Thus for twenty years I have served in your household--fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flocks--and you have changed my wages ten times! Thus for twenty years I have served in your household—Jacob's statement reflects his long-term commitment and endurance. The twenty years signify a significant portion of his life, emphasizing his dedication and the trials he faced. This period is a testament to his perseverance and faithfulness, despite the challenges and deceit he encountered from Laban. It also highlights the cultural norm of long-term servitude in exchange for marriage and wealth accumulation. fourteen years for your two daughters
Jacob worked seven years each for Leah and Rachel, Laban's daughters. This reflects the ancient Near Eastern custom of bride service, where a prospective husband would work for the bride's family as a form of dowry. The deception Jacob experienced, being given Leah instead of Rachel initially, mirrors his earlier deception of Esau, showing a theme of reaping what one sows. and six years for your flocks—
The additional six years Jacob worked were for the purpose of building his own wealth through livestock. This period demonstrates Jacob's growing skill and wisdom in animal husbandry, which God blessed, leading to his prosperity. It also reflects the economic practices of the time, where wealth was often measured in livestock. and you have changed my wages ten times!
Laban's repeated changes to Jacob's wages illustrate the ongoing deceit and exploitation Jacob faced. This phrase underscores the theme of divine justice and protection, as despite Laban's attempts to cheat him, God ensured Jacob's prosperity. The number ten can symbolize completeness or fullness, indicating the extent of Laban's treachery. This situation foreshadows the Israelites' later experiences in Egypt, where they were oppressed yet multiplied and prospered under God's care. Persons / Places / Events 1. JacobThe grandson of Abraham, son of Isaac, and the central figure in this passage. He served Laban for twenty years, enduring hardship and deceit. 2. LabanJacob's uncle and father-in-law, who repeatedly changed Jacob's wages, demonstrating a lack of integrity and fairness. 3. Paddan-aramThe region where Laban lived and where Jacob spent twenty years working for him. 4. Rachel and LeahLaban's daughters, for whom Jacob worked fourteen years, marrying them as part of his service agreement with Laban. 5. FlocksThe livestock Jacob tended for Laban, which became a source of wealth and contention between them. Teaching Points Endurance in AdversityJacob's perseverance through twenty years of hardship teaches us the value of patience and faithfulness, even when faced with injustice. Integrity in RelationshipsLaban's deceit contrasts with the biblical call to honesty and integrity in our dealings with others. God's FaithfulnessDespite human deceit, God remains faithful. Jacob's eventual prosperity is a testament to God's provision and justice. Value of Hard WorkJacob's diligent work ethic, despite unfair treatment, serves as a model for working heartily as unto the Lord. Trust in God's TimingJacob's account encourages believers to trust in God's timing and justice, even when immediate circumstances seem unfair. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Jacob's experience with Laban challenge us to respond to unfair treatment in our own lives? 2. In what ways can we demonstrate integrity in our relationships, even when others do not? 3. How does Jacob's perseverance inspire us to remain faithful in difficult situations? 4. What lessons can we learn from Jacob's work ethic and apply to our own professional or personal lives? 5. How can we trust in God's timing and justice when we face situations that seem unjust or unfair? Consider other biblical examples of God's faithfulness in difficult times. Connections to Other Scriptures Genesis 29-30These chapters provide the background to Jacob's service to Laban, including the agreements made and the births of Jacob's children. Exodus 1:8-14The Israelites' oppression in Egypt mirrors Jacob's experience of being exploited by Laban, highlighting themes of endurance and divine justice. James 5:4This verse speaks to the injustice of withholding wages, connecting to Laban's treatment of Jacob and emphasizing God's concern for fair treatment. | Jacob At Haran | W. Roberts. | Genesis 31:22-42 | | Laban | M. Dods, D. D. | Genesis 31:22-42 | | Laban's Expostulation with Jacob, and Jacob's Defence | T. H. Leale. | Genesis 31:22-42 | | Lessons | G. Hughes, B. D., J. C. Gray. | Genesis 31:22-42 | | Lessons | G Hughes, B. D. | Genesis 31:22-42 | | Lessons | G. Hughes, B. D. . | Genesis 31:22-42 | | Lessons | G. Hughes, B. D. . | Genesis 31:22-42 | | Lessons | G. Hughes, B. D. . | Genesis 31:22-42 | | Lessons | G. Hughes, B. D. . | Genesis 31:22-42 | | Lessons | G. Hughes, B. D. . | Genesis 31:22-42 | | Lessons | G. Hughes, B. D. | Genesis 31:22-42 | | The Years of Servitude | E. Craig. | Genesis 31:22-42 |
People Aram, Isaac, Jacob, Laban, Leah, Nahor, RachelPlaces Canaan, Euphrates River, Galeed, Gilead, Jegar-sahadutha, Mizpah, Paddan-aramTopics Cattle, Changed, Changest, Daughters, Flock, Flocks, Fourteen, Hast, Hire, Household, Kept, Payment, Servant, Served, Six, Ten, Thus, Twenty, Wages, WorkedDictionary of Bible Themes Genesis 31:41 1654 numbers, 11-99
5404 masters
5522 servants, work conditions
5679 dowry Genesis 31:36-42 5095 Jacob, life
8716 dishonesty, examples Genesis 31:38-42 5569 suffering, hardship Genesis 31:39-42 5685 fathers, responsibilities Genesis 31:40-42 5523 servants, good Library Gen. xxxi. 11
Of no less importance and significance is the passage Gen. xxxi. 11 seq. According to ver. 11, the Angel of God, [Hebrew: mlaK halhiM] appears toJacob in a dream. In ver. 13, the same person calls himself the God of Bethel, with reference to the event recorded in chap. xxviii. 11-22. It cannot be supposed that in chap xxviii. the mediation of a common angel took place, who, however, had not been expressly mentioned; for Jehovah is there contrasted with the angels. In ver. 12, we read: "And behold …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old TestamentAppendix xvi. On the Jewish views About Demons' and the Demonised,' Together with Some Notes on the Intercourse Between Jews and Jewish Christians in the First Centuries.
IT is not, of course, our purpose here to attempt an exhaustive account of the Jewish views on demons' and the demonised.' A few preliminary strictures were, however, necessary on a work upon which writers on this subject have too implictly relied. I refer to Gfrörer's Jahrhundert des Heils (especially vol. i. pp. 378-424). Gfrörer sets out by quoting a passage in the Book of Enoch on which he lays great stress, but which critical inquiries of Dillmann and other scholars have shown to be …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah How the Rude in Sacred Learning, and those who are Learned but not Humble, are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 25.) Differently to be admonished are those who do not understand aright the words of the sacred Law, and those who understand them indeed aright, but speak them not humbly. For those who understand not aright the words of sacred Law are to be admonished to consider that they turn for themselves a most wholesome drought of wine into a cup of poison, and with a medicinal knife inflict on themselves a mortal wound, when they destroy in themselves what was sound by that whereby they ought, …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great Epistle Xlix. To Anastasius, Bishop of Antioch .
To Anastasius, Bishop of Antioch [35] . Gregory to Anastasius, &c. I received the letters of thy Fraternity, rightly holding fast the profession of the faith; and I returned great thanks to Almighty God, who, when the shepherds of His flock are changed, still, even after such change, guards the faith which He once delivered to the holy Fathers. Now the excellent preacher says, Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Christ Jesus (1 Cor. iii. 2). Whosoever, then, with love of …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great The Great Shepherd
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. I t is not easy for those, whose habits of life are insensibly formed by the customs of modern times, to conceive any adequate idea of the pastoral life, as obtained in the eastern countries, before that simplicity of manners, which characterized the early ages, was corrupted, by the artificial and false refinements of luxury. Wealth, in those …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1 And He had Also this Favour Granted Him. ...
66. And he had also this favour granted him. For as he was sitting alone on the mountain, if ever he was in perplexity in his meditations, this was revealed to him by Providence in prayer. And the happy man, as it is written, was taught of God [1112] . After this, when he once had a discussion with certain men who had come to him concerning the state of the soul and of what nature its place will be after this life, the following night one from above called him, saying, Antony, rise, go out and look.' …
Athanasius—Select Works and Letters or Athanasius A Treatise of the Fear of God;
SHOWING WHAT IT IS, AND HOW DISTINGUISHED FROM THAT WHICH IS NOT SO. ALSO, WHENCE IT COMES; WHO HAS IT; WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS; AND WHAT THE PRIVILEGES OF THOSE THAT HAVE IT IN THEIR HEARTS. London: Printed for N. Ponder, at the Peacock in the Poultry, over against the Stocks market: 1679. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom," and "a fountain of life"--the foundation on which all wisdom rests, as well as the source from whence it emanates. Upon a principle …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 Meditations for the Morning.
1. Almighty God can, in the resurrection, as easily raise up thy body out of the grave, from the sleep of death, as he hath this morning wakened thee in thy bed, out of the sleep of nature. At the dawning of which resurrection day, Christ shall come to be glorified in his saints; and every one of the bodies of the thousands of his saints, being fashioned like unto his glorious body, shall shine as bright as the sun (2 Thess. i. 10; Jude, ver. 14; Phil. iii. 21; Luke ix. 31;) all the angels shining …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety Genesis
The Old Testament opens very impressively. In measured and dignified language it introduces the story of Israel's origin and settlement upon the land of Canaan (Gen.--Josh.) by the story of creation, i.-ii. 4a, and thus suggests, at the very beginning, the far-reaching purpose and the world-wide significance of the people and religion of Israel. The narrative has not travelled far till it becomes apparent that its dominant interests are to be religious and moral; for, after a pictorial sketch of …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Genesis 31:41 NIVGenesis 31:41 NLTGenesis 31:41 ESVGenesis 31:41 NASBGenesis 31:41 KJV
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