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25 not to Jacob either good or bad. Then Laban overtook Jacob.

Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount: and Laban with 26 his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead. 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 27 sword? Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away 28 with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp? And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast

what the Lord saith, that will I speak. Nu. xxiv. 13. And Absalom spake not unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar. 2 Sa. xiii. 22. He suffered no man to do them (Israel) wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes, saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm. Ps. cv. 14, 15. Because thy rage against me, and thy tumult, is come up into mine ears, therefore will I put my hook in "thy" ("Sennacherib's") nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest. Is. xxxvii. 29.

25 Pitched his tent.] See chap. xii. 8, and com. And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan-aram; and pitched his tent before the city. Ge. xxxiii. 18. By faith he (Abraham) sojourned in the land of promise, &c. He. xi. 9.

26 What hast thou done?] And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob answered and said to Laban, What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued after me? Ge. xxxi. 36. See chap. iii. 13. and iv. 10, and com.; also xii. 18. and xx. 9, 10, and com. And David said (to his brethren), What have I now done? Is there not a cause? 1 Sa. xvii. 29.

Carried away my daughters.] See ver. 16. Ge. ii. 24, and com. And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and “their” (“the Shechemites"") wives, took "they" ("the sons of Jacob") captive, and spoiled even all that was in the house. Ge. xxxiv. 29. And (the Amalekites) had taken the women captives (at Ziklag) that were therein; they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way. 1 Sa. xxx. 2.

27 Didst thou flee away?] See ver. 3. 5. 20, 21. And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, Peradventure thou wouldest take by force thy daughters from me. Ge. xxxi. 31. Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the Lord had said unto him (" to build an altar and offer burnt sacrifice"): and so it was, because he feared his father's houshold, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night. Ju. vi. 27. That I might have sent thee.] Burning lips

and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross. Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation. Pr. xxvi. 23. 26.

With mirth.] And "they" ("Laban and Bethuel") sent away Rebekah their sister; and they blessed her. Ge. xxiv. 59, 60. They (the wicked) send forth their little ones like a flock; and their children dance. Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. Job xxi. 11. 14.

Tabret, &c.] And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand (joining in Moses' song of deliverance); and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. Ex. xv. 20.

28 Kiss my sons, &c.] And early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them; and Laban departed, and returned unto his place. Ge. xxxi. 55. And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. Ge. xxix. 13. And the Lord said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in the Mount of God, and kissed him. Ex. iv. 27. Then she (Naomi) kissed "them” (“her daughters-inlaw"); and they lifted up their voice, and wept. And they lifted up their voice, and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law; but Ruth clave unto her. Ru. i. 9. 14. And he (Elisha) left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. 1 Ki. xix. 20. And "they all" (“the elders of Ephesus") wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. Ac. xx. 37.

Foolishly in so doing.] See verse 3. 13. 24. And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly; thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord thy God; for now would the Lord have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. 1 Sa. xiii. 13. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro, throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward

now done foolishly in so doing. It is in the power of my hand to 29 do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad. And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because 30 thou sore longedst after thy father's house; yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods? And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Be- 31 cause I was afraid: for I said, Peradventure thou wouldest take

him. Herein "thou" (said Hanani to Asa) hast done foolishly (in applying to the Syrians for aid); therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars. 2 Ch. xvi. 9. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Co. ii. 14.

29 The power of my hand.] Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually. Ps. lii. 1. Then saith Pilate unto him (Jesus), Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above. John xix. 10, 11. The God of your father.] See verse 42. 53. and chap. xxviii. 13, and com. And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time; and I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac. Jos. xxiv. 2, 3. Thus shall "ye" ("the messengers from Sennacherib”) speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not thy God, in whom thou trustest, deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria. 2 Ki. xix. 10. The king (Nebuchadnezzar) answered unto Daniel, and said, of a truth it is that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets. Da. ii. 47. Then Nebuchadnezzar spake and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him. Da. iii. 28. My God hath sent his angel (said Daniel), and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me. Da. vi. 22. I make a decree (said the king), That in every dominion men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. Da. vi. 26.

Yesternight.] See verse 24.

Take thou heed, &c.] And now I say unto you (said Gamaliel), Refrain from these men" (the "apostles"), and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found

even to fight against God. Ac. v. 38, 39. And he (Saul) said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest. It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. Ac. ix. 5.

30 My gods.] See verse 19. I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast, and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. Ex. xii. 12. The Egyptians buried all their firstborn, which the Lord had smitten among them: upon their gods also the Lord executed judgments. Nu. xxxiii. 4. And Joash (the father of Gideon) said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar. Ju. vi. 31. And "he" ("Micah") said, Ye have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and ye are gone away: and what have I more? Ju. xviii. 24. When the Philistines took the ark, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon. But the hand of the Lord was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof. 1 Sa. v. 2. 6. And there "they" ("the Philistines" whom David smote) left their images; and David and his men burnt them. 2 Sa. v. 21. And (the kings of Assyria) have cast “their” (“the nations'") gods into the fire; for they were no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone; therefore they have destroyed them. Isa. xxxvii. 19. Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the weary beast. They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity. Is. xlvi. 1, 2. The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens. Je. x. 11. And I will kindle a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt: and he (Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon) shall burn them, and carry them away captives. Je. xliii. 12.

31 Because I was afraid.] See verse 26, 27. And Abraham said (to Abimelech), Because I thought surely the fear of God is not in this place, and they will slay me for my wife's

82 by force thy daughters from me.

With whomsoever thou findest

thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee: for Jacob knew not that 83 Rachel had stolen them. And Laban went into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the two maidservants' tent; but he found them not. Then went he out of Leah's tent, and entered 34 into Rachel's tent. Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel's furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban 35 searched all the tent, but found them not. And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before thee; for the custom of women is upon me. And he searched, 36 but found not the images. And Jacob was wroth, and chode with

sake. Ge. xx. 11. The fear of man bringeth a snare, but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe. Pr. xxix. 25.

32 With whomsoever, &c.] See verse 19. 30. With whomsoever of thy servants "it" ("Joseph's cup") be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord's bondsmen. And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack.

Ge. xliv. 9. 12. Before our brethren.] See verse 23. chap. xiii. 8. and com. I pray you, brethren (said Lot to the Sodomites), do not so wickedly. Ge. xix. 7. Behold, here I am (said Samuel to all Israel): witness against me before the Lord, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mind eyes therewith? and I will restore it you. And he (also) said unto them, The Lord is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. 1 Sa. xii. 3. 5. Avoiding this, that no man should blame us (Christians) in this abundance which is ministered by us; providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. 2 Co. viii. 20, 21. Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you? Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying. 2 Co. xii. 17. 19.

For Jacob knew not.] And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath. Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey. 1 Sa. xiv. 24. 27. 29.

23 Leah's tent.] And the damsel (Rebekah) ran and told them of her mother's house these things (the visit of Abraham's servant, &c.).

And Isaac brought her (Rebekah) into his mother Sarah's tent, &c. Ge. xxiv. 28. 67.

34 Had taken.] See verse 17. 19.

35 My lord.] See chap. xviii. 12, and com. Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. Ex. xx. 12. Ye shall fear every man his mother and his father. Le. xix. 3. Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right. Ep. vi. 1. (Be) in subjection to your own husbands, even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. 1 Pe. iii. 6.

:

Rise up before thee.] Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the Lord. Le. xix. 32. Bath-sheba went unto king Solomon, to speak unto him for Adonijah (who had exalted himself to be king). And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her. 1 Ki. ii. 19.

The custom of women, &c.] It ceased to be with Sara after the manner of women. Ge. xviii. 11.

36 And Jacob was wroth.] See chap. xxx. 2. And the men (Jacob's sons) were grieved, and they were very wroth, because "be" ("Shechem") had wrought folly in Israel, in lying with Jacob's daughter (Dinah), which thing ought not to be done. Ge. xxxiv. 7. Cursed be "their" (“Simeon and Levi's") anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, (against the Shechemites), for it was cruel. Ge. xlix. 7And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the Lord, Respect not thou “their” (“Dathan and Abiram's") offering: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them. Nu. xvi. 15. But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He (Elisha) will surely come out to me, and stand, and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. 2 Ki. v. 11. And "the man of God" ("Elisha") was wroth with him (Joash), and said, Thou shouldest have smitter five or six times; then hadst thou smittera Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice. 2 Ki xiii. 19. The wicked flee when no man pur

Laban: and Jacob answered and said to Laban, What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued after me? Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff, what hast thou 37 found of all thy household-stuff? set it here before my brethren and thy brethren, that they may judge betwixt us both. This 38 twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten. That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; 39

sueth; but the righteous are bold as a lion. Pr. xxviii. 1. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath. Eph. iv. 26. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Ja. i. xix. 20.

37 Set it here before, &c.] See verse 32. And they took them" (the "spoils" which Achan had taken) out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the Lord. Jos. vii. 23. Behold, here I am (said Samuel): witness against me before the Lord, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it. And they (all Israel) said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand. 1 Sa. xii. 3, 4. If he (thy brother), will not hear thee (said Jesus to his disciples), then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. Mat. xviii. 16. If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? 1 Co. vi. 4, 5. Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe. 1 The. ii. 10. We trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly. He. xiii. 18. Abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul; having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evil doers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 1 Pe. ii. 12. Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evil doers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 1 Pe. iii. 16.

38 Thy ewes, &c.] And Laban said unto him (Jacob), I pray thee, 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 (Jacob) said unto him, 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. Ge. xxx. 27. 30. There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land the number of thy days I will fulfil. Ex. xxiii. 26. If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. De. xxviii. 2. 4.

The rams of thy flock, &c.] Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. Ez. xxxiv. 2, 3, 4.

39 Torn of beasts.] If a man deliver unto his neighbour an ass, or an ox, or a sheep, or any beast to keep; and it die, or be hurt, or driven away, no man seeing it: then shall an oath of the Lord be between them both, that he hath not put his hand unto his neighbour's goods. And ye shall be holy men unto me (saith the Lord): neither shall ye eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs. Ex. xxii. 10, 11. 31. That which dieth of itself, or is torn with beasts, he shall not eat, to defile himself therewith. Le. xxii. 8. And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: and I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth. 1 Sa. xvii. 34, 35. He that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. John x. 12, 13.

I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether 40 stolen by day, or stolen by night. Thus I was; in the day

the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep 41 departed from mine eyes. Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times. 42 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 mine affliction and the labour of my hands,

I bare the loss of it.] If a man deliver unto his neighbour an ox, or an ass, or a sheep, or any beast to keep; if it be torn in pieces, then let him bring it for witness, and he shall not make good that which was torn. Ex. xxii. 10. 13.

Or stolen by night.] And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. Lu. ii. 8.

40 In the day, &c.] And when they (his daughters) came to Reuel their "father" ("priest of Midian"), they said, An Egyptian (Moses) delivered us out of the hands of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock. And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter. And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land. Ex. ii. 19. 21, 22. Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father-in-law (the priest of Midian): and he led the flock to the back side of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. Ex. iii. 1. He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: from following the ewes great with young, he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance. Ps. lxxviii. 70, 71. And for a wife he (Jacob) kept sheep. Ho. xii. 12. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. Lu. ii. 8. Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith unto him the second and a third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee: Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. John xxi. 15, 16, 17. Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation: Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to day, and for ever. He. xiii. 7. Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy

lucre, but of a ready mind. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 1 Pe. v. 2. 4.

41 Fourteen years, &c.] See verse 38. And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. And he went in also unto Rachel (after having Leah substituted for her), and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with "him" ("Laban") yet seven other years. Ge. xxix. 18. 30. So shall my righteousness answer for me (said Jacob) 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 browu among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen with me. And Jacob did separate the lambs, and set the faces of 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. Ge. xxx. 33. 40. (said Paul) laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 1 Co. xv. 10.

Ten times.] See verse 7, and com.

42 Except the God of my father, &c.] See verses 24. 29. If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, now may Israel say, then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us. Ps. cxxiv. 1. 3.

The fear of Isaac.] And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac. Ge. xxxi. 53. And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me? Ge. xxvii. 33. Vow, and pay unto the Lord your God: let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared. He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth. Ps. lxxvi. 11, 12 Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.

Is. viii. 13.

God hath seen mine affliction.] I have seen (said the angel of God) all that Laban doeth unto thee. Ge. xxxi. 12. And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the children of men builded. Ge. xi. 5. See chap. xvi. 11. 13; xxix. 32. and com.

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