtain that which was justly due to her, but
|
||
|
|
to which Rachel would not otherwise have consented.
|
||
|
|
Note, Strong passions often thwart
|
||
|
|
one another, and those cannot but be continually
|
||
|
|
uneasy that are hurried on by them.
|
||
|
|
Leah is overjoyed that she shall have her
|
||
|
|
husband's company again, that her family
|
||
|
|
might yet further be built up, which is the
|
||
|
|
blessing she desires and devoutly prays
|
||
|
|
for, as is intimated,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+30:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>,
|
||
|
|
where it is said,
|
||
|
|
<I>God hearkened unto Leah.</I> The learned bishop
|
||
|
|
Patrick very well suggests here that the true
|
||
|
|
reason of this contest between Jacob's wives
|
||
|
|
for his company, and their giving him their
|
||
|
|
maids to be his wives, was the earnest desire
|
||
|
|
they had to fulfil the promise made to Abraham
|
||
|
|
(and now lately renewed to Jacob), that
|
||
|
|
his seed should be as the stars of heaven for
|
||
|
|
multitude, and that in one seed of his, the
|
||
|
|
Messiah, all the nations of the earth should
|
||
|
|
be blessed. And he thinks it would have
|
||
|
|
been below the dignity of this sacred history
|
||
|
|
to take such particular notice of these things
|
||
|
|
if there had not been some such great consideration
|
||
|
|
in them. Leah was now blessed
|
||
|
|
with two sons; the first she called <I>Issachar</I>
|
||
|
|
(<I>a hire</I>), reckoning herself well repaid for her
|
||
|
|
mandrakes, nay (which is a strange construction
|
||
|
|
of the providence) rewarded for
|
||
|
|
giving her maid to her husband. Note, We
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Page181"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
abuse God's mercy when we reckon that his
|
||
|
|
favours countenance and patronize our follies.
|
||
|
|
The other she called <I>Zebulun</I> (<I>dwelling</I>), owning
|
||
|
|
God's bounty to her: <I>God has endowed me
|
||
|
|
with a good dowry,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+30:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>.
|
||
|
|
Jacob had not endowed
|
||
|
|
her when he married her, nor had he
|
||
|
|
wherewithal in possession; but she reckons
|
||
|
|
a family of children not a bill of charges, but
|
||
|
|
a good dowry,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+113:9">Ps. cxiii. 9</A>.
|
||
|
|
She promises
|
||
|
|
herself more of her husband's company now
|
||
|
|
that she had borne him six sons, and that, in
|
||
|
|
love to his children at least, he would often
|
||
|
|
visit her lodgings. Mention is made
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+30:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>)
|
||
|
|
of the birth of a daughter, <I>Dinah,</I> because of
|
||
|
|
the following story concerning her,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+34:1-31"><I>ch.</I> xxxiv</A>.
|
||
|
|
Perhaps Jacob had other daughters, though
|
||
|
|
their names are not registered.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. Rachel fruitful at last
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+30:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>):
|
||
|
|
<I>God remembered
|
||
|
|
Rachel,</I> whom he seemed to have
|
||
|
|
forgotten, and <I>hearkened to her</I> whose prayers
|
||
|
|
had been long denied; and then she bore a
|
||
|
|
son. Note, As God justly denies the mercy
|
||
|
|
we have been inordinately desirous of, so
|
||
|
|
sometimes he graciously grants, at length,
|
||
|
|
that which we have long waited for. He
|
||
|
|
corrects our folly, and yet considers our
|
||
|
|
frame, and does not contend for ever. Rachel
|
||
|
|
called her son <I>Joseph,</I> which in Hebrew is
|
||
|
|
akin to two words of a contrary signification,
|
||
|
|
<I>Asaph</I> (<I>abstulit</I>), <I>He has taken away my reproach,</I>
|
||
|
|
as if the greatest mercy she had in
|
||
|
|
this son was that she had saved her credit;
|
||
|
|
and <I>Jasaph</I> (<I>addidit</I>), <I>The Lord shall add to
|
||
|
|
me another son,</I> which may be looked upon
|
||
|
|
either as the language of her inordinate desire
|
||
|
|
(she scarcely knows how to be thankful
|
||
|
|
for one unless she may be sure of another),
|
||
|
|
or of her faith--she takes this mercy as an
|
||
|
|
earnest of further mercy. "Has God given
|
||
|
|
me his grace? I may call it Joseph, and say,
|
||
|
|
He shall add more grace! Has he given me
|
||
|
|
his joy? I may call it Joseph, and say, He
|
||
|
|
will give me more joy. Has he begun, and
|
||
|
|
shall he not make an end?"</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge30_25"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge30_26"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge30_27"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge30_28"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge30_29"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge30_30"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge30_31"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge30_32"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge30_33"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge30_34"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge30_35"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge30_36"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Jacob's Bargain with Laban.</I></FONT></TD>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1745.</TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>25 And it came to pass, when Rachel
|
||
|
|
had borne Joseph, that Jacob said
|
||
|
|
unto Laban, Send me away, that I
|
||
|
|
may go unto mine own place, and to
|
||
|
|
my country.
|
||
|
|
26 Give <I>me</I> my wives
|
||
|
|
and my children, for whom I have
|
||
|
|
served thee, and let me go: for thou
|
||
|
|
knowest my service which I have done
|
||
|
|
thee.
|
||
|
|
27 And Laban said unto him,
|
||
|
|
I pray thee, if I have found favour in
|
||
|
|
thine eyes, <I>tarry: for</I> I have learned
|
||
|
|
by experience that the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> hath
|
||
|
|
blessed me for thy sake.
|
||
|
|
28 And he
|
||
|
|
said, Appoint me thy wages, and I will
|
||
|
|
give <I>it.</I>
|
||
|
|
29 And he said unto him,
|
||
|
|
Thou knowest how I have served thee,
|
||
|
|
and how thy cattle was with me.
|
||
|
|
30 For <I>it was</I> little which thou hadst before
|
||
|
|
I <I>came,</I> and it is <I>now</I> increased
|
||
|
|
unto a multitude; and the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> hath
|
||
|
|
blessed thee since my coming: and
|
||
|
|
now when shall I provide for mine
|
||
|
|
own house also?
|
||
|
|
31 And he said,
|
||
|
|
What shall I give thee? And Jacob
|
||
|
|
said, Thou shalt not give me anything:
|
||
|
|
if thou wilt do this thing for me, I
|
||
|
|
will again feed <I>and</I> keep thy flock:
|
||
|
|
32 I will pass through all thy flock to day,
|
||
|
|
removing from thence all the speckled
|
||
|
|
and spotted cattle, and all the brown
|
||
|
|
cattle among the sheep, and the spotted
|
||
|
|
and speckled among the goats: and
|
||
|
|
<I>of such</I> shall be my hire.
|
||
|
|
33 So shall
|
||
|
|
my righteousness answer for me in
|
||
|
|
time to come, when it shall come for
|
||
|
|
my hire before thy face: every one
|
||
|
|
that <I>is</I> not speckled and spotted among
|
||
|
|
the goats, and brown among the sheep,
|
||
|
|
that shall be counted stolen with me.
|
||
|
|
34 And Laban said, Behold, I would it
|
||
|
|
might be according to thy word.
|
||
|
|
35 And he removed that day the he goats
|
||
|
|
that were ringstraked and spotted, and
|
||
|
|
all the she goats that were speckled and
|
||
|
|
spotted, <I>and</I> every one that had <I>some</I>
|
||
|
|
white in it, and all the brown among
|
||
|
|
the sheep, and gave <I>them</I> into the hand
|
||
|
|
of his sons.
|
||
|
|
36 And he set three days'
|
||
|
|
journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and
|
||
|
|
Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
We have here,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. Jacob's thoughts of home. He faithfully
|
||
|
|
served his time out with Laban, even
|
||
|
|
his second apprenticeship, though he was an
|
||
|
|
old man, had a large family to provide for,
|
||
|
|
and it was high time for him to set up for
|
||
|
|
himself. Though Laban's service was hard,
|
||
|
|
and he had cheated him in the first bargain
|
||
|
|
he had made, yet Jacob honestly performs
|
||
|
|
his engagements. Note, A good man, though
|
||
|
|
he swear to his own hurt, will not change.
|
||
|
|
And though others have deceived us this
|
||
|
|
will not justify us in deceiving them. Our
|
||
|
|
rule is to do as we <I>would be</I> done by, not as
|
||
|
|
we <I>are</I> done by. Jacob's term having expired,
|
||
|
|
he begs leave to be gone,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+30:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>.
|
||
|
|
Observe,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. He retained his affection for the land
|
||
|
|
of Canaan, not only because it was the land
|
||
|
|
of his nativity, and his father and mother were
|
||
|
|
there, whom he longed to see, but because it
|
||
|
|
was the land of promise; and, in token of his
|
||
|
|
dependence upon the promise of it, though he
|
||
|
|
sojourn in Haran he can by no means think
|
||
|
|
of settling there. Thus should we be affected
|
||
|
|
towards our heavenly country, looking upon
|
||
|
|
ourselves as strangers here, viewing the
|
||
|
|
heavenly country as our home, and longing
|
||
|
|
to be there, as soon as the days of our service
|
||
|
|
upon earth are numbered and finished.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Page182"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
We must not think of taking root here, for
|
||
|
|
this is not our place and country,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+13:14">Heb. xiii. 14</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. He was desirous to go to Canaan,
|
||
|
|
though he had a great family to take with
|
||
|
|
him, and no provision yet made for them.
|
||
|
|
He had got wives and children with Laban,
|
||
|
|
but nothing else; yet he does not solicit
|
||
|
|
Laban to give him either a portion with his
|
||
|
|
wives or the maintenance of some of his
|
||
|
|
children. No, all his request is, <I>Give me my
|
||
|
|
wives and my children, and send me away,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+30:25,26"><I>v.</I> 25, 26</A>.
|
||
|
|
Note, Those that trust in God, in
|
||
|
|
his providence and promise, though they
|
||
|
|
have great families and small incomes, can
|
||
|
|
cheerfully hope that he who sends mouths
|
||
|
|
will send meat. He who feeds the brood of
|
||
|
|
the ravens will not starve the seed of the
|
||
|
|
righteous.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. Laban's desire of his stay,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+30:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>.
|
||
|
|
In love to himself, not to Jacob or to his wives
|
||
|
|
or children, Laban endeavours to persuade
|
||
|
|
him to continue his chief shepherd, entreating
|
||
|
|
him, by the regard he bore him, not to
|
||
|
|
leave him: <I>If I have found favour in thy eyes,
|
||
|
|
tarry.</I> Note, Churlish selfish men know
|
||
|
|
how to give good words when it is to serve
|
||
|
|
their own ends. Laban found that his stock
|
||
|
|
had wonderfully increased with Jacob's good
|
||
|
|
management, and he owns it, with very good
|
||
|
|
expressions of respect both to God and Jacob:
|
||
|
|
<I>I have learned by experience that the Lord has
|
||
|
|
blessed me for thy sake.</I> Observe,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. Laban's
|
||
|
|
learning: <I>I have learned by experience.</I> Note,
|
||
|
|
There is many a profitable good lesson to be
|
||
|
|
learned by experience. We are very unapt
|
||
|
|
scholars if we have not learned by experience
|
||
|
|
the evil of sin, the treachery of our own
|
||
|
|
hearts, the vanity of the world, the goodness
|
||
|
|
of God, the gains of godliness, and the like.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. Laban's lesson. He owns,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) That his
|
||
|
|
prosperity was owing to God's blessing: <I>The
|
||
|
|
Lord has blessed me.</I> Note, worldly men,
|
||
|
|
who choose their portion in this life, are often
|
||
|
|
blessed with an abundance of this world's
|
||
|
|
goods. Common blessings are given plentifully
|
||
|
|
to many that have no title to covenant-blessings.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) That Jacob's piety had
|
||
|
|
brought that blessing upon him: <I>The Lord
|
||
|
|
has blessed me,</I> not for my own sake (let not
|
||
|
|
such a man as Laban, that lives without God
|
||
|
|
in the world, <I>think that he shall receive any
|
||
|
|
thing of the Lord,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jam+1:7">Jam. i. 7</A>),
|
||
|
|
but <I>for thy
|
||
|
|
sake.</I> Note,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] Good men are blessings to
|
||
|
|
the places where they live, even where they
|
||
|
|
live meanly and obscurely, as Jacob in the
|
||
|
|
field, and Joseph in the prison,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+39:23"><I>ch.</I> xxxix. 23</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] God often blesses bad men with outward
|
||
|
|
mercies for the sake of their godly relations,
|
||
|
|
though it is seldom that they have either the
|
||
|
|
wit to see it or the grace to own it, as Laban
|
||
|
|
did here.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
III. The new bargain they came upon.
|
||
|
|
Laban's craft and covetousness took advantage
|
||
|
|
of Jacob's plainness, honesty, and good-nature;
|
||
|
|
and, perceiving that Jacob began to
|
||
|
|
be won upon by his fair speeches, instead of
|
||
|
|
making him a generous offer and bidding
|
||
|
|
high, as he ought to have done, all things
|
||
|
|
considered, he puts it upon him to make
|
||
|
|
his demands
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+30:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>):
|
||
|
|
<I>Appoint me thy wages,</I>
|
||
|
|
knowing he would be very modest in them,
|
||
|
|
and would ask less than he could for shame
|
||
|
|
offer. Jacob accordingly makes a proposal
|
||
|
|
to him, in which,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. He shows what reason he had to insist
|
||
|
|
upon so much, considering,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) That Laban
|
||
|
|
was bound in gratitude to do well for him,
|
||
|
|
because he had served him not only faithfully,
|
||
|
|
but very successfully,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+30:30"><I>v.</I> 30</A>.
|
||
|
|
Yet here
|
||
|
|
observe how he speaks, like himself, very
|
||
|
|
modestly. Laban had said, <I>The Lord has
|
||
|
|
blessed me for thy sake;</I> Jacob will not say
|
||
|
|
so, but, <I>The Lord has blessed thee since my
|
||
|
|
coming.</I> Note, Humble saints take more
|
||
|
|
pleasure in doing good than in hearing of it
|
||
|
|
again.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) That he himself was bound in
|
||
|
|
duty to take care of his own family: <I>Now,
|
||
|
|
when shall I provide for my own house also?</I>
|
||
|
|
Note, Faith and charity, though they are
|
||
|
|
excellent things, must not take us off from
|
||
|
|
making necessary provisions for our own
|
||
|
|
support, and the support of our families.
|
||
|
|
We must, like Jacob, <I>trust in the Lord and
|
||
|
|
do good,</I> and yet we must, like him, provide
|
||
|
|
for our own houses also; he that does not the
|
||
|
|
latter <I>is worse than an infidel,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+5:8">1 Tim. v. 8</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. He is willing to refer himself to the
|
||
|
|
providence of God, which, he knew, extends
|
||
|
|
itself to the smallest things, even the colour
|
||
|
|
of the cattle; and he will be content to have
|
||
|
|
for his wages the sheep and goats of such
|
||
|
|
and such a colour, speckled, spotted, and
|
||
|
|
brown, which should hereafter be brought
|
||
|
|
forth,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+30:32,33"><I>v.</I> 32, 33</A>.
|
||
|
|
This, he thinks, will be a
|
||
|
|
most effectual way both to prevent Laban's
|
||
|
|
cheating him and to secure himself from
|
||
|
|
being suspected of cheating Laban. Some
|
||
|
|
think he chose this colour because in Canaan
|
||
|
|
it was generally most desired and delighted
|
||
|
|
in; their shepherds in Canaan are called
|
||
|
|
<I>Nekohim</I>
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Am+1:1">Amos i. 1</A>),
|
||
|
|
the word here used for
|
||
|
|
<I>speckled;</I> and Laban was willing to consent
|
||
|
|
to this bargain because he thought if the few
|
||
|
|
he has that were now speckled and spotted
|
||
|
|
were separated from the rest, which by agreement
|
||
|
|
was to be done immediately, the body
|
||
|
|
of the flock which Jacob was to tend, being
|
||
|
|
of one colour, either all black or all white,
|
||
|
|
would produce few or none of mixed colours,
|
||
|
|
and so he should have Jacob's service for
|
||
|
|
nothing, or next to nothing. According to
|
||
|
|
this bargain, those few that were party-coloured
|
||
|
|
were separated, and put into the
|
||
|
|
hands of Laban's sons, and sent three days'
|
||
|
|
journey off; so great was Laban's jealously
|
||
|
|
lest any of them should mix with the rest of
|
||
|
|
the flock, to the advantage of Jacob. And
|
||
|
|
now a fine bargain Jacob has made for
|
||
|
|
himself! Is this his providing for his own
|
||
|
|
house, to put it upon such an uncertainty?
|
||
|
|
If these cattle bring forth, as usually cattle
|
||
|
|
do, young ones of the same colour with themselves,
|
||
|
|
he must still serve for nothing, and
|
||
|
|
be a drudge and a beggar all the days of his
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Page183"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
life; but he knows whom he has trusted, and
|
||
|
|
the event showed,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) That he took the best
|
||
|
|
way that could be taken with Laban, who
|
||
|
|
otherwise would certainly have been too hard
|
||
|
|
for him. And,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) That it was not in vain
|
||
|
|
to rely upon the divine providence, which
|
||
|
|
owns and blesses honest humble diligence.
|
||
|
|
Those that find men whom they deal with
|
||
|
|
unjust and unkind shall not find God so,
|
||
|
|
but, some way or other, he will recompense
|
||
|
|
the injured, and be a good pay-master to
|
||
|
|
those that commit their cause to him.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge30_37"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge30_38"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge30_39"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge30_40"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge30_41"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge30_42"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge30_43"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Jacob's Ingenious Policy.</I></FONT></TD>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1745.</TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>37 And Jacob took him rods of
|
||
|
|
green poplar, and of the hazel and
|
||
|
|
chesnut tree; and pilled white strakes
|
||
|
|
in them, and made the white appear
|
||
|
|
which <I>was</I> in the rods.
|
||
|
|
38 And he
|
||
|
|
set the rods which he had pilled before
|
||
|
|
the flocks in the gutters in the
|
||
|
|
watering troughs when the flocks came
|
||
|
|
to drink, that they should conceive
|
||
|
|
when they came to drink.
|
||
|
|
39 And
|
||
|
|
the flocks conceived before the rods,
|
||
|
|
and brought forth cattle ringstraked,
|
||
|
|
speckled, and spotted.
|
||
|
|
40 And Jacob
|
||
|
|
did separate the lambs, and set
|
||
|
|
the faces of the
|
||
|
|
flocks toward the ringstraked,
|
||
|
|
and all the brown in the flock
|
||
|
|
of Laban; and he put his own flocks
|
||
|
|
by themselves, and put them not unto
|
||
|
|
Laban's cattle.
|
||
|
|
41 And it came to
|
||
|
|
pass, whensoever the stronger cattle
|
||
|
|
did conceive, that Jacob laid the rods
|
||
|
|
before the eyes of the cattle in the gutters,
|
||
|
|
that they might conceive among
|
||
|
|
the rods.
|
||
|
|
42 But when the cattle
|
||
|
|
were feeble, he put <I>them</I> not in: so the
|
||
|
|
feebler were Laban's, and the stronger
|
||
|
|
Jacob's.
|
||
|
|
43 And the man increased
|
||
|
|
exceedingly, and had much cattle, and
|
||
|
|
maidservants, and menservants, and
|
||
|
|
camels, and asses.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Here is Jacob's honest policy to make his
|
||
|
|
bargain more advantageous to himself than
|
||
|
|
it was likely to be. If he had not taken
|
||
|
|
some course to help himself, it would have
|
||
|
|
been a bad bargain indeed, which he knew
|
||
|
|
Laban would never consider, or rather would
|
||
|
|
be well pleased to see him a loser by, so little
|
||
|
|
did Laban consult any one's interest but his
|
||
|
|
own. Now Jacob's contrivances were,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. To set peeled sticks before the cattle where
|
||
|
|
they were watered, that, looking much at
|
||
|
|
those unusual party-coloured sticks, by the
|
||
|
|
power of imagination they might bring forth
|
||
|
|
young ones in like manner party-coloured,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+30:37-39"><I>v.</I> 37-39</A>.
|
||
|
|
Probably this custom was commonly
|
||
|
|
used by the shepherds of Canaan,
|
||
|
|
who coveted to have their cattle of this
|
||
|
|
motley colour. Note, It becomes a man to
|
||
|
|
be master of his trade, whatever it is, and to
|
||
|
|
be not only industrious, but ingenious in it,
|
||
|
|
and to be versed in all its lawful arts and
|
||
|
|
mysteries; for what is a man but his trade?
|
||
|
|
There is a discretion which God teaches the
|
||
|
|
husbandman (as plain a trade as that is), and
|
||
|
|
which he ought to learn,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+28:26">Isa. xxviii. 26</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. When he began to have a stock of ringstraked
|
||
|
|
and brown, he contrived to set them
|
||
|
|
first, and to put the faces of the rest towards
|
||
|
|
them, with the same design as in the former
|
||
|
|
contrivance; but would not let his own, that
|
||
|
|
were of one colour,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+30:40"><I>v.</I> 40</A>.
|
||
|
|
Strong impressions,
|
||
|
|
it seems, are made by the eye, with
|
||
|
|
which therefore we have need to make a
|
||
|
|
covenant.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. When he found that his project
|
||
|
|
succeeded, through the special blessing
|
||
|
|
of God upon it, he contrived, by using it
|
||
|
|
only with the stronger cattle, to secure to
|
||
|
|
himself those that were most valuable, leaving
|
||
|
|
the feebler to Laban,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+30:41,42"><I>v.</I> 41, 42</A>.
|
||
|
|
Thus <I>Jacob
|
||
|
|
increased exceedingly</I>
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+30:43"><I>v.</I> 43</A>),
|
||
|
|
and grew very
|
||
|
|
rich in a little time. This success of his
|
||
|
|
policy, it is true, was not sufficient to justify
|
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it, if there had been any thing fraudulent or
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unjust in it, which we are sure there was
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not, for he did it by divine direction
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+31:12"><I>ch.</I> xxxi. 12</A>);
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nor was there any thing in the
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thing itself but the honest improvement of
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a fair bargain, which the divine providence
|
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wonderfully prospered, both in justice to
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Jacob whom Laban had wronged and dealt
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hardly with and in pursuance of the particular
|
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promises made to him of the tokens
|
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of the divine favour, Note, Those who,
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while their beginning is small, are humble
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|
and honest, contented and industrious, are
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|
in a likely way to see their latter end greatly
|
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|
increasing. He that is faithful in a little
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|
shall be entrusted with more. He that is
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|
faithful in that which is another man's shall
|
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|
be entrusted with something of his own.
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Jacob, who had been a just servant, became
|
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a rich master.</P>
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