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came to pass, when Rachel had born Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to 26 my country. Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and let me go: for thou knowest my service

sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. Ge. xlviii. 1. &c. Joseph is a fruitful bough (said Jacob), even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: the blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of thy progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren. Ge. xlix. 22. 26. And of Joseph he (Moses) said, Blessed of the Lord be his land, for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath. De. xxxiii. 13. His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh. De. xxxiii. 17. Moreover, thou son of man, (saith the Lord to Isaiah), take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions and join them one to another into one stick (as an emblem of the dead hope of Israel revived). Ez. xxxvii. 16, 17. And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place. And at the second time (of Joseph's brethren being sent into Egypt for corn) Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh. Ac. vii. 7. 13. By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; by faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. He. xi. 21, 22. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Re. vii. 8.

Joseph.] And it came to pass, when she (Rachel) was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also. And it came to pass, as her soul was departing, (for she died) that she called his name Ben-oni: but his father called him Benjamin. Ge. xxxv. 17, 18.

25 Send me away.] And he (Abraham's servant) said, Send me away that I may go to my master; and he said unto "them" ("Laban and Bethuel," sons of Bethuel), Hinder me not, seeing the Lord hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master. Ge. xxiv. 54, 56.

Mine own place.] And Abraham returned to his own place (after communing with God). Ge. xviii. 33. And early in the morning

Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them: and Laban departed, and returned to his own place. Ge. xxxi. 55.

To my country.] See chap. xxiv. 6, 7; xxvi. 3; xxvii. 44, 45; xxviii. 13. 15. I am the God of Beth-el (said the angel of God to Jacob), where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred. Ge. xxxi. 13. Then came he (Abraham) out of the land of the Chaldeans, and dwelt in Charran; and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land wherein ye now dwell. And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child. Ac. vii. 5, 6. By faith he (Abraham) sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. If "they" ("the patriarchs") had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly; wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he hath prepared for them a city. He. xi. 9. 15, 16.

26 My wives, &c.] And Laban said, It is better that I give her (Rachel) to thee, than that I should give her to another man; abide with me and Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years. Ge. xxix. 19, 20. 30. And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with the sword? And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, Peradventure thou wouldest take by force thy daughters from me. I have been twenty years in thy house; I served these fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times. Ge. xxxi. 26. 31. 41. And Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep. Ho. xii. 12.

Thou knowest my service.] See Gen. xxix. 30. preced. com. And ye know that with all my power I have served your father (said Jacob to Rachel and Leah). Ge. xxxi. 6. This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast

which I have done thee. And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, 27 if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake. And he 28 said, Appoint me thy wages, and I will give it. And he said unto 29 him, Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how thy cattle

their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten. Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night: and my sleep departed from mine eyes. Ge. xxxi. 38. 40.

27 Favour in thine eyes.] See chap. xviii. 3. And Esau said (to Jacob), Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my Lord. Ge. xxxiii. 15. And Shechem said unto her (Dinah's) father, and unto her brethren, Let me find grace in your eyes, and what ye shall say unto me I will give. Ge. xxxiv. 11. And his master (Potiphar) saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand. And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field. The Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. Ge. xxxix. 3. 5. 21. And they (the Egyptians) said, Thou (Joseph) hast saved our lives: let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh's servants. Ge. xlvii. 25. 66 And I" ("the Lord") will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty. Ex. iii. 21. And Moses said unto the Lord, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me? And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness. Nu. xi. 11. 15. Then she (Ruth) said (to Boaz), Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord. Ru. ii. 13. And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me, for he hath found favour in my sight. 1 Sa. xvi. 22. And "Hadad" ("the Edomite") found great favour in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him to wife the sister of his own wife, the sister of Taphenes the queen. 1 Ki. xi. 29. Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant (Nehemiah) this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of "this man" ("Artaxerxes"). i. 11. For what dost thou make request

:

Ne.

(said the king to Nehemiah)? And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it. Ne. ii. 5. Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. Da. i. 9. But God was with "him" ("Joseph"), and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt, and all his house. Ac. vii. 10.

Ps.

The Lord hath blessed me, &c.] And he set three days' journey betwixt "himself" ("Laban") and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks. Ge. xxx. 36. See chap. xii. 3. and com, xxvi. 24. The Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison: the Lord was with him; and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper. Ge. xxxix. 21. 23. Whatsoever he (who delights in the law of the Lord) doeth shall prosper. i. 3. Then said I, How long (shall the heart of this people, Israel, be fat, &c.)? And he answered, Until there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land. But yet in it shall be tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof. Is. vi. 13. And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed. Is. lxi. 9. Thus saith the Lord, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not, for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all.

a

Is. lxv. 8.

28 See chap. xxix. 15. 19. and com.

And

29 Thou knowest, &c.] See verse 5. ye (Rachel and Leah) know that with all my power I have served your father. Ge. xxxi. 6. These twenty years have I been with thee; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes. Ge. xxxi. 38. 40. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Mat. xxiv. 45. Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as

30 was with me.

For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it is now increased unto a multitude; and the Lord hath blessed thee since my coming: and now when shall I provide for 31 mine own house also? And he said, What shall I give thee? And

Jacob said, Thou shalt not give me any thing: if thou wilt do this 32 thing for me, I will again feed and keep thy flock: I will pass through all thy flock to day, removing from thence all the speckled and spotted cattle, and all the brown cattle among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats: and of such shall be my hire. So shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come, when it shall come for my hire before thy face: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown

33

unto Christ: not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. Ep. vi. 5, 6, 7, 8. Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: and whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men ; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons. Col. iii. 22, 23, 24, 25. Exhort servants to be obedient to their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. Tit. ii. 9, 10. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 1 Pe. ii. 15. 18.

30 Increased.] And the man (Laban) increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses. Ge. xxx. 43.

When shall I provide.] Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not your's, but you for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. 2 Co. xii. 14. But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. 1 Ti. v. 8.

31 Thou shalt not give me, &c.] And the Gibeonites said unto him (David), We will have no silver nor gold of Saul, nor of his house; neither for us shalt thou kill any man in Israel. The man that consumed us, and that devised against us that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts

of Israel, let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the Lord in Gibeah of Saul, whom the Lord did choose. 2 Sa. xxi. 4, 5, 6. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. Ps. cxviii. 8. Let your conversation be without covetousness, and be content with such things as ye have; for he hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. He. xiii. 5.

32 Of such shall be my hire.] And he (Laban) removed that day the he-goats that were ringstraked and spotted, and every one that had some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the hands of his sons. Ge. xxx. 35. If "he" ("Laban") said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstraked shall be thy hire; then bare all the cattle ringstraked. And it came to pass at the time the cattle conceived, that I (Jacob) lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled. Ge. xxxi. 8. 10.

33 My righteousness.] Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff, what hast thou (Labaw) found of all thy houshold stuff (said Jacob)? set it here before my brethren and thy brethren, that they may judge betwixt us both. Ge. xxxi 37. The Lord render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the Lord delivered thee into my hand to-day (said David to Saul), but I would not stretch forth my hand against the Lord's anointed. 1 Sa. xxvi. 23. The Lord re warded "me" ("David"): according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed

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And 34

among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen with me. Laban said, Behold, I would it might be according to thy word. And he removed that day the he-goats that were ringstraked and 35 spotted, and all the she-goats that were speckled and spotted, and every one that had some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons. And he set three 36 days' journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks. And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and 37 of the hazel and chesnut tree; and pilled white strakes in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods. And he set 38 the rods which he had pilled before the flocks in the gutters in the watering troughs when the flocks came to drink, that they should conceive when they came to drink. And the flocks conceived be- 39 fore the rods, and brought forth cattle ringstraked, speckled, and spotted. And Jacob did separate the lambs and set the faces of 40 the flocks toward the ringstraked, and all the brown in the flock of Laban; and he put his own flocks by themselves, and put them not unto Laban's cattle. And it came to pass, whensoever the 41 stronger cattle did conceive, that Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the cattle in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods. But when the cattle were feeble, he put them not in: 42 so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's. And the 43 man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses.

What is "this?" ("the memorial of their deliverance from Egypt"), that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of bondage. Ex. xiii. 14.

34 I would it might be, &c.] And Balaam said unto the ass (which had fallen down when he saw the angel of the Lord), Because thou hast mocked me (I have smitten thee), I would there were a sword in my hand, for now would I kill thee. Nu. xxii. 29. For I would that all men were even as myself (Paul). 1 Co. vii. 7. I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied, &c. 1 Co. xiv. 5. I would that even they were cut off which trouble you. Ga. v. 12.

35 The hand of his sons.] Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me. Ge. xxxi. 9.

37 See preced. com.

Chesnut.] The cedars in the garden of God could not hide "him" ("the Assyrian for his greatness"): the fir trees were not like his boughs, and the chesnut trees were not like his branches; nor any tree in the garden of God was like unto him in his beauty. Ez. xxxi. 8.

39 Brought forth, &c.] Thus God (said Jacob to his wives) hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me. Lift up now thine eyes (said the angel to Jacob in a

dream), and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee. Thy ewes and thy she goats (said Jacob to Laban) have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten. Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes. Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen my affliction, and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight. Ge. xxxi. 9. 12. 38. 40. 42. And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses: and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and the Lord gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians. Ex. xii. 35, 36.

43 Increased.] See verse 30. and com.; xiii. 2; xxviii. 15. And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me. If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstraked shall be thy hire; then bare all the cattle ringstraked. Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with

CHAPTER XXXI.

1 AND he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father's; and of that which was our 2 father's hath he gotten all this glory. And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as be

me, surely thou hadst sent me away now
empty. Ge. xxxi. 7, 8. 42. I am not worthy
of the least of all the mercies, and of all the
truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy ser-
vant; for with my staff I passed over this
Jordan; and now I am become two bands.
Ge. xxxii. 10. Take, I pray thee (said Jacob)
my blessing that is brought to "thee
("Esau"), because God hath dealt graciously
with me, and because I have enough. Ge.
xxxiii. 11. For "their" riches ("of Jacob
and Esau") were more than that they might
dwell together; and the land wherein they
were strangers could not bear them because
of their cattle. Ge. xxxvi. 7. I got me ser-
vants and maidens, and had servants born in
my house; also I had great possessions of
great and small cattle above all that were in
Jerusalem before me. Ec. ii. 7. So that
they (Israel) shall take no wood out of the
field, neither cut down any out of the forests;
for they shall burn the weapons with fire: and
they shall spoil those that spoiled them, and
rob those that robbed them, saith the Lord
God. Ez. xxxix. 10.

CHAP. XXXI.—1 Jacob hath taken away.] See Ge. xxxi. 8. preced. com. Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me. Ge. xxxi. 9. If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied (this also were an iniquity). Job xxxi. 31. My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. Ps. lvii. 4. Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words: that they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not. Ps. lxiv. 3, 4. What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue? Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the

tents of Kedar! Ps. cxx. 3. 5. A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones. Pr. xiv. 30. Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy? Pr. xxvii. 4. Again, I considered all travail, and every right work and for this a man is envied of his neighbour. Ec. iv. 4. Behold, every one that useth proverbs shall use this proverb against "thee" (“Jerusalem"), saying, As is the mother, so is

her daughter. Ez. xvi. 44. For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. Tit. iii. 3.

All this glory.] And ye shall tell my father (Jacob) of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye (Joseph's brethren) have seen; and ye shall haste and bring down my (Joseph's) father hither. Ge. xlv. 13. And Haman told them (his friends whom he had called) of the glory of his riches, &c. Es. v. 11. If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence: if I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gotten much: this also were an iniquity to be punished by the Judge. Job xxx. 24, 25. 28. Deliver my soul from men which are thy hand, O Lord, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure. Ps. xvii. 14. Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; for when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him. Ps. xlix. 16, 17. See Ec. iv. 4. preced.com. Therefore (because God's people regard not the work of the Lord) hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth with out measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it. Is. v. 14. Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches. Je. ix. 23. Again the devil taketh him (Jesus) up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them. Mat. iv. & He (the teacher of false doctrine) is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions, and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, and surmisings. 1 Ti. vi. 4. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: but the word of the Lord endureth for ever. 1 Pe. i. 24, 25.

2 The countenance of Laban, &c.] But unto Cain and to his offering "he" ("God") had no respect; and Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. Ge. iv. 5. So that the man that is tender among you (during the siege of Jerusalem), and very delicate; his

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