Genesis 30

This is a very bad temper of spirit, and God may justly punish us by letting us have our will. Rachel cried, Give me children, or I die (Genesis 30:1). God let her have a child, but it cost her her life (Genesis 35:18).

Answer. First, by their presence: for, as God said to Abraham the Father of the faithful, Thou shalt be a blessing, Genesis 12:3, so is it with all believers. Laban confesses that he perceived that the Lord had blessed him for Jacob's sake, Genesis 30:27. And Potiphar saw that J…

But it seems more probable to me, that this word is taken for a band or multitude; indeed, even for an army: and the etymology of the word suits well enough with the scope of the text. There is one notable place among the rest in (Genesis 30:20), which serves for the understandi…

(1.) How near the Relation is betwixt you and your Children, and therefore how much you are concerned in their happiness or misery. Consider but the Scripture account of the dearness of such Relations, expressed (1.) By longings for them, as Genesis 15:2 Genesis 30:1 and (2.) By…

This fruitfulness of hers is four ways set forth. 1. That these her fruits are ripe, and in their flower, the Mandrakes give a smell: Mandrakes were much longed for by Rachel (Genesis 30:14), and by their savoriness of taste there, and of smell here, it appears that they were so…

Meekness in this case is one of the most principal fruits of that meek and quiet spirit which Saint Peter commends to wives (1 Peter 3:4). However Rachel justly deserved blame for coming in a fuming chafe, and with an imperious command to her husband, yet in that she meekly took…

When that for which a wife is reproved is a truth, a known truth, and a weighty truth, the husband in performing this duty justifies his deed, shows that there was need thereof, and so gives evidence of his love, makes his reproof to pierce the more deeply, and so makes her the…

6. They may not go away from their master before their covenanted time is expired. When Jacob, after long service, had a mind to be gone, he asked leave, and because his uncle and master would not willingly let him go, he stayed still (Genesis 30:26). Objection. Afterwards Jacob…

When shall I provide for my own house? says Jacob to his master. Which expostulation shows that this is a master's duty (Genesis 30:30). Contrary is the mind of most masters: for in entertaining servants they think of nothing but serving their own turn.

1. Impatience. (Genesis 30:1) when the will of Rachel was crossed, she said to Jacob, Give me children, or else I die. When we impatiently fret against the Lord, (Psalm 37:1) Do not fret yourself because of evil doers; neither be you envious against the workers of iniquity.

To be sick of the fret, is a disease very incident to such as have not learned to deny their own wills, and entirely to give up themselves to the conduct of God's providence. Genesis 30:1. Give me children, or I die. Psalm 37:1. Do not fret yourself because of evil doers.

Second, affliction; God often gives us this sauce to sharpen our hunger after grace. Reuben found mandrakes in the field (Genesis 30:14); the mandrakes are a plant of a very strong savor, and among their virtues they are chiefly medicinal for those who have weak, bad stomachs. A…

And (Genesis 22:17), in blessing I will bless you. And when the Lord says (Isaiah 19:25), blessed be Egypt my people; he should mean, he would bless Abraham, not his seed, and that he minds to bless the aged of Egypt, and of Assyria, but not their seed and infants, because they…

Verse 30: Hoshea smote him, and reigned, [in non-Latin alphabet]. So also (Esther 2:4), (Ecclesiastes 4:15), (2 Samuel 17:25), (Genesis 30:2), (1 Kings 16:10): Zimri reigned, [in non-Latin alphabet] (Ezekiel 16:32). Joseph heard that Archelaus did reign in the room of Herod his…

So when upon a trial a man is acquitted because he is found righteous; first he is judged and esteemed righteous, and then dealt with as a righteous person; his righteousness is imputed unto him. See this exemplified, Genesis 30:33. 2.

There is a story in Peter Martyr of a deformed man, who set curious fair pictures before his wife, that seeing them, she might have fair children, and so she had. Jacob's cattle looking on the rods which were peeled, and had white streaks in them, conceived like the rods, Genesi…