And he said, appoint me thy wages, and I will give it . Say what thou wilt have, fix what salary thou thinkest sufficient, and I will agree to it, and punctually pay it: this he craftily said, not choosing to propose anything himself, but leaving it to Jacob, knowing very well the honesty and modesty of Jacob, that he would mention less wages than he could have the face to offer him. read more
And he said unto him ,.... Jacob to Laban: thou knowest that I have served thee ; not only diligently and faithfully, without any salary, excepting for his wives; otherwise he had no wages for his service all this time, which therefore should be considered for the future: and how thy cattle was with me : always under his care, and he ever watchful of them; spent all his time and labour with them, and had no opportunity of getting anything for himself. read more
For it was little which thou hadst before I came ,.... Perhaps but a single flock, and that not a very large one, since Rachel, his youngest daughter, had the care of it: and it is now increased unto a multitude ; or "broke forth" F13 יפרץ "erupit", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Drusius. , spread itself over the fields and plains, hills and mountains adjacent, so that they were covered with his sheep, these bringing forth thousands and ten thousands, Psalm 144:13 , ... read more
And he said, what shall I give thee ?.... So said Laban to Jacob, still avoiding making any offer himself, but waiting for Jacob, and pressing upon him to fix his wages: and Jacob said, thou shalt not give me anything ; a speech Laban liked very well: his meaning is, that he should give him no certain settled salary, nor even of anything that Laban was now possessed of, and God had blessed him with for his sake he did not desire any part of it: but if thou wilt do this thing for me ;... read more
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, God prospered to the multiplication of thy flocks and property. When shall I provide for mine own house - Jacob had already laid his plan; and, from what is afterwards mentioned, we find him using all his... read more
Verse 29 29.Thou knowest how I have served thee. This answer of Jacob is not intended to increase the amount of his wages; but he would expostulate with Laban, and would charge him with acting unjustly and unkindly in requiring a prolongation of the time of service. There is also no doubt that he is carried forth, with every desire of his mind, towards the land of Canaan. Therefore a return thither was, in his view, preferable to any kind of riches whatever. Yet, in the mealtime, he indirectly... read more
Verse 30 30.And now, when shall I provide for mine own house also? He reasons, that when he had so long expended his labors for another, it would be unjust that his own family should be neglected. For nature prescribes this order, that every one should take care of the family committed to him. To which point the saying of Solomon is applicable, Drink water from thy own fountains, and let rivers flow to thy neighbors. (85) Had Jacob been alone, he might have devoted himself more freely to the... read more
Verse 31 31.Thou shalt not give me anything. The antithesis between this and the preceding clause is to be noticed. For Jacob does not demand for himself certain and definite wages; but he treats with Laban, on this condition, that he shall receive whatever offspring may be brought forth by the sheep and goats of a pure and uniform color, which shall prove to be party-coloured and spotted. There is indeed some obscurity in the words. For, at first, Jacob seems to require for himself the spotted... read more
Jacob and Laban, or craft versus greed. I. JACOB 'S RESPECTFUL REQUEST OF LABAN . At the close of fourteen years harsh and exacting service, Jacob desires permission to take his wives and children and return to Canaan. The motives which induced him were probably— 1. The termination of his contract, which released him from a servitude both galling and oppressive. 2. The remembrance of God's covenant, which had assigned him the land of promise as his true inheritance. 3.... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 30:25-36
We have here, I. Jacob's thoughts of home. He faithfully served his time out with Laban, even his second apprenticeship, though he was an old man, had a large family to provide for, and it was high time for him to set up for himself. Though Laban's service was hard, and he had cheated him in the first bargain he had made, yet Jacob honestly performs his engagements. Note, A good man, though he swear to his own hurt, will not change. And though others have deceived us this will not justify us... read more