Genesis 30

Rachel being impatient by her reason of barrenness gives Jacob her hand-maid Bilha who bears him Dan and Naphtali verse 1 &c. Leah likewise ceasing to bear gives Jacob her hand-maid Zilpa who bears him Gad and Aser &c. Reuben finds Dudaim and Leah conceives again and bears Issaschar Zebulon and a daughter Dinah 14 at last Rachel likewise bears Joseph 22 now when Jacob was desirous to return to his own country Laban stays him with a new bargain of wages 5 whereby Jacob contrary to Laban expectation was very richly blessed of God.

1. Now when Rachel saw that she did not bear to Jacob then Rachel envied her sister[or grew jealousy] and she said to Jacob give me children or if not I am dead [that is then I must die for grief heart words of human frailty proceeding from impatience see the like phrase above chapter 20.3.]

2. Then Jacobs anger was kindled against Rachel then he said am I then in the place of the Lord [that is am I almighty then to make thee fruitful God alone is he that can bestow children see 1Samuel 2.5 Psalms 113:9 and 127.3 the like words Joseph useth below chapter 50.19] who hath withheld the bellies fruit [that is children Deuteronomy 7:13 and 28.4 Psalms 132:11 Isaiah 13:18 thus Christ himself also is called in regard of his human nature Luke 1:42] from thee?

3. And she said behold there is my hand-maid Bilha go in to her [she rather follows the example of Sarah above chapter 16.2 then the commendable example of Isaac and Rebecca above chapter 25 verse 21] that she may bear up on my knees [that is that I may receive the children into my bosom and hold and tender them as my own see the like phrase below chapter 50.23] and also I may be built out of her [see of this kind of speaking above chapter 16.2.]

4. So she gave her hand-maid Bilha as wife [see above chapter 16.3] and Jacob went into her.

5. And Bilha conceived and bear a son to Jacob.

6. Then said Rachel God hath judged me [that is he hath determined the cause to my advantage see above chapter 15 verse 14] and all likewise heard my voice and hath given me a son therefore she called his name Dan[that is one that pleads a cause or shews the right or pronounceth sentence in judgment.]

7. And Bilha Rachels hand-maid conceived again and beara second son to Jacob.

8. Then said Rachel I have wrestled the wrestling of God with my sister[that is a very great and extraordinary hard and difficult ones see above chapter 13 on verse 10 the sense is I and my sister have in a manner striven and sought for getting of children and I got my wish at length beyond my sisters expectation or wrestling of God that is prayers to God wherewith I have wrestled against my sister and through his grace and savor have overcome now] also I have prevailed and she called his name Naphtali[that is my wrestling.]

9. Now when Leah saw that she ceased to bear her likewise took her hand-maid Zelda and gave the same to Jacob a wife. [Out of human emulation and not and not contenting herself with former benediction.]

10. And Zilpa Leah’s hand-maid did bear a son to Jacob.

11. And there said Leah there comes a company [or there is a company coming that this joined to the former will and a company or a troop of men in the Hebrew there is a word compounded of two as if one should say company come or troop come] and she called his name Gad [that is company troop band of men.]

12. After that Zilpa Leah’s hand-maid bear the second son of Jacob.

13. Then said Leah: To my luck; [or with my luck viz. is this son born to me] for the daughters [that is the women in general] shall count me lucky [or fortunate] and she called him Aser, [that is Lucky, fortunate, or one that makes lucky or brings luck.]

14. And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest and he found Dudaim [this word signifies a certain pleasant fruit or flower very acceptable and grateful for smell color and taste such as with us are called the love flower or loveably the Hebrew word here used is no where to be found but here in this place and Cant7.13] and he brought them to his mother Leah then said Rachel to Leah give me I pray for thy sons Dudaim.

15. And said to heirs it little or small thing that thou hast taken away my husband that thou wilt likewise take my sons Dudaim? Then Rachel said therefore shall he lie with thee this night for thy son Dudaim.

16. Now when Jacob came out of the fields in the evening Leah went to meet him and said: Thou shalt come in to me, for I have surely hired thee [Heb. Hiring I have hired thee, that is, firmly, certainly, expressly. Otherwise: for bargained or conditioned wages have I hired thee] for my son's Dudaim. And he lay that night with her.

17. And God heard exaudiebate Leah [of his grace not withstanding her human frailty and weakness] and she conceived and bears the fifth son of Jacob.

18. Then said Leah god hath given my wages after that I have given my hand-maid o m husband [that is I count my self well rewarded for my son Dudaim since my after that I got children my hand-maid hath yet given me this son of my own body beyond my own expectation for the words after that some read for that] and she called his name Issachar [Heb. Ischaschar that is there is wages or hire.]

19. And Leah conceived again and she bear the sixth son to acob.

20. And Leah saith God hath me he had begifted or presented with a good gift [the Heb. Verb with the noun following gift] this time my husband shall co-habit with me for I have born him six sons and she called his name Zebulon [Heb. Zebulun that is habitation or co-habitation.]

21. And after that she bear a daughter and she called her name Dinah [that is a law case or judgment.]

22. God remembered Rachel likewise [see above chapter 8 on verse 1] and God heard her and opened her womb [see above chapter 20 on verses 18.]

23. And she conceived and bears a son and she said God hath taken away [Heb. He contracted gathered together drawn in withdrawn] my reproach [which in that time lay open barrenness see 1Samuel 1.6 Isaiah 4:1 Luke 1 verse 21 and that principally for two reasons 1. Because that those that were barren did seem to be excluded from the promise made unto Abraham touching the multiplication of his seed 2. Because they were without hoping that the Messiah who was to proceed out of the seed of Abraham should be one of their posterity.]

24. And she called his name Joseph [this name seems to respect upon two Hebrew words one used in the former signifying to draw back or to take away and the other here expressed here signifying to add or adjoin] saying the Lord add me another son thereto.

25. And it came to pass when Rachel had born Joseph that Jacob said to Laban [viz. when the other seven years of his years were now past and he had quit scores with his father in law] let me depart that I may go to my place and to my country.

26. Give my wives and children for the which I have served thee [understand this properly of the wives] that I may be gone for thou knowest my service which I have served thee [the time of fourteen years with much pains and faithfulness.]

27. Then said Laban to him if I have found grace in thine eyes [see concerning of such phrase above chapter 18 on verse 3 it is the abrupt speech usual on such occasion and may be supplied and made up with then I pray tarry with me but the wages thou desireth at my hands] I have observed that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake.

28. He said then names me expressly [Heb. Over or upon as who should say lay upon me what wages thou pleases the Hebrew word here doth signify to pierce or bear through to fix or set down and consequently to name expressly down right] the wages that I shall give thee [or I shall give thee the same.]

29. Then said he to him thou knowest how I have served thee and thy cattle hath been with me [or what service I have done thee and what thy getting or acquiring hath been by me that is how well thou didst thrive and prosper by my service.]

30. For the little that thou had before me [that is before my coming to thee, and so below chapter 32.3] is broken out [see of the propriety of this word above chapter 28 on verse 14] to a multitude, and the LORD hath blessed the by my foot, [that is by my painful and careful going about thy affairs or ever since I put my foot within thy doors] now then when shall I work likewise for my house? [Or do something for my own family?]

31. And he said what shall I give thee? then Jacob said thou salt give me nothing at all [viz. no wages set or determined by thyself but such only as Gods providence vouchsafe dispose for me] if thou wilt do me this thing I will keep and feed thy flock again [Heb. I shall return I shall feed &c.]

32. I will go this day through thy whole flock severing there from all the speckled [that is those marked with small sprinkling as it were] and spotted [that is marked with broad or large spot or stains] cattle [understand here only the smaller sort such as sheep lambs goats] & all the brown cattle [or burnt colored the Hebrew word comes from burning heat warmth] among the lambs and spotted among goats and such or the speckled and such or his shall be my wages[that is those shall be wages which being cast or brought forth by the single colored or all white ones under my keeping shall prove speckled or spotted or brown.]

33. so my righteousness shall on the day of morrow [that is in the time to come thus the word morrow is often taken in scripture as Exodus 13:14 Deuteronomy 6:20 Joshua 4:6 Matthew 6:34] testify with me [the meaning thereof is when to day or tomorrow that is any time hereafter thou shalt come to view what fell to my wages then it plainly and evidently appear what is my clear and upright due or the contrary] when thou shalt come over my wages [others when she shall come viz. righteousness for my wages] before thy face and all that is not spckled among the goats and sparkled and spotted among the goats and brown among the lamb that the stolen with me.

34. Then said Laban Lo yea be it according to thy word.

35. And he [viz. Laban] severed that same day the ring straked [about the legs in fashion of a band as the propriety of the word here implies] and spotted he-goats and all the speckled and spotted goats all where some white was on an doll the brown among the lambs and he gave them into the hand of the sons.

36. And he put away of three days [or three days journey] between them and between Jacob [that is he put distance between them of three days journey understand between the flock of Labans sons and the rest which Jacob kept lest in any wise the white ones might come to the intermixed with the spotted or brown.] and Jacob kept pascebat the rest of Labans flock.

37. Then Jacob took him rods [or stick wands] of green [or fresh] polar-wood and of hazel and of chestnuts and he peeled thereon white strakes making bear the white which was on the rods [this Jacob did by the instinct and direction of God. See below chapter 31 verse 9 thus God took care for Jacob that Laban should not let him return home empty see below chapter 31 verse 42.]

38. And he laid these rods which he had peeled in the gutters an din the water-though where the flock came to drink over against the flock and they were heated [that is being heated they conceived] when they came to drink.

39. When the flock then was heated by or with or at the rods the flock lambed or brought forth straked [viz. on the legs as above verse 35] speckled and brown ones.

40. Then Jacob severed the lambs [of various colours] and he turned the face of the flock upon the speckled and all the brown among Laban's flock [these he caused to go before and the other to follow that they might have them in their sight when they went a rutting.] and he put his flocks apart and he set them not by Laban's flock. [viz. lest by looking on them, they should bring forth their like, that is single colored ones.]

41. and it happened all the time when the flock of the prime lings [that is these are cast into the spring time of the year being according as the Hebrew word implies well girt as it were that is firm and compact of body and strength] was heated then Jacob put the rods in the gutters before the eyes of the flock that they might be heated by the rods.

42. But when the flock was heated late [that is in the fall of the year when they proved weak and feeble of the body] then he put them not so that the late lings became Labans and the primelings Jacobs.

43. And that man brake forth [see above chapter 18 verse 14] very much in abundance [Heb. Much] and he had many flocks and maid-servants and men-servants and camels and asses.