CHAPTER XXX Rachel _envies her sister, and chides Jacob_, 1. _He reproves her and vindicates himself_, 2. _She gives him her maid_ Bilhah, 3, 4. _She conceives, and bears_ Daniel 5:6; _and afterwards_ Naphtali, 7, 8. Leah _gives_ Zilpah _her maid to Jacob_, 9. _She conceives and bears_ Gad, 1... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 30:2. _AM I IN GOD'S STEAD_] Am I greater than God, to give thee what _he_ has refused?... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 30:3. _SHE SHALL BEAR UPON MY KNEES_] The handmaid was the sole property of the mistress, as has already been remarked in the case of Hagar; and therefore not only all her labour, but even the children borne by her, were the property of the mistress. These female slaves, therefore, bor... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 30:6. _CALLED SHE HIS NAME DAN._] Because she found God had _judged_ for her, and _decided_ she should have a son by her handmaid; hence she called his name דן _dan, judging_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 30:8. _SHE CALLED HIS NAME NAPHTALI_] נפתלי _naphtali, my_ _wrestling_, according to the common mode of interpretation; but it is more likely that the root פתל _pathal_ signifies to _twist_ or _entwine_. Hence Mr. Parkhurst translates the verse, "_By the_ _twistings_-agency or operatio... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 30:11. _SHE CALLED HIS NAME GAD._] This has been variously translated. גד _gad_, may signify a _troop_, an _army_, a _soldier_, a _false god_, supposed to be the same as _Jupiter_ or _Mars_; for as Laban appears to have been, if not an idolater, yet a dealer in a sort of judicial astr... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 30:13. _AND LEAH SAID, HAPPY AM I_] באשרי _beoshri, in my_ _happiness_, therefore she called his name אשר _asher_, that is, _blessedness_ or _happiness_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 30:14. _REUBEN - FOUND MANDRAKES_] דודאים _dudaim_. What these were is utterly unknown, and learned men have wasted much time and pains in endeavouring to guess out a probable meaning. Some translate the word _lilies_, others _jessamine_, others _citrons_, others _mushrooms_, others _... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 30:15. _THOU HAST TAKEN MY HUSBAND_] It appears probable that Rachel had found means to engross the whole of Jacob's affection and company, and that she now agreed to let him visit the tent of Leah, on account of receiving some of the fruits or plants which Reuben had found.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 30:16. _I HAVE HIRED THEE_] We may remark among the Jewish women an intense desire of having children; and it seems to have been produced, not from any peculiar affection for children, but through the hope of having a share in the blessing of Abraham, by bringing forth _Him_ in whom al... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 30:18. _GOD HATH GIVEN ME MY HIRE_] שכרי _sechari_. _And she_ _called his name Issachar_, יששכר, This word is compounded of יש _yesh_, IS, and שכר _sachar_, WAGES, from שכר _sachar_, to _content, satisfy, saturate_; hence a satisfaction or compensation for work done, c.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 30:20. _NOW WILL MY HUSBAND DWELL WITH ME_] יזבלני _yizbeleni_; and she called his name _Zebulun_, זבל a dwelling or _cohabitation_, as she now expected that Jacob would _dwell_ with _her_, as he had before dwelt with _Rachel_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 30:21. _AND CALLED HER NAME DINAH._] דינה _dinah, judgment_. As Rachel had called her son by Bilhah DAN, Genesis 30:6, so Leah calls her daughter DINAH, God having _judged_ and determined for her, as well as for her sister in the preceding instance.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 30:22. _AND GOD HEARKENED TO HER_] After the severe reproof which Rachel had received from her husband, Genesis 30:2, it appears that she sought God by prayer, and that he heard her; so that her prayer and faith obtained what her impatience and unbelief had prevented.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 30:24. _SHE CALLED HIS NAME JOSEPH_] יוסף _Yoseph, adding_, or _he who adds_; thereby prophetically declaring that God would _add_ _unto her another son_, which was accomplished in the birth of _Benjamin_, Genesis 35:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 30:25. _JACOB SAID UNTO LABAN, SEND ME AWAY_] Having now, as is generally conjectured, fulfilled the _fourteen_ years which he had engaged to serve for Leah and Rachel. See Genesis 30:26, and conclusion of _Clarke's notes "_Genesis 31:55_"_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 30:27. _I HAVE LEARNED BY EXPERIENCE_] נחשתי _nichashti_, from נחש _nachash_, to _view attentively_, to _observe_, to _pry into._ I have diligently considered the whole of thy conduct, and marked the increase of my property, and find that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake. For the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 30:30. _FOR IT WAS LITTLE WHICH THOU HAD BEFORE I_ CAME] Jacob takes advantage of the concession made by his father-in-law, and asserts that it was for his sake that the Lord had blessed him: _Since my coming_, לרגלי leragli, according to my footsteps - every step I took in thy service... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 30:32. _I WILL PASS THROUGH ALL THY FLOCK_] צאן _tson_, implying, as we have before seen, all _smaller cattle_, such as _sheep, goats_, c. _ALL THE SPECKLED AND SPOTTED CATTLE_] שה _seh_, which we translate _cattle_, signifies the _young_ either of _sheep_ or _goats,_ what we call a _... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 30:35. _THE HE-GOATS THAT WERE RING-STREAKED_] התישים העקדים _hatteyashim haakuddim_, the _he-goats_ that had _rings_ of _black_ or _other coloured hair_ around their _feet_ or _legs_. It is extremely difficult to find out, from Genesis 30:32 and Genesis 30:35, in _what_ the bargain... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 30:37. _RODS OF GREEN POPLAR_] לבנה לח _libneh lach_. The _libneh_ is generally understood to mean the _white poplar_; and the word _lach_, which is here joined to it, does not so much imply _greenness_ of _colour_ as being _fresh_, in opposition to _witheredness_. Had they not been _f... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 30:38. _AND HE SET THE RODS WHICH HE HAD PILLED BEFORE THE_ _FLOCKS_] It has long been an opinion that whatever makes a strong impression on the mind of a female in the time of conception and gestation, will have a corresponding influence on the mind or body of the fetus. This opinion... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 30:40. _JACOB DID SEPARATE THE LAMBS, C._] When Jacob undertook the care of Laban's flock, according to the agreement already mentioned, there were no party-coloured sheep or goats among them, therefore the _ring-streaked_, c., mentioned in this verse, must have been born _since_ the a... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 30:41. _WHENSOEVER THE STRONGER CATTLE DID CONCEIVE_] The word מקשרות _mekushsharoth_, which we translate _stronger_, is understood by several of the ancient interpreters as signifying the _early,_ _first-born_, or _early spring_ cattle; and hence it is opposed to עטפים _atuphim_, whi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 30:43. _AND THE MAN INCREASED EXCEEDINGLY_] No wonder, when he used such means as the above. And had _maid-servants_, and _men-servants_-he was obliged to increase _these_ as his cattle multiplied. And _camels_ and _asses_, to transport his tents, baggage, and family from place to plac... [ Continue Reading ]