John Calvin on Genesis 29:32-35

32. She called his name Reuben. Moses relates that Leah was not ungrateful to God. And truly, I do not doubt, that the benefits of God were then commonly more appreciated than they are now. For a profane stupor so occupies the mind of nearly all men, that, like cattle, they swallow up whatever benefits God, in his kindness, bestows upon them. Further, Leah not only acknowledges God as the author of her fruitfulness; but also assigns as a reason, that her affliction had been looked upon by the Lord, and a son had been given her who should draw the affection of her husband to herself. Whence it appears probable, that when she saw herself despised, she had recourse to prayer, in order that she might receive more succor from heaven. For thanksgiving is a proof that persons have previously exercised themselves in prayer; since they who hope for nothing from God do, by their indolence, bury in oblivion all the favors he has conferred upon them. Therefore, Leah inscribed on the person of her son ראובן, “See a son.” a memorial whereby she might stir herself up to offer praise to God. This passage also teaches, that they who are unjustly despised by men are regarded by the Lord. Hence it affords a singularly profitable consolation to the faithful; who, as experience shows, are for the most part despised in the world. Whenever, therefore, they are treated harshly and contumeliously by men, let them take refuge in this thought, that God will be the more propitious to them. Leah followed the same course in reference to her second son; for she gave him a name which is derived from “hearing,” שמעון, from שמע, (shamah,) to hear. to recall to her memory that her sighs had been heard by the Lord. Whence we conjecture (as I have just before said) that when affliction was pressing upon her, she cast her griefs into the bosom of God. Her third son she names from “joining;” לוי, from לוה, (lavah,) to join. as if she would say, now a new link is interposed, so that she should be more loved by her husband. In her fourth son, she again declares her piety towards God, for she gives to him the name of “praise,” יהודה, from ידה, (yadah,) to praise. There is something, as Calvin intimates, in the series of names given by Leah to her children, which seems to show the pious feelings of her heart. In her first-born, Reuben, she acknowledged that God had looked upon her affliction; in Simeon, that he had heard her prayer; in Levi, that he had joined her husband to her; and in Judah, she commemorates all these mercies with gratitude and praise. — Ed as having been granted to her by the special kindness of God. She had, indeed, previously given thanks to the Lord; but whereas more abundant material for praise is supplied, she acknowledges not once only, nor by one single method, but frequently, that she has been assisted by the favor of God.

CHAPTER 30.

Genesis 30:1-43

1. And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.

1. Porro vidit Rachel, quod non pareret ipsi Iahacob: et invidit Rachel sorori suae, et dixit ad Iahacob, Da mihi filios: sin minus, mortua sum.

2. And Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God’s stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?

2. Et iratus est furor Iahacob in Rachel, et dixit, Numquid pro Deo sum, qui prohibuit a to fructum ventris?

3. And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her

3. Et dixit, Ecce ancilla mea Bilhah, ingredere ad cam, et pariet super genua mea: et erit etiam mihi filius ex ea.

4. And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.

4. Dedit ergo ei Bilhah ancillam suam in uxorem, et ingressus est ad eam Iahacob.

5. And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son.

5. Et concepit Bilhah, et peperit ipsi Iahacob filium.

6. And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan.

6. Et dixit Rachel, Iudicavit me Deus, et etiam audivit vocem meam, et dedit mihi filium. Idcirco vocavit nomen ejus Daniel

7. And Bilhah Rachel’s maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son.

7. Et concepit adhuc, et peperit Bilhah ancilla Rachel filium secundum ipsi Iahacob

8. And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.

8. Tunc dixit Rachel, Luctationibus divinis luctata sum cum sorore mea, etiam praevalui. It vocavit nomen ejus Nephthali.

9. When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife.

9. Vidit autem Leah, quod cessasset parere, et accepit Zilpah ancillam suam, et dedit eam Iahacob in uxorem.

10. And Zilpah Leah’s maid bare Jacob a son.

10. Et peperit Zilpah ancilla Leah ipsi Iahacob filium.

11. And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad.

11. Et dixit Leah, Venit turba: et vocavit nomen ejus Gad.

12. And Zilpah Leah’s maid bare Jacob a second son.

12. Et peperit Zilpah ancilla Leah filium secundum ipsi Iahacob.

13. And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.

13. Et dixit Leah, Ut beata dicar, quia beatam me dicent filiae. Et vocavit nomen illius Aser.

14. And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son’s mandrakes.

14. Ivit autem Reuben in diebus messis triticeac, et reperit mandrgoras in agro, et attulit eas Leah matri suae. Et dixit Rachel ad Leah, Da quaeso mihi de mandragoris filii tui.

15. And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son’s mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son’s mandrakes.

15. Et dixit ei, Numquid parum est quod abstuleris virum meum, ut auferas etiam mandragoras filii mei? Et dixit Rachel, Idcirco dormiat tecum hac nocte pro mandragoris filii tui.

16. And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee with my son’s mandrakes. And he lay with her that night.

16. Venit autem Iahacob ex agro vesperi, et egressa est Leah in occursum ejus, et dixit, Ad me ingredieris: quia mercando mercata sum to mandragoris filii mei. Et dormivit cum ea nocte illa.

17. And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son.

17. Exaudivit Deus Leah, et concepit, et peperit ipsi Iahacob filium quintum.

18. And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar.

18. Tunc dixit Leah, Dedit Deus mercedem meam: quia dedi ancillam meum viro meo. Et vocavit nomen ejus Issachar.

19. And Leah conceived again, and bare Jacob the sixth son.

19. Et concepit adhuc Leah, et peperit filium sextum ipsi Iahacob.

20. And Leah said, God hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun.

20. Dixit ergo Leah, Dotavit me Deus dote bona: vice hac habitavit mecum vir meus: quia peperi ei sex filios. Et vocavit nomen ejus Zebulon.

21. And afterwards she bare a daughter, and called her name Dinah.

21. Et postea peperit filiam: et vocavit nomen ejus Dinah.

22. And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.

22. Porro recordatus est Deus Rachel, et exaudivit eam Deus, et aperuit vulvam illius.

23. And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach:

23. Et concepit, et peperit filium, et dixit, Amovit Deus probrum meum.

24. And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son.

24. Et vocavit nomen ejus Ioseph, dicendo, Addat Iehova mihi filium alium.

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.

25. Fuit autem quum peperisset Rachel Ioseph, dixit Iahacob ab Laban, Dimitte me, et ibo ad locum meum, et ad terram meam.

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.

26. Da uxores meas, et liberos meos, propter quas servivi tibi, et ibo: tu enim nosti servitium meum, quo servivi tibi.

27. And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake.

27. Et dixit ad cum Laban, Si, quaeso, inveni gratiam in oculis tui, (expertus sum quod benedixit mihi Iehova propter to.)

28. And he said, Appoint me thy wages, and I will give it

28. Dixit ergo, Indica mercedem tuam mihi, et dabo.

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

29. Et dixit ad eum, Tu nosti qualiter servierim tibi, et quale fuit pecus tuum mecum:

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: and now when shall I provide for mine own house also?

30. Quia pusillum, quod fuit tibi ante me, crevit in multitudinem, et benedixit Dominus tibi ad ingressum pedis mei: et nunc quando faciam etiam ego domui meae?

31. And he said, What shall I give thee? And Jacob said, Thou shalt not give me any thing: if thou wilt do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep thy flock:

31. Et dixit, Quid dabo tibi? Respondit Iahacob, Non dabis mihi quicquam, si feceris mihi hoc, revertar, pascam, pecudes tuas custodiam.

32. I will pass through all thy flock to day, 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.

32. Transibo per omnes pecudes tuas hodie, removendo inde omne pecus parvum punctis parvis respersum, et respersum maculis latis: et omnem agnum rufum in ovibus et respersum maculis latis, et respersum punctis parvis in capris: et erit merces mea.

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.

33. Et testificabitur mihi justitia mea die crastino, quum venerit ad mercedem meam coram to: quicquid non erit punctis parvis respersum, et maculis latis respersum in capris, et rufum in ovibus, furto ablatum erat a me.

34. And Laban said, Behold, I would it might be according to thy word.

34. Tunc dixit Laban, Ecce utinam sit secundum verbum tuum.

35. And he removed that day the he goats that were ringstraked 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.

35. Removit itaque in die illa hircos minores variegatos, et maculis latis respersos, et omnes capras punctis parvis respersas, et maculis latis respersas, omne in quo erat candor, et omne rufum in ovibus, et dedit in manus filiorum suorum.

36. And he set three days’ journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban’s flocks.

36. Et posuit viam trium dierum inter se et inter Iahacob: et Iahacob pascebat pecudes Laban residuas.

37. And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazel and chesnut tree; and pilled white strakes in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods.

37. Tulit autem sibi Iahacob virgam populeam viridem, et amygdalinam, et castaneam, et decorticavit in eis cortices albos, denudationem candoris, qui erat in virgis.

38. And he set the rods which he had pilled before the flocks in the gutters in the watering troughs when the flocks came to drink, that they should conceive when they came to drink.

38. Et statuit virgas, quas decorticavit, in fluentis, in canalibus aquarum (ad quos veniebant pecudes ad bibendum) e regione pecudum, ut coirent dum venirent ad bibendum.

39. And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ringstraked, speckled, and spotted.

39. Et coibant pecudes prope virgas, et pariebant pecudes foetus lineis distinctos, et punctis parvis respersos, et maculis latis respersos.

40. And Jacob did separate the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the ringstraked, and all the brown in the flock of Laban; and he put his own flocks by themselves, and put them not unto Laban’s cattle.

40. Et oves separavit Iahacob, et posuit facies pecudum ad foetus lineis distinctos,: et omne rufum in pecudibus erat Laban: et posuit sibi greges seorsum, et non posuit eos juxta pecudes Laban.

41. And it came to pass, whensoever the stronger cattle did conceive, that Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the cattle in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods.

41. Fuit autem, in omni coitu pecudum primitivarum, ponebat Iahacob virgas in oculis pecudum in canalibus, ut coirent ad virgas.

42. But when the cattle were feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler were Laban’s, and the stronger Jacob’s.

42. Ad serotinos vero coitus pecudum non ponebat: et erant serotina ipsius Laban: primitiva autem ipsius Iahacob.

43. And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses.

43. Crevit vir ergo supra modum: fueruntque ei pecudes multae, et ancillae, et servi, et cameli, et asini.