Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 1.djvu/189

Rh address, without her father's knowledge and approbation, v. 12. These mutual respects, at their first interview, were good presages of their being a happy couple. 3. Providence made that which seemed contingent and fortuitous, to give speedy satisfaction to Jacob's mind, as soon as ever he came to the place which he was bound for. Abraham's servant, when he came upon a like errand, met with the like encouragement. Thus God guides his people with his eye, Ps. 32. 8. It is a groundless conceit which some of the Jewish writers have, that Jacob, when he kissed Rachel, wept because he had been set upon in his journey by Eliphaz the eldest son of Esau, at the command of his father, and robbed of all his money and jewels, which his mother had given him when she sent him away: it is plain that it was his passion for Rachel, and the surprise of this happy meeting, that drew these tears from his eyes. 4. Laban, though none of the best humoured men, bid him welcome, was satisfied in the account he gave of himself, and of the reason of his coming in such poor circumstances; while we avoid the extreme, on the one hand, of being foolishly credulous, we must take heed of falling into the other extreme, of being uncharitably jealous and suspicious. Laban owned him for his kinsman, (v. 14.) Thou art my bone and my flesh. Note, Those are hard-hearted indeed, that are unkind to their relations, and that hide themselves from their own flesh, Isa. 58. 7.

15. And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for naught? Tell me, what shall thy wages be? 16. And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17. Leah was tender-eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well-favoured. 18. And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. 19. And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me. 20. And Jacob served seven years for Rachel: and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. 21. And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. 22. And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. 23. And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. 24. And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid, for an hand-maid. 25. And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? Did not I serve with thee for Rachel? Wherefore then hast thou beguiled me? 26. And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the first-born. 27. Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. 28. And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. 29. And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid. 30. And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

Here is,

I. The fair contract made between Laban and Jacob, during the month that Jacob spent there as a guest, v. 14. It seems, he was not idle, nor did he spend his time in sport and pastime; but, like a man of business, though he had no stock of his own, he applied himself to serve his uncle, as he had begun, (v. 10. ) when he watered his flock. Note, Wherever we are, it is good to be employing ourselves in some useful business, which will turn to a good account to ourselves or others. Laban, it seems, was so taken with Jacob's ingenuity and industry about his flocks, that he was desirous he should continue with him, and very fairly reasons thus, (v. 15.) "Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for naught? No, what reason for that?" If Jacob be so respectful to his uncle as to give him his service without demanding any consideration for it, yet Laban will not be so unjust to his nephew as to take advantage either of his necessity or of his good-nature. Note, Inferior relations must not be imposed upon; if it be their duty to serve us, it is our duty to reward them. Now Jacob had a fair opportunity to make known to Laban the affection he had for his daughter Rachel; and, having no worldly goods in his hand with which to endow her, he promises him seven years' service, upon condition that, at the end of seven years, he would bestow her upon him for his wife. It appears by computation that Jacob was now 77 years old when he bound himself apprentice for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep, Hos. 12. 12. His posterity are there reminded of it long afterward, as an instance of the meanness of their original: probably, Rachel was young, and scarcely marriageable, when Jacob first came, which made him the more willing to stay for her till his seven years' service were expired.

II. Jacob's honest performance of his part of the bargain, v. 20. He served seven years for Rachel: if Rachel still continued to keep her father's sheep as she did, (v. 9. ) his innocent and religious conversation with her, while they kept the flocks, could not but increase their mutual acquaintance and affection; (Solomon's song of love is a pastoral;) if she now left it off, his easing her of that care was very obliging. Jacob honestly served out his seven years, and did not forfeit his indentures, though he was old; nay, he served them cheerfully, they seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had to her. As if it was more his desire to earn her than to have her. Note, Love makes long and hard services short and easy; hence we read of the labour of love, Heb. 6. 10. If we know how to value the happiness of heaven, the sufferings of this present time will be as nothing to us, in comparison of it. An age of work will be but as a few days to those that love God, and long for Christ's appearing.

III. The base cheat which Laban put upon him when he was out of his time; he put Leah into his arms instead of Rachel, v. 23. This was Laban's sin; he wronged both Jacob and Rachel, whose affections, doubtless, were engaged to each other, and if (as some say) Leah was herein no better than an adulteress, it was no small wrong to her too. But it was Jacob's affliction, a damp to the mirth of the marriage-feast, when in the morning, behold, it was Leah, v. 25. It is easy to observe here how Jacob was paid in his own coin. He had cheated