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; 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. (Proverbs 3:16 8:18) This regina pecunia doth all, and hath all here below, saith Solomon. (Ecclesiastes 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, signifies to do some great work. It was commonly said in Greece, that not Philip but his money took their cities. And a certain Grecian coming to Rome, where the honour of a lord was offered unto him, answered— Ουκ εθελω δομναι, ου θαρ εχω δομεναι. 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. Tacitus. ןוכרדא, from רדא strong, and ןוכ to prepare. Ου Φιλιππος, αλλα το Φιλιππου χρυσιον.— Plut. in Emyl.. Manl., loc. com., p. 441.
Ver. 2. And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban.] He said little, for shame, but thought the more, and could not so conceal his discontent, but that it appeared in his lowering looks. That which he had parted with in his riches, was, as it were, raked out of his belly; (Job 20:15) he had as beloved have parted with his very heart blood. And this was plain to Jacob by his countenance, which had been friendly, smooth, and smiling; but now was cloudy, sad, spiteful. The young men were hot, and could not hold or hide what was in their heart, but blurted it out, and spoke their minds freely. This old fox held his tongue, but could not keep his countenance. “En, quam difficile est animum non prodere vultu.”
Ver. 3. Return unto the land of thy fathers.] Laban’s frowns were a grief to Jacob; the Lord calls upon him therefore to look homeward. Let the world’s affronts, and the change of men’s countenances, drive us to him who changeth not, and mind us of heaven, where is a perpetual serenity and sweetness.
Ver. 4. And Jacob sent and called Rachel, &c.] He consults with his wives; so should we in matters of weight, of remove especially. They are our “companions,” the wives “of our covenant,” (Malachi 2:14) not our vassals or footstools; and must therefore be both of our court and counsel.
Ver. 5. I see your father’s countenance, &c.] This is the world’s wages. All Jacob’s good service is now forgotten. Do an unthankful person nineteen kindnesses, unless you add the twentieth, all is lost Perraro grati homines reperiuntur, saith Cicero. Nemo beneficium in Calendarium scribit, saith Seneca. And the poet Ausonius not unfitly— “Sunt homines humeris quos siquis gestat ad urbem Ausoniam, domiti quae caput orbis erat: Nec tamen ad portam placide deponat eosdem, Gratia praeteriti nulla laboris erit” Παλαια μεν ευδει χαρις αμνημονες δε βροτοι.— Pindar. Orat. pro Planc.
Ver. 6. With all my power I have served.] The word translated power signifieth that natural moisture of the body that maketh it lively and lusty, vigorous and valorous to do service. So it is used, Genesis 49:3 Ps 22:15. Now if Jacob served Laban with all his might, should not we the Lord, a far better Master? Baruch “repaired earnestly”. (Nehemiah 3:20) Caleb “fulfilled after God”. (Numbers 14:24) Nehemiah traded every talent with which divine providence had trusted him: he worketh, warreth, watcheth, commandeth, encourageth, threateneth, punisheth, &c. “David danced with all his might,” (2 Samuel 6:14) and did all the wills of God to his dying day; painfully serving out his time to the last. Happy is he that can say, in a spiritual sense, as it was said of Moses, that, after a long profession of religion, he remits not of his zeal; “his sight is not waxed dim, nor his natural” heat or “force abated”; (Deuteronomy 34:7) that he is “not slothful in business, but fervent in spirit, serving the Lord”. (Romans 12:11)
Ver. 7. Changed my wages ten times.] And ever for the worse. The matter mended, with poor Jacob, as sour ale doth in summer. Laban, the churl, the richer he grew by him, the harder he was to him: like children with mouthfuls and handfuls, who will yet rather spoil all, then part with any. It is the love, not the lack of money, that makes men churls.
Ver. 8. Ring-straked.] [See Trapp on “Ge 30:39”]