Genesis 29

Jacob being near Haran by a wonderful providence of God becomes acquainted with Rachel Labans daughter verse 1 &c. who runs to tell it her father 10 Laban comes running forth to meet Jacob and brings him to the house hears all what happened to him and entertains him 13 they bargain together that Jacob shall serve seven years for Rachels 15 but when he thought to marry Rachels elder sister is coupled with him 21 yet he gets Rachel too for the service of yet other seven years 27 Rachel is beloved but barren Leah on the other hand bears Reuben Simeon Levi and Judah.31.

1. The Jacob lifted up his feet [hereby is shewed that Jacob being comforted and strengthened thus by the late vision and heavenly oracle he now went cheerfully and courageously in his journey] and went to the land of the children of the east [that is of the people that inhabited the country lying east from Canaan so Judges 6:33 1 Kings 4:30 Job 1:3 Jeremiah 49:28.]

2. And he looked , and behold ,there was a well in the field ,and there were three flocks of sheep lying down by it ;door out of that well they watered the flocks ,and there was a great stone on the mouth of that well .

3. and thitherward all the flocks were gathered and they rolled the stone from, and watered the sheep; and laid the stone again upon the mouth of that well on his place.

4. Then said Jacob to them; my brethren [compare above chap19the annotations on verse 7] whence ye? And they said we are Haran.

5. And he said to them know ye Laban the son of Nahor? [His grand son] and they said we know him.

6. Further he said to them is it well with him? [Heb. Is peace to him? Or hath he peace? So above chapter 27.23 2 Samuel 18:32 2Kings 4.26 &c. see of this word peace below chapter 37 on verse 14] and they said it is well and Lo Rachel his daughter that comes with the sheep.

7. And he said behold it is high day yet [Heb. Great day yet] it is no time that the cattle he gathered water the sheep and go your way and feed them.

8. Then they said we cannot [Heb. We shall not be able viz. by reason of the stones heaviness which a few of us cannot remove and because of our custom to wait one for another] till all the flocks shall be gathered together and that the stones be rolled off from the wells mouth that we may water the sheep.

9. When he was yet speaking with them there came Rachel with the sheep belonging to her father for she was a shepherdess [see the like example Exodus 2:16 Song of Solomon 1:7, 8.]

10. And it came to pass when Rachel saw Jacob the daughter of Laban the mothers brother and the sheep of Laban his mothers brother that Jacob slept on and rolled on the stone from the mouth of the well [that is he helped the rest of the shepherds to roll it off in Rachel stead for alone he was not able to do it see backwards verse 8] and watered the sheep of Laban his mothers brother.

11. And Jacob kissed Rachel [after the manner of those countries kissing by way of salutation as well at the first meting as here verse 13 and below chapter 33 verse 4 Exodus 4:27. and 18.7 as at parting Ruth 1:14 and 1Samuel 20 verse 41 and 1 Kings 19:20] and he lifted up his voice and wept [viz. for joy to have met his cousin there so soon and opportunely see of the weeping below chapter 33 verse 4.]

12. And Jacob acquainted Rachel that he was his father’s brother [see above chapter 13 verses 8] and that he was the son of Rebecca then she ran and acquainted her father with it.

13. And it came to pass when Laban heard the news [Heb. The hearing] of Jacob his sisters son that he ran to meet him and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house and related all things to Laban [to wit the reason and occasion of his journey and what happened to him by the way all which it was fit Laban should understand for the preventing of all sinister surmises as might be occasioned by such an unusual and slender arrival in comparison of Eliezer formerly chapter 24.]

14. Then said Laban to him verily thou art my bon earn my flesh [that is my near kinsmen and nephew see the like phrase above chapter 2.23 and Judges 9:2 and 2 Samuel 19:12,13 and 1 Chronicles 11:1 and so likewise in the spiritual sense Ephesians 5:30] and then he tarried with him a full month [Heb. A month of days that is a complete month or so many days as go to the making up of a month so a year of days below chapter 41 verse 1 is as much as to say a whole or full year.]

15. After that Laban said to Jacob because thou art my brother shouldest thou therefore serve me for naught? Declare unto me what shall be thy wages?

16. And Laban had two daughters and the name of the greatest [that is the eldest] was Leah and the name of the least [that is the youngest] was Rachel.

17. Yet Leah had tender eyes [that is weak one and defective] but Rachel was fair of feature and fair of aspects.

18. And Jacob loved Rachel and he said I will serve thee seven year for Rachel thy least daughter [Jacob bids a long time to serve both in regard that his uncles greediness was not unknown to him and likewise for the great love to bare to Rachel desiring to pay thus the dowry withal which the bridegroom were obliged to give in those times as appears by Exodus 22:17 and 1Samuel 18.5.]

19. Then said Laban it is better I give her to thee than that I give her to another man [a doubtful and subtle answer as the event taught Jacob] stay with me.

20. So Jacob served for Rachel seven years and those were in his eyes as some few days [Heb. One or single days see of the manner of speaking before chapter 27 verse 44 the meaning is that all that time did seem very short to Jacob] because he loved her.

21. Then Jacob said to Laban give my wife [that is my betrothed wife by virtue of out matrimonial contract see the like phrase Matthew 1:18,19 and Luke 2:5]my days are fulfilled [the conditioned seven years of my service] that I may go into her [see above chapter 6on verse 4 an d16 verse 2.]

22. So Laban gathered all man of that place [that is very many viz. all his friends or kindred and acquaintance and the principal man of the city according to the custom see Judges 2:1,2 &c. an dh invited the more that Jacob should less date the disannulled the vile plot he had devised to entangle and deceive him withal] a and made a feast.

23. And it came to pass in the evening that he took his daughter Leah and brought her to him [it seem it was the custom in those days to bring the bride in the bridegrooms bed-chamber being covered with a vial or scarf for her modesties sake but under his pretence Jacob is deluded.] and he went into her.

24. And Laban gave her Zilpha his hand-maid into Leah his daughter for an hand-maid [the particle for is put in here out of the following twenty ninth verse it was the custom of those times that the parents giving out their daughters in marriage gave a maid-servant or other woman with her see above chapter 24 verse 59.]

25. And it happened in the morning and behold it was Leah therefore he said to Laban what is this that thou hast done to me? Have not I served thee for Rachel? Why hast thou deceived me then?

26. And Laban said it is not practiced thus in this our place [if it were so Laban ought to have told Jacob so much before-hand and not so basely circumvented and abused him] that the least [Heb. The little one that is the youngest] be given out before the first born.

27. Fulfill the week of this [that is hold out these seven days of Leah’s wedding feast see the like example of a seven day wedding Judges 14:12 and 15.17 some take this week for a year week] then we shall give thee that also [viz. after the end of this week as appears by the next verse] for the service which thou shalt serve with me other seven years yet.

28. And Jacob did so and he fulfilled the week of this then he gave him Rachel his daughter for a wife to him [though it seems that the liberty of marrying two sisters to one man was not prohibited yet to human laws yet was it repugnant to nature itself and to the express law given afterwards by Moseh Leviticus 18:16.]

29. And Laban gave unto his daughter Rachel his hand-maid Bilha for a hand-maid to her.

30. And he went likewise in unto Rachel [Jacob suffers himself to be persuaded to marry two wives together at a time which though it was customary in those days was contrary to Gods institution above chapter 2 verse 24 Malachi 2:15 see likewise the annotations on chapter 4 verse 19] and loved Rachel likewise more than Leah and he served with him seven other years yet.

31. Now when the Lord saw that Leah was hated [that is she was not so much beloved tendered and cared for as Rachel was see above verse 20 the word hate is sometimes used to love less see Deuteronomy 21:15 Matthew 6:24 and Luke 14:6] he opened her womb [that is he made her fruitful see above chapter 20 on verse 18] but Rachel was barren.

32. And Leah conceived and bear son and she called him Reuben [behold videte a son or a son of regard as if she would have said behold how God hath given me a son now in my affliction which was that her husband did not love her so well as her sister] for she said because the Lord hath regarded my affliction therefore my husband shall love me now [that is than before.]

33. And she conceived again and bear a son and she said because the LORD heard that I was hated therefore he hath given me this also and she called his name Simeon [Heb. The word comes from a name that signifies to hearken or to hear excaudate God having heard and granted her prayers and sighing.]

34. And yet she conceived and bare a son and said now this time my husband shall join himself to me because I have born him here sons therefore [he viz. Jacob] called his name Levi [that is joined or joining or my joining the reason f this name is given in the text.]

35. And she conceived again and bear a son and she said this time I will praise the LORD therefore she called his name Judah [Heb. Judah signifying praise thanksgiving confession profession] and she ceased to bear [Heb. she stood from bearing and so below chapter 30.9.]