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32 - Commentary on The Book of Genesis · Sacred Texts Archive

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Chapter twenty nine. This chapter gives us an account of God's providences concerning Jacob,
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pursuant to the promises made to him in the foregoing chapters. Roman numeral
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one. How he was brought in safety to his journey's end and directed to
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his relations there, who bade him welcome Verses one to fourteen, Roman Numeral
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two. How he is comfortably disposed of in marriage Verses fifteen through thirty Roman
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Numeral three. How his family was built up in the birth of four sons
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Verses thirty one through thirty five. The affairs of princes and mighty nations that
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were then in being are not recorded in the Book of God, but are
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left to be buried in oblivion, while these small domestic concerns of Holy Jacob
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are particularly recorded with their mentate circumstances, that they may be in everlasting remembrance
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for the memory of just is blessed. Jacob's arrival in Peddam Aram b c.
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Seventeen sixty, Verse is one through eight. Then Jacob went on his
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journey and came into the land of the people of the east. And he
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looked and behold a well in the field, And lo, there was three
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flocks of sheeps lying by it. For out of that well they watered the
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flocks. And a great stone was upon the well's mouth, and thither where
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all the flocks gathered. And they rolled the stone from the well's mouth and
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watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well's mouth in his
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place. And Jacob said, unto them, my brethren, whence be ye?
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And they said, of Aharan are we? And he said, unto
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them, know ye Levin, the son of Naur. And they said,
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we know him. And he said, unto them, is he well?
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And they said he is well? And behold, Rachel is his daughter cometh
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with the sheep. And he said, lo, it is yet high day.
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Neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together. Water ye
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the sheep, and go and feed them. And they said, we cannot
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until all the flocks be gathered together, until they roll the stone from the
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well's mouth, then we water the sheep. All the stages Israel's march to
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Canaan are distinctly noticed, but no particular journalists kept of Jacob's expedition further than
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Bethel. No, he had no more such happy nights as he had at
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Bethel. No more such visions of the Almighty that was intended for a feast,
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He must not accept it to be his daily bread. But one we
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are here told how cheerfully he proceeded in his journey after the sweet communion he
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had with God at Bethel. Then Jacob lifted up his feet, so the
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margin reads it verse one. Then he went on with cheerfulness and alacrity,
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not burdened with his cares, nor cramped with his fears, being assured of
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God's gracious presence with him. After the visions we have ahead of God,
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and the vows we have made to Him in solemn ordinances, we should run
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the way of commandments with enlarged hearts. Hebrews twelve. First one, how
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happily he arrived at his journey's in Providence brought him to the very field where
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his uncle's flock were to be watered, and there he met Rachel, who
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was to be his wife. Observe one. The divine providence is to be
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acknowledged in all the little circumstances which concur to make a journey or other undertaking
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comfortable and successful. If when we are at loss we meet seasonably with those
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that can direct us. If we meet with a disaster, and those are
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at hand that will help us. We must not say that it was by
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chance, nor that fortune therein favored us, but that it was providence and
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that God therein favored us. Our ways are ways of pleasantness if we continually
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acknowledge God in them. Two. Those that have flocks must look well to
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them and be diligent to another state. Proverbs twenty seven, verse twenty three.
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What is here said of the constant care of the shepherds concerning their sheep
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Verses two, three, seven, and eight may serve to illustrate the tender
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concern which our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, has for
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his flock the church, for he is the good shepherd that knows his sheep
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and is known of them. John ten four, verse fourteen. The stone
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at the well's mouth, which is so often mentioned here, was either to
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secure the property in it, for water was scarce. It was not their
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use's communists aquarium for everyone's use. Or it was to save the well from
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receiving damage from the heat of the sun or from any spiteful hands, or
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to prevent the lamb of the flock from being drowned in it. Three,
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Separate interests should not take us from joint and mutual help. When all the
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shepherds came together with their flocks, then like loving neighbors at watering time,
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they would water their flocks together. Four. It becomes us to speak civilly
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and respectfully to strangers. Though Jacob was no courtier, but a plain man
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dwelling in tents into strayerture to compliment. Yet he had treasures himself very obligingly
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to the people he met with, and calls them his brethren. Verse four.
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The law of kindness in the tongue has a commanding power Proverbs thirty one,
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verse twenty six. Some think he calls them brethren because they were of
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the same trade shepherds like him. Though he was now upon his preferment,
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he was not ashamed of his occupation. Five. Those that show respect have
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usually respect shown to them. As Jacob was civil to these strangers, so
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he found them civil to him when he undertook to teach them how to dispatch
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their business verse seven. They did not bid him meddle with his own concerns
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and let them alone. But though he was a stranger, they gave him
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the reason of their delay. Verse eight. Those that are neighborly and friendly
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shall have a neighborly and friendly usage. Rachel's Humility in Industry b. C.
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Seventeen sixty, Verses nine through fourteen. And while yet spake with them,
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Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she kept them. And it
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came to pass when Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of Leban, his mother's
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brother, and the sheep of Levan, his mother's brother, that Jacob went
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near and rolled the stone from the weld's mouth, and watered the flock of
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Leban, his mother's brother. And Jacob kissed Rachel and lift up his voice
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and wept. And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and
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that he was Rebecca's son. And she ran and told her father. And
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it came to pass when Leban heard the tidings of Jacob, his sister's son,
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that he ran to meet him and embraced him and kissed him, and
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brought him to his house. And he told Levin all these things, and
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Levin said to him, surely, thou art my bone and my flesh.
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Here we see one Rachel's humility and industry. She kept her father's sheep verse
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nine. That is, she took the care of them, having servants under
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her that were employed about them. Rachael's name signifies a sheep. Note honest,
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useful labor. Isn't that which nobody needs be ashamed of, nor ought
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it be a hindrance to any one's preferment. Two Jacob's tenderness and affection when
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he understood that this was his kinswoman. Probably he had heard of her name
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before knowing what his errand was into the country. We may suppose it struck
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his mind immediately that this must be his wife, being already smined with her
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ingenious, comely face, though it was probably sunburned, and she was in
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the homely dressed of a shepherd. He is wonderfully officious and anxious to serve
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her verse ten, and addresses himself to her with tears of joy and kisses
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of love. Verse eleven. She runs with all haste to tell her father,
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for she will, by no means entertain her kinsman's address without her father's
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knowledge and approbation verse twelve. These mutual respects at their first indufry were good
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presages of their being a happy couple. Three Providence made that which seemed contingent
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and fortuousness to give speedy satisfaction to Jacob's mind, as soon as ever he
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came to place what he was bound for, Abraham's servant, when he came
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upon a similar errand met with similar encouragement. Thus God guides his people with
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his eye Psalms twenty seven, verse eight. It is a groundless consit which
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some of the Jewish writers have that Jacob, when he kissed Rachel, wept
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because he had been set upon in his journey by Eliphias, the eldest son
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of Esau, at the command of his father, and robbed of all his
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money and jewels which his mother had given him when she sent him away.
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It was plain that his passion for Rachel and surprise of his happy meeting had
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drew these tears from his eyes. For Laban, though none of the best
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humored men bade him welcome, was satisfied in the account he gave himself and
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of the reason of his comings in such poor circumstances. While we avoid the
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extreme on the one hand of being foolishly credulous, we must take heed of
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falling into the other extreme, of being uncharitably jealous and suspicious, Lebon owned
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him for his kinsmen, though art my bone and flesh verse fourteen. Note
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those are hard hearted, indeed, that are unkind to their relations, and
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that hide themselves from their own flesh Isaiah fifty eight, verse seven. Jacob's
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Marriage b. C. Seventeen fifty three, Verses fifteen through thirty. And
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Laban said, unto Jacob, because thou art my brother, shouldst thou therefore
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serve me for nought? Tell me what shall thy wages be? And Leaban
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had two dollars. The name of the elder was Leah. The name of
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the younger was Rachel. Leah was tender eyed, but Rachel was beautiful and
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well favored. And Jacob loved Rachel and said, I will serve thee seven
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years for Rachel, thy young daughter. And Laban said, it is better
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that I give her to thee than that I should give her to another man.
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Abide with me. And Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they
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seemed unto him, but a few days for their love he had to her.
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And Jacob said, unto Laban, give me my wife, for my
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days are fulfilled, that I may go in under her. And Laban gathered
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together all of the men of the place and made a feat. And it
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came to pass in the evening that he took Leah his daughter, and brought
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her to him, and he went in unto her. And Lebon gave unto
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his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for a handmaid. And it came to pass
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that in the morning, behold it was Leah. And he said to Levin,
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what is this thou hast done unto me? Did not I serve with
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thee for Rachel? Wherefore then hast thou beguiled me? And Laban said,
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it must not be so done in our country to give the younger before the
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firstborn fulfill her weak. And we will give thee this also for the service
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which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years, and Jacob did so
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and fulfilled her weak, and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife.
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Also, and Lebon gave to Rachel his daughter be Laha his handmaid, to
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be her maid. And he went in all so unto Rachel. And he
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loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
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Here is one the fair contract may between Lebon and Jacob. During the
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month that Jacob spent there as a guest verse fourteen, it seems he was
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not idle, nor did he spend his time in sport and pastime. But
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like a man of business, though he had no stock of his own,
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he applied himself to serve his uncle, as he had begun verse ten when
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he watered his flock. Note, wherever we are, it is good to
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be employed ourselves in some useful business which will turn to a good account to
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ourselves or others. Lebon, it seems, was so taken with Jacob's ingenuity
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and industry about his flock, that he was as sorrous he should continue with
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him, and very fairly reasons. Thus, because that art my brother,
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shouldest Thou therefore serve me for not verse fifteen, no what reason, And
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for that, if Jacob be so respectful to his uncle as to give him
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a service without demanding any consideration for it, yet Lebon will not be so
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unjust to his nephew as to take advantage either of his necessity or of his
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good nature. Note, inferior relations must not be imposed upon. If it
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be their duty to serve us, it is our duty to reward them.
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Now Jacob had a fair opportunity to make known to Lebanon the affection he had
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for his daughter Rachel, and having no wordly goods in his hands with which
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to endow her, he promises some seven years service, upon condition that at
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the end of seven years he would bestow her upon him for his wife.
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It appears by computation that Jacob has now seventy seven years old, and when
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he bound himself apprentice for a wife, and for a wife to kept sheep
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Joseah twelve, Verse twelve, his prosperity are there reminded of it long afterwards,
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as an instance of the meanness of their origin. Probably Rachel was young
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and scarcely marriageable when Jacob first came, which made him the more willing to
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stay for her till his seven years service had expired. Two Jacob's honest performance
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of his part of the bargain verse twenty, he served seven years for Rachel.
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If Rachel still continued to keep her father's sheep as she did verse nine,
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his innocent and religious conservation with her while they kept their flocks could not
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but increase their mutual acquaintance and affection. Solemn song of Love is a pastoral.
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If she now left it off, his easing her of the care was
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very obliging. Jacob honestly served out his seven years and did not forfeit his
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indentures though he was old. Nay, he served cheerfully. They seemed to
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him but a few days for the love he had to her, as if
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it were more his desire to earn her than to have her. Note love
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makes long and hard services. Hence, when we read a labor of love
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Hebrews, chapter six, verse ten, if we know how to value the
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happiness of Heaven, the sufferings of the present time will be as nothing to
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us in comparison of it. An age of work will be just a few
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days to those that love God and long for Christ. Appearing three the base
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cheat which Laban put upon him when he was out of time, he put
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Leah into his arms instead of Rachel First twenty three. This was Levinson.
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He wronged both Jacob and Rachel, whose affections, doubtless were engaged to each
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other. And if, as some say, Lea was heron no better than
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an adulterys, it was no small wrong to her to do. But it
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was Jacob's affliction a damped to the mirth of the marriage feast, when in
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the morning behold it was Leah verse twenty five. It is easy to observe
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hear how Jacob was paid in his own coin. He had cheated his own
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foot when he pretended to be Esau, and now his father in law cheated
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him Heron how unrighteous soever Lebon was, the Lord was righteous as judges one
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verse seven. Even the righteous, if they take a false step, are
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sometimes thus recompensed on the earth. Many they are, not, like Jacob,
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disappointed in the person, soon find themselves, as much to their grief,
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disappointed in the character. The choice of that relation, therefore, on
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both sides, ought to be made with good advice and consideration, that if
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there should be a disappointment, it may not be aggravated by a consciousness of
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mismanagement. Four. The excuse of atonement Leban made for the cheat. One
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excuse was frivolous. It must not be done in our country verse twenty six.
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We have reason to think that there was no such custom of country as
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he pretends. Only he banters Jacob with it and laughs at his mistake.
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Note those that can do wickedly and then think to turn it off with a
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jest, though they may deceive themselves, and others will find at last that
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God is not mocked. But there had been such a custom that he had
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resolved to observe it. He should have told Jacob so when he undertook to
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serve him for his younger daughter. Note as Saith, the proverbs of the
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ancient wickedness proceeds from the wicked First Samuel twenty four, verse thirteen, Those
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that deal with treacherous men must expect to be dealt treacherously. With his compounding
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the matter did but make bad worst, we will give thee this also verse
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twenty seven. Hereby he drew Jacob into sin and snare and disquiet of multiplying
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wives, which remains a blot in his escutcheon, and will be so to
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the end of the world. Honest Jacob did not design it, but to
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have kept as true to Rachel as his father had done to Rebecca. He
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that had lived without a wife to the eighth fourth year of his age,
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could then have been very well content with one. But Lebon disposed of his
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two dollars with portions, and to get seven years service more out of Jacob
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thus imposes upon him, and draws him into such a strait by his fraud,
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that the matter not being yet settled as it was afterwards by the divine
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law Levetticus eighteen verse eighteen, and more fully sensed by our Savior Matthew nineteen
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verse five, he had some colorable reasons for marrying them both. He could
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not refuse Rachel, for he had espoused her. Still less could he refuse
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Leer, for he had married her. And therefore Jacob must be content and
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take two talents Second King's verse twenty three. Note one sin is commonly the
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inlet of another. Those that go in by one door of wickedness, seldom
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by their way out by another. The polygamy of the patriarch's in some measurables
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excusable in them, because though there was no reason against it ancient as Adam's
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marriage Malachi two, verse fifteen, yet there was no express command against it.
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It was in them a sin of ignorance. It was not the product
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of any sinful lust, but for the building up of the church, which
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was the good that Providence brought out of it. But it will by no
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means justify the like practice now, when God's will is plainly made known that
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one man and one woman only must be joined together. First Corinthians seven,
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verse two. The having of many wives suits well enough with the cardinal sensual
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spirit of mohammedan imposture which allows it. But we have not so learned.
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Christ. Doctor Lightfoot makes Leia and Rachel to be figures of the two churches,
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the Jews under the law and the Gentiles under the Gospel. The younger,
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the more beautiful, and the more in the thoughts of the Christ when
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he came in the form of a servant. But he other like Leah,
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first embraced. Yet in the allegory does not hold that the gentiles the younger
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were more fruitful. Galatians four, first twenty seven. Increase of Jacob's family
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Baste seventeen forty nine, Verses thirty one through thirty five. And when the
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Lord saw that Layah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was
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barren, and Leah conceived in Bearra's son, and she called his name Reuben,
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for she said, surely the Lord hath looked upon my affliction. Now
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therefore my husband will love me. And she conceived again and bear a son,
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and said, because the Lord hath heard that I was hated. He
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had therefore given me the son also, and she called his name Simon.
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And she conceived again and Bearra's son, and said, now this time will
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my husband be joined unto me, because I have borne him three sons.
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Therefore was his name called called Levi. And she conceived again and bear a
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son, and she said, now I will praise the Lord. Therefore she
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called him name Judah, and left bearing. We have here the birth of
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four of Jacob's sons, all by Leah. Observed one, that Leah,
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who was less beloved and blessed with children, when Rachel was denied that blessing
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verse thirty one. See how Providence, in dispensing its gifts, observes a
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proportion to keep the balance, even setting crosses and comforts one over against another,
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that none may be either too much elevated or too much depressed. Rachel
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wants children, but she is blessed with her husband's love. Lay wants that,
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but she is fruitful. Thus it was between it Alecana's two wives first
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Samuel one, verse five. For that the Lord is wise and righteous.
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And the Lord saw that Leah was hated, that is loved less than Rachel,
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in which, since it is required that we hate father and mother in
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comparison with christ Luke fourteen, verse twenty six, then the Lord granted her
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a child, which was a rebuke to Jacob for making so great a difference
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between those that he was equally related to, a check to Rachel, who
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perhaps insulted over her sister upon that account, and a comfort to Lea that
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she might not be overwhelmed with a contempt put upon her. Thus, Scott
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giveth abundant honor to the which lacked first Corinthians twelve twenty four. Two.
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The names she gave her children were expressive of her respectful regards both to God
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and to her husband. One she appears very ambitious of her husband's love.
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She reckoned the want of fit her affliction verse thirty two, not upbraiding him
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with it as his fault, nor reproaching him for it, and so make
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being herself uneasy to him, belaying it to heart as her grief, which
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yet she had reason to bear with the more patience, because she herself was
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consenting to fraud by which she became his wife. And we may well bear
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that trouble with patience, which we bring upon ourselves by our own sin and
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folly. She promised herself that the children she bore him would gain her the
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interest she desired in his affections. She called her first born, Reuben see
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a son, with the pleasant thought, now will my husband love me?
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And her third son, Levi joined with this expectation, now will my husband
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join unto me? Verse thirty four. Mutual affection is both the duty and
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comfort of the relation and yoke. Fellows should study to recommend themselves to each
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other. First Corinthians seven, Verses thirty three and thirty four. Two.
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She thankfully acknowledges the kind providence of God in it. The Lord hath looked
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upon my afflictions Verse thirty two. The Lord Hath heard that it is taken
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notice of it that I was hated for our afflictions, as they are before
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God's eyes, so they have a cry in his ears. He has therefore
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given me this son. Note whatever we have contributes either to our support and
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comfort under our afflictions, or to our deliverance from them, God must be
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owned in it, his fleshly, his pity and tender mercy. Her fourth
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she called Judah praise, saying, now while I praise Lord, Verse thirty
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five. And this was he of whom, as concerning the flesh, Christ's
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name. Note one, whatever is the matter of rejoicing, ought to be
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the matter of our thanksgiving, fresh favors should quicken us to pays God for
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former favors. Now while I praise the Lord more and better than I have
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done. Two, all our praises must sin in Christ, both as the
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matter of them and as a mediator of them. He descended from him whose
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name was praised. For he is praised, Is Christ formed in my heart?
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Now will I praise the Lord. End of Chapter twenty nine.