Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Genesis
Book: Genesis
Chapter: 30
Overview:
A further account of
Jacob's family.
(1-13) Rachel beareth
Joseph.
(14-24) Jacob's new agreement with
Laban to serve him
for
Cattle.
(25-43)
1-13 Rachel envied her sister: envy is grieving at the good of
another, than which
No Sin is more hateful to
God, or more
hurtful to our neighbours and ourselves. She considered not that
God made the difference, and that in other things she had the
advantage. Let us carefully watch against all the risings and
workings of this
Passion in our minds. Let not our
Eye be evil
towards any of our fellow-servants, because our Master's is
good.
Jacob loved
Rachel, and therefore reproved her for what
she said amiss.
Faithful reproofs show true
Affection.
God may
be to us instead of any
Creature; but it is
Sin and folly to
place any
Creature in
God's stead, and to place that confidence
in any
Creature, which should be placed in
God only. At the
persuasion of
Rachel,
Jacob took
Bilhah her
Handmaid to
Wife,
that, according to the usage of those times, her children might
be owned as her mistress's children. Had not
Rachel's
Heart been
influenced
By evil passions, she would have thought her sister's
children nearer to her, and more entitled to her care than
Bilhah's. But children whom she had a right to rule, were more
desirable to her than children she had more reason to
Love. As
an early instance of her power over these children, she takes
pleasure in giving them names that carry in them marks of
rivalry with her sister. See what roots of bitterness envy and
strife are, and what mischief they make among relations. At the
persuasion of
Leah,
Jacob took Zilpah her
Handmaid to
Wife also.
See the power of
Jealousy and rivalship, and admire the
Wisdom
of the Divine appointment, which joins together one
Man and one
Woman only; for
God hath called us to peace and purity.
14-24 The desire, good in itself, but often too great and
irregular, of being the mother of the promised Seed, with the
honour of having many children, and the reproach of being
Barren, were causes of this unbecoming contest between the
sisters. The
Truth appears to be, that they were influenced
By
the promises of
God to
Abraham; whose posterity were promised
the richest blessings, and from whom the
Messiah was to descend.
25-43 The fourteen years being gone,
Jacob was willing to
depart without any provision, except
God's promise. But he had
in many ways a just claim
On Laban's substance, and it was the
will of
God that he should be provided for from it. He referred
his cause to
God, rather than agree for stated
Wages with
Laban,
whose selfishness was very great. And it would appear that he
acted honestly, when none but those of the colours fixed upon
should be found among his
Cattle.
Laban selfishly thought that
his
Cattle would produce few different in
Colour from their own.
Jacob's course after this agreement has been considered an
instance of his policy and management. But it was done
By
intimation from
God, and as a token of his power. The
Lord will
one way or another plead the cause of the oppressed, and honour
those who simply trust his
Providence. Neither could
Laban
complain of
Jacob, for he had nothing more than was freely
agreed that he should have; nor was he injured, but greatly
benefitted
By Jacob's services. May all our mercies be received
with thanksgiving and
Prayer, that coming from his bounty, they
may lead to his praise.