Genesis 29

THen Jacob went Heb. List up his feet: which may note either the gesture of his Body, that he went on foot; or the temper of his mind, that he went not sadly and unwillingly, drawing his legs after him, as we use to say, but readily and chearfully, being encouraged by Gods word. on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east Which lay Eastward from Canaan, as Mesopotamia did..

And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it: for out of that well they watered The people belonging to that place watered; or the flocks were watered: It is an impersonal Speech. the flocks? and a great Stone was upon the wells mouth To preserve the water which was scarce in those parts and to keep it pure..

And thither were all the flocks gathered, and they rolled the stone from the wells mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the wells mouth in his place.

And Jacob said unto them, My brethren So he calls them partly in token of respect and affection; and partly because they were of the same nature and employment with himself., whence be ye? and they said, Of Haran are we.

And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.

And he said unto them, Is he well? and they said, He is well: and behold Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep According to the manner of those times, Exod. 2. 16. Cant. 1. 7, 8. when Humility, Innocency, Simplicity, and Industry were in fashion, both among Men and Women of great quality. There are some, that quarrel with the Scripture and question the truth of such relations, because they judge of the state of antient times and things, by the present age, whereby they discover great folly and deep ignorance of the state of former ages..

And he said, Loe, It is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together That they should be taken from their pasture and brought to be watered.: water ye the sheep, and go and feed them.

And they said, We cannot Either because of the greatness of the Stone which they could not remove till more help came: or rather because of the Custom, Order and Agreement made amongst themselves about it. We cannot, to wit, rightly, or we may not, as that word is used, Gen, 34, 14. and 43. 32. and 44. 26., untill all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the wells mouth: then we water the sheep.

And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her fathers sheep: for she kept them Having probably other Shepherds under her, who did the meaner Offices, whom she was to oversee.?

And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mothers brother, and the sheep of Laban his mothers brother; that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the wells mouth Either with the assistance of others; or, by himself, he being then strong and lusty and putting forth all his might before Rachel., and watered the flock of Laban his mothers brother.

And Jacob kissed Rachel As the custom of friends then was both at their first meeting, as ver. 13. and Gen. 33. 4. Exod. 4. 27. and 18. 7. and at their departure, as Ruth 1. 14. 1 Sam. 20. 41. 1 King. 19. 20., and lifted up his voice, and wept Tears of joy, like those Gen. 33. 4. at the gracious Providence of God to him, which had brought him safe to his desired place and so happily and strangely conducted him to that Person and Family which was so desirable and dear to him..

And Jacob told Rachel, that he was her fathers brother His near Kinsman, as that word is frequently used, as Gen. 13. 8. and 24. 27., and that he was Rebekah's son: and she ran, and told her father.

And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob The report of his Fathers Family, of the cause of his coming in so mean circumstances: of the occurrences in his journy, and of his providential meeting with Rachel at the well. his sisters son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house: and he told Laban all these things.

And Laban said surely thou art my bone, and my flesh Of the same bone and flesh with my self, by our common Grandfather Terah, and therefore art justly dear to me, and with me thou shalt be in safety. See the same or like expression, Gen. 2. 23. Iudg. 9. 2. 2 Sam. 19. 12, 13.; and he abode with him the space of a month.

And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?

And Laban had two daughters, the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.

Leah was tender eyed Her eyes were soft and moist and therefore unsightly., but Rachel was beautiful, and well favoured.

And Jacob loved Rachel, and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter It being then the custom for men to buy their Wives. See Gen. 34. 12. Exod. 22. 17. 1 Sam. 18. 25. 2 Sam. 3. 14. Hos. 3. 2..

And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, then that I should give her to another man An ambiguous and crafty answer, wherein he does not directly grant his desire, but only insmuates it in such terms as might hide his design, which the event showed.: abide with me.

And Jacob served seven years for Rachel: and they seemed unto him but a few days He speaks not of the time, which in such cases seems long, Prov. 13. 12. but of the service of that time which seemed but little and far below the worth of Rachel., for the love he had to her.

And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife So she was by Promise and Contract: Persons Betrothed or Espoused being oft called Wives in Scripture, as Matth. 1. 18, 19. Luke 2. 5. (for my days are fulfilled The seven years of service agreed upon, ver. 18.,) that I may go in unto her.

And Laban gathered together all the men of the place Kindred and Neighbours, according to the custom. See Iudg. 14. 10, 11. Iohn 2. 1, 2, &c. He gathered a great number together both that the Marriage might be more solemn and publick; and that Iacob might be overawed by their presence and Authority, and not dare to disanul the Marriage and reject Leah afterwards, which otherwise he might have done. and made a feast.

And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him, and he went in unto her The occasion of the deceit was the custom of those times, which was to bring the Bride to her Husband in the dark, and with a veil upon her face. See Gen. 24. 65. And Leah being instructed by her Father, and confederate with him in the deceit, was doubtless careful not to discover her self by speech or any other way to him..

And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah, Zilpah his maid, for an handmaid.

And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold it was Leah: and he said unto Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me Though Laban could not solidly answer the question, yet Iacob could do it, and had just cause to reflect upon his own former action of beguiling his Father, for which God had now punished him in the same kind.?

And Laban said, It must not be so done in our countrey This seems to be a false pretence; but if it had been true, custom is to give place to justice by which he was obliged to perform his contract with him., to give the younger before the first-born.

Fulfill her week The seven days usually devoted to the feast and solemnity of Marriage, as Iudg. 14. 12, 15, 17. And this he desired that a weeks cohabitation with Leah, might either knit his affections to her, or at lest confirm the Contract and Marriage with her., and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.

And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also It was not so strange that Laban should give, as that Iacob should take, not only two Wives, but two Sisters to Wife, which seems to be against the law of Nature, and was expresly forbidden by God afterward, Levit. 18. 18. Though it be also true that God might dispense with his own institution, or permit such things in the Patriarchs upon special reasons, which are not to be drawn into example..

And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah, his handmaid, to be her maid.

And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more then Leah; and served with him yet seven other years.

And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated Comparatively to Rachel, less loved, slighted. So that word is oft used, as Deut. 21. 15. Matth. 6. 24. and 10. 37. compated with Luke 14. 26. Iohn 12. 25., he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren Thus variously does God distribute his favours, that all may be contented, and none despised..

And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, surely the LORD has looked upon my affliction With an eye of pity and kindness, as that general phrase is oft understood.: now therefore my husband will love me.

And she conceived again, and bare a son: and said, Because the LORD has heard (i. e.) Perceived or understood; hearing being oft put for understanding. that I was hated, he has therefore given me this son also, and she called his name Simeon.

And she conceived again and bare a son: and said, Now this time will my husband be joyned unto me In more sincere and fervent affection., because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.

And she conceived again, and bare a son, and she said, Now will I praise the LORD More solemnly and continually: for otherwise she did praise and acknowledge God for the former mercies.: therefore she called his name Judah, and left bearing.