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The Pulpit Commentary
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 29:12
And Jacob told (or, had told, ut supra) Rachel that he was her father's brother,—as Lot is called Abraham's brother, though in reality his nephew (Genesis 13:8; Genesis 14:14, Genesis 14:16)—and that he was Rebekah's so…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 29:13
And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings (literally, heard the hearing, or thing heard, i.e. the report of the arrival) of Jacob his sister's son,—he acted very much as he did ninety-seven years before, when Ab…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 29:14
And Laban said unto him (giving utterance to the impression Jacob's recital had produced upon his mind), Surely thou art my bone and my flesh—i.e. my blood relation (cf. 9:2; 2 Samuel 5:1). Laban meant that Jacob had sa…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 29:15-30
Jacob and Laban, or the deceiver deceived. I. JACOB'S CONTRACT WITH LABAN. The promised service—seven years of pastoral assistance. 2. The stipulated wages—Rachel in marriage as a wife. This part of the contract was— II…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 29:15-30
EXPOSITION
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 29:15
And Laban said unto Jacob (probably at the month's end), Because thou art—literally, is it not that. thou art (cf. Genesis 27:36; 2 Samuel 23:19)—my brother,—my kinsman (vide on Genesis 29:12)—shouldest thou therefore s…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 29:16
And Laban had two daughters (the wife of Laban is not mentioned in the story): the name of the elder was Leah,—"Wearied" (Gesenius); "Dull," "Stupid" (Furst); "Pining," "Yearning" (Lange)—and the name of the younger was…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 29:17
Leah was tender eyed. Literally, the eyes of Leah were tender, i.e. weak, dun; ἀσθενεῖς (LXX.), lippi (Vulgate); cf. 1 Samuel 16:12. Leah's face was not ugly (Bohlen), only her eyes were not clear and lustrous, dark a…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 29:18
And Jacob loved Rachel (it is more than probable that this was an illustration of what is known as "love at first sight" on the part of Rachel as well as Jacob); and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy yo…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 29:19
And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man. Orientals commonly prefer alliances within the circle of their own relatives. Burckhardt, Volney, Layard, and Lane testif…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 29:20
And Jacob served—hard service (Genesis 31:40, Genesis 31:41), in keeping sheep (Hosea 12:12)—seven years for Rachel. The purity and intensity of Jacob's affection was declared not alone by the proposal of a seven years'…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 29:20
Christ's love for the Church. "And Jacob served seven years for Rachel." On the surface this is a step in Jacob's training, in the fulfillment of God's promise at Bethel. It shows a new feature in his character. We see…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 29:20
The power of true affection. "And Jacob served seven years for Rachel," &c. I. THE INWARD SPRING OF THE OUTWARD LIFE. Power of the heart over the will, over the circumstances, over flesh. Time measured by the motions of…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 29:21
And Jacob said unto Laban (who, though the term of servitude had expired, appeared to be in no haste to implement his part of the bargain), Give me my wife (i.e. my affianced wife, as in Deuteronomy 22:23, Deuteronomy 2…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 29:22
And Laban (unable to evade or delay the fulfillment of his agreement with Jacob) gathered together all the men of the place (not the entire population, but the principal inhabitants), and made a feast—a "mishteh, or dri…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 29:23
And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him. The deception practiced on Jacob was rendered possible by the fact that the bride was usually conducted into the marriage chamb…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 29:24
And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah—"the Dropping"? (Gesenius), "Myrrh-juice" (Furst)—his maid (according to Gesenius the word is closely connected with an unused root signifying to spread out, hence a maid-ser…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 29:25
And it came to pass, that in the morning, Behold, it was Leah. If Jacob's deception, even with the veiled bride, may still be difficult to understand, it is easy to perceive in Leah's substitution for Rachel a clear ins…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 29:26
And Laban said, It must not be so done—the future expresses the thought that the custom has grown into a strong moral obligation (Kalisch)—in our country (Hebrew, place), to give the younger before the first-born. The s…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 29:27
Fulfill her week,—literally, make full the week of this one, i.e. of Leah, if Leah was given to Jacob on the first night of the festivities (Calmer, Rosenmüller, Keil, Kalisch, Lange, Ainsworth); but id Leah was married…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 29:28
And Jacob aid so, and fulfilled her week. Literally, the week of this one, either of Leah or of Rachel, as above. Rosenmüller, assigning the first week (Genesis 29:27) to Leah, refers this to Rachel; but the expression…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 29:29
And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah—"Bashful," "Modest" (Gesenius)—his handmaid to be her maid.
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 29:30
And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah (implying, however, that Leah had a place in his affections), and served with him yet seven other years. The seven years cunningly exacted for Lea…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 29:31-35
EXPOSITION