the son of Bethuel, grandson of Nahor, brother to Rebekah, and
father of Rachel and Leah, Gen. xxviii, 2, &c. Of this man, the first
thing we hear is his entertainment of Abraham’s servant when he came on
his errand to Rebekah. Hospitality was the virtue of his age and
country. In his case, however, it seems to have been no little
stimulated by the sight of “the ear ring and the bracelets on his
sister’s hands,” which the servant had already given her, Gen. xxiv, 30;
so he speedily made room for the camels. He next is presented to us as
beguiling that sister’s son, who had sought a shelter in his house, and
whose circumstances placed him at his mercy, of fourteen years’ service,
when he had covenanted with him for seven only; endeavouring to retain
his labour when he would not pay him his labour’s worth, himself
devouring the portion which he should have given to his daughters,
counting them but as strangers, Gen. xxxi, 15. Compelled, at length, to
pay Jacob wages, he changes them ten times, and, in the spirit of a
crafty, griping worldling, makes him account for whatever of the flock
was torn of beasts or stolen, whether by day or night. When Jacob flies
from this iniquitous service with his family and cattle, Laban still
pursues and persecutes him, intending, if his intentions had not been
overruled by a mightier hand, to send him away empty, even after he had
been making, for so long a period, so usurious a profit of him.
father of Rachel and Leah, Gen. xxviii, 2, &c. Of this man, the first
thing we hear is his entertainment of Abraham’s servant when he came on
his errand to Rebekah. Hospitality was the virtue of his age and
country. In his case, however, it seems to have been no little
stimulated by the sight of “the ear ring and the bracelets on his
sister’s hands,” which the servant had already given her, Gen. xxiv, 30;
so he speedily made room for the camels. He next is presented to us as
beguiling that sister’s son, who had sought a shelter in his house, and
whose circumstances placed him at his mercy, of fourteen years’ service,
when he had covenanted with him for seven only; endeavouring to retain
his labour when he would not pay him his labour’s worth, himself
devouring the portion which he should have given to his daughters,
counting them but as strangers, Gen. xxxi, 15. Compelled, at length, to
pay Jacob wages, he changes them ten times, and, in the spirit of a
crafty, griping worldling, makes him account for whatever of the flock
was torn of beasts or stolen, whether by day or night. When Jacob flies
from this iniquitous service with his family and cattle, Laban still
pursues and persecutes him, intending, if his intentions had not been
overruled by a mightier hand, to send him away empty, even after he had
been making, for so long a period, so usurious a profit of him.