Bible Commentaries
Genesis 30

Verse 1

children. Hebrew sons.

Verse 3

Bilhah. This was strictly in accordance with the Code of Khammurabi, 145. See App-15 . Compare Genesis 29:29 .

have children. Hebrew be builded up. See note above, and Compare Genesis 16:1-3 .

Verse 6

judged. Hebrew. dananni (judged).

Dan. Hebrew judge. Figure of speech Paronomasia. App-6 .

Verse 8

great wrestlings have I wrestled. Hebrew with wrestlings of El (= GOD) i.e. mighty wrestlings. Figure of speech Polyptoton, and Paronomasia. App-6 .

Naphtali. Hebrew my wrestling.

Verse 9

Zilpah . . . . wife. This was strictly in accordance with the Code of Khammurabi, 145. Compare Genesis 16:1-3 ; Genesis 30:3 , Genesis 30:4 . See App-15 .

Verse 11

A troop. Hebrew over-run, or, have victory; so the Septuagint, Syriac, Arabic, Targum of Onkelos, Vulgate.

Gad = Jupiter (of the Babylonians). See Isaiah 65:11 margin, and Joshua 11:17 ; Joshua 12:7 , where Baal-Gad = the God-Jupiter.

Verse 13

Happy. Hebrew. be'ashri (happy).

will call, &c. Hebrew. 'ishshruni (sure to call me).

Asher. Hebrew. Asher (happy). Compare Deuteronomy 33:24 . Figure of speech Paronomasia.

Verse 14

mandrakes. Septuagint mandragora, the root easily formed, by pinching it, into the shape of a man. Hence its name; also supposed to be and used as a "love-philtre". Arabic = "apples of Satan".

Verse 18

hire. Hebrew. sekari (hire). Figure of speech Paronomasia , with Issachar.

Issachar. Hebrew there is hire, or, he is wages.

Verse 20

dowry = God hath dowered me with a good dowry. Figure of speech Polyptoton.

Zebulun. Hebrew dwelling, or habitation. An Assyrian word, to honour, brought out of Ur.

Verse 21

daughter. Jacob may have had other daughters not named.

Dinah. Hebrew probably vindication, or, judgment.

Verse 22

God remembered. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 .

(22-24) Figure of speech Hysterologia, for Joseph born after Naphtali, not after Dinah. This Figure of speech is used to keep Leah's children together.

Verse 24

Joseph. Hebrew. yoseph, may He add.

The LORD. Note the occurrence of Jehovah here in connection with Joseph.

shall add. Hebrew. yoseph, is adding. Figure of speech Paronomasia, App-6 .

Verse 27

tarry: for. Figure of speech Ellipsis, which requires some such supply.

experience = by divination. Heb, nihashti, from nahash (Genesis 3:1 ).

Verse 30

provide. Hebrew the verb to do, which by Metonymy (of the Cause), means to provide, or, do for.

house. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), App-6 , by which "house "is put for all who dwell in it.

Verse 33

answer. By the Figure of speech Prosopopoeia, righteousness is personified.

in time to come. Hebrew. to-morrow. Figure of speech Antimereia (of Adverb), App-6 = some future day.

Verse 43

the man . Hebrew. ha- 'ish . App-14 .

exceedingly . Hebrew. meod meod = greatly greatly. Figure of speech Epizeuxis. App-6