Paul Kretzmann Commentary - Genesis 30:25 - 30:36

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Paul Kretzmann Commentary - Genesis 30:25 - 30:36


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The Contract Between Laban and Jacob

v. 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.
The fourteen years of Jacob's service had now come to a close, and, since he did not consider Mesopotamia his home, but a strange country, he longed to go back to his own land, to Canaan. Therefore he asked for his dismissal.

v. 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.
Laban had to concede the faithfulness of Jacob in all his work, particularly since he had, till now, had all the better of the bargain.

v. 27. And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favor in thine eyes, tarry; for I have learned by experience that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake.
Laban couched his request in the most careful language, although he had only selfish motives in asking Jacob to stay.

v. 28. And he said, Appoint me thy wages, and I will give it.
He appears to yield unconditionally to any demand which Jacob might make, but he was really calculating upon Jacob's willingness and humility.

v. 29. And he said unto him, Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how thy cattle was with me.

v. 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,
the blessing of Jehovah had, literally, followed Jacob's feet: and now, when shall I provide for mine own house also? There was really a strong hint in these words, telling Laban that he would do well to set him up in the cattle business for himself. But Laban repeated his question.

v. 31. And he said, What shall I give thee? And Jacob said, Thou shalt not give me anything; if thou wilt do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep thy flock.
It was now cunning against cunning, for Jacob declined to trust himself to the generosity of Laban, having learned to read the character of his uncle aright.

v. 32. I will pass through all thy flock today, 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.
The terms of this contract were based upon the fact that the goats in the Orient are usually black or dark-brown, seldom white or speckled with white, the sheep on the contrary usually white, seldom black or speckled. The proposition, therefore, seemed to be very one-sided in favor of Laban.

v. 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.
If Laban should at any time find in his flocks such animals as did not measure up to this description, he was at liberty to accuse Jacob of theft.

v. 34. And Laban said, Behold, I would it might be according to thy word.
He was fully satisfied with a plan which promised to be all in his favor.

v. 35. And he removed that day the he-goats that were ring-straked (banded) 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.
Laban took every precaution that he could think of, personally supervising the elimination of all the dark and spotted among the sheep and the light and spotted among the goats.

v. 36. And he set three days' journey betwixt himself and Jacob; and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks.
By putting his own sons in charge of his flocks and by placing such a great distance between the two sets of flocks, Laban thought he had effectually curbed Jacob's ambition. His entire conduct was that of a selfish, covetous man, who made use of every possible means to reduce Jacob's wages.