CHAPTER XXVII.

3. venison; Ch. xxv. 28. note. "Make me savoury meat," &c. v. 4. i. e. for the purpose of being strengthened and refreshed so as to be able to deliver his benediction, and to go through this solemn scene with firmness; "that my soul," i. e. that I “ may bless thee," i. e. that I may implore that Divine blessing upon thee which was promised to Abraham, ch. xii. 2, 3, 7. and to me, ch. xxvi. 3. It cannot be known whether Isaac was acquainted with the Divine oracle, ch. xxv. 23.; or with Esau's selling his birthright, ch. xxv. 33. If he was, he acted in direct and profane opposition to the will of God; but if he was not, it does not appear that he was culpable in this transaction. Rebekah, however, cannot be vindicated; for though she must have known that Isaac was wrong in the intention he expressed, the means she took to counteract it were fraudulent and unjustifiable.

13. upon me be thy curse,] If any mischiefs arise from it, may they light on me; implying that there is no danger that it will succeed. 16. the skin, &c.] In the East goat's-hair is softer, and more like that of men than in the colder countries of Europe; ch. xxv. 25. 27. the smell of my son] The smell of his raiment, as expressed in the former clause. It appears from this to have been the custom to perfume their more splendid vestments. "As a field which the Lord hath blessed," i. e. as a field which the Lord hath made rich and fruitful with herbs, and flowers, and aromatic shrubs.

28. the dew] Rain fell in that country only at two seasons, at least in any considerable quantity, called the former and the latter rain; of course copious dews were particularly useful and refreshing to the parched vegetation. In this verse Isaac implores upon his son all the temporal blessings which a fertile country can produce. The same temporal advantages belong to his other son, v. 39.; but the spiritual blessings were confined to Jacob, v. 29. which verse does not import merely worldly dominion and empire, but also that pre-eminence and superiority which consisted in being the person in whom all the families of the earth should be blessed. This is confirmed by the repetition of the blessing in ch. xxviii. 1-4. But though spiritual blessings are chiefly intended, temporal superiority is also included; v. 37. ch. xxv. 23. note.

36. he took away my birth-right ;] But Esau voluntarily sold and despised it; ch. xxv. 30-34. With v. 37, 39. comp. v. 28. note. 40. by the sword, &c.] Not only upon spoil shalt thou live, but be in perpetual war; "and shalt serve thy brother," shall be reduced to subjection to him; "and it shall come to pass," &c. i. e. it shall come to pass that thou wilt continually strive against it, and endeavour to free thyself from his yoke; in other words, thou wilt be perpetually revolting. The posterity of Esau would be subjugated by that of Jacob, and yet would be perpetually striving to shake off the yoke. Such seems to be the meaning of this verse, and so explained, it perfectly agrees with the prophecy in ch. xxv. 23.

a few

42. comfort himself,] With the hope of revenge. By " days," v. 44. is meant indefinitely, a certain time; for Jacob stayed there above twenty years.

45. of you both] If Esau had killed Jacob, he would either have been punished with death, according to the law, ch. ix. 6, or must have fled into exile, like Cain. With v. 46. comp. ch. xxvi. 35.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

1. blessed him,] Cheerfully and willingly renewed the blessing before pronounced upon him; ch. xxvii. 27-29. "Thou shalt not," &c.: see v. 6, 8. ch. xxiv. 3. xxvi. 35.

3. bless thee,] Or, "will bless thee, and will make thee fruitful, and will multiply thee, that thou mayest become a multitude of people." This particular is added to the blessing, as delivered ch. xxvii. 27-29. In the following verse Isaac confirms to Jacob the blessing of Abraham," i. e. that he should inherit the land of Canaan, and that in his seed all nations should be blessed; v. 13-15. ch. xii. 2, 3, 7. notes.

9. unto Ishmael,] To his family; for Ishmael was now dead; ch. xxv. 17.

11. put them] Rather "put it;" for he used only one stone for his pillow, v. 18. As Jacob was now alone and unattended, entering upon a journey of doubtful issue, God in the following vision instructs him concerning a particular Providence, the belief of which could cheer and support him under all his trials. The ladder being "set up on the earth" denotes the stedfastness of Providence, and its " reaching to heaven" signifies that it extends over the whole creation. "The angels of God ascending and descending it," represent the operations of Providence, who employs the blessed spirits as the ministers to do his will; Heb. i. 14. note; comp. John i. 51. note.

13. above it,] But, as the ladder reached to heaven, this represents God as standing above the heavens, which surely is not the meaning; it is therefore better to refer the relative to Jacob; viz. "The Lord stood near him, and said." Comp. ch. xxvi. 24. note. With v. 13, 14. comp. v. 1—4.

16. I knew it not.] Meaning that the Lord is present here and everywhere else, a truth which I had not previously known, which I had not duly regarded.

17. how dreadful] "How awful is this place! this is none other but the house of God," the habitation of the Divine majesty ; "and this is the gate of heaven," the place where the angelic retinue resort. The image is derived from the gates of cities, which were the places of judgment, and of public assemblies, &c.; see ch. xix. 1. note.

18. for a pillar,] For a monument to the memory of this event; "and poured oil upon the top of it;" i. e. consecrated it by so doing

to that purpose. Oil was much used in these countries, for various purposes, and Jacob, as appears from this, had taken some with him. We may also hence infer, that oil was used in the ceremony of consecration before the law of Moses; comp. ch. xxxi.

45. xxxv. 14.

20. vowed] Entered into a solemn engagement with God. Vows were sanctioned by the law of Moses; Deut. xxiii. 21. comp. ch. xxxv. 1.

66

22. God's house:] Shall be a place set apart for the worship and service of God. I will surely give the tenth unto thee;" i. e. the tithes of all for the service of God; comp. ch. xiv. 20. note.

CHAPTER XXIX.

2. they] Viz. the shepherds "watered the flocks." The same word is also understood in v. 4. "Jacob said unto them," i. e. to the shepherds.

5. the son] The grandson of Nahor, and son of Bethuel; ch. xxviii. 5.

7. yet high day,] Literally, "the day is yet great;" i. e. a great deal of it remains before the evening," the time that the cattle should be gathered together;" Cant. i. 7.

8. We cannot,] Viz. with propriety, probably because it was contrary to the custom of the place, against established usage. "And they," i. e. the shepherds "roll," &c.

9. she kept them.] An employment accounted honourable in those days of primitive simplicity; ch. xxiv. 11. Exod. ii. 16.; Cant. i. 7, 8.

10. and rolled, &c.] Perhaps with the assistance of the shepherds, or it might be allowed to a stranger, though contrary to the custom of the inhabitants.

12. her father's brother,] His kinsman; v. 13. comp. ch. xiii. 8.

note.

14. my bone, &c.] A Hebraism expressive of near relationship; Judg. ix. 2.; 2 Sam. v. i. xix. 12.; Ephes. v. 30.

15. my brother,] My kinsman, v. 12. In the most ancient times wives were bought, both among the Orientals, and the Greeks, Romans, and Germans, the husband giving money or presents to the wife's parents, or to her for a dowry; ch. xxiv. 10, 22, 53. xxxiv. 12.; 1 Sam. xvii. 25.; Hos. iii. 2. Jacob being

destitute of money, offered seven years' service for Rachel.

17. tender-eyed.] The Hebrew may be taken in the sense of softness of eyes; i. e. Leah had a soft and beautiful eye, but Rachel was altogether well-proportioned, and of a lovely countenance; so ch. xxxix. 6. comp. 1 Sam. xvi. 12.

21. my days are fulfilled,] Viz. the time of my servitude is completed; therefore "give me my wife that I may go in unto her." This verse, and the circumstances of the following narrative, show that the marriage did not take place till after the expiration of the

seven years' service. The objections that the seven years would have seemed long, and not "a few days," had he not been married to her, v. 20.; that Jacob's age, who was now perhaps upwards of 70 years old, forbids the idea that the marriage was delayed: and that, on the supposition of its being delayed, he must have had twelve children in seven years, comp. v. 34, 35. ch. xxx. 25. xxxi. 41. are of little force. The two first prove nothing, and to the last it may be answered, that twelve children are not an improbable number to be born in seven years from two wives and as many handmaids. Besides, as God had promised a numerous posterity to Abraham, an extraordinary fruitfulness might reasonably be expected.

23. in the evening,] And therefore it was easy to deceive Jacob, especially as the bride was brought to her husband's bed veiled; ch. xxiv. 65.

26. it must not, &c.] Whether this was a mere pretence, or such was the custom of the country, Laban was to blame; for, on the latter supposition, he ought to have told Jacob of it previously.

27. fulfil her week,] Perfect the marriage by keeping the seven days' feast, according to custom; Judg. xiv. 12.; Tobit xi. 20. " and we will give thee this (the other) also," i. e. Rachel. There was no specific law at this time against such marriages; but they were afterwards forbidden in the law, Levit. xviii. 18. and they were contrary to the primitive institution of marriage, which forbids polygamy.

31. was hated,] Viz. comparatively, was beloved in a less degree than Rachel, as explained in the preceding verse; Luke xiv. 26. note.

32. looked] Viz. with mercy; hath compassionated and relieved my affliction; ch. xxxi. 42.; Exod. iii. 7. iv. 31.; Deut. xxvi. 7. et al.

CHAPTER XXX.

1. else I die.] From grief and envy; Job v. 2.; Prov. xiv. 30. This reprehensible speech justly provoked Jacob, who said, “Am I in God's stead,” i. e. am I in the place of God, who can alone render the barren fruitful, and "who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?" Ps. cxxvii. 3. comp. ch. xvi. 2. xx. 18.; 1 Sam. i. 5.

3. upon my knees,] She shall bear a child whom I may place upon my knees, to bring up as my own; see ch. xvi. 2. note; comp. 1. 23.

6. hath judged me, ,] Hath decided in my favour, hath vindicated me from the reproach of barrenness; v. 23.

8. with great wrestlings,] Literally, "with wrestlings of God," which implies that she had struggled hard with her sister to gain the favour of God, and had prevailed; v. 6, 17. note. This interpretation seems to be supported by the context, and in part by the

ancient versions; but the original is obscure. With v. 13. comp. Luke i. 48.

14. mandrakes.] The meaning of the word so translated is unknown. As little can it be determined why Rachel should desire

to have them.

17. hearkened unto Leah,] It is here implied that she prayed to God for offspring, and that God granted her request; v. 22. The desire of having children, which obtained among women even to the times of the Gospel, arose most likely from the wish to give birth to the promised Seed; v. 23.

18. my hire,] Or rather, "my reward," viz. by the birth of a son God hath given me the reward of my hiring or purchasing my husband's company, "because I have given my maiden" to him. Hence it appears that she considered this as a meritorious action. 22. remembered] Ch. viii. 1. note. "Hearkened," v. 17. note. 25. mine own place,] To his father's house in Canaan; ch. xviii. 33. With v. 27. comp. ch. xviii. 3.

31. Thou shalt not, &c.] Jacob's proposal was this, that Laban should not give him any thing that he then had, but that Laban should separate all the brown and speckled among the flock, and give them to his sons to keep three days' journey off; that Jacob should have the rest, the uniformly coloured, to keep; and that all the brown and speckled which these should hereafter bring forth should be Jacob's hire. This is apparent from comparing v. 31-36.; and it was so unlikely that the single coloured should produce many brown or speckled, that Laban gladly embraces the proposal; v. 34.

33. So shall, &c.] Rather, "so shall my righteousness answer for me before thee, when thou shalt come to examine my hire; " thou wilt see that I have acted fairly and honestly; "every one that is not speckled, &c. shall be counted stolen with me;" i. e. you shall count it to have been stolen by me. "And Laban said, Behold I would," &c.; rather, "Behold, let it indeed be according to thy word."

37. took him rods, &c.] Many contend that this is a natural means sufficient to produce the effect, and it is an established fact, that any strong impression upon the mind of the female during gestation has a corresponding influence upon the offspring. In this case Jacob cannot be considered as violating his contract, for he only used such means to produce variegated cattle as his knowledge of natural causes supplied him. But from ch. xxxi. 5—13. it may be inferred that there was something miraculous in it, and that in the means which he employed, he followed some divine intimation. If so, his conduct, so far from being culpable, was praiseworthy, as being a compliance with the will of God, who in this way rewarded Jacob for his fidelity, and punished Laban for his injustice.