mh_parser/vol_split/1 - Genesis/Chapter 31.xml

<div2 id="Gen.xxxii" n="xxxii" next="Gen.xxxiii" prev="Gen.xxxi" progress="21.51%" title="Chapter XXXI">
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<h2 id="Gen.xxxii-p0.1">G E N E S I S</h2>
<h3 id="Gen.xxxii-p0.2">CHAP. XXXI.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Gen.xxxii-p1">Jacob was a very honest good man, a man of great
devotion and integrity, yet he had more trouble and vexation than
any of the patriarchs. He left his father's house in a fright, went
to his uncle's in distress, very hard usage he met with there, and
now is going back surrounded with fears. Here is, I. His resolution
to return, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.1-Gen.31.16" parsed="|Gen|31|1|31|16" passage="Ge 31:1-16">ver. 1-16</scripRef>. II.
His clandestine departure, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.17-Gen.31.21" parsed="|Gen|31|17|31|21" passage="Ge 31:17-21">ver.
17-21</scripRef>. III. Laban's pursuit of him in displeasure,
<scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.22-Gen.31.25" parsed="|Gen|31|22|31|25" passage="Ge 31:22-25">ver. 22-25</scripRef>. IV. The hot
words that passed between them, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.26-Gen.31.42" parsed="|Gen|31|26|31|42" passage="Ge 31:26-42">ver. 26-42</scripRef>. V. Their amicable agreement at
last, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.43-Gen.31.55" parsed="|Gen|31|43|31|55" passage="Ge 31:43-55">ver. 43</scripRef>,
&amp;c.).</p>
<scripCom id="Gen.xxxii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31" parsed="|Gen|31|0|0|0" passage="Ge 31" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Gen.xxxii-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.1-Gen.31.16" parsed="|Gen|31|1|31|16" passage="Ge 31:1-16" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Gen.31.1-Gen.31.16">
<h4 id="Gen.xxxii-p1.8">Jacob's Departure. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Gen.xxxii-p1.9">b. c.</span> 1739.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Gen.xxxii-p2">1 And he heard the words of Laban's sons,
saying, Jacob hath taken away all that <i>was</i> our father's; and
of <i>that</i> which <i>was</i> our father's hath he gotten all
this glory.   2 And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban,
and, behold, it <i>was</i> not toward him as before.   3 And
the <span class="smallcaps" id="Gen.xxxii-p2.1">Lord</span> said unto Jacob, Return
unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be
with thee.   4 And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to

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the field unto his flock,   5 And said
unto them, I see your father's countenance, that it <i>is</i> not
toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me.
  6 And ye know that with all my power I have served your
father.   7 And your father hath deceived me, and changed my
wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.   8 If
he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle
bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstraked shall be thy
hire; then bare all the cattle ringstraked.   9 Thus God hath
taken away the cattle of your father, and given <i>them</i> to me.
  10 And it came to pass at the time that the cattle
conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and,
behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle <i>were</i>
ringstraked, speckled, and grisled.   11 And the angel of God
spake unto me in a dream, <i>saying,</i> Jacob: And I said, Here
<i>am</i> I.   12 And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and
see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle <i>are</i>
ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban
doeth unto thee.   13 I <i>am</i> the God of Beth-el, where
thou anointedst the pillar, <i>and</i> where thou vowedst a vow
unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto
the land of thy kindred.   14 And Rachel and Leah answered and
said unto him, <i>Is there</i> yet any portion or inheritance for
us in our father's house?   15 Are we not counted of him
strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our
money.   16 For all the riches which God hath taken from our
father, that <i>is</i> ours, and our children's: now then,
whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxxii-p3">Jacob is here taking up a resolution
immediately to quit his uncle's service, to take what he had and go
back to Canaan. This resolution he took up upon a just provocation,
by divine direction, and with the advice and consent of his
wives.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxxii-p4">I. Upon a just provocation; for Laban and
his sons had become very cross and ill-natured towards him, so that
he could not stay among them with safety or satisfaction.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxxii-p5">1. Laban's sons showed their ill-will in
what they said, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.1" parsed="|Gen|31|1|0|0" passage="Ge 31:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>.
It should seem they said it in Jacob's hearing, with a design to
vex him. The last chapter began with Rachel's envying Leah; this
begins with Laban's sons envying Jacob. Observe, (1.) How greatly
they magnify Jacob's prosperity: <i>He has gotten all this
glory.</i> And what was this glory that they made so much ado
about? It was a parcel of brown sheep and speckled goats (and
perhaps the fine colours made them seem more glorious), and some
camels and asses, and such like trading; and this was <i>all this
glory.</i> Note, Riches are glorious things in the eyes of carnal
people, while to all those that are conversant with heavenly things
they have no glory in comparison with the glory which excelleth.
Men's over-valuing worldly wealth is that fundamental error which
is the root of covetousness, envy, and all evil. (2.) How basely
they reflect upon Jacob's fidelity, as if what he had he had not
gotten honestly: <i>Jacob has taken away all that was our
father's.</i> Not all, surely. What had become of those cattle
which were committed to the custody of Laban's sons, and sent
<i>three days' journey</i> off? <scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.30.35-Gen.30.36" parsed="|Gen|30|35|30|36" passage="Ge 30:35,36"><i>ch.</i> xxx. 35, 36</scripRef>. They mean all that
was committed to him; but, speaking invidiously, they express
themselves thus generally. Note, [1.] Those that are ever so
careful to keep a good conscience cannot always be sure of a good
name. [2.] This is one of the vanities and vexations which attend
outward prosperity, that it makes a man to be envied of his
neighbors (<scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Eccl.4.4" parsed="|Eccl|4|4|0|0" passage="Ec 4:4">Eccl. iv. 4</scripRef>), and
<i>who can stand before envy?</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p5.4" osisRef="Bible:Prov.27.4" parsed="|Prov|27|4|0|0" passage="Pr 27:4">Prov.
xxvii. 4</scripRef>. Whom Heaven blesses hell curses, and all its
children on earth.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxxii-p6">2. Laban himself said little, but his
countenance was not towards Jacob as it used to be; and Jacob could
not but take notice of it, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.2 Bible:Gen.31.5" parsed="|Gen|31|2|0|0;|Gen|31|5|0|0" passage="Ge 31:2,5"><i>v.</i>
2, 5</scripRef>. He was but a churl at the best, but now he was
more churlish than formerly. Note, Envy is a sin that often appears
in the countenance; hence we read of an <i>evil eye,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Prov.23.6" parsed="|Prov|23|6|0|0" passage="Pr 23:6">Prov. xxiii. 6</scripRef>. Sour looks may do a
great deal towards the ruin of peace and love in a family, and the
making of those uneasy of whose comfort we ought to be tender.
Laban's angry countenance lost him the greatest blessing his family
ever had, and justly.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxxii-p7">II. By divine direction and under the
convoy of a promise: <i>The Lord said unto Jacob, Return, and I
will be with thee,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.3" parsed="|Gen|31|3|0|0" passage="Ge 31:3"><i>v.</i>
3</scripRef>. Though Jacob had met with very hard usage here, yet
he would not quit his place till God bade him. He came thither by
orders from Heaven, and there he would stay till he was ordered
back. Note, It is our duty to set ourselves, and it will be our
comfort to see ourselves, under God's guidance, both in our going
out and in our coming in. The direction he had from Heaven is more
fully related in the account he gives of it to his wives (<scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.10-Gen.31.13" parsed="|Gen|31|10|31|13" passage="Ge 31:10-13"><i>v.</i> 10-13</scripRef>), where he tells
them of a dream he had about the cattle, and the wonderful increase
of those of his colour; and how the angel of God, in that dream
(for I suppose the

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dream spoken of <scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.10" parsed="|Gen|31|10|0|0" passage="Ge 31:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef> and that <scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.11" parsed="|Gen|31|11|0|0" passage="Ge 31:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef> to be the same), took
notice of the workings of his fancy in his sleep, and instructed
him, so that it was not by chance, or by his own policy, that he
obtained that great advantage; but, 1. By the providence of God,
who had taken notice of the hardships Laban had put upon him, and
took this way to recompense him: "<i>For I have seen all the Laban
doeth unto thee,</i> and herein I have an eye to that." Note, There
is more of equity in the distributions of the divine providence
than we are aware of, and by them the injured are recompensed
really, though perhaps insensibly. Nor was it only by the justice
of providence that Jacob was thus enriched, but, 2. In performance
of the promise intimated in what is said <scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p7.5" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.13" parsed="|Gen|31|13|0|0" passage="Ge 31:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>, <i>I am the God of Beth-el,</i>
This was the place where the covenant was renewed with him. Note,
Worldly prosperity and success are doubly sweet and comfortable
when we see them flowing, not from common providence, but from
covenant-love, <i>to perform the mercy promised</i>—when we have
them from God as <i>the God of Beth-el,</i> from those promises of
the life which now is that belonging to godliness. Jacob, even when he
had this hopeful prospect of growing rich with Laban, must think of
returning. When the world begins to smile upon us we must remember
it is not our home. <i>Now arise</i> (<scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p7.6" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.13" parsed="|Gen|31|13|0|0" passage="Ge 31:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>) <i>and return,</i> (1.) To thy
devotions in Canaan, the solemnities of which had perhaps been much
intermitted while he was with Laban. The times of this servitude
God had winked at; but now, "Return to the place where thou
anointedst the pillar and vowedst the vow. Now that thou beginnest
to grow rich it is time to think of an altar and sacrifices again."
(2.) To thy comforts in Canaan: <i>Return to the land of thy
kindred.</i> He was here among his near kindred; but those only he
must look upon as his kindred in the best sense, the kindred he
must live and die with, to whom pertained the covenant. Note, The
heirs of Canaan must never reckon themselves at home till they come
thither, however they may seem to take root here.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxxii-p8">III. With the knowledge and consent of his
wives. Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxxii-p9">1. He sent for Rachel and Leah to him to
the field (<scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.4" parsed="|Gen|31|4|0|0" passage="Ge 31:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>),
that he might confer with them more privately, or because one would
not come to the other's apartment and he would willingly talk with
them together, or because he had work to do in the field which he
would not leave. Note, Husbands that love their wives will
communicate their purposes and intentions to them. Where there is a
mutual affection there will be a mutual confidence. And the
prudence of the wife should engage the heart of her husband to
trust in her, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Prov.31.11" parsed="|Prov|31|11|0|0" passage="Pr 31:11">Prov. xxxi.
11</scripRef>. Jacob told his wives, (1.) How faithfully he had
served their father, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.6" parsed="|Gen|31|6|0|0" passage="Ge 31:6"><i>v.</i>
6</scripRef>. Note, If others do not do their duty to us, yet we
shall have the comfort of having done ours to them. (2.) How
unfaithfully their father had dealt with him <scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p9.4" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.7" parsed="|Gen|31|7|0|0" passage="Ge 31:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>. He would never keep to any
bargain that he made with him, but, after the first year, still as
he saw Providence favour Jacob with the colour agreed on, every
half year of the remaining five he changed it for some other
colour, which made it ten times; as if he thought not only to
deceive Jacob, but the divine Providence, which manifestly smiled
upon him. Note, Those that deal honestly are not always honestly
dealt with. (3.) How God had owned him notwithstanding. He had
protected him from Laban's ill-will: <i>God suffered him not to
hurt me.</i> Note, Those that keep close to God shall be kept
safely by him. He had also provided plentifully for him,
notwithstanding Laban's design to ruin him: <i>God has taken away
the cattle of your father, and given them to me,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p9.5" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.9" parsed="|Gen|31|9|0|0" passage="Ge 31:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>. Thus the righteous God
paid Jacob for his hard service out of Laban's estate; as
afterwards he paid the seed of Jacob for their serving the
Egyptians, with their spoils. Note, God is not unrighteous to
forget his people's work and labour of love, though men be so,
<scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p9.6" osisRef="Bible:Heb.6.10" parsed="|Heb|6|10|0|0" passage="Heb 6:10">Heb. vi. 10</scripRef>. Providence has
ways of making those honest in the event that are not so in their
design. Note, further, <i>The wealth of the sinner is laid up for
the just,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p9.7" osisRef="Bible:Prov.13.22" parsed="|Prov|13|22|0|0" passage="Pr 13:22">Prov. xiii.
22</scripRef>. (4.) He told them of the command God had given him,
in a dream, to return to his own country (<scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p9.8" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.13" parsed="|Gen|31|13|0|0" passage="Ge 31:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>), that they might not suspect
his resolution to arise from inconstancy, or any disaffection to
their country or family, but might see it to proceed from a
principle of obedience to his God, and dependence on him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxxii-p10">2. His wives cheerfully consented to his
resolution. They also brought forward their grievances, complaining
that their father had been not only unkind, but unjust, to them
(<scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.14-Gen.31.16" parsed="|Gen|31|14|31|16" passage="Ge 31:14-16"><i>v.</i> 14-16</scripRef>), that
he looked upon them as strangers, and was without natural affection
towards them; and, whereas Jacob had looked upon the wealth which
God had transferred from Laban to him as his wages, they looked
upon it as their portions; so that, both ways, God forced Laban to
pay his debts, both to his servant and to his daughters. So then it
seemed, (1.) They were weary of their own people and their father's
house, and could easily forget them. Note, This good use we should
make of the unkind usage we meet with from the world, we should sit
the more loose to it, and be willing to leave it and desirous to be
at home. (2.) They were willing to go along with their husband, and
put themselves with him under the divine direction: <i>Whatsoever
God hath said unto thee do.</i> Note, Those wives that are their
husband's meet helps will never be their hindrances in doing that
to which God calls them.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Gen.xxxii-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.17-Gen.31.24" parsed="|Gen|31|17|31|24" passage="Ge 31:17-24" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Gen.31.17-Gen.31.24">
<p class="passage" id="Gen.xxxii-p11">17 Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his
wives upon camels;

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  18 And he carried
away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the
cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padan-aram, for to go
to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan.   19 And Laban went
to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that
<i>were</i> her father's.   20 And Jacob stole away unawares
to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled.  
21 So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over
the river, and set his face <i>toward</i> the mount Gilead.  
22 And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled.
  23 And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him
seven days' journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead.
  24 And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and
said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good
or bad.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxxii-p12">Here is, I. Jacob's flight from Laban. We
may suppose he had been long considering of it, and casting about
in his mind respecting it; but when now, at last, God had given him
positive orders to go, he made no delay, nor was he disobedient to
the heavenly vision. The first opportunity that offered itself he
laid hold of, when Laban was shearing his sheep (<scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.19" parsed="|Gen|31|19|0|0" passage="Ge 31:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>), that part of his flock which
was in the hands of his sons three days' journey off. Now, 1. It is
certain that it was lawful for Jacob to leave his service suddenly,
without giving a quarter's warning. It was not only justified by
the particular instructions God gave him, but warranted by the
fundamental law of self-preservation, which directs us, when we are
in danger, to shift for our own safety, as far as we can do it
without wronging our consciences. 2. It was his prudence to steal
away unawares to Laban, lest, if Laban had known, he should have
hindered him or plundered him. 3. It was honestly done to take no
more than his own with him, the <i>cattle of his getting,</i>
<scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.18" parsed="|Gen|31|18|0|0" passage="Ge 31:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>. He took what
Providence gave him, and was content with that, and would not take
the repair of his damages into his own hands. Yet Rachel was not so
honest as her husband; she <i>stole her father's images</i>
(<scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p12.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.19" parsed="|Gen|31|19|0|0" passage="Ge 31:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>) and carried
them away with her. The Hebrew calls them <i>teraphim.</i> Some
think they were only little representations of the ancestors of the
family, in statues or pictures, which Rachel had a particular
fondness for, and was desirous to have with her, now that she was
going into another country. It should rather seem that they were
images for a religious use, <i>penates, household-gods,</i> either
worshipped or consulted as oracles; and we are willing to hope
(with bishop Patrick) that she took them away not out of
covetousness of the rich metal they were made of, much less for her
own use, or out of any superstitious fear lest Laban, by consulting
his <i>teraphim,</i> might know which way they had gone (Jacob, no
doubt, dwelt with his wives as a man of knowledge, and they were
better taught than so), but out of a design hereby to convince her
father of the folly of his regard to those as gods which could not
secure themselves, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p12.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.46.1-Isa.46.2" parsed="|Isa|46|1|46|2" passage="Isa 46:1,2">Isa. xlvi. 1,
2</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxxii-p13">II. Laban's pursuit of Jacob. Tidings were
brought him, on the third day, that Jacob had fled; he immediately
raises the whole clan, takes his brethren, that is, the relations
of his family, that were all in his interests, and pursues Jacob
(as Pharaoh and his Egyptians afterwards pursued the seed of
Jacob), to bring him back into bondage again, or with design to
strip him of what he had. Seven days' journey he marched in pursuit
of him, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.23" parsed="|Gen|31|23|0|0" passage="Ge 31:23"><i>v.</i> 23</scripRef>. He
would not have taken half the pains to have visited his best
friends. But the truth is bad men will do more to serve their
sinful passions than good men will to serve their just affections,
and are more vehement in their anger than in their love. Well, at
length Laban, overtook him, and the very night before he came up
with him God interposed in the quarrel, rebuked Laban and sheltered
Jacob, charging Laban not to <i>speak unto him either good or
bad</i> (<scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.24" parsed="|Gen|31|24|0|0" passage="Ge 31:24"><i>v.</i> 24</scripRef>),
that is, to say nothing against his going on with his journey, for
that it proceeded from the Lord. The same Hebraism we have,
<scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.24.50" parsed="|Gen|24|50|0|0" passage="Ge 24:50"><i>ch.</i> xxiv. 50</scripRef>. Laban,
during his seven day's march, had been full of rage against Jacob,
and was now full of hopes that his lust should be satisfied upon
him (<scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p13.4" osisRef="Bible:Exod.15.9" parsed="|Exod|15|9|0|0" passage="Ex 15:9">Exod. xv. 9</scripRef>); but God
comes to him, and with one word ties his hands, though he does not
turn his heart. Note, 1. In a dream, and in slumberings upon the
bed, God has ways of opening the <i>ears of men, and sealing their
instruction,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p13.5" osisRef="Bible:Job.33.15-Job.33.16" parsed="|Job|33|15|33|16" passage="Job 33:15,16">Job xxxiii. 15,
16</scripRef>. Thus he admonishes men by their consciences, in
secret whispers, which the man of wisdom will hear and heed. 2. The
safety of good men is very much owing to the hold God has of the
consciences of bad men and the access he has to them. 3. God
sometimes appears wonderfully for the deliverance of his people
when they are upon the very brink of ruin. The Jews were saved from
Haman's plot when the king's decree drew hear to be put in
execution, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p13.6" osisRef="Bible:Esth.9.1" parsed="|Esth|9|1|0|0" passage="Es 9:1">Esth. ix. 1</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Gen.xxxii-p13.7" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.25-Gen.31.35" parsed="|Gen|31|25|31|35" passage="Ge 31:25-35" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Gen.31.25-Gen.31.35">
<h4 id="Gen.xxxii-p13.8">Laban's Pursuit after Jacob. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Gen.xxxii-p13.9">b. c.</span> 1739.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Gen.xxxii-p14">25 Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had
pitched his tent in the mount: and Laban with his brethren pitched
in the mount of Gilead.   26 And Laban said to Jacob, What
hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and
carried away my daughters, as captives <i>taken</i> with the

<pb id="Gen.xxxii-Page_187" n="187"/>

sword?   27 Wherefore didst thou flee away
secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I
might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret,
and with harp?   28 And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons
and my daughters? thou hast now done foolishly in <i>so</i> doing.
  29 It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God
of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed
that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.   30 And now,
<i>though</i> thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore
longedst after thy father's house, <i>yet</i> wherefore hast thou
stolen my gods?   31 And Jacob answered and said to Laban,
Because I was afraid: for I said, Peradventure thou wouldest take
by force thy daughters from me.   32 With whomsoever thou
findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern
thou what <i>is</i> thine with me, and take <i>it</i> to thee. For
Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them.   33 And Laban
went into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the two
maidservants' tents; but he found <i>them</i> not. Then went he out
of Leah's tent, and entered into Rachel's tent.   34 Now
Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel's furniture,
and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found
<i>them</i> not.   35 And she said to her father, Let it not
displease my lord that I cannot rise up before thee; for the custom
of women <i>is</i> upon me. And he searched, but found not the
images.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxxii-p15">We have here the reasoning, not to say the
rallying, that took place between Laban and Jacob at their meeting,
in that mountain which was afterwards called <i>Gilead,</i>
<scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.25" parsed="|Gen|31|25|0|0" passage="Ge 31:25"><i>v.</i> 25</scripRef>. Here is,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxxii-p16">I. The high charge which Laban exhibited
against him. He accuses him,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxxii-p17">1. As a renegade that had unjustly deserted
his service. To represent Jacob as a criminal, he will have it
thought that he intended kindness to his daughters (<scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.27-Gen.31.28" parsed="|Gen|31|27|31|28" passage="Ge 31:27,28"><i>v.</i> 27, 28</scripRef>), that he would
have dismissed them with all the marks of love and honour that
could be, that he would have made a solemn business of it, would
have kissed his little grandchildren (and that was all he would
have given them), and, according to the foolish custom of the
country, would have sent them away <i>with mirth, and with songs,
with tabret, and with harp:</i> not as Rebekah was sent away out of
the same family, above 120 years before, with prayers and blessings
(<scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p17.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.24.60" parsed="|Gen|24|60|0|0" passage="Ge 24:60"><i>ch.</i> xxiv. 60</scripRef>), but
with sport and merriment, which was a sign that religion had very
much decayed in the family, and that they had lost their
seriousness. However, he pretends they would have been treated with
respect at parting. Note, It is common for bad men, when they are
disappointed in their malicious projects, to pretend that they
designed nothing but what was kind and fair. When they cannot do
the mischief they intended, they are loth it should be thought that
they ever did intend it. When they have not done what they should
have done they come off with this excuse, that they would have done
it. Men may thus be deceived, but God cannot. He likewise suggests
that Jacob had some bad design in stealing away thus (<scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p17.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.26" parsed="|Gen|31|26|0|0" passage="Ge 31:26"><i>v.</i> 26</scripRef>), that he took his wives
away as captives. Note, Those that mean ill themselves are most apt
to put the worst construction upon what others do innocently. The
insinuating and the aggravating of faults are the artifices of a
designing malice, and those must be represented (though never so
unjustly) as intending ill against whom ill is intended. Upon the
whole matter, (1.) He boasts of his own power (<scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p17.4" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.29" parsed="|Gen|31|29|0|0" passage="Ge 31:29"><i>v.</i> 29</scripRef>): <i>It is in the power of my
hand to do you hurt.</i> He supposes that he had both right on his
side (<i>a good action,</i> as we say, against Jacob) and
<i>strength</i> on his side, either to avenge the wrong or recover
the right. Note, Bad people commonly value themselves much upon
their power to do hurt, whereas a power to do good is much more
valuable. Those that will do nothing to make themselves amiable
love to be thought formidable. And yet, (2.) He owns himself under
the check and restraint of God's power; and, though it redounds
much to the credit and comfort of Jacob, he cannot avoid telling
him the caution God had given him the night before in a dream,
<i>Speak not to Jacob good nor bad.</i> Note, As God has all wicked
instruments in a chain, so when he pleases he can make them
sensible of it, and force them to own it to his praise, as
protector of the good, as Balaam did. Or we may look upon this as
an instance of some conscientious regard felt by Laban for God's
express prohibitions. As bad as he was he durst not injure one whom
he saw to be the particular care of Heaven. Note, A great deal of
mischief would be prevented if men would but attend to the caveats
which their own consciences give them in slumberings upon the bed,
and regard the voice of God in them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxxii-p18">2. As a thief, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.30" parsed="|Gen|31|30|0|0" passage="Ge 31:30"><i>v.</i> 30</scripRef>. Rather than own that he had
given him any colour of provocation to depart, he is willing to
impute it to a foolish fondness for his father's house, which made
him that he would needs begone; but then (says he) <i>wherefore
hast thou

<pb id="Gen.xxxii-Page_188" n="188"/>

stolen my gods?</i> Foolish man!
to call those his gods that could be stolen! Could he expect
protection from those that could neither resist nor discover their
invaders? Happy are those who have the Lord for their God, for they
have a God that they cannot be robbed of. Enemies may steal our
goods, but not our God. Here Laban lays to Jacob's charge things
that he knew not, the common distress of oppressed innocency.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxxii-p19">II. Jacob's apology for himself. Those that
commit their cause to God, yet are not forbidden to plead it
themselves with meekness and fear. 1. As to the charge of stealing
away his own wives he clears himself by giving the true reason why
he went away unknown to Laban, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.31" parsed="|Gen|31|31|0|0" passage="Ge 31:31"><i>v.</i> 31</scripRef>. He feared lest Laban would by
force take away his daughters, and so oblige him, by the bond of
his affection to his wives, to continue in his service. Note, Those
that are unjust in the least, it may be suspected, will be unjust
also in much, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p19.2" osisRef="Bible:Luke.16.10" parsed="|Luke|16|10|0|0" passage="Lu 16:10">Luke xvi. 10</scripRef>.
If Laban deceive Jacob in his wages, it is likely he will make no
conscience of robbing him of his wives, and putting those asunder
whom God has joined together. What may not be feared from men that
have no principle of honesty? 2. As to the charge of stealing
Laban's gods he pleads not guilty, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p19.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.32" parsed="|Gen|31|32|0|0" passage="Ge 31:32"><i>v.</i> 32</scripRef>. He not only did not take them
himself (he was not so fond of them), but he did not know that they
were taken. Yet perhaps he spoke too hastily and inconsiderately
when he said, "Whoever had taken them, <i>let him not live;</i>"
upon this he might reflect with some bitterness when, not long
after, Rachel who had taken them died suddenly in travail. How just
soever we think ourselves to be, it is best to forbear
imprecations, lest they fall heavier than we imagine.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxxii-p20">III. The diligent search Laban made for his
gods (<scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.33-Gen.31.35" parsed="|Gen|31|33|31|35" passage="Ge 31:33-35"><i>v.</i> 33-35</scripRef>),
partly out of hatred to Jacob, whom he would gladly have an
occasion to quarrel with, partly out of love to his idols, which he
was loth to part with. We do not find that he searched Jacob's
flocks for stolen cattle; but he searched his furniture for stolen
gods. He was of Micah's mind, <i>You have taken away my gods, and
what have I more?</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p20.2" osisRef="Bible:Judg.18.24" parsed="|Judg|18|24|0|0" passage="Jdg 18:24">Judg. xviii.
24</scripRef>. Were the worshippers of false gods so set upon their
idols? did they thus walk in the name of their gods? and shall not
we be as solicitous in our enquires after the true God? When he has
justly departed from us, how carefully should we ask, <i>Where is
God my Maker? O that I knew where I might find him!</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p20.3" osisRef="Bible:Job.23.3" parsed="|Job|23|3|0|0" passage="Job 23:3">Job xxiii. 3</scripRef>. Laban, after all his
searches, missed of finding his gods, and was baffled in his
enquiry with a sham; but our God will not only by found of those
that seek him, but they shall find him their bountiful
rewarder.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Gen.xxxii-p20.4" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.36-Gen.31.42" parsed="|Gen|31|36|31|42" passage="Ge 31:36-42" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Gen.31.36-Gen.31.42">
<p class="passage" id="Gen.xxxii-p21">36 And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban:
and Jacob answered and said to Laban, What <i>is</i> my trespass?
what <i>is</i> my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued after me?
  37 Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff, what hast thou
found of all thy household stuff? set <i>it</i> here before my
brethren and thy brethren, that they may judge betwixt us both.
  38 This twenty years <i>have</i> I <i>been</i> with thee;
thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams
of thy flock have I not eaten.   39 That which was torn <i>of
beasts</i> I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my
hand didst thou require it, <i>whether</i> stolen by day, or stolen
by night.   40 <i>Thus</i> I was; in the day the drought
consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from
mine eyes.   41 Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I
served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for
thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times.   42
Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of
Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty.
God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and
rebuked <i>thee</i> yesternight.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxxii-p22">See in these verses,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxxii-p23">I. The power of provocation. Jacob's
natural temper was mild and calm, and grace had improved it; he was
a smooth man, and a plain man; and yet Laban's unreasonable
carriage towards him put him into a heat that transported him into
a heat that transported him into some vehemence, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p23.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.36-Gen.31.37" parsed="|Gen|31|36|31|37" passage="Ge 31:36,37"><i>v.</i> 36, 37</scripRef>. His chiding with Laban,
though it may admit of some excuse, was not justifiable, nor is it
written for our imitation. Grievous words stir up anger, and
commonly do but make bad worse. It is a very great affront to one
that bears an honest mind to be charged with dishonesty, and yet
even this we must learn to bear with patience, committing our cause
to God.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxxii-p24">II. The comfort of a good conscience. This
was Jacob's rejoicing, that when Laban accused him his own
conscience acquitted him, and witnessed for him that he had been in
all things willing and careful to live honestly, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p24.1" osisRef="Bible:Heb.13.18" parsed="|Heb|13|18|0|0" passage="Heb 13:18">Heb. xiii. 18</scripRef>. Note, Those that in any
employment have dealt faithfully, if they cannot obtain the credit
of it with men, yet shall have the comfort of it in their own
bosoms.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxxii-p25">III. The character of a good servant, and
particularly of a faithful shepherd. Jacob had approved himself
such a one, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p25.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.38-Gen.31.40" parsed="|Gen|31|38|31|40" passage="Ge 31:38-40"><i>v.</i>
38-40</scripRef>. 1. He was very careful, so that, through his

<pb id="Gen.xxxii-Page_189" n="189"/>

oversight or neglect, the ewes did not cast
their young. His piety also procured a blessing upon his master's
effects that were under his hands. Note, Servants should take no
less care of what they are entrusted with for their masters than if
they were entitled to it as their own. 2. He was very honest, and
took none of that for his own eating which was not allowed him. He
contented himself with mean fare, and coveted not to feast upon the
rams of the flock. Note, Servants must not be dainty in their food,
nor covet what is forbidden them, but in that, and other instances,
show all good fidelity. 3. He was very laborious, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p25.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.40" parsed="|Gen|31|40|0|0" passage="Ge 31:40"><i>v.</i> 40</scripRef>. He stuck to his
business, all weathers; and bore both heat and cold with invincible
patience. Note, Men of business, that intend to make something of
it, must resolve to endure hardness. Jacob is here an example to
ministers; they also are shepherds, of whom it is required that
they be true to their trust and willing to take pains.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxxii-p26">IV. The character of a hard master. Laban
had been such a one to Jacob. Those are bad masters, 1. Who exact
from their servants that which is unjust, by obliging them to make
good that which is not damaged by any default of theirs. This Laban
did, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p26.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.39" parsed="|Gen|31|39|0|0" passage="Ge 31:39"><i>v.</i> 39</scripRef>. Nay, if
there has been a neglect, yet it is unjust to punish above the
proportion of the fault. That may be an inconsiderable damage to
the master which would go near to ruin a poor servant. 2. Those
also are bad masters who deny to their servants that which is just
and equal. This Laban did, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p26.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.41" parsed="|Gen|31|41|0|0" passage="Ge 31:41"><i>v.</i>
41</scripRef>. It was unreasonable for him to make Jacob serve for
his daughters, when he had in reversion so great an estate secured
to him by the promise of God himself; as it was also to give him
his daughters without portions, when it was in the power of his
hands to do well for them. Thus he robbed the poor because he was
poor, as he did also by changing his wages.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxxii-p27">V. The care of providence for the
protection of injured innocence, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p27.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.42" parsed="|Gen|31|42|0|0" passage="Ge 31:42"><i>v.</i> 42</scripRef>. God took cognizance of the
wrong done to Jacob, and repaid him whom Laban would otherwise have
sent empty away, and rebuked Laban, who otherwise would have
swallowed him up. Note, God is the patron of the oppressed; and
those who are wronged and yet not ruined, cast down and yet not
destroyed, must acknowledge him in their preservation and give him
the glory of it. Observe, 1. Jacob speaks of God as the God of his
father, intimating that he thought himself unworthy to be thus
regarded, but was beloved for the father's sake. 2. He calls him
the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac; for Abraham was dead,
and had gone to that world where perfect love casts out fear; but
Isaac was yet alive, sanctifying the Lord in his heart, as his fear
and his dread.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Gen.xxxii-p27.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.43-Gen.31.55" parsed="|Gen|31|43|31|55" passage="Ge 31:43-55" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Gen.31.43-Gen.31.55">
<h4 id="Gen.xxxii-p27.3">Jacob's Covenant with Laban. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Gen.xxxii-p27.4">b. c.</span> 1739.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Gen.xxxii-p28">43 And Laban answered and said unto Jacob,
<i>These</i> daughters <i>are</i> my daughters, and <i>these</i>
children <i>are</i> my children, and <i>these</i> cattle <i>are</i>
my cattle, and all that thou seest <i>is</i> mine: and what can I
do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which
they have born?   44 Now therefore come thou, let us make a
covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and
thee.   45 And Jacob took a stone, and set it up <i>for</i> a
pillar.   46 And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather stones;
and they took stones, and made an heap: and they did eat there upon
the heap.   47 And Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha: but Jacob
called it Galeed.   48 And Laban said, This heap <i>is</i> a
witness between me and thee this day. Therefore was the name of it
called Galeed;   49 And Mizpah; for he said, The <span class="smallcaps" id="Gen.xxxii-p28.1">Lord</span> watch between me and thee, when we are
absent one from another.   50 If thou shalt afflict my
daughters, or if thou shalt take <i>other</i> wives beside my
daughters, no man <i>is</i> with us; see, God <i>is</i> witness
betwixt me and thee.   51 And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this
heap, and behold <i>this</i> pillar, which I have cast betwixt me
and thee;   52 This heap <i>be</i> witness, and <i>this</i>
pillar <i>be</i> witness, that I will not pass over this heap to
thee, and that thou shalt not pass over this heap and this pillar
unto me, for harm.   53 The God of Abraham, and the God of
Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us. And Jacob sware
by the fear of his father Isaac.   54 Then Jacob offered
sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and
they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount.   55
And early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his
daughters, and blessed them: and Laban departed, and returned unto
his place.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxxii-p29">We have here the compromising of the matter
between Laban and Jacob. Laban had nothing to say in reply to
Jacob's remonstrance: he could neither justify himself nor condemn
Jacob, but was convicted by his own conscience of the wrong he had
done him; and therefore desires to hear no more of the matter He is
not willing to own himself in a fault, nor to ask Jacob's
forgiveness,

<pb id="Gen.xxxii-Page_190" n="190"/>

and make him satisfaction, as
he ought to have done. But,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxxii-p30">I. He turns it off with a profession of
kindness for Jacob's wives and children (<scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p30.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.43" parsed="|Gen|31|43|0|0" passage="Ge 31:43"><i>v.</i> 43</scripRef>): <i>These daughters are my
daughters.</i> When he cannot excuse what he has done, he does, in
effect, own what he should have done; he should have treated them
as his own, but he had counted them as strangers, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p30.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.15" parsed="|Gen|31|15|0|0" passage="Ge 31:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>. Note, It is common for
those who are without natural affection to pretend much to it when
it will serve a turn. Or perhaps Laban said this in a vain-glorious
say, as one that loved to talk big, and use great swelling words of
vanity: "All that thou seest is mine." It was not so, it was all
Jacob's, and he had paid dearly for it; yet Jacob let him have his
saying, perceiving him coming into a better humour. Note, Property
lies near the hearts of worldly people. They love to boast of it,
"This is mine, and the other is mine," as Nabal, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p30.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.11" parsed="|1Sam|25|11|0|0" passage="1Sa 25:11">1 Sam. xxv. 11</scripRef>, <i>my bread and my
water.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxxii-p31">II. He proposes a covenant of friendship
between them, to which Jacob readily agrees, without insisting upon
Laban's submission, much less his restitution. Note, When quarrels
happen, we should be willing to be friends again upon any terms:
peace and love are such valuable jewels that we can scarcely buy
them too dearly. Better sit down losers than go on in strife. Now
observe here,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxxii-p32">1. The substance of this covenant. Jacob
left it wholly to Laban to settle it. The tenour of it was, (1.)
That Jacob should be a good husband to his wives, that he should
not afflict them, nor marry other wives besides them, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p32.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.50" parsed="|Gen|31|50|0|0" passage="Ge 31:50"><i>v.</i> 50</scripRef>. Jacob had never given
him any cause to suspect that he would be any other than a kind
husband; yet, as if he had, he was willing to come under this
engagement. Though Laban had afflicted them himself, yet he will
bind Jacob that he shall not afflict them. Note, Those that are
injurious themselves are commonly most jealous of others, and those
that do not do their own duty are most peremptory in demanding duty
from others. (2.) That he should never be a bad neighbour to Laban,
<scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p32.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.52" parsed="|Gen|31|52|0|0" passage="Ge 31:52"><i>v.</i> 52</scripRef>. It was agreed
that no act of hostility should ever pass between them, that Jacob
should forgive and forget all the wrongs he had received and not
remember them against Laban or his family in after-times. Note, We
may resent an injury which yet we may not revenge.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxxii-p33">2. The ceremony of this covenant. It was
made and ratified with great solemnity, according to the usages of
those times. (1.) A pillar was erected (<scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p33.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.45" parsed="|Gen|31|45|0|0" passage="Ge 31:45"><i>v.</i> 45</scripRef>), and a heap of stones raised
(<scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p33.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.46" parsed="|Gen|31|46|0|0" passage="Ge 31:46"><i>v.</i> 46</scripRef>), to
perpetuate the memory or the thing, the way of recording agreements
by writing being then either not known or not used. (2.) A
sacrifice was offered (<scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p33.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.54" parsed="|Gen|31|54|0|0" passage="Ge 31:54"><i>v.</i>
54</scripRef>), a sacrifice of peace-offerings. Note, Our peace
with God is that which puts true comfort into our peace with our
friends. If parties contend, the reconciliation of both to him will
facilitate their reconciliation one to another. (3.) They did eat
bread together (<scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p33.4" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.46" parsed="|Gen|31|46|0|0" passage="Ge 31:46"><i>v.</i>
46</scripRef>), jointly partaking of the feast upon the sacrifice,
<scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p33.5" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.54" parsed="|Gen|31|54|0|0" passage="Ge 31:54"><i>v.</i> 54</scripRef>. This was in
token of a hearty reconciliation. Covenants of friendship were
anciently ratified by the parties eating and drinking together. It
was in the nature of a love-feast. (4.) They solemnly appealed to
God concerning their sincerity herein, [1.] As a witness (<scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p33.6" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.49" parsed="|Gen|31|49|0|0" passage="Ge 31:49"><i>v.</i> 49</scripRef>): <i>The Lord watch
between me and thee,</i> that is, "The Lord take cognizance of
every thing that shall be done on either side in violation of this
league. When we are out of one another's sight, let his be a
restraint upon us, that wherever we are we are under God's eye."
This appeal is convertible into a prayer. Friends at a distance
from each other may take the comfort of this, that when they cannot
know or succour one another God watches between them, and has his
eye on them both. [2.] As a Judge, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p33.7" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.53" parsed="|Gen|31|53|0|0" passage="Ge 31:53"><i>v.</i> 53</scripRef>. <i>The God of Abraham</i> (from
whom Jacob descended), <i>and the God of Nahor</i> (from whom Laban
descended), <i>the God of their father</i> (the common ancestor,
form whom they both descended), <i>judge betwixt us.</i> God's
relation to them is thus expressed to intimate that they worshipped
one and the same God, upon which consideration there ought to be no
enmity between them. Note, Those that have one God should have one
heart: those that agree in religion should strive to agree in every
thing else. God is Judge between contending parties, and he will
judge righteously; whoever does wrong, it is at his peril. (5.)
They gave a new name to the place, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p33.8" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.47-Gen.31.48" parsed="|Gen|31|47|31|48" passage="Ge 31:47,48"><i>v.</i> 47, 48</scripRef>. Laban called it in
Syriac, and Jacob in Hebrew, <i>the heap of witness;</i> and
(<scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p33.9" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.49" parsed="|Gen|31|49|0|0" passage="Ge 31:49"><i>v.</i> 49</scripRef>) it was
called <i>Mizpah, a watch-tower.</i> Posterity being included in
the league, care was taken that thus the memory of it should be
preserved. These names are applicable to the seals of the gospel
covenant, which are witnesses to us if we be faithful, but
witnesses to us if we be faithful, but witnesses against us if we
be false. The name Jacob gave this heap (<i>Galeed</i>) stuck by
it, not the name Laban gave it. In all this rencounter, Laban was
noisy and full of words, affecting to say much; Jacob was silent,
and said little. When Laban appealed to God under many titles,
Jacob only <i>swore by the fear of his father Isaac,</i> that is,
the God whom his father Isaac feared, who had never served other
gods, as Abraham and Nahor had done. Two words of Jacob's were more
memorable than all Laban's speeches and vain repetitions: <i>for
the words of wise men are heard in quiet, more than the cry of him
that ruleth among fools,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p33.10" osisRef="Bible:Eccl.9.17" parsed="|Eccl|9|17|0|0" passage="Ec 9:17">Eccl. ix.
17</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxxii-p34"><i>Lastly,</i> After all this angry parley,
they part friends, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxii-p34.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.55" parsed="|Gen|31|55|0|0" passage="Ge 31:55"><i>v.</i>
55</scripRef>. Laban very affectionately <i>kissed his sons and his
daughters, and blessed them,</i> and then went back in peace. Note,
God is often better to us than our fears, and strangely overrules
the spirits of men in our favour, beyond what we could

<pb id="Gen.xxxii-Page_191" n="191"/>

have expected; for it is not in vain to trust in
him.</p>
</div></div2>