A speech full of impatience, and bordering upon blasphemy, and striking at God himself through Jacob's sides; for which therefore she afterwards smarted, dying by that very means whereby she hoped to prevent her death, and prolong her life, Genesis 35:18. read more
Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel for the injury done to himself, and especially for the sin against God, in which case anger is not only lawful, but necessary. Am I in God's stead? It is God's prerogative to give children. See Genesis 16:2; 1 Samuel 2:5-6; Psalms 113:9; Psalms 127:3. read more
CRITICAL NOTES.—Genesis 30:1. Give me children, or else I die.] Heb. “If none, I am a dead woman.” As to the raising up of seed, I shall be as good as dead. An old Jewish proverb says, “The childless are but as the lifeless. Genesis 30:6. Dan.] Judging. The word is to be understood in a good sense as implying the vindication or deliverance of those who are unrighteously condemned or afflicted. (1 Samuel 24:15). Genesis 30:8. Naphtali.] Heb. “Wrestlings of God,” i.e., great, urgent vehement.... read more
Chapter 30Now when Rachel saw that she could not bare Jacob children, Rachel envied her sister; and she said to Jacob, Give me children, or else I'm going to die. And Jacob was angry with her: and he said, Am I in God's place, who hath withheld thee from the fruit of the womb ( Genesis 30:1-2 )?So here's some hard feelings and harsh words between husband and wife because Rachel feels the disgrace of not being able to bear children.And so she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in to her; and she... read more
Genesis 30:2. Am I in God’s stead. Rachel’s impatience provoked Jacob’s anger, because she asked of man whist was the prerogative of God to give. The rabbins remark here, that God keeps in his own hands the four grand keys of nature. First, the key of life or generation; secondly, the key of bread; thirdly, the key of rain, Deuteronomy 28:12; fourthly, the key of the grave, or resurrection from the dead. Ezekiel 37:12. Those favours of posterity are to be asked in prayer, and with all... read more
Genesis 30:1-13Rachel envied her sister.Rachel’s impatienceI. IT WAS UNGODLY. 1. She was the victim of unholy passions. Envy and jealousy. 2. She took a despairing view of life. 3. She failed rightly to recognize the true Author of all good things. II. IT LED TO THE ADOPTION OF WRONG EXPEDIENTS. Showing impatient haste of unbelief, and a want of confidence in God. III. IT HAD AN INFLUENCE FOR EVIL. 1. Upon her own character. Boasting (Genesis 30:6; Genesis 30:8). 2. Upon her sister (Genesis... read more
Gen 30:1 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. Ver. 1. Give me children, or elso I die. ] She was sick of the fret; and could not live, unless Jacob could cure her. "Envy is the rottenness of the bones," Pro 14:30 and ever devours itself first; as the worm doth the nut out of which it groweth. read more
Gen 30:2 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? Ver. 2. And Jacob’s anger was kindled.] He that will be angry, and not sin, must not be angry, but for sin. Reprove thy wife, thou mayest; chide her, thou mayest not, unless the offence be against God, as here, and Job 2:10 . And here a man may carry a severe rebuke in his countenance, as God doth, Psalms 80:16 , though he say nothing: he may chide with... read more
when Rachel: Genesis 29:31 Rachel envied: Envy and jealousy are most tormenting passions to the breast which harbours them, vexatious to all around, and introductory to much impatience and ungodliness. "Who is able to stand before envy?" Genesis 37:11, 1 Samuel 1:4-Ruth :, Psalms 106:16, Proverbs 14:30, Ecclesiastes 4:4, 1 Corinthians 3:3, Galatians 5:21, Titus 3:3, James 3:14, James 4:5 or else I die: Genesis 35:16-Psalms :, Genesis 37:11, Numbers 11:15, Numbers 11:29, 1 Kings 19:4, Job... read more
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Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 30:1-24
Genesis 29:31 to Genesis 30:24 . The Birth of Jacob’ s Children.— This section is from JE, with slight touches from P. Roughly Genesis 29:31-Habakkuk :, Genesis 30:9-1 Chronicles : is from J, Genesis 30:1-Joshua :; Genesis 30:8 is from E, Genesis 30:14-Jeremiah : mainly from JE, the two strands here being hard to unravel. It records the origin of the tribes of Israel. It reflects conditions a good deal earlier than those known to us in the history of Israel. In the later period Reuben... read more