Read-Post Through the Bible

[daniel1212av]

Henry provides more on the manner of the blessing that Jacob so desired, and Esau's choice to the contrary,. “It was a spiritual privilege, including the excellency of dignity and the excellency of power, as well as the double portion, Gen_49:3... ... it may be, Esau had sometimes spoken slightly of the birthright and its appurtenances, which encouraged Jacob to make this proposal to him. And, if so, Jacob is, in some measure, excusable in what he did to gain his point. Note, Plain men that have their conversation in simplicity and godly sincerity, and without worldly wisdom, are often found wisest of all for their souls and eternity. Those are wise indeed that are wise for another world. Jacob's wisdom appeared in two things: - 1. He chose the fittest time, took the opportunity when it offered itself, and did not let it slip. 2. Having made the bargain, he made it sure, and got it confirmed by Esau's oath: Swear to me this day, Gen_25:33. He took Esau when he was in the mind, and would not leave him a power of revocation. In a case of this nature, it is good to be sure.

II. Esau's profane [esteeming that which is holy as common] contempt of the birthright, and the foolish sale he made of it. He is called profane Esau for it (Heb_12:16), because for one morsel of meat he sold his birthright, as dear a morsel as ever was eaten since the forbidden fruit; and he lived to regret it when it was too late. Never was there such a foolish bargain as this which Esau now made; and yet he valued himself upon his policy, and had the reputation of a cunning man, and perhaps had often bantered his brother Jacob as a weak and simple man. Note, There are those that are penny-wise and pound-foolish, cunning hunters that can out-wit others and draw them into their snares, and yet are themselves imposed upon by Satan's wiles and led captive by him at his will. Again, God often chooses the foolish things of the world, by them to confound the wise. Plain Jacob makes a fool of cunning Esau...”

[daniel1212av]

(Gen 26)  And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar. 2 And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: 3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; 4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; 5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. 6 And Isaac dwelt in Gerar: 7 And the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said, She is my sister: for he feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was fair to look upon. 8 And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife. 9 And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she is thy wife: and how saidst thou, She is my sister? And Isaac said unto him, Because I said, Lest I die for her. 10 And Abimelech said, What is this thou hast done unto us? one of the people might lightly have lien with thy wife, and thou shouldest have brought guiltiness upon us. 11 And Abimelech charged all his people, saying, He that toucheth this man or his wife shall surely be put to death. 12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him. 13 And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great: 14 For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him. 15 For all the wells which his father's servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth. 16 And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we. 17 And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there. 18 And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them. 19 And Isaac's servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water. 20 And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac's herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him. 21 And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah. 22 And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land. 23 And he went up from thence to Beersheba. 24 And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake. 25 And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac's servants digged a well. 26 Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol the chief captain of his army. 27 And Isaac said unto them, Wherefore come ye to me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you? 28 And they said, We saw certainly that the LORD was with thee: and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee; 29 That thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace: thou art now the blessed of the LORD. 30 And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink. 31 And they rose up betimes in the morning, and sware one to another: and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace. 32 And it came to pass the same day, that Isaac's servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had digged, and said unto him, We have found water. 33 And he called it Shebah: therefore the name of the city is Beersheba unto this day. 34 And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite: 35 Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.

[daniel1212av]

Vs. 1-4 “And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham”, which Barnes states was approx.100 years previous, when Abraham went to Egypt (Gn. 12:10), and Isaac goes to Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar as his father Abraham did. And like as the LORD appeared unto Abraham in Gn, 12:6, so He does unto Isaac, directing him not to go down into Egypt, but to sojourn in the land where he was, and reiterates the covenantal promises that He gave to Abraham.

V. 5  “Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.” Here we see that God declares what Abraham was characterizes as a whole; his failures were clear exceptions. So it is when 1 Jn, states, “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not” (1 Jn. 5:18) that i think it means in a overall consistent but not flawless way.

Like father, like son. Fearing for his life, he tells the Philistines that his beautiful cousin Rebekah is his sister, meaning she was not his wife. And like in the parallel account, his deceit is known as “Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife” (v.     8b). But unlike in the previous Abrahamic uses of this deceitful strategy to preserve his life the king needs no Divine warnings to understand what is going on, and promptly reproves Isaac and declares any violation of his wife to be capital crime. One would seems to speculate whether Isaac repeated Abraham tatic because he heard the story, and saw the preservative outcome, or whether Abraham kept his shameful action from him. In any case children are likely to be prone to their father's faith as well as their folly.  As for  Abimelech, his reaction indicates that his recognition of both the ploy and the gravity of the violation of Isaacs wife was perhaps due to either his personal experience with Abraham, or because his father told him the story. 

It is quite possible that both  Abimelech and  Phichol the chief captain were the same ones whom Abraham dealt with approx. 80 years previous, as the latter was quite old at the time while the former could have been quite young. But perhaps it is more likely that these were official titles, and or that these were the sons of the formerly named. Barnes says, “the name [Abimelech] proves nothing, for it was the standing official name of the kings of Gerar. The Abimelek with whom Abraham had contact about eighty years before may have been the father of the present sovereign. Both Abimelek and Phikol seem to have been official names.” 

V. 12 “Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.”  The LORD had promised, “I will be with thee” (Gen. 26:3), and as the LORD would multiply Isaac's  seed as regard decedents, so He blesses his seed agriculturally. 

V. 13, 14a “And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great: 14 For he had possessions...” “So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham” (Gal. 3:19). “ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3).

V. 14b “..and the Philistines envied him.” They therefore filled with earth the wells Abraham had dug, and so Abimelech told Isaac, “Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we” (v. 16). He then dwells in  the valley of Gerar, said to be  “a vast undulating plain, unoccupied and affording good pasture” – JFB

Vs. 18-23 Isaac then rediggs and reclaims the wells dug by his father, calling them by the names he gave them. He finds water in the valley but the natives strive for them, so Isaac relinquishes them and calls the well Esek = “contention” – BDG (v. 20).  He digs another well which the natives again claim, and so he calls it Sitnah = “strife” – BDG (v. 21). He finally digs a well for which the natives strove not, and called it Rehoboth = “wide places or streets” –  BDG. Isaac then perceives that “the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land” (v. 22).  Isaac then  returns to Beersheba (v. 23), where he and his family formerly lived (Gn. 21:33.)

v. 24 “And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake.” It was at the beginning of the problem of the famine that the LORD first appeared unto Isaac and encouraged Him with the covenantal Abrahamic promise, and now at the close of the trial the LORD appears to Isaac the second time, again encouraging Isaac, but which could also serve as a reminder that Isaac is in covenant with the Lord to obey Him. The LORD appeared 3 times unto Abraham, though the 2nd was in the form of a man (Gn. 18:1), and we do not know whether it was by dream of by vision the other times.

Vs. 25 Isaac built an altar at the place where the LORD appeared to Him, as Noah had done (Gn.  8:20),  and Abraham did (Gn. 12:7, 8; 13:18), including the one in which Isaac was initially laid (22:9). Others who built altars to worship the LORD include Jacob (Gn. 33:20; 35:1-3, 7 ) Moses (Ex. 17:15; 24:4, Joshua (Josh. 8:30), Israel (Jdg. 21:4);  Samuel (1 Sam. 7:17), Saul (1 Sam. 14:35), Solomon (2 Chrn. 4:1), Elijah (1 Kng. 18:32), Urijah the priest (2 Kng. 16:11)  “

 Vs. 26-31 “Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol the chief captain of his army.”  Still following in his fathers footsteps, Isaac has a conflict over a well similar to the one aged Abraham had with (with perhaps a much younger Abimelech, or the father of the one here) in 21:25-32, but in addition to the aforementioned Phichol, he is flanked this time with a friend named Ahuzzath. For as this principal is later codified, “at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established” (Dt. 19:14). Isaac sees their visit troubling (v. 27) in light of the manner of their last meeting in which Abimelech sent him away (v. 16). However, just as Abimelech (or perhaps his father if that is the case) recognized the hand of the Lord in previous encounters with Abraham, he now professes, “We saw certainly that the LORD was with thee” (v. 28) and seeks a covenant with Isaac, as Abraham previously did. This assures Abimelech that he will not suffer the wrath of an Isaac seeking justice, and they have a communal feast in testimony of that agreement, “and they departed from him in peace”  (v. 31). This was a wise move on the part of Abimelech, and relieved Isaac of any quest for justice, and instructs us on the priority of reconciliation if possible (Mt. 5:25; 18:15-18;  1 Cor. 6:7).

V. 32, 33 And it came to pass the same day....We have found water. And he called it Shebah:..” As in 21:31, Isaac, as his dad did, calls this place Beersheba which gave to it a lasting permanence.   

Vs. 34, 35  “And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite: Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.” 40 year old Esau marries two Canaanites wivesin the 100th of Isaac's life (Gen_25:26). The Canaanites were gross idolaters, whose lands were promised to Abraham's decedents (Gn. 15:21). Abraham had strictly forbade that Isaac should marry of the Canaanites( 24:3), but Esau does just that, though he no doubt knew that this was contrary to the rit ways of the LORD, and grievous to his parents. Thus Esau revealed his basic heart, compounding his light esteem of eternal things in preference to temporal pleasure, by rebelling, perhaps in spite, against that which is holy and true.  Such is the nature of rebellion seen today.

“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. “For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end” (Heb. 3:12-14).

[daniel1212av]

(Gen 27)  And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I. 2 And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death: 3 Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison; 4 And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die. 5 And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it. 6 And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying, 7 Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the LORD before my death. 8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee. 9 Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth: 10 And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death. 11 And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man: 12 My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing. 13 And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them. 14 And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savoury meat, such as his father loved. 15 And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son: 16 And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck: 17 And she gave the savoury meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob. 18 And he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son? 19 And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy firstborn; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me. 20 And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the LORD thy God brought it to me. 21 And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not. 22 And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau. 23 And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him. 24 And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am. 25 And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine, and he drank. 26 And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son. 27 And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed: 28 Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine: 29 Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.

To be continued...

[daniel1212av]

This is a revealing yet troubling chapter, in which we have a near blind father close to death and eager to pass on the primary paternal blessing which belongs to his first born, with a mother and her son who both work to obtain that for which Jacob craftily contracted before (Gn. 25:29-34) with his elder brother Esau, “who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright” (Heb. 12:16), but for which Jacob uses deceit and outright lies in order to do it. This is no “an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile” (Jn. 1:47), and the record of such contriving is not meant to sanction it, which was not ordered by the Lord but it's outcome was predicted. We must not suppose that Jacob's higher choice justifies all he did to obtain it, and which he later shall suffer for in a form of corrective poetic justice.  See Henry for more on the moral side of this. Yet it must be remembered that Esau was intent upon the things of the flesh over the Spirit,  and thus was Jacob able to take advantage of Esau's hunger for immediate gratification to obtain is birthright, and perhaps had Isaac known, or more fully understood or been more mindful of the implications of the prophecy given his wife after her conception (25:23), he might have not favored Esau but excluded him as one unworthy of the primary paternal blessing. In any case the prophecies of the LORD will be realized, and in ways that reveal both the virtues and iniquities of the human heart, and the justice as well as mercy and grace of almighty God. 

Misc. Notes:  “Isaac Blessing His Sons
The life of Isaac falls into three periods. During the first seventy-five years he is contemporary with his father. For sixty-one years more his son Jacob remains under the paternal roof. The remaining forty-four years are passed in the retirement of old age. The chapter before us narrates the last solemn acts of the middle period of his life.” – Barnes

Vs. 1-16 Isaac had requested Esau to hunt for and prepare him venison (basically meaning game) that he may eat and bless his son. Rebekah hears Isaacs request and intent, which presents the opportunity that Rebekah and her boy Jacob have been looking . When Esau leaves to hunt, she instructs Jacob in her art of deceit, in which Jacob will both smell and feel like Esau and present the savory meant and afterwards obtain the blessing. What is revealed here is that the the obtaining of the birthright as well as the actual bestowal of the blessing was principally Rebekah's idea, as she understood more deeply the implications of the prophecy given her after her conception. And she seems to have possessed some of the craftiness seen in her brother  Laban, who would later serve as a instrument of chastisement and correction for supplanter Jacob.

Vs. 17-29 Jacob brings the meat Rebekah prepared and presents it to Isaac who inquires first as to who it is. Jacob clearly lies as he responds “I am Esau thy firstborn” (v. 18). Next Isaac inquires how he found it so fast. Jacob's reply that “the LORD thy God brought it to me” was true providentially, but is hardly what Isaac thought. While at 136 years old (see Barnes notes) Isaac's eyes are dim, and likely his taste somewhat as well,  yet he can both hear, feel and and smell, and while the former tells him this son is Jacob, the latter evidences that it is Esau. Relying first on feel, Isaac decides it is Esau, and eats of the venison . He them has Jacob draw near and kiss him, and Jacob, smelling a son who is as “the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed” (v. 27b) proceeds to bestow upon him the full blessing that belongs to the first born.   

To be continued..

[daniel1212av]

30 And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting. 31 And he also had made savoury meat, and brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son's venison, that thy soul may bless me. 32 And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau. 33 And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed. 34 And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father. 35 And he said, Thy brother came with subtlety, and hath taken away thy blessing. 36 And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me? 37 And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son? 38 And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept. 39 And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above; 40 And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck. 41 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob. 42 And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee. 43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran; 44 And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother's fury turn away; 45 Until thy brother's anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day? 46 And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these which are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?

[daniel1212av]

V. 30-40 Act two: Next, “Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.” Esau  has prepared the real dish Isac requested, and the real Esau now presents it to Isaac with the like words as Jacob did, to which Isaac again responds as to who he is. When Esau identifies himself Isaac trembles “very exceedingly,” and inquires as to who the pretender was that received the blessing, adding “yea, and he shall be blessed” (v. 33). And with a cry that is heard throughout eternity as a type of those who suppose they have eternal life but in reality were more intent upon things below (Rm. 8:5, 6; Heb.12:16), choosing darkness over the Light (Jn. 3:19-21), Esau seeks in vain to obtain the first-born blessing that he sold, when he exchanged it for a bowl of pottage. Esau does obtain some manner of blessing for all his pleading, and which shall be made manifest in his earthly life, but long term end is the opposite of blessing, as Hell is from Heaven. 

V. 41-46 “And Esau hated Jacob...” Resentment sets in, rather than repentance and contrition which should have been his response, and Esau determines to slay Jacob after his father's death. Watchful Rebekah hears of these words and instructs him “arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran” (v. 43b) until Esau's wounds are healed by time, if they will be.  The chapter ends with Rebekah expressing to Isaac her anguish that Jacob not take to wife of the daughters of Heth.

V. 46b "..what good shall my life do me?." Not only did a woman's life much consist in providing a future generation, but in the light of the covenantal Abrahamic promise, how important was it for Rebekah that the one through whom this would continue ot be realized not marry outside of God's will.  Neither providing a future generation of citizens of Heaven, both by familial birth and Godly upbringing or by pro-active evangelism, seems to be much of a priority today. For which we must pray.

[daniel1212av]

[3-22-07] (Gen 28)  And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan. 2 Arise, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother. 3 And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; 4 And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham. 5 And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padanaram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother. 6 When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob, and sent him away to Padanaram, to take him a wife from thence; and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan; 7 And that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Padanaram; 8 And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father; 9 Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife. 10 And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. 11 And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. 12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. 13 And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; 14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. 16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. 17 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. 18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. 19 And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first. 20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, 21 So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: 22 And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

[daniel1212av]

V. 1 “  And Isaac called Jacob.” Isaac now seems to fully embrace that the plan of God will be fulfilled through  Jacob, and thus blesses him, that the “blessing of Abraham” be given to him (v. 4; cf. Gn. 17:2; 22:16-18). He  therefore “charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.” Just as Abraham gave the same charge regarding a wife for Isaac in Gn. 24:3, so it is done here. Though the Canaanites inhabited the land which God had given to Israel in promise, they were a wicked and immoral people whom were destined for removal. The moral law of the Old Testament is reiterated under the New Covenant [in contrast to the ceremonial law of ritual observance of Jewish “days, and months, and times, and years” (Gal. 4:10), and of precise rules regarding “meats and drinks, and divers washings” (Heb. 9:10; cf. Col. 2:16).], and in this regard 2 Cor. 6:14 enjoins us, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?”

V. 2b “..take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother.” The extended age of the  antediluvian fathers allowed many notable persons to be contemporaries, and though their exceeding longevity was greatly reduced by the time of Abraham, it was still long enough that Issac, Rebekah and her brother are still alive and the latter evidently quite active in advanced old age (100+?) in contrast with today.

V. 3b “that thou mayest be a multitude[6951] of people“ ”This [6951] is the word “congregation”... which is afterward applied to the assembled people of God, and to which the Greek... “ecclesia,” corresponds.- Barnes

V. 8a, 9b  “And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac.. ..and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife.” Ishmael  has now been dead approx. 14 years*, and Mahalath seems to be the same with Bashemath in Gen. 36:3. Nebajoth “was the eldest son of Ishmael, and, his father being dead, was the principal in the family; and this woman Esau took to wife was his sister by his mother's side, as the above Targum* [of Jonathan] expresses, as well as by his father's; whereas he might have other sisters only by his father's side, he having had more wives than one. This Esau seems to have done in order to curry favour with his father, who was displeased with his other wives, and therefore takes one of his father's brother's daughters; but in this he acted an unwise part, on more accounts than one; partly as it was taking to wife the daughter of one that was cast out of his grandfather's house, and had been a persecutor of his father, and therefore not likely to be agreeable to him; and partly as being a daughter of the bondmaid's son: children born of her could not inherit the land promised to Abraham and Isaac. – Gill.

V. 10  At maybe 61 years old  “Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran.”  Jacob leaves home on a long trip to Haran [possibly] around 480 miles  – Bunting's Travels. p. 72.:

Vs. 11-12  After sun down, Jacob beds down with a stones for a pillow in a certain place he “just happened” to come upon.    “And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. “Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire” (Heb. 1:7). As angels are called messengers, the ladder seems to represent the untiring care of God for His people, with the messengers of God bringing to men the words and assistance of God, and to whom men could sometimes even speak to (Dan. 8:16; 9:21; Lk. 1:11-20, 26; Rv. 22:6). How much more this is applicable to the Lord Jesus (Jn. 1:51), in whom “God was manifest in the flesh” (1 Tim. 3:16), both ministering to man and speaking His words. And He yet was personally accessible to those that sought Him, both hearing and fulfilling their requests as the Divine Son of God. And above all, becoming the atonement for our sins and the risen Savior of the world (1 Jn. 4:10, 14). Praise ye the Lord.

V. 13 “And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father...(vs. 12, 13a). Though Jacob might have left home, God had not left Him, and here He confirms the blessing of Abraham to Him.

“Any true believer would be willing to take up with Jacob's pillow, provided he might have Jacob's vision. God's time to visit his people with his comforts, is, when they are most destitute of other comforts, and other comforters. Jacob saw a ladder which reached from earth to heaven, the angels going up and coming down, and God himself at the head of it. This represents, 1. The providence of God, by which there is a constant intercourse kept up between heaven and earth. This let Jacob know that he had both a good guide and a good guard. 2. The mediation of Christ. He is this ladder; the foot on earth in his human nature, the top in heaven in his Divine nature. Christ is the Way; all God's favours come to us, and all our services go to him, by Christ, Joh_1:51. By this way, sinners draw near to the throne of grace with acceptance. By faith we perceive this way, and in prayer we approach by it. In answer to prayer we receive all needful blessings of providence and grace. We have no way of getting to heaven but by Christ. And when the soul, by faith, can see these things, then every place will become pleasant, and every prospect joyful.” – Henry

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V. 15b  The LORD confirmed that the promises given to Abraham and Isaac and posterity will be accomplished to their fullest extent, and that  and He also promised him protection on his journey and a safe return to his home.  Jacob's seed would be “as the dust of the earth,” and would spread abroad throughout the whole earth (v. 14), and  the LORD assured Him that ”I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee” (v. 15b). The Christian church (and the individuals within) is likewise commissioned to make disciples of all nations, and is promised by the LORD,  “lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Mat 28:20). To the glory of the LORD who changes not.

V. 16, 17 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.   And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”  When God provides such a clear revelation of Him it is a awe-some and humbling experience, in which the holiness of God reveals the contrasting sinfulness of man and poverty of spirit (Is. 6:1-5), and His glory and power can overwhelm man in his contrasting infirmity (Lk. 5:8; Rv. 1:17), and man's unworthiness of Divine care ought to humble one to exaltation of God (Ps. 8:4-9).  It also stands for the place and time of Divine favor, which is to promote consecration to abide in Him that our joy may be full (Jn. 15), and serves as a reference point to return to if we find ourselves “out of the way.”  Not that one should chase after a certain  experience, but the condition of heart and fellowship with God that accompanied it or resulted from it. We should seek to have the same condition of heart, in contriteness and honest child-like faith, that we had when we came to Christ. For “to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My word”  (Isa 66:2).   
Vs. 18, 19  Jacob's response to the presence of God is to make a pillar of the stones he used for a pillow, and anoint them with oil in consecration, and call the name of the place Beth-EL , meaning “House of God. “And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.”  “This antithesis shows that Jacob gave the name, not to the place where the pillar was set up, but to the town, in the neighbourhood of which he had received the divine revelation. He renewed it on his return from Mesopotamia (Gen_35:15). This is confirmed by Gen_48:3, where Jacob, like the historian in Gen_35:6-7, speaks of Luz as the place of this revelation. There is nothing at variance with this in Jos_16:2; Jos_18:13; for it is not Bethel as a city, but the mountains of Bethel, that are there distinguished from Luz (see my Commentary on Jos_16:2).” – K+D

V. 20, 21  “And Jacob vowed a vow..”  This is the first time such a solemn promise is recorded, and which Jacob begins with  if,  but which word [H515] does not necessarily express doubt but an exclamation of confidence, like “if God will keep His promise – which i know He surely will – then the LORD will be my God, the faithful One, because He alone is God.” In this Jacob is assuring that he will keep his part of the covenant, in confidence that God will keep His.   

V. 22 “And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.” We shall read in Gn. 35:7 that Jacob would build an altar there, or we might say church, and that he would give to God a tenth of ALL that the LORD blessed Him with, perhaps for the upkeep of the altar among other things. This, as with Abraham in Gn. 14:10, establishes the principal of giving to God a tenth of all (10 representing a whole, and a 10th of 10). But under the New Covenant this is just to be a start, as we should be seeking to make everything a means to the end of the furthering God's kingdom and righteousnesses, in us and in the world (Mt. 6:33), by giving oneself to God first and then to His work (Rm. 12:1, 2; 2 Cor. 8, 9). And thus we should seek to be wise and careful stewards of the resources given us (Prv. 18:9; 21:10, that they be not wasted (maybe seek on a tenth and give the rest to the LORD's work), and that they may do the most for the LORD (as He leads) who bought us with His own precious blood. “Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing”  (Rev 5:12).

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12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son: and she ran and told her father. 13 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. And he told Laban all these things. 14 And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month. 15 And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be? 16 And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. 18 And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. 19 And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me. 20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. 21 And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. 22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. 23 And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. 24 And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid. 25 And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me? 26 And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. 28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. 29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid. 30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years. 31 And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. 32 And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me. 33 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon. 34 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi. 35 And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.

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Vs. 1-6 Jacob is on a mission confirmed by God, and with the LORD guiding as He promised, Jacob happens upon some people of the east, which upon inquiry turn to be of Haran, and acquainted with Laban and household, and lo, Laban's daughter is coming with the sheep to water them. A situation similar to that of the finding of a wife for Isaac presents itself (Gn. 24:11), but in this case it is one in whereby Jacob may help them care for the sheep. Eagerness to help in a good work is a sign of Abrahamic faith. The Holy Spirit exhorts us “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith”  (Gal 6:10). How Isaac cares for sheep is indicative of how well he might care for his human “flock, and those that are given such are exhorted, “ Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds”, and in so doing God will provide what you need to do so (Prov. 27:23-27), usually through them.

v. 7 “neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together;”  “off of the pastures, to be had home, and put into folds, which was usually done in the evening:” – Gill. 

Vs. 8-10 They cannot water the sheep until the large stone covering it (perhaps some sort of cistern) is removed., “And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she kept them” v. 9). Jacob sees Rachel, and rolls the stone away from the well – which is said to have taken up to 3 men usually –     and waters the flock...

V. 11  “And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.” Perhaps this is where the saying, “Love at first sight” originated. The kiss here would not be on the mouth, but likely on the neck, as is the custom (Gn. 33:4; Lk. 15:20; 20:37).   

V. 12 “And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother,”  that is, “his nephew by his sister, for such were sometimes called brethren, as Lot, Abraham's brother's son, is called his brother, Gen_14:12. and that he was Rebekah's son; sister to her father, and aunt to her, and whose name and relation she doubtless knew full well:” – Gill.  “and she ran and told her father” Rachel had to be a hardy girl for such work a caring for sheep, and so we see her run, which seems to “run” in the family  (Gn. 18:2, 7; 24:17, 28, 29; 29:12; 13; 33:4). As her mother is never mentioned, it is possible that she was dead, and so she told her father, unlike in the parallel account of Rebekah (24:28).

Vs. 13-14 When Laban hears from Rachel these things, he also runs,  to meet Jacob whom he embraces and give the  holy kiss, “And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh..” Likewise “we are members of His [Christ's] body, of His flesh, and of his bones” (Eph. 5:30; cf. Jdg. 9:2). But Jesus is no supplanter like Laban, but is the righteous judge that shall give a crown of righteousness to them that love his appearing” (2 Tim. 4:8 ). Jacob stayed with Laban for 3 months, and

Vs. 15-19 Jacob would have been helping in Jacobs business, and Laban, seeming to want fairness, proposes that Jacob name his wages for service.  Laban has 2 daughters, tender-eyed Leah and well favored Rachel, and Jacob has fallen in love with the latter and proposes that he serve Laban 7 years for her. Laban agrees it would be better to give her to him than another (outside) man, and they enter into a verbal contract. Here as in the case of the obtaining of Rebekah, we see that it was first the father's choice of whom his daughter would marry, and to which 1 Cor. 7:36-38 relates to. The physical beauty of Rebekah represents the spiritual beauty of character which the church and we as her members are supposed to have, “which is in the sight of God of great price” (1 Pt. 3:4).

V. 20 “And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.” Our service for Christ should be thus, that we may finish our course with joy (Acts 20:24), while in contrast Israel of old suffered greatly because they served not the LORD their God “with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things” (Dt. 28:47) (and is still suffering).

Vs. 21, 22  “And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.” Jacob holds a wedding feast (cf. Jn. 2:1ff), but we do not know if any influence of alcohol may have had anything to do with what ensues.

V. 23  “And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.” Jacob may not have been the originator of the “bait and switch” tactic, but supplanter Jacob has about met his match in Laban, but the latter not for spiritual motive.  Laban also gives Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid, who shall later bare Jacob the two sons, Gad and Asher (Gn. 30:9-12; 35:26), but 16 souls in total (Gn. 46:18).

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V. 25a “And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah”.  One can imagine the shock in Jacob's face as the morning light reveals Leah's face. Jacob is chastened in ironic justice.   

V. 25b, 26a  Jacob demands an explanation, which shrewd Laban had already prepared, which is that, “It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. While this was likely a custom there, as it was in India (Clarke), Laban made no mention of it when he made the contract, and thus legally in our day he could have been forced to make it right. But notice that the marriage is held as valid, as is every single marriage in Scripture, that once the social contract has been made to take someone for a wife, and consummated, then it was a valid marriage. In no place in Scripture and under no conditions – such as the many which Rome allows for “annulments” – was a marriage ever “annulled” (meaning a valid marriage never took place) after consummation. The only provision i see for divorce in the Old Testament was that of sexual uncleanness, which that word for uncleanness [H6172 and usually translated “nakedness”] denotes in reference to persons,  in this context that of marital infidelity, (Dt. 24:1).

V. 26b-28  Rather than debate the issue, Laban presents Rachel to Jacob if he “fulfil her week” (see below) and so desirous is Jacob for her that he allows himself to be defrauded and will work another 7 years for Rachel whom he loved, and so Laban “gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.” So likewise, for the love of  God and His name, the apostle Paul urged those that went to law against each other ”Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?” (1 Cor. 6:7). The allowance by us to suffer personal injustices without harboring grudges or seeking retaliation is a mark of rare Christian maturity (though this does not sanction the wrong, or mean that in some cases that the consequences of accountability are not to be made to be felt for the righteousness and the guilty parties sake). But the harboring of grudges, and the over sensitivity to being personally wronged (or perceiving that we are) is sadly very prevalent in the western church today.   

27 “Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.” This, along with v. 30b (see below), indicates that at the end of the 7 day wedding feast Jacob would have Rachel, in return for which he would work another 7 years,. Others hold (as i once thought) that Jacob served 7 more years before he went in unto Rachel. The “weeks of 7” principal idea helps establish the “weeks of 7” equation that is used by most in eschatology of Dan. 9.

v. 29  “And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.” And who would bear to Jacob two sons, Dan  and Naphtali (Gn. 35:35), but a total of 7 children (Gn. 46:25). She is later called   Jacob's concubine, as second wive were called, which Reuben shame-fully went into (Gn. 35:22). 

V. 30b “and served with him yet seven other years.” This is the fulfilling of the condition set forth in v. 27. In Gn. 31:41 Jacob states that he served Laban 14 years for his wives (and 6 for the livestock).

Vs. 31-34  As would be expected in polygamy, one wife is loved more than the other, but God, who seeith “not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart” (1 Sa. 16:7), saw the injustice, and i think Leah's piety, and opened Leah's womb while Rebekah was evidently infertile. She thus bore the sons Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah and Issachar, and Zebulun (Gn. 35:23).

BDB Definitions:
Reuben = “behold a son”
Simeon or Shimeon = “heard”
Levi = “joined to”
Judah = “praised”

v. 35b “and left bearing.” For a time; later she would bare unto Jacob the last two sons.

We must admire and be inspired by the patient labor of love for Jacob, as well as the earnest seeking of his wives, of his wives (which we shall see), though it was in the physical realm. Considering that we have a far greater calling (2 Cor. 4), and serve not a laying lord Laban but our infinitely holy, sacrificially gracious and Almighty “Lord Christ” (Col. 3:24; Rv. 1:8 ), then “as we have received mercy, we faint not” (2 Cor. 4:6). And in continuance, “let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Gal. 46:9).  Praise ye the Lord.

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(Gen 30)  And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die. 2 And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb? 3 And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her. 4 And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her. 5 And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son. 6 And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan. 7 And Bilhah Rachel's maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son. 8 And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali. 9 When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife. 10 And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a son. 11 And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad. 12 And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a second son. 13 And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.

14 And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son's mandrakes. 15 And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son's mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son's mandrakes. 16 And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee with my son's mandrakes. And he lay with her that night. 17 And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son. 18 And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar. 19 And Leah conceived again, and bare Jacob the sixth son. 20 And Leah said, God hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun. 21 And afterwards she bare a daughter, and called her name Dinah. 22 And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb. 23 And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach: 24 And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son.

25 And it 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 my country. 26 Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and let me go: for thou knowest my service which I have done thee. 27 And Laban said unto him, 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. 28 And he said, Appoint me thy wages, and I will give it. 29 And he said unto him, Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how thy cattle was with me. 30 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 mine own house also? 31 And he said, What shall I give thee? And Jacob said, Thou shalt not give me any thing: if thou wilt do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep thy flock. 32 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. 33 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 among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen with me. 34 And Laban said, Behold, I would it might be according to thy word. 35 And he removed that day the he goats that were ringstreaked and 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. 36 And he set three days' journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks. 37 And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazel and chestnut tree; and pilled white streaks in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods. 38 And he set 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. 39 And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ringstreaked, speckled, and spotted. 40 And Jacob did separate the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the ringstreaked, 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. 41 And it came to pass, whensoever the 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. 42 But when the cattle were feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's. 43 And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses.

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This chapter is foremost about child birth, and reveals  how the promise to Abraham, “And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth” (Gn. 13:16) is being fulfilled in the physical and spiritual sense.

V. Give me children, or else I die." This is to be our cry, the cry of the church, which at any given time is only one generation away from extinction. Those identifying themselves as Christians in America decreased 9.7% in 11 years, from 1990 to2000..  If this trend continues, which other evidence shows it is, then by about the year 2042, non-Christians will outnumber the Christians in the U.S. In Canada this is expected to happen by 2023!  (2001 American Religious Identification Survey. http://www.letusreason.org/Current30.htm See more alarming stats here: . http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/RevealingStatistics.html)    “Is there not a cause?” (1 Sam. 17:29).

V. 2 “Am I in God's stead,..”  Jacob recognizes his frailty and thus directs Rachel to the where she she should seek, as Leah did  (v. 2)

I do not have the time or energy today to really expound upon this chapter, and so i suggest you read  Barnes overview of it, from the Bible program and the Barnes module add-on at www.e-sword.net

I would add here that i am unaware of any veterinarian science behind Jacob's husbandry in bringing his livestock to give birth in accordance with what they saw when conceiving, but the spiritual application is that we either worship what we are or become more like what we worship, and make disciples after our "kind." The believer in Christ and His church as a whole is to be always "looking unto Jesus" (Heb. 12:1), to worship with singleness of heart the one true God, and so shall our bodies be full of light, having no part darkness (Mt. 6:22), and will make disciples after that kind (Acts 2:46). 

"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord"  2cCor. 8:3).