Genesis 29

Genesis 29:1

OF the East] That was Mesopotamia, situate Eastward from the Land of Canaan.

Genesis 29:2

And lo, there were] Thus he was directed by the onely providence of God to Labans house.

a great stone] Both to keepe the water pure, and the Well full, that it might suffice the flocks, for there were not many such Wels, or waters in those parts; therefore the greatnesse of the stone was a saving of the store.

Genesis 29:3

And they rolled] That is, the Shepherds who kept the sheep, and came to water them.

Genesis 29:4

my brethren] It seemes in those dayes the custome was to call even strangers brethren, especially if they were of one profession, or course of life, as Jacob and these Shepherds were.

Genesis 29:5

the sonne of Nahor] He was the immediate sonne of Bethuel his father, and Nahor was his grand-father; yet is he named the sonne rather of Nahor then of Bethuel, because Nahor was a man of more note: see Chap. 31. vers. 53. not onely in the family of Isaac, as being his fathers brother, but in the family of Laban, as appeares, Chap. 31. vers. 53.

Genesis 29:6

Is he well] Heb. is there peace to him: or, is be in peace? By which word the Hebrewes signifie all prosperitie: and they call Warre Milchamah, from eating, because it devoureth all things. Of this expression see Annot. on Chap. 37. 5: 14.

Lo, it is high day] Heb. the day is great. That is, the Sunne is yet high, and much day to come; and therefore too soone to gather the Cattell from their meat; and for those sheepe that are already gathered, water them and bring them backe againe to their pastures.

Genesis 29:8

we cannot untill] It seemes the stone that covered the Well was so great, that untill the Shepherds came together it could not be removed, and that none might be left without aide they agreed to tarry one for another: So some came sooner, some later, which gave Jacob occasion (having himselfe beene accustomed to the keeping of Cattell) to give them his advice out of his good will; and it is not better meant on Jacobs, then taken on the Shepherds part, who doe not snap him up as an over-busie stranger, as the Sodomites did Lot, for medling in matters that belonged not to him; but fairely, and gently give an excuse why they cannot follow his advice: which may be an example of meeknesse, and humanitie, and modestie in our entercourse with others, especially strangers.

Genesis 29:9

Rachel] Not Leah whose tender eyes could not so well endure the light, and open aire, vers. 17.

with her fathers sheepe] See Annot. on Genesis 24:15.

Genesis 29:10

rolled the stone] With the help of others, or of himselfe, for being about 77. Years of age, the time of full strength in those times, he might happily be able to doe that alone, which required the assistance of many hands, especially if the Shepherds were young boyes, or weake women; and he would straine his strength the more, to be the more noted, and better accepted by Rachel.

Genesis 29:11

kissed. Rachel] Having shewed first who he was, and how neere of kinne, he kissed her both according to the common fashion among kinsfolks, and out of especiall affection as having mind to take her for a wife: in divers times and Countreys the use of kissing hath been various; it was sometimes used among men, as 5: 13. of this Chapter, Genesis 45:15. Exodus 4:27. & Chap. 18. 7. & Luke 7:45. though most usually betwixt them of a different sexe, as a signe of benevolence and love; hence it is applied to expresse the deare love betwixt Christ and his Church, Cant. 1. 2. and that the Apostle gave order to greet one another with an holy kisse, 2 Corinthians 13:12. an holy kisse, not a wanton one, as Proverbs 7:13. nor an hypocriticall kisse, as that of Joab, 2 Sam. 29. and of Judas, Matthew 26:49.

lifted up his voyce and wept] For joy, after upon mutuall report, and speech of the state and condition of the severall families of Isaac, and Laban, and their neere kindred; and no doubt also upon the apprehension of Gods especiall providence in bringing Rachel to the Well, (as Rebekah his mother when she was chosen for a wife for his father,) his heart melted into affections, that could not be kept in, but burst out into audible and visible expressions, such as might both be heard, and seene. See Genesis 45. vers. 14, 15, 16.

Genesis 29:12

brother] That is, neere kinsman, for he saith in this verse that he was Rebekahs sonne, who was Labans sister, so vers. 15. By which terme brother, was professed an affection belonging to the neerest degree of kindred that can be; so Lot is called Abrahams brother, being the sonne of his brother, Genesis 13:8.

Genesis 29:13

all these things] That is, the storie of his fathers family, and of his journey, the cause why he came from his fathers house, and what he had seene by the way.

Genesis 29:14

my bone and my flesh] That is, of my kindred, Genesis 2:23. Judg. 9. 2. 2 Samuel 5:1. & 2 Samuel 19:13.

a moneth] Heb. a moneth of dayes. That is, whole moneth, not one day short.

Genesis 29:18

I will serve thee seven yeares] It was the custome of many Countreys to buy wives, whereof there are some instances among the posteritie of Jacob, as 1 Samuel 18:25. 2 Samuel 3:14. Hosea 3:2. See also Genesis 34:12. But because Jacob had nothing to give, coming an emptie way-faring man, with a staffe in his hand, he offereth seven years service for the younger sister.

Genesis 29:19

it is better] Laban makes no direct answer to Jacobs motion, but gives him good words in the generall, without any intent it seemes to let him so soone be possessed of his choice in particular; Jacob was a plaine man, Genesis 25:27. of too honest an heart to suspect deceitfull dealing in his Uncle; else he was wise enough (as his dealing with his brother Esau sheweth) to have made a surer bargaine for himselfe.

Genesis 29:20

But a few dayes] Heb. one dayes. Genesis 27:44. If we loved God, our service of him, though it were for many yeares together, would not be tedious to us; the want of love to him makes men weary to serve him, Malachi 1:13. though but for a few houres, one day in a weeke, Amos 8:5. the day that should and would (if our affections were rightly tempered) yeeld us more delight then any of the rest: See Isaiah 58:14.

Genesis 29:25

behold it was Leah] It was Leah before, but then he did behold her, and saw her without her vaile; for virgins in modestie were vailed, or brought in the darke to the Bridechamber.

beguiled me] The cause why Jacob was deceived was, for that in old time the wife was covered with a vaile when she was brought to her husband in signe or token of chastitie, and shamefastnesse. See Chap. 24. vers. 65. And whereas it is said, that Judah thought Thamar to be an harlot because she had covered her face, Genesis 38:15. the meaning is, that because her face was covered he knew her not, and because he knew her not, he tooke her for an harlot; or if harlots did weare vailes, they were of another fashion, or worne at other times, and in another manner then Brides were wont to doe; and though she might have beene knowne to Jacob by her speech in the darke, as Jacobs voyce was knowne to Isaac when he was blind; yet her vaile might be a cover for her silence; for in that the modestie of women appeareth, as well as by hiding of their faces; or her speech being onely a low whispering it could not easily be discerned. In this deceit it is like that Leah acted her part after her fathers, as Jacob his, after his mothers direction, and therein she was faulty, though in an inferiour degree, for he shewed himselfe a very unjust man, and an unkind Uncle; whereby yet Jacob might be remembred of his deceitfull dealing with his brother Esau: See Matthew 7:12. though God turned it to good, and might upon this occasion be disposed to repentance for what was past, and to patience under that condition which either his necessitie, or his Uncles dishonestie put upon him.

Genesis 29:26

not so done in our countrey] Or, it is not the custome of our Countrey. If it had beene so, he should have said so much to Jacob seven yeares sooner, when he offered his service upon condition to marry the younger daughter; this mentall reservation of the custome all this while shewed it was not Labans custome to deale uprightly; besides if it were the custome, why did he against custome pretend a marriage, and call his neighbours to a marriage-feast betwixt Jacob and Rachel? this pretence of custome is often used against truth, and right, as in the prohibition of marriage to the Clergy, and the Communion cup to the Laitie, and other particulars of the Romish Religion; which indeed in respect of the antiquitie of truth, are but Innovations though obtruded in the name of ancient customes.

Genesis 29:27

fulfill her weeke] The word Shcbang in Hebrew is sometimes taken for seven yeares, (so the Geneva Translation hath it) sometimes for seven dayes or a weeke, so here; the meaning is, that, for as much as the manner was to celebrate a wedding with seven dayes feasting, as Judg. 14. 12. he would accept of Leah for his wife, and celebrate the nuptials after the wonted manner, and that done he would presently give him Rachel, for whom he should serve the next seven yeares after, which he did; and that he staid not for Rachel untill a weeke of yeares, is evident by order of the story, for Jacob staid in Mesopotamia with Laban twentie yeares, Chap. 31. vers. 38, 41. At the fourteenth yeare of Jacobs servitude was Joseph borne, before which time Rachel had been some good while a barren wife, and therefore as out of hope of issue by her selfe she gave her maid Bilhah to her husband, who by her had two sonnes before her selfe had any, as the thirtieth of Genesis sheweth, whence it must necessarily be concluded that Rachel was married before the second weeke of yeares, or seven yeares srvitude was expired, and so that she was married to Jacob after a weke of dayes, according to the phrase and custome already observed, not after the end of the second seven yeares service.

Genesis 29:28

fulfilled her weeke] That is, he tooke Leah for his wife, and fulfilled her weeke of solemn feasting, for the wedding, as hath been said.

Rachel his daughter to wife] Two wives at once if they had not been sisters, had been one too many for one man, as is implyed in the first institution of marriage; yet besides them he had both their handmaids to be his wives, Genesis 30. vers. 4. 9. The law against pluralitie of wives was not yet expressely declared, nor against the marriage of two sisters; as afterwards i was, Leviticus 18:18. it is doubted therefore, whether at this time either the one or the other were a sinne in the holy Patriarch; it seemeth not likely that they having such revelations from God should be ignorant whether it were a sinne or no, or that being so godly, they should live so long in a sinne against their knowledge; there was doubtlesse a disposition of the Divine providence in it, if not a dispensation by Divine authoritie for it. For that should not be hastily presumed, since the chiefe warrant that can be pretended for polygamie or marriage of many wives at once, is for increase of mankind, and at the first Creation in Adams time, and the renovation of the world in Noahs time, when there was most need of such meanes of multiplication, God allotted but one woman for one man; and for such like particulars as this of Jacob, though God have his hand in them ruling and overruling them at his pleasure, though Gods part be alwayes pure, and perfect, on mans part there may be corruption, and infirmitie, as in the matter of the benediction of Jacob, wherein concurred both God and Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Esau: God being altogether just, and holy in his act, they in theirs were every one faultie, though in a different degree; yet for the marriage of Jacob (though unlawfull, at least doubtfull) it may in part be excused in that his mind was to have had but one, that though he loved that one so affectionately, that seven yeares service seemed to him but a few dayes for her sake, vers. 20. and lived with her continually, he modestly, and chastly conversed with her all the while: Now that Rachel, and Leah made offer of their hand-maids to his bed, as his grand-mother Sarah to his grand-father, and that he accepted of their societie, not for pleasure but for propagation to increase mankind, especially, to beget children for Gods Church, such examples must be no patternes for our imitation; yet of polygamie, or having more wives then one, see Annot. on Deuteronomy 17. vers. 17.

Genesis 29:30

seven yeares] After one seven already spent, and so great wrong put upon him, he without murmuring submits his mind and body to seven yeares service more; A rare example of humilitie and patience.

Genesis 29:31

The LORD saw] God seeth not onely the actions of men that appeare, but their affections though they keepe out of sight.

that Leah was hated, he opened] That is, lesse loved, as Matthew 10:37. compared with Luke 14:26. & John 12:25. Rachel had beautie to make her acceptable to Jacob; and to make Leah lovely in his sight, God makes her fruitfull, while the other was barren: if Leah had been as faire as Rachel, or Rachel as fruitfull as Leah, there would have been too great a prelation of one before the other. Now God who divideth and dispenseth his favours as he pleaseth, qualifieth them both in different kinds to be pleasing to their husband, and to moderate the affections of Jacob, that he may neither hate the one, nor dote upon the other: Favour, and fruitfulnesse, and every desireable thing is his free gift, who sheweth hereby that oft-times they who are despised of men are favoured of God.

Genesis 29:33

LORD hath heard] Hereby it appeareth that she had recourse to God in her affliction by her complaint; wherein she did not instruct God in her estate, (as if he knew it not without her telling) but sue to him for removall of her affliction, by the obtainment of her husbands affection; and therein the Lord shewed that he heard her, by making her amiable as a mother, who was not beloved as a wife.

Judah] In this and the precedent names she keeps a memoriall of Gods mercies to her; and as he goeth on in grace to her, so doth she in gratitude towards him; no barren wife to Jacob her husband, nor barren daughter to God her father.