"food to eat, and raiment to put on," and was now about to conduct him "to his father's house in peace," it was therefore his duty to obey the Divine summons, and to fulfil his part of the covenant, which till now he had had no opportunity of doing.

2

Jacob's wives seem to have been sharers with him in the uneasiness, he suffered from the discontent of their father and brethren. The change which was effected in Laban's mind, when he was pursuing Jacob with purposes of vengeance, verifies the royal Psalmist's words, who says, "Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee; the remainder of wrath restrain." This seasonable interpo sition of Divine Providence was an instance of God's favour to Jacob in particular, but it proved a mercy to all parties; for had not the wrath of Laban been restrained, there would have been a dreadful contest, when he and his sons overtook the fugitives but it is to be observed, that there was no absolute restraint laid upon Laban's free will, for he told Jacob that he was still possessed of the power to hurt him his forbearance, therefore, is to be attributed to the fear of God, and a conviction in his mind that he was before going to commit sin.

What the gods were, which Rachel stole, and why she took them, is uncertain; nor is it at all material for us to know, because it is evident, that, in this respect, she is not proposed as an example for our imitation. If she made use of them in worship, it must have been in consequence of an erroneous education; and Jacob, in all probability, had it not in his power to overcome these prejudices, while he was a sojourner in a country, addicted to such practices. We shall find, in the course of the history, that as soon as he could, he put a stop

*Psal. lxxvi. 10.

to

to them in his own family. It is manifest, that Laban believed the LORD to be the SUPREME Gon; and the covenant between him and Jacob seems to have been conducted in a manner conformable to the religion of the Patriarchs.

If Jacob had not been of a very peaceable disposition, he could not have lived for 20 years among spiteful, envious relations. Those who are unhappily under the same circumstances, should take example from him, to bear every thing with patience and good humour, till it shall please GOD to bless them with a prospect of chang. ing their situation for the better; and they should, in the mean while, endeavour to conduct themselves in such an equitable manner, that their actions may be approved in the sight of GOD; then may they defy calumny, and confidently hope, that his Providence will so order events, that finally their enemies will be at peace with them*.

Laban himself affords an example worthy of imitation; for he suppressed his resentment, as soon as he knew that, by indulging it, he should offend GOD. Laban had no written Scriptures to furnish rules for his conduct; therefore, the LORD graciously vouchsafed to instruct him by immediate revelation. Christians have a still greater advantage than Laban had, in being taught their duty, before their passions have gained ground, or they are put to any great trials. From the Book of GOD they may learn in their childhood, that they should cease from anger, and forsake wrath; and in no wise fret themselves to do evilt. That he who is slow to anger, is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city; and

Prov. xvi. 7.

Ps. xxxvii. 8.

Prov. xvi. 32.

that

And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of GoD met him.

And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host and he called the name of that place Maha

naim.

And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother, unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom.

And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now.

And I have oxen and asses, flocks, and men-servants, and women servants; and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight.

And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.

Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed and he divided the people that were with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels into two bands; and said, If Esau come to the one company and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape.

And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and GoD of my father Isaac, thou LORD which saith unto

me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee:

I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant : for with my staff I passed over this Jordan, and now I am become two bands.

Deliver, me I pray thee, from the hand of my brother from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite 'me, and the mother with the children.

And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude,

And Jacob lodged there that same night, and took of that which came to his hand, a present for Esau his brother; two hundred she-goats, and twenty he-goats, two hundred ewes, and twenty rams.

Thirthy milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foles.

And he delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by themselves; and said unto his servants, Pass over before me, and put a space betwixt drove and drove.

And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, Whose art thou and whither goest thou? and whose are these before thee?

Then thou shalt say, They be thy servant Jacob's, it is a present sent unto my lord Esau: and behold also

he is behind us.

And so commanded he the second and the third, and all that followed the droves,' saying, On this manner shall you speak unto Esau when you find him.

And say ye moreover, Behold, thy servant Jacob is

behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me.

:

So went the present over before him and himself lodged that night in the company. And he rose up. that night, and took his two wives, and his two women servants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok.

And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had,

ANNOTATIONS AND REFLECTIONS.

King David, in one of his Psalms, writes*, that "THE ANGEL OF THE LORD encampeth about them that fear Him, and delivereth them." The portion of Scripture: contained in the Section before us, exemplifies this truth.

The ANGEL OF THE LORD, who (as we shall read in the course of this history) is also styled the LORD of HOSTS, who had caused a number of celestial beings to watch around the Heir of the promises, enabled his eyes to behold them. At first Jacob knew not that these angels were appointed to guard him and his family; and perhaps it was requisite that before this circumstance was made known to him, Jacob should implore help from the LORD.

The remembrance of the deceptions he had practised, in order to secure the birth-right, and of Esau's threat which had driven him into a strange land, awakened in Jacob's mind the most distressing fears. Conscious of his demerits, he could not claim the accomplishment of the Divine promise, I will be with thee in all places wheresoever thou goest, till he had humbled himself to

*Psalm xxxiv. 4.

Esau,