Ver. 2.-And 1aoob'e anger was kindled severity older interpreters regard Rachel u age.inst Re.ohel (not without just cause, since using the Divine name more hypoeritarwm, she not only evinced n want of faith nnd who, when their schemes prosper, think that resignation, but wrongfully imputed blame God favours them (Vatablas, Calvin). The to him) : and he said, Am I in God's stead, employment of Elohim by Jacob end Rachel, -i. e. am I omnipotent like him 1 This you supposed to mark the first thirteen verses as yourself will surely not presume to believe. belonging to the primitive document (Tuch, The interrogntive particle conveys the force Bleek, Kalisch), though by others (Davidson, of e. spi.J.ited denial (vide Ewe.Id, 'Hebrew Colenso) they are ascribed to the J ehovist, is Syntax,' § 324)-who he.th withheld from sufficiently explained by Rachel's conscious- thee the fruit of the womb! Rachel herself ness that in a large measure her handmaid's understood that God alone coulcl remove son was rather the fruit of her own impious sterility (ver. 6) ; but to this fact jealousy of device than the gift of Jehovah (Hengsten- Leah appears for the moment to have blinded berg). Therefore called she his name Dan- her. i. e." Judge," one decreeing justice, vi11dex, Ver. 3.-And she se.id,-resorting to the from )~"'!, to judge (Gesenius, Keil, Lange, et sinful expedient of Sarah (eh. xvi. 2), though alii), though, as in other proper names, e. q. without Sarah's excuse, since there was no Joseph, Zebulun, in which two ,erbs are question whatever about an heir for Jacob ; alluded to, Michaelis thinks nan ajudicando which, even if there had been, woulcl not solum, sed et ab audiendo nomen accepisse have justified a. practice which, in the case of Danem, e.ncl connects it with another verb, a her distinguished relative, had been so pal- denominative from an Arabic root, signifying pably condemned-Behold my me.id Bilhah to hear (vide 'Suppl.,' p. 425). (vide eh. x:xix. 29), go in nnto her; and she Yers. 7, 8.-And Bilhah Rachel's maid shall bear upon my knees,-i. e. children conceived age.in, and bare J' aco b a second that I may place upon my knees, as mothers son. And Rachel so.id, With great wrest- do (Piscator, A Lapide, Calvin, Rosenmiiller, ling& have I wnstled with my ei.eter,- La.n~e, Ainsworth) ; the literal sense of the literally, wrestlings of God have I wrestled woras being too absurd to require refutation with my suter, meaning, by " WTcstlings of -that I may also have children-literally, Elohim ;" not /Eeat WTestlings in rivalry with be builded up (cf. eh. xvi. 2)-by her. Leah (A. V., vatablus, Ainsworth, Rosen- Ver. 4.-And she gave him Bilhah her miiller, C11lvin), nor wrestlings in the cause handmaid to wife: and J'acob went in unto of God, as being unwilling to leave the her. " Whence we gather thnt there is no founding of the notion to her sister alone end of sin where once the Divine institution (Knobel), hut wrestlings with God in prayer of maniage is neglected" (Calvin). Jacob (Delitzsch, Lange, lllurphy, Ko.lisch), wrest- began with polygamy, and is now drawn into lings regarding Elohim o.nd his grace (Heng- concubinage. Though God overruled this stenberg, Keil), in which she at the same time for the development of the seed of Israel, he contended with her sister, to whom apparently clid not thereby condone the offence of either that grace had been hitherto I"Cstricted- J ncoh or Rachel. and I ha.ve prevailed (scnrccly in the sense Ver. 6.-And Bilhah conceived, and bare of nchieving a victory over Leah, who hnd J'acob a son. "Conception 11.ncl birth mo.y alrendy horne four sons, but in tho sense of he grnnted to irregular marriages" (Hughes). drawing the Divine favour, though only "So God often strives to overcome men's indirectly, towards herself): and she oalled wickedness throu~h kindness, and pursues hie name Naphtali-i. e. "My Wrestling." the uuworthy with his g:race" (Calvin). Ver. 9.-When Leah saw that she had Ver. 6.-And Ro.ohel said, God hath left bearing (literally, stood from beai·ing, judged me,-" bath chastened me," as in eh. as in eh. xxix. 35 ), she took Zilpo.h her xv. 14 (Ainsworth, Wordsworth); better, maid, and gave her to J'acob to wife-being " hnth procured for me justice," 11s if reckon- in this led astray by Rnchel's ,inrul exnmple, ing her sterility an injustice by the side of both ns to the spirit of uuholy rivnlry she Leah's fecundity (Keil, Lange) ; or, h11th cherished, aml the questional '" monns she earned through my cause like a patron, i. e. employed for its gratificntion. bath vinclicated me from the reproach of barrenness (Munster, Rosenmiillcr); or, hnth Yers. 10, 11.-And Zilpah Le11h'e maid de,alt with me according to his sovereign jus- bare Jacob a son. And Leah so.id, A troop tice, withholding from me the fruit of the cometh. i~f, for ip, in or with good for- womb while I was forgetful of my dependence tune; lv TVX'1 (LXX.); fel-iciter, sc. this on him, and granting me posterity when I happens to me (Vulgate), a 1mnslatLm approached him in humble supplication (Mur- which has the snnction of Gesenius, Fiir;t, phy), which it is obvious from the next clause Rosenmiiller, Keil, Kalisch, nnd other com- thnt Ra.chel did-and hath also heard my petent authorities-the Keri, which is fol- voioe, and ha.th given me a son. With undue lowed by Onkclos and Syrio.c, readii g ,~ N), 366 THE BOOK OF GENESIS. [CH. XXX. 1-13,
fortune cometh. The Authorised l'E'ndering, bare lacob a second son. And Leah eald, supported by tl10 Samaritan, and supposed Happy am 1,-litemlly, in my happiness, sc. to accord better with eh. xlix. 19, is approved lllll I(' SJ;lcaker's Commcnti,ry '); or,for orto by Cnhin, Ainsworth, Bush, and others. my l1appmess (Keil, Kalisch)-for the daugh- And she oalled his name Gad-i. e. Good ters will call me blessed (or, hnppy): and Fortuno. she called hie no.me Asher-i. e. Happy. Ycrs. 12, 13.-And Zilpah Leah's maid