The Pulpit Commentary — Genesis — Section 419

EXPOSITION. Ver. 15. - And Laban said unto Jacob 1 Sam. xviii. 25,-J acob's offer was at once (probably at the month's end), Jlecause thou accepted by his grasping uncle, though ho nrt-litcrally, is it not that th-Ou art (cf. was that uncle's "brother" (ver. 15). eh. xxvii. 36; 2 Sam. xxiii. 19)-my brother, Ver. 19.-And Laban said, It is better -my kinsman (vide on ver. 12)-shouldest that l give her to thee, than that I should thou therefore serve me for nouJht t (liter- give her to another man. Orientals com- ally, and th()'IJ, serves& me gratuitously) tell monly prefer alliances within the circle of me, what shall thy wages be I A proof of their own relatives. Burckhardt, Volney, Le.ban's generosity and justice (Kalisch); of Layard, and Llllle testify that this is still his selfishness llDd greed (Keil) ; of his pru- the case among the Bedouins, the Druses, dence and sagacity in opening up the way and other Eastern tribes. Abide with me-- for a love-suit (Lange). a formal ratification of the compact on the Ver. 16.-And Le.ban had two daughters part of Laban. (the wife of Laban is not mentioned in the Ver. 20.-And Jacob served-hard service story): the name of the elder was Leah,- (eh. xxxi. 40, 41), in keeping sheep (Rosen " Wearied" (Gesenius); "Dull," "Stupid" xii 12)- seven years for Rachel. Tho (Furst); "Pining," "Yearning" (L11nge)- purity and intensity of Jacob's affection was and the name of the younger was Rachel declared not a.Ione by the propose.I of a seven -"Ewe" (Gesenius). yenrs' term of servitude,-11. long period of Ver. 17.-Leah wus tender eyed. Liter- waiting for 11. man of fifty-seven, if not seventy. ally, the eyes of Leah were tender, i. e. weak, seven, years of age,-but also by the spirit dull; ci110El1Ei~ (LXX.), lippi (Vulgate); in which he served bis 11varicious rehltive. cf. 1 Sam. xvi. 12. Leah's face wos not MllDy as the days were that req_uired to ugly (Bohlen), only her eyes were not clear intervene before he obtained possession of and lustrous, dm·k nnd sparkling, ns in nil his bride, they were rendered happy hy the p1·obability Rachel's wero (Knobel). Jlut sweet society of Raebel. And they seemed Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. unto him but a few days, for the love he Literally, beautiful in form (i. c. in outlino had to her. "Words breathing the purest ond mnke of body ; cf. eh. xxxix. 6 ; also tenderness, nnd expressing more emphatically 1 Snm. xvi. 18-" a mon of form," i. e. than the flowery hyperboles of romantic jor1110S1ts, well mnde) and beautiful in ap- phrnseology the deep attachment of un uf• pearance (i. e. of a lovely countenonce). fectionute heurt" (Kalisch); words too which "If nnthentic l1istory was not in the wny, show the lofty apprecintion Jncob butl of the Lenh, as the mother of Judah, nnd of the persona.I worth of his future bride. Davidic lllessinnic line, ought to h11vo carried Ver. 21. -And Jacob said unto Laban off the 1/rize of beauty after Sarah and (who, though the term of servitude hud Rebekah (Lange). expired, appeared to be in no hosto to implc• Ver. 18.-And Jaoob loved Rachel (it is ment his pnrt of the bargain), Give me my more tlian probable thnt this was an illus- wife (i e. my 11filanccd wifo, ns in Dent. tration of what is known ns "love at first xxii. 23, 24; lliatt. i. 20), for my days are sight " on the part of Rachel as well us fu.llllled (i.e. my tC11Jl ofsorvico is completed), J nco b) ; and said, I will serve thee seven that I may go in unto her-quo sigmficat years for Rachel thy younger daughter. intactam adhuc esse virginem (Cnlvin); a Hoving no property \\ith which to buy his proof that Jacob's love was pure and true. wife, 11ccording to Oriental custom (Kalisch), Ver. 22.-And Laban (unnble to evade or or to give the usual dowry for her to her delay tho fulfilment of his ngreemeut with father (Keil),-cf. eh. xxiv. 63; xxxiv. 12; Jacob) gathered together all the men of the  TRE BOOK OF GENESIS. [err. XltlX. 16-30.