Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 1.djvu/193

Rh those cannot but be continually uneasy, that are hurried 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, v. 17, where it is said, God hearkened unto Leah. 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 of 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 had 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 Issachar, A hire, (v. 18.) and 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 abuse God's mercy, when we reckon that his favours countenance and patronise our follies. The other she called Zebulun, Dwelling, (v. 20.) owning God's bounty to her, God has endowed me with a good dowry. 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, Ps. 113. 9. She promises herself more of her husband's company, now that she had born him six sons, and that, in love to his children, at least, he would often visit her lodging. Mention is made, v. 21, of the birth of a daughter, Dinah, because of the following story concerning her, ch. 34. Perhaps Jacob had other daughters, though not registered.

II. Rachel fruitful at last, v. 22, God remembered Rachel whom he seemed to have forgotten, and hearkened to her whose prayers had been long denied; and then she bare 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 Joseph, which, in Hebrew, is akin to two words of a contrary signification, Asaph, Abstulit, He has taken away my reproach, as if the greatest mercy she had in this son, was that she had saved her credit; and Jasaph, Addidit, The Lord shall add to me another son; 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 more joy. Has he begun, and shall he not make an end?"

25. And it came to pass, when Rachel had born Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country. 26. Give me 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, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the hath blessed me for thy sake. 28. And he said, Appoint me thy wages, and I will give it. 29. And he said unto him, Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how thy cattle was with me. 30. For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it is now increased unto a multitude; and the 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 shall not give me any thing: if thou wilt do this thing for me, I will again feed and 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 of such 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 is not speckled and spotted amongst the goats, and brown amongst the sheep, that shall be accounted 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 ring-straked and spotted, and all the she-goats that were speckled and spotted, and every one that had some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the hands of his sons. 36. And he set three days' journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks.

We have here,

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 growing 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 swears to his own hurt, will not change. And though others have deceived us, that will not justify us in deceiving them. Our rule is, to do as we would be done by, not as we are done by. Jacob's term being expired, he begs leave to begone, v. 25. 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. We must not think of taking root here, for this is not our place and country, Heb. 13. 14. 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, Give me my wives and my children, and send me away, v. 25, 26. Note,