Bible Commentaries
Genesis 29

Verse 1

went, &c. = lifted up his feet. Hebrew. Idiom, App-6 .

Verse 2

well. Hebrew. beer. See note on Genesis 21:19 .

three flocks. Compare Genesis 29:8 .

Verse 5

son. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species), put for grandson. Compare Genesis 24:15 . In Genesis 29:12 Jacob calls himself the "brother" of Laban by the same Figure of speech

Lo. Figure of speech Asterismos, App-6 , giving life to the scene.

Verse 9

her father's sheep. Shepherds usually slaves, younger sons, or daughters. Compare David, 1 Samuel 17:13-15 .Exodus 2:16 , Exodus 2:17 . Note exception. Genesis 37:14 , and reason.

Verse 11

kissed. The Eastern greeting.

Verse 12

brother. See on Genesis 29:6 and App-29 .

Verse 13

heard the tidings. Figure of speech Polyptoton. App-6 . "Heard the hearing. "

Verse 14

space of a month. Hebrew a month of days, i.e., by Figure of speech Hypallage , the days of a month. Compare Numbers 11:20 .

Verse 16

Leah. Hebrew weary.

Rachel. Hebrew a ewe.

Verse 17

tender = weak.

beautiful = comely in form. Compare Genesis 39:6 .

well favoured = comely in countenance.

Verse 20

served. Compare Hosea 12:12 .

Verse 24

Zilpah. See on Genesis 29:29 .

Verse 25

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. To call attention to the fact that he was deceived, as he had deceived Isaac (Genesis 27:0 ).

Verse 27

we, i.e. I, by Figure of speech Heterosis (of Number).

Verse 28

her , i.e. Leah's week.

he gave him Rachel. A popular mistake to suppose that Jacob did not marry Rachel till the end of the second seven years, for in the first seven were born seven sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, and Joseph. In the second seven: Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulon, and Dinah.

Verse 29

Bilhah. This was strictly in accordance with the Code of Khammurabi, 145. See App-15 .

Verse 31

LORD. Jehovah used with the five sons (Genesis 29:31-35 and Genesis 30:24 ). Elohim is used with six (Genesis 30:2 , Genesis 30:6 , Genesis 30:17 , Genesis 30:18 , Genesis 30:20 , Genesis 30:23 ). No title used with Benjamin (Genesis 35:16-18 ). All were in pairs. Two pairs from Leah, one pair from Bilhah, one from Zilpah, one from Leah, one from Rachel.

hated. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , by which love and hate are put for the esteem or neglect, caused by love and hate = less loved, Deuteronomy 21:15 .Matthew 6:24 .

Verse 33

Reuben. Hebrew. behold a son. For the various orders of the 12 tribes, see App-45 .

heard. Hebrew. sham'a (heard).

Simeon. Hebrew. Shime'on (hearing). Figure of speech Paronomasia.

Verse 34

joined. Hebrew. yillaveh (joined).

Was his name called. Hebrew she called his name, with Samaritan Pentateuch and Septuagint. Error due to neglected abbreviation in primitive Hebrew text. Figure of speech Paronomasia. App-6 .

Levi. Hebrew. Levi (joiner).

Verse 35

praise. Hebrew. 'odeh (I shall, or. Let me praise) ; ye hudah (he shall be praised). Compare Genesis 49:8 . Figure of speech Paronomasia.

left: i.e. for a time.