Bible Commentaries
Genesis 29

Verse 1

Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.

Then Jacob went on his journey. — Heb., Lifted up his feet: indefessi cursoris instar ; as it were a generous and manly horse, refreshed with his wait by the way, he went lightly on his long journey. "The joy of the Lord was" Jacob’s "strength": Nehemiah 8:10 it became as oil; wherewith his soul being suppled, he was made more lithe, nimble, and fit for action. He that is once soaked in this oil, and bathed, with Jacob, in this bath at Bethel, will cheerfully do or suffer aught for God’s sake. Tua praesentia, Domine, Laurentio ipsam craticulam dulcem fecit , saith one. Aug. in Psalm cxxxvii. Gaudebat Crispina cum tenebatur, cum audiebatur, cum damnabatur, cum ducebatur , saith Austin. So did many of the Marian martyrs, as were easy to instance. Bernard gives the reasons: The cross is oiled, Crux enim inuncta est ,& c. Crucem multi abominantur, crucem videntes, sed non videntes unctionem . - Bern. saith he; and, by the grace of the Spirit helping our infirmities, it is made, not only light, but sweet; and not only not troublous and terrible, but desirable and delectable. From the delectable orchard of the Leonine prison: so that Italian martyr Algerius dated his letter. Act. and Mon., fol. 857. Another Dutch martyr, feeling the flame to come to his beard, Ah, said he, what a small pain is this, to be compared to the glory to come! Ibid., fol. 813. Let us pluck up our feet, pass from strength to strength, and take long and lusty strides toward heaven. It is but a little afore us; and a ready heart rids the way apace.

Verse 2

And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there [were] three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone [was] upon the well’s mouth.

Three flocks of sheep lying by it. — Semblably Christ, the chief Shepherd, "feeds" and "leads his flock to the lively fountains of waters"; Revelation 7:16-17 Psalms 23:2 commanding his under shepherds, the ministers, to roll away the stone, by opening the promises, that his sheep may drink "water with joy out of those wells of salvation". Isaiah 12:3

Verse 3

And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well’s mouth in his place.

And they put the stone again upon the well’s mouth. — To keep the waters clean and filth free. The Turks had procured some traitor in Scodra, where Scanderbeg ruled, to poison the town well. Turk. Hist. The Pope hath endeavoured the like, by pouring out his deadly poison "upon the rivers and fountains of water" (the Scriptures) "that they might become blood". Revelation 16:4 Witness that heathenish decree of the Council of Trent; equalising, if not preferring, the Apocrypha to the canonical Scripture; the vulgar translation to the original; traditions to Holy Writ; and affirming that the Holy Ghost himseff is not to be heard, though he bring never so plain Scripture for himself; nisi accedat meretricis purpuratae effrons interpretatio , saith a learned doctor, unless the Pope may interpret it. D. Prid., Lect. de Testibus . Horrible blasphemy! Had not God’s servants need to see to the cleansing of this well, and the keeping it free from the tramplings and defilements of this foul beast? The Council of Constance comes in with a Non-obstante against Christ’s institution, withholding the cup from the sacrament. Licit Christus, post coenam, instituerit, et suis discipulis administraverit ,& c. - Caranza, Sum. Concil., sess. 13; Bee Hive of Rome, p. 12 . Before that the gospel was corrected, amended, and expounded, say the Canonists, there were many things permitted (as priests’ marriage); which now, since the time is come that all things are made perfect, are clearly abolished and taken away. When the Hussites denied to admit any doctrine that could not be proved by the Holy Scriptures, the Council of Basil answered them, by Cardinal Cusanus, that the Scriptures were not of the essence of the Church, but of the well being of it only; that the Word of God was so much the better taught the people, by how much it had less of the Scriptures in it; that the Scripture was to be interpreted according to the current rite of the Church; Tanto dignius verbum Dei tradi, quanto remotius ab omni Scriptura: eam explicandam iuxta currentem Ecclesiae ritum , … - Revius, De Vit. Pontif ., p. 235. qua mutante sententiam, mutetur et Dei iudicium . Can any hear this, and his ears not tingle? This was then the Pope’s express: for in Popish councils, the bishops and others have no more to do, but simply, inclinato capite , to say Placet to that which in the Pope’s name is propounded to them: as nothing was resolved by the Trent fathers, but all in Rome: whence grew that blasphemous proverb, which I abhor to relate. Hist. of Coun. of Trent , 497. This council was that sea, upon which the second angel poured out his vial, Revelation 16:3 and it became as the blood of a dead man; and every living soul died in that sea. Cavete .

Verse 4

And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence [be] ye? And they said, Of Haran [are] we.

And Jacob said. — These petty passages are recorded, when the acts of mighty monarchs are unmentioned; to show God’s dear respect to his poor servants. The lion and eagle were not offered in sacrifice as the lamb and dove were. Mr Fox being asked, whether he knew such an honest poor man, answered, I remember him well: I tell you, I forget lords and ladies, to remember such. So doth God.

Verse 5

And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know [him].

See Trapp on " Genesis 29:4 "

Verse 6

And he said unto them, [Is] he well? And they said, [He is] well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.

And, behold, Rachel his daughter. — Note, that our least and ordinary actions are ordered and directed by God; as Nathanael’s being under the fig tree, John 1:48 … Birds flying seem to fly at liberty, yet are guided by an overruling hand of Heaven: so are our thoughts, affections, actions. Sic curat Deus universos, quasi singulos; sic singulos, quasi solos , saith Augustine, Rachel, by a divine providence, meets Jacob at the well: so doth the Church (that shepherdess, Song of Solomon 1:7-8 ) meet Christ in his ordinances. Psalms 23:2-3

Verse 7

And he said, Lo, [it is] yet high day, neither [is it] time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go [and] feed [them].

Neither is it time, … — Time is a precious commodity, and must be thriftily husbanded. The common complaint is, We want time: but the truth is, we do not so much want, as waste it, as the heathen observed: a which they that do, are wastefullest prodigals: for, of all other possessions, two may be had together; but two moments of time cannot be possessed together. This made the philosopher so parsimonious of time: Nullus mihi per otium exit dies - I cannot afford to cast away a day; pattem noctium studiis vindico - part of the night I take for my studies. So did Charles the Great; and after him, Charles the Fifth, who, when at any time in the field against the enemy, spent what hours he could spare in the study of the mathematics. He had, for that purpose, as his instructor, Turrianus of Cremona ever with him. As if he had been of Cato’s mind, Cato in Orig . that great men must be able to give good account, non minus otii, quam negotii ; no less of their leisure, than of their labour. His constant custom was, saith Cicero, Cic. De Senect . to call to mind, at evening, what thing soever he had seen, read, or done, that day. King Alfred, that reigned here ( Anno Dom . 872), is said to have cast the natural day into three parts: eight hours he spent in praying, study, and writing; eight in the service of his body; eight in the affairs of state. Which spaces (having then no other engine for it) he measured by a great wax light, divided into so many parts; receiving notice by the keeper thereof, as the various hours passed in the burning. Dan. Chron ., fol. 13.

“ Qui nescit quo vita modo volat, audiat horas:

Quam sit vita brevis, nos docet ille sonus .”

a Non parum habemus temporis, sed multum perdimus. - Senec. Epist.

Verse 8

And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and [till] they roll the stone from the well’s mouth; then we water the sheep.

We cannot, until all the flocks. — As we are not, by the example of these shepherds, to enterprise things above our strength, Psalms 131:1 so neither to be discouraged by every difficulty; but to lend, and borrow help one of another; each man "pleasing his neighbour for his good, and serving him in love, to edification". Romans 14:1-2

“ Divisae his operae, sed mens fuit unica, pavit

Ore Lutherus oves, flore Melancthon apes .”

Verse 9

And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep: for she kept them.

For she kept them. — Leah might be left at home, for the tenderness of her eyes. A man is to see that all under his roof have a fit employment; as the master gave each servant his task, his talent, Matthew 25:15 according to his various abilities, secundum peritiam et potentiam . And everyone hath some excellency or other in him, can we but find and improve it. God hath dispensed his gifts diversely, for the common benefit. And as, in the same pasture, the ox can find fodder, the hound a hare, the stork a lizard, the fair maid flowers: so there is none so worthless, but something may be made of him; some good extracted out of the unlikeliest. Yea, wisdom is such an elixir, as by contaction (if there be any disposition of goodness in the same metal) it will render it of the property.

Verse 10

And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother.

Went near, and rolled the stone, … — If he did this alone, as the text seemeth to say, it was very strange. He might put forth his strength, to gratify Rachel, and to insinuate himself into her love.

Verse 11

And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.

Lifted up his voice, and wept. — For joy, that he had so happily lighted upon his kinswoman. It argued also his great affection, and passion of mind, for her sake; love is ecstatical; nec iuris se sinit esse sui. Animus est ubi amat, non ubi animat. Ovid. Amor ., lib. ii. He kisseth Rachel, as if he would have transfused his soul into her: and wept aloud; not as those vain lovers, who ut flerent, oculos erudiere suos :nor as the Brasileans, Magni. in Geogr . whose faculty is such, that tears are for a present salutation, and as soon gone, as if they had said, How do you? but as Joseph wept over Benjamin; the prodigal’s father over him, …

Verse 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.

That he was her father’s brother. — And therefore made so bold with her, upon no further acquaintance. His kisses were not unchaste, but modest; such as were common among kindred. And yet here care must be taken that Satan corrupt not our courtesy, or more intimate acquaintance, with never so near an alliance. Flies may settle upon the sweetest perfumes, and putrify them. St Paul saw cause to exhort Timothy (that mortified young man) to exhort the younger women, "as sisters with all purity"; 1 Timothy 5:2 because, through the subtilty of Satan, and the deceit of his own heart, even whilst he was exhorting them to chastity, some unchaste motions might steal upon him. A great deal of caution doth no hurt. Abuadans cautela non nocet .

Verse 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.

He ran to meet him, and embraced him. — All in hypocrisy, as the Hebrews hold. There be many Labans: hot at first, cold at last; friendly in the beginning, froward in the end. A free friend at first, a kind friend to the last, is rara avis in terris ." Trust not in a friend, put not confidence in a brother," … Micah 7:5 Look rather unto the Lord, as the Church doth there: he is the only one dependable, as they say, and will never fail us; when the world, as Laban, will show itself at parting, if not before.

He told Laban all these things. — Why and how he came so poorly to him, whereas Abram’s servant, coming upon a like errand, came far better attended and appointed; which was the thing that Laban likely looked after when he ran out to meet Jacob.

Verse 14

And Laban said to him, Surely thou [art] my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.

Surely thou art my bone, … — Good words cost nothing; and the veriest countrymen are commonly freer of them than of real courtesies. Pertinax the emperor was surnamed Cρηστολογος , quid blandus esset, magis quam benignus . But that of Nero was abominable, who, the very day before he killed his mother, most lovingly embraced her, kissed her eyes and hands, and, accompanying her when she departed, used these sweet words: All happiness attend you, my good mother; for in you I live, and by you I reign. Mητερ ερρωσο μοι, και υγιαινε, εν γαρ σοι και εγω ζω, και δια σου Bασιλευω . - Dio in Ner. "As a potsherd covered with silver dross, so are burning lips and a wicked heart". Proverbs 26:23

Verse 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]?

Shouldest thou therefore serve me. — He pretends love and equity to his covetous aims and reaches. Candid he would needs seem (according to his name) Laban, est candidus. and considerate. But as blackmoors have their teeth only white, so is Laban’s kindness from the teeth outward. He was as a whited wall or painted sepulchre, or an Egyptian temple - fair and specious without, but within, some cat, rat, or calf there idolised and adored. Hypocrites, whatever they pretend, have a hawk’s eye to praise or profit: they must be gainers by their piety or humanity, which must be another Diana, to bring gain to the craftsmaster. The eagle, when she soareth highest, hath an eye ever to the prey.

Verse 16

And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder [was] Leah, and the name of the younger [was] Rachel.

The name of the elder was Leah, — i.e., Weak and wearish, by her natural constitution Debilis, nec bene habita, quasi lassa ex debilitate constitutionis. No marvel, therefore, though she were weak-sighted, as Genesis 29:17 .

Verse 17

Leah [was] tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.

Leah was tender-eyed. — Purblind or squint, as one Mercer. interprets it. Now, a froward look and squint eyes, saith the historian, Turk. Hist ., fol. 483. are the certain notes of a nature to be suspected. The Jerusalem Targum tells us, that her eyes were tender with weeping and praying. Mary Magdalene is famous for her tears; and Christ was never so near her as when she could not see him for weeping. After which she spent (as some report) thirty years in Gallia Narbonensi, in weeping for her sins.

But Rachel was beautiful, … — Plato calls beauty the principality of nature; Aristotle, a greater commendation than all epistles. See Trapp on " Genesis 24:16 "

Verse 18

And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.

I will serve thee seven years. — He had nothing to endow her with; he would therefore earn her with his hard labour: which, as it shows Laban’s churlishness to suffer it, and his baseness to make a prize and a prey of his two daughters, so it sets forth Jacob’s meekness, poverty, patience, and hard condition here, mentioned many years after by the prophet Hosea. Hosea 12:12 He was a man of many sorrows; and from him therefore the Church hath her denomination: neither were the faithful ever since called Abrahamites but Israelites.

Verse 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.

It is better that I give her to thee. — Indeed, he sold her to him for seven years’ service. This was Laban, or Nabal, choose you which. Their names were not more like than their conditions. Laban’s daughters and Nabal’s wife were alike handled by their unkind parents. "He hath sold us," said they, "and hath also quite devoured our money". Genesis 31:15 And, He hath married me, might Abigail have said, to the money, and not to the man; and though he named me his joy, yet he hath caused me much sorrow. How many a child is so cast away by the covetous parents! It was better with Laban’s two daughters; but no thanks to their father.

Verse 20

And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him [but] a few days, for the love he had to her.

And they seemed unto him but a few days. — And yet lovers’ hours are full of eternity. But love facilitated the service, and made the time seem short. Nox longa quibus mentitur amica, diesque longa videtur opus debentibus, et piger annus pupillis. Should anything seem hard or heavy to us, so we may have heaven at length? The affliction is but light and momentary; the glory massive, and for all eternity. Hold out, Faith and Patience. Love is a passion, and seen most in suffering; "much water cannot quench it". Song of Solomon 8:7 Nay, like fire, it devours all delays and difficulties, spending and exhaling itself, as it were, in continual wishes to be at home, to be with Christ, which is "far, far the better," ( πολλω μαλλον , κρεισσον , Philippians 1:23 ). Oh, let the eternal weight of the crown weigh down with us the light and momentary weight of the cross.

Verse 21

And Jacob said unto Laban, Give [me] my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.

Give me my wife, for my days, … — Jacob had served out his time, and now demands his due. David also is said to have "served the will of God, for his own age"; Acts 13:36 and John Baptist to have "fulfilled his course". Acts 13:25 "Moses also was faithful in all God’s house, as a servant". Hebrews 3:2 Yet these could not call for heaven as their wages, because they were (as the best are, at their best) but "unprofitable servants," Luke 17:10 and did not, in any measure, what their duty was to do. We have not a bit of bread of our own earning; and are therefore taught to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread": we get our living by begging. Our best plea is, Domine, non sum dignus, nihi - lominus tamen sum indigens :Lord, I am not worthy, but I am needy, as Pomeran said. Then will God, of his free grace, supply all our necessities, and "afterwards receive us to glory." He will bring us into the bride chamber of heaven, and there will he give us his loves. He will let out himself into us, to our infinite delight. Of all natural delights, that of marriage is the greatest, because there is the greatest communication of one creature to another; and according to the degrees of communication are the degrees of delight. Think the same in the mystical marriage.

Verse 22

And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.

And made a feast. — Never more seasonable, surely, than at the recovery of the lost rib. The wedding day is called, "The day of the rejoicing of a man’s heart". Song of Solomon 3:11 Our Saviour graced such a feast with his presence and first miracle: he supplied them with wine to glad their hearts; not with a little, for health’s sake only, but with a great quantity, for sober delight and honest affluence. It is noted as an absurd thing in Samson’s wife, that "she wept all the days of the feast". Judges 14:17 A feast, then, there was at Samson’s wedding, and of seven days’ continuance. And so there was at Jacob’s, as may be gathered out of Genesis 29:27 . "Fulfil her week," saith Laban; to wit, of banquet or bride-ale, as we call it: only that of Chrysostom comes here in fitly, De nuptiis Iacobi legimus; de choreis et tripudiis non legimus :of Jacob’s wedding feast we read; but of dancing and dalliance, of tracing and tripping on the toe, we read not. In maxima libertate, minima licentia , saith Salvian. Merry we may be, at such a time, but in the Lord: eat and drink we may, but "before the Lord". Deuteronomy 12:7 The old world may be a warning to us: they "fed without fear"; Judges 1:12 and therefore perished without favour. Let such look to it, as "live in pleasure, and are wanton"; James 5:5 that eat to excess, and drink to drunkenness, accounting nothing mirth, but madness; no bread sweet, but stolen; no such pleasure, as to have the devil their playfellow; so "nourishing their hearts as in a day of slaughter," or belly-cheer, James 5:5 and swallowing down those murdering morsels now, that they must digest in hell. Multi apud homines manducant, quod apud inferos digerunt. - Aug .

Verse 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.

He took Leah his daughter. — The elder, for the younger; by a like fraud, as Rebekah his mother had not long before, in a cunning disguise, substituted him, the younger son, for the elder. God pays us often in our own coin, Plerumque Deus servat legem talionis . and measures to us again the self-same measure that we have meted to others. Matthew 7:2 Herod mocked the wise men, and is mocked of them. Matthew 2:16 And how oft do we see those that would beguile others, punished with illusion? God usually retaliates, and proportions jealousy to jealousy, provocation to provocation, Deuteronomy 32:21 number to number, Isaiah 65:11-12 choice to choice, Isaiah 66:3-4 device to device, Micah 2:1 ; Micah 2:3 frowardness to frowardness, Psalms 18:26 contrariety to contrariety. Leviticus 26:21 Even the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth, Proverbs 11:31 as was Jacob.

Verse 24

And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid [for] an handmaid.

Zilpah his maid. — Who, very likely, was of the conspiracy.

Verse 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?

In the morning, behold, it was Leah. — A foul disappointment: but so the world ever serves us. The Hebrews have taken up this passage for a proverb, when a man’s hopes are deceived in a wife, or anything else, wherein he looked for content and comfort.

Verse 26

And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.

It must not be so done in our country. — A sorry excuse; but better, he thought, than none at all. A subtle fox he was, and far too hard for honest Jacob, who was "simple to evil," but of a large reach for heaven. "The children of this world are wise in their generation"; and so is the fox in his: but God will take them in their own craft, as wild beasts in a snare, "made and taken to be destroyed". 1 Corinthians 3:19-20 O δρασσομενος . Manu capere et firmiter tenere . Let us take heed how we deal with them, and make our bargains as wise as we can. Crebro nobis, sicut Ciceroni , Cic. ad Attic . vafer ille Siculus insusurret Epicharmi cantilenam illam suam , Nυφε και μεμνησο απινειν . "We have not received the spirit of this world"; 1 Corinthians 2:12 we cannot skill of the devil’s depths: but we have received a better thing; "the Spirit which searcheth all, yea, the deep things of God". 1 Corinthians 2:10

Verse 27

Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.

We will give thee this also. — See here the guise of wicked and deceitful men: when one fetch has been born in their minds, they devise another; and make no end of overreaching; there never wanting (as the proverb hath it) a new knack in a knave’s cap. They will search the devil’s skull, but they will find out one slippery trick or another, to cheat and go beyond those they deal with. But let them look to it; "God is the avenger of all such," 1 Thessalonians 4:6 whose, not heads only, but "bellies prepare deceit". Job 15:35

Verse 28

And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.

And Jacob did so. — A mirror of patience; which, in Jacob here, had line and rope, "her perfect work"; showing him to be "perfect and entire, wanting nothing". James 1:3-4 Godly people can bear wrongs best of any: compel them to go a mile, they will be content, if it may do good, to go twain; Matthew 5:41 yea, as far as the shoes of "the preparation of the gospel of peace" Ephesians 6:15 will carry them.

Verse 29

And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.

Bilhah his handmaid. — Who afterward played false play with her master and husband, and incestuously lay with Reuben.

Verse 30

And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

And he went in also unto Rachel. — Which incestuous fact cannot ordinarily be justified, nor may at all be imitated. Wicked Julia, soliciting Caracalla to incestuous marriage with her, when he answered, Vellem si liceret , replied impudently (and is therefore, by very heathens, condemned extremely), Si libet, licet: an nescis te Imperatorem esse, leges dare non accipere ?& c. Herod, for marrying his brother’s wife, was reproved, and punished.

Verse 31

And when the LORD saw that Leah [was] hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel [was] barren.

When the Lord saw that Leah was hated. — That is, less loved and respected. So God hated Esau; and accounts the neglects of wife or husband, no better than hatred. Ephesians 5:25

But Rachel was barren. — God commonly crosseth men’s preposterous affections, that he may draw all love to himself. Jonah loseth his gourd, and we our dearest delights, by overloving them.

Verse 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.

Therefore my husband will love me. — This was her greatest care (and is every good wife’s) - to "please her husband," 1 Corinthians 7:14 and to win his love.

Verse 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.

And she conceived again. — God usually heapeth his favours upon those whom others slight, and look aloof on.

Verse 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.

And she conceived again. — So, what she wanted in beauty, she had in fecundity or fruitfuiness: and this redounded to God’s greater glory, by Leah’s thankfulness; who might say -

“ Si mihi difficilis formam natura negavit,

Laude Dei, formae, damna rependo, meae .”

- Sappho, apud Ovid .

Verse 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.

Now will I praise the Lord. — So she had done before, at the birth of her other children: but now she would do it anew, upon the receipt of a new mercy: according to that, "Sing unto the Lord a new song." Isaiah 42:10 A good woman she seems to have been; and the better, because not so well beloved of her husband; which she could not but see to be just upon her, for her consenting (with her father) to the sin of deceiving Jacob. Genesis 30:1