Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 1.djvu/195

Rh 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 have considered, or rather, which he would have been 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 pilled 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, v. 37..39. 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, Isa. 28. 26.

2. When he began to have a stock of ring-straked and brown, he contrived to set them first, and to put the faces of the rest toward them, with the same design as he did the former with; but would not let his own that were motley-coloured, look at Laban's that were of one colour, v. 40. 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, v. 41, 42. Thus Jacob increased excceedingly, (v. 43.) and grew very rich in a little time. This success of his policy, it is true, was not sufficient to justify it, if there had been any thing fraudulent or unjust in it, which we are sure there was not, for he did it by divine direction; (ch. 31. 12.) nor was there anything in the thing itself, but the honest improvement of a fair bargain, which the Divine Providence wonderfully prospered, both in justice to Jacob, whom Laban had wronged and dealt hardly with, and in pursuance of the particular promises made to him of the tokens of the divine favour. Note, Those, who, while their beginning is small, are humble and honest, contented and industrious, are in a likely way to see their latter end greatly increasing; he that is faithful in a little, shall be intrusted with more; he that is faithful in that which is another man's, shall be intrusted with something of his own. Jacob that had been a just servant, became a rich master.

CHAP. XXXI. Jacob was a very honest good man, a man of great devotion, and integrity, and yet he had more trouble and vexation than any of the patriarchs. He had left his father's house in a fright, came to his uncle in distress, very hard usage he had met with there, and now is going back surrounded with fears. Here is, I. His resolution to return, v. 1..16. II. His clandestine departure, v. 17..21. III. Laban's pursuit of him in displeasure, v. 22..25. IV. The hot words that passed between them, v. 26..42. V. Their amicable agreement at last, v. 43..55.

ND he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father's; and of that which was our father's hath he gotten all this glory. 2. And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before. 3. And the 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 the field unto his flock, 5. And said unto them, I see your father's countenance, that it is 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 ring-straked shall be thy hire; then all the cattle bare ring-straked. 9. Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them 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, were ring-straked, speckled, and grisled, 11. And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I. 12. And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle, are ring-straked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee. 13. I am the God of Beth-el, where thou anointedst the pillar, and 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, is there 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 our money. 16. For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that is our's, and our children's: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do.

Jacob is here taking up a resolution immediately to quit his uncle's service, and to take what he had, and go back to Canaan. He took up this resolution, upon a just provocation by divine direction, and with the advice and consent of his wives.

I. Upon a just provocation; for Laban and his sons were become very cross and ill-natured toward him, so that he could not stay among them with safety and satisfaction.

1. Laban's sons showed it in what they said, v. 1. 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 son'ssons [sic] envying Jacob. Observe, (1.) How greatly they magnify Jacob's prosperity, He has gotten all this glory. And what was this glory that they make 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 that was all this glory. 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,