Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night— Thus Jacob complains of the weather in Mesopotamia. Accordingly Rawwolff, speaking of his going down the Euphrates, gives us to understand that he was wont to wrap himself up in a frize coat in the night-time to keep himself from the frost and dews, which are very frequent and violent there. See Ray's Travels, p. 155, 156. The heat or drought of the day might well be equally complained of by Jacob; for Thevenot tells us, par. 2: p. 52. that when he travelled in this country of Mesopotamia the heat was so excessive, that though he wore upon his head a great black handkerchief, which he could see through, after the manner of the eastern people when they travel, yet he had many times his forehead so scorched as to swell exceedingly, and so as to have even the skin come off; and that his hands also were continually parched.
REFLECTIONS.—It is now Jacob's turn to chide, when Laban cannot make good the least of his accusations, nor find a thread which he can justly claim. Note; Though he had reason to expostulate, he did wrong to be angry: no provocation can excuse that. He could appeal to Laban for his honesty, carefulness, and fidelity; and every instance he produces of the uprightness of his service, reflects upon Laban as an unjust and unreasonable master. Note; Though it be one's unhappy case to have such a master as Laban, a good servant, like Jacob, will not be less faithful and industrious. We must leave the matter with God, and then we shall have Jacob's blessing.