CRITICAL NOTES.—
Genesis 29:15. Because thou art my brother.] That is, my kinsman. This word, like “sister,” “son,” etc., is used with great latitude in the sacred writings.
Genesis 29:17. Leah was tender-eyed—weak-eyed.] “Leah’s eyes were feeble, i.e., dull, without brilliancy and freshness. In the East the clear expressive lustrous eye is accounted the chief feature in female beauty. It was compared to the eyes of a gazelle (1 Samuel 16:12). (Alford)—Beautiful and well-favoured.] Having a fine shape and fine features—beautiful both in form and in appearance.
Genesis 29:18. I will serve thee seven years for Rashel.] It is still the custom in the East to serve for a wife. “Jacob could only pay by service. The daughter was not necessarily sold as a slave; but the parent received a price as a compensation for her rearing and training.” (Jacobus.)—
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Genesis 29:15-20
JACOB’S LOWLY ESTATE
I. Its evidence. Jacob is now found in a mean condition, as is evident from these circumstances:—
1. That he is obliged to accept a position of servitude. For the space of one month Jacob served his uncle, but nothing was said with respect to terms. It was not for Jacob to speak on such a subject, for he had nothing to offer except his labour, he was poor and dependent. Jacob could not assume the proud and advantageous position of one who came with pomp, retinue, and riches. It was, therefore, Laban’s part to propose the terms, and Jacob was forced by circumstances to accept the humiliating conditions.
2. He is obliged to prostitute the most sacred affections by consenting to a mercenary bargain. Laban demands of Jacob what his wages should be, which gives Jacob an opportunity of declaring his love for Rachel. He had no dowry to offer her, like his father Isaac. He could only purchase her by his labours, a bargain which was rendered possible by primitive custom. It was humiliating to be obliged thus to earn his wife before he could have her. It was degrading the most tender feelings of the heart thus to make them a subject of commercial treaty. In the days of Hosea, when the children of Israel had grown haughty, the prophet reminds them of these degrading circumstances concerning their ancestor, “Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.” (Hosea 12:12.)
II. Its consolation. The seven years that Jacob had to serve for Rachel passed away so pleasantly, that they seemed to him but a few days. (Genesis 29:20.) Love lightens and cheers every task of labour and endurance. A week of years was like a week of days to him. Coleridge says, “No man could be a bad man who loved as Jacob loved Rachel.”
III. Its lessons for his posterity. Israel was destined to rise to eminence and power amongst the family of nations. But it was necessary for that people to be reminded of the lowly estate of their forefather. When the Israelite presented his basket of first fruits before the Lord, he was instructed to confess, “A Syrian ready to perish was my father” (Deuteronomy 26:5). The nation was thus taught that all its greatness and prosperity were not due to natural endowments and industry, but to the electing love of God. The strength of His grace was made perfect in weakness.
SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS ON THE VERSES
Genesis 29:15. Laban proposes a fixed contract. This may have been only to protect himself against any undue expectations of Jacob. He will pay him like an ordinary servant. Or it may have been in a fair and manly generosity.—(Jacobus).
Jacob was the type of the active, industrious man. He was not an idle guest, but employed himself about his uncle’s business, thus making such return as was in his power for the kindness he received.
Laban pretends love and equity to his covetous aims and reaches. Hypocrites, whatever they pretend, have a hawk’s eye to praise or profit. They must be gainers by their piety or humanity, which must be another Diana to bring gain to the crafts-master. The eagle, when she soareth highest, hath an eye ever to the prey.—(Trapp.)
Genesis 29:16-17. Daughters in those countries and times were also objects of value, for which their parents were wont to receive considerable presents (Genesis 24:53).—(Murphy).
Genesis 29:18. He had nothing to endow her with; he would therefore earn her with his hard labour, which, as it shows Laban’s churlishness to suffer it, and his baseness to make a prize and a prey of his two daughters, so it sets forth Jacob’s meekness, poverty, patience, and hard condition here. He was a man of many sorrows, and from him, therefore, the Church hath her denomination; neither were the faithful ever since called Abrahamites but Israelites.—(Trapp).
We see here the degraded position in which women were regarded among the ancients. They were looked upon merely as slaves or servants; and therefore, as by marriage the father was deprived of his daughter’s services, he always demanded some dowry or compensation; thus, Jacob served seven years to recompense Laban for the loss of his daughter’s services.—(Robertson.)
Genesis 29:19. Jacob, as a younger brother, had an unquestionable claim to Rachel, the youngest daughter of Laban. Among all the Bedouin Arabs at the present day a man has the exclusive right to the hand of his first cousin; he is not obliged to marry her, but she cannot be married to another without his consent.—(Bush.)
Genesis 29:20. This verse beautifully represents Jacob’s lightheartedness in the presence of his beloved. It is wonderful to our minds to remember that these seven years were from the 78th to the 85th year of Jacob’s age.—(Alford.)
No other feeling of the human mind could have shortened and sweetened the term of that lengthened bondage. Ambition, avarice, fear, and a host of similar passions, will all make the bond-slave obedient to the beck of the hardest taskmaster; but there is none, save love, the master passion of the human heart, which can enable its possessor to render not only a willing, but a happy and joyful obedience.—(Blunt.)
And yet lovers’ hours are full of eternity. But love facilitated the service, and made the time seem short. Should anything seem hard or heavy to us, so we may have heaven at length. The affliction is but light and momentary; the glory massy, and for all eternity. Hold out, Faith and Patience. Love is a passion, and seen most in suffering; “much water cannot quench it.” (Song of Solomon 8:7.) Nay, like fire, it devours all delays and difficulties, spending and exhaling itself, as it were, in continual wishes to be at home, “to be with Christ; is far better.” (Philippians 1:23.) Oh, let the eternal weight of the crown weigh down with us the light and momentary weight of the cross.—(Trapp.)