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rate all the lambs, which were thus brought forth spotted, and set the faces of the flocks of Laban, which were white or brown, toward the ring streaked, and all the brown in the flock of Laban, that by looking on the party coloured at the time when they coupled, they might bring forth the like: and he put his own flocks by themselves, and put them not unto Laban's cattlé, lest by looking on them they should bring forth single colour41 ed. And it came to pass, whensoever the stronger cattle did conceive, that Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the cattle in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods, and 42 be ring streaked. But when the cattle were feeble, as in the autumn, (for the cattle bred twice a year) he put [them] not in: so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's. 43 And by these three stratagems, or contrivances, and the bless ing of God upon him, the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maid servants, and men servants, and camels, and asses.

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REFLECTIONS.

ET us guard against envy. What a wretched figure does Rachel here make! She was grieved and vexed at the prosperity of her sister, till she almost fretted herself to death. Envy is the rottenness of the bones, destroys all health and self enjoyment; and often occasions great differences between near relations. It is also a sin against God, who makes men to differ. Let us check the first beginning of so baleful a passion. To envy the prosperity of others is foolish and wicked, and makes us our own tormentors. Envy not sinners, therefore, but be in the fear of the Lord all the day long.

2. Let us regard God as the author of all the pleasing and calamitous events of life. Children are an heritage of the Lord; his hand is to be owned in all our mercies; it is he also who withholds any mercy from us, and he has a right to do it, for we have forfeited all. He may do what he will with his own; on his blessing we constantly depend for the most common enjoyments: Shall we receive good from the hand of the Lord, and shall we not receive evil and affliction also 2 When he withholds or takes away children, as well as when he gives them, it becomes us to say, The Lord gave, and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord.

3. See the fatal and natural consequence of polygamy. Into how many snares and vexations was Jacob led by the scandalous disputes of his wives, the debates of his father in law, and his own imprudent conduct! and what a wretched life must that man have, who is perpetually vexed with such competitors! This is designed to show us what an evil thing polygamy is, and the wisdom of that divine institution, which enjoins that one man and one

woman only should be joined together. And to prevent all those jealousies, vexations, and quarrels, things of such ill report, the apostle commands, 1 Cor. vii. 2. Let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

4. It is desirable to be such in our respective stations, as that God may bless others for our sakes. Laban owns he was blessed, not for his own sake, but for Jacob's. Good men are a blessing to families where their lot is cast. Such should all servants be, and such servants should be highly esteemed and prized: the wicked may sometimes be blessed, for the sake of their pious relations. In whatever stations of life Providence fixes us, let us behave well in them, and fill them up with honour and integrity; that we may, in this way, be a blessing to all who are related to us, and have the comfort of being serviceable to them as well as others. To obtain the blessing of God on others, is the best service we can do them; and to be instrumental in this will be a foundation for the greatest satisfaction. Jacob, for whose sake Laban was blessed, was remarkably blessed himself; he had been just and industrious in Laban's service, and God made his own affairs prosperous. It is the blessing of God alone that maketh rich, and addeth no sorrow with it.

CHAP. XXXI.

Jacob having spent several years in Laban's service, begins to be weary, and to think of returning home, We have in this chapter his intention to depart, and the reason of it. He begins his journey; Laban pursues him, and expostulates with him on his flight ; Jacob's wise and admirable reply; and their happy agreement and friendly parting in all of which we see much of the hand and providence of God.

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ND he, that is, Jacob, heard the words of Laban's sons, who began to quarrel with and represent him as a thief, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that [was] our fa ther's and of [that] which [was] our father's hath he gotten 2 all this glory, or wealth. And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it [was] not toward him as before; he could not conceal his hatred. This made Jacob's situation very uneasy; but he could not determine to leave it till God commanded him.

And the LORD said unto Jacob, perhaps in a dream, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be 4 with thee, and deal well with thee. And Jacob sent and called 5 Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock, And said unto them, I see your father's countenance, that it [is] not toward

me as before; but the God of my father, whom he worshipped, and with whom my forefathers were in covenant, hath been with 6 me, to bid me depart. And ye know that with all my power I have served your father, as became a faithful servant to do. 7 And your father hath deceived me, and dealt very unjustly by me, for he hath changed my wages ten times; but God suf8 fered him not to hurt me. If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ring streaked shall be thy hire; then bare 9 all the cattle ring streaked. Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given [them] to me; it was no fraud of mine, but the hand of God, what he showed me in a vis10 ion. And, or For, 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 streaked, speckled, and grisled; whereby I was taught that the breeding of the cattle in that manner was by the provi 11 dence of God. And the angel of God-spake unto me, in a 12 dream, [saying,] Jacob: And I said, Here [am] I. And

he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle [are] ring streaked, speckled, and grisled: 13 for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee. I [am] the God of Bethel, who appeared unto thee there, where thou anointedst the pillar, [and] where thou vowedst a vow unto me now, arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto 14 the land of thy kindred. And Rachel and Leah answered

and said unto him, [Is there] yet any portion or inheritance, 15 any hope of benefit, for us in our father's house? Are we not counted of him strangers? dealt with as strangers, rather than children? for he hath sold us to thee for fourteen years' service, and hath quite devoured also our money, wholly converted that to his own use, which in equity was due to us for our por16 tions, and for our husband's service. For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that [is] ours, and our children's: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do, and we consent to go with thee.

17

Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon 18 camels; And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padanaram, for to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan. This Jacob had a right to do, for he took only what 19 were his own. And he contrived to do it while Laban went to

shear his sheep, and was therefore at a distance: and Rachel 20 had stolen the images that [were] her father's.* And Jacob stole

The Teraphim or household gods, like the Lares and Penates of the Romans; prob ably little images in the shape of men, to whom these idolatrous people prayed, and of whom they asked counsel about secret things. Rachel perhaps had still a superstitious regard for these; or she might fear that her father, by consulting them, would find which way they were gone; or it might be to convince him of his folly, that she took them away.

away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled; he went without his knowledge, consent, or good 21 will. So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the river Euphrates, and set his face [toward] the mount Gilead, which joins to mount Lebanon.

22 And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was Яed. 23 And he took his brethren with him, collected all his servants and relations, and pursued after him seven days' journey, intending to strip him of every thing, and perhaps make him a slave during his whole life; and they overtook him in the 24 mount Gilead. And God came to Laban the Syrian in a

dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad, neither threatenings nor 25 reproaches. Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount: and Laban and his brethren 26 pitched in the mount of Gilead. And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares unto me, and carried away my daughters, as captives [taken] with the sword? He speaks as if they had been taken away by force, whereas it appears from v. 16, they were willing to go, 27 it was therefore a slanderous accusation. Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me, and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with 28 songs, with tabret, and with harp? And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? He pretends love, but hatred was in his heart, and Jacob knew him well: thou hast now 29 done foolishly in [so] doing. It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt, and it was his intention to do it: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad. 30 And now, [though] thou wouldst needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father's house, [yet] wherefore hast thou stolen my gods? Precious gods, that could be stolen !

31

And Jacob, protesting his innocence in that and in every other particular, answered his slanderous suggestions, and said to Laban, Because I was afraid : for I said, Peradventure thou wouldst take by force thy daughters from me: therefore I 32 went secretly away but With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what [is] thine with me, and take [it] to thee. For Jacob knew 33 not that Rachel had stolen them. And Laban went into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the two maid servants' tents; but he found [them] not. Then went he out 34 of Leah's tent, and entered into Rachel's tent. Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camels' furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but $5 found [them] not. And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot with decency rise up before thee in my present situation; for the custom of women [is] upon me. And he searched, but found not the images.

36

And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban ; it was noït his turn to expostulate, and he does it in a very wise, spirited, and admirable manner: and Jacob answered and said to Laban, What [is] my trespass? what [is] my sin, that thou 37 hast so hotly pursued after me? Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff, what hast thou found of all thy household stuff? set [it] here before my brethren and thy brethren, 38 that they may judge betwixt us both. This twenty years [have] I [been] with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young partly by reason of my care and diligence in ordering them, but principally from God's blessing upon thee 39 for my sake, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten. That which was torn [of beasts] I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, [whether] 40 stolen by day, or stolen by night. [Thus] I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my 41 sleep departed from mine eyes. Thus have been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle and thou hast chang42 ed my wages ten times.* Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, the God whom Isaac worshipped with reverence and fear, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. But God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked [thee] yesternight.

43

And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, [These] daughters [are] my daughters, and [these] children [are] my chi dren, and [these] cattle [are] my cattle, and all that thou seest [is] mine surely this was false; but he endeavoured to put on the appearance of tenderness, and said, What can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have borne ? how should I be able to go about to hurt them, 44 seeing they are my own flesh and blood? Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a 45 witness between me and thee. And Jacob consented and took

a stone, or a heap of stones, and set it up [for] a pillar, as a 46 monument of the covenant. And Jacob said unto his brethren,

Gather stones; and they took stones, and made an heap; and 47 they did eat there upon the heap. And Laban called it Je48 garsahadutha: but Jacob called it Galeed.† And Laban said, This heap [is] a witness, a memorial, which may be alleged in after times as a witness between me and thee this day. There49 fore was the name of it called Galeed; And Mizpah; that is,

Dr. Kennicott supposes that Jacob lived in Haran forty years, viz. fourteen years in Laban's house, a covenant servant for Rachel and Leah; twenty years in Laban's neighbourhood, as a friend; and six years in Laban's house, a covenant servant for cattle. Re marks, p. 27-33.

† Both these words Jegar sahadutha and Galeed, are of the same signification, that is, the heap of witness; only Laban spake in the Syrian and Jacob in the Hebrew tongus,

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