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Gen_31:1 And he heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that [was] our father’s; and of [that] which [was] our father’s hath he gotten all this glory.
Ver. l. And he heard the words of Laban’s sons.] These were chips off the old block, as they say; as like the father, as if spit out of his mouth. Avarice made them think, as Sejanus did, Quicquid non acquiritur, damnum; { a} all lost, that fell beside their own lips. As a ship may be overladen with gold and silver, even unto sinking, and yet have compass and sides enough to hold ten times more: so, covetous men, though they have enough to sink them, yet have they never enough to satisfy them.
Hath he gotten all this glory.] That is, All this wealth, which easily gets glory; and goes therefore joined with it. {Pro_3:16; Pro_8:18} This regina pecunia doth all, and hath all here below, saith Solomon. {Ecc_10:19} Money beareth the mastery, and is the monarch of this world. None so admired, or so soon admitted, as he that is well heeled. The Chaldee word for money, {b} signifies to do some great work. It was commonly said in Greece, that not Philip but his money took their cities. {c} And a certain Grecian coming to Rome, where the honour of a lord was offered unto him, answered -
Oõê åèåëù äïìíáé, ïõ èáñ å÷ù äïìåíáé .
Allin had a cardinal’s hat there bestowed upon him by the Pope: but because his hat had so thin lining - he wanted wealth, I mean, to support his state - he was commonly called, The starveling cardinal; and nobody cared for him. {d}
{a} Tacitus.
{b} àãøëåï , from àãø strong, and ëåï to prepare.
{c} Oõ Féëéððïò, áëëá ôï Féëéððïõ ÷ñõóéïí . - Plut. in Emyl..
{d} Manl., loc. com., p. 441.