Holly Bible - KJV with Concise Commentaries by Z Selam - HTML preview
Download the book in PDF, ePub, Kindle for a complete version.
29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be
her maid.
30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more
than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
The Children Born to Jacob
31 And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her
womb: but Rachel was barren. We have here the birth of four of Jacob's sons, all by Leah. Observe, that Leah, who was less beloved, was blessed with children, when Rachel was denied that blessing, Ge 29:31. See how Providence, in dispensing its gifts, observes a proportion, to keep the balance even, setting crosses and comforts one over-against another, that none may be either too much elevated or too much depressed. Rachel wants children, but she is blessed with her husband's love; Leah wants that, but she is fruitful. Thus it was between Elkana's two wives (1Sa 1:5); for the Lord is wise and righteous. When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, that is, loved less than Rachel, in which sense it is required that we hate father and mother, in comparison with Christ (Lu 14:26), then the Lord granted her a child, which was a rebuke to Jacob, for making so great a difference between those that he was equally related to,--a check to Rachel, who perhaps insulted over her sister upon that account,--and a comfort to Leah, that she might not be overwhelmed with the contempt put upon her: thus God giveth abundant honour to that which lacked, 1Co 12:24.
32 And Leah conceived, and bare a son; and she called his name
Reuben [see, a son]: for she said, surely the Lord hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me. The names she gave her children were expressive of her respectful regards both to God and to her husband.
(1.) She appears very ambitious of her husband's love: she reckoned the want of it her affliction (Ge 29:32); not upbraiding him with it as his fault, nor reproaching him for it, and so making herself uneasy to him, but laying it to heart as her grief,