Genesis Chapter Thirty Series

GENESIS CHAPTER THIRTY OVERVIEW

Overall what is happening in this chapter is eight additional sons of Jacob are born (four were born in chapter 29) and Jacob makes an arrangement with Laban.

Thomas Coke (1801) – Genesis 30

Jacob begets Dan and Naphtali, of Bilhah: Gad and Asher, of Zilpah. Leah brings forth Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah. Rachel brings forth Joseph. Jacob desires to depart from Laban, who again agrees with and retains him.

Joseph Benson’s Commentary (1857) – Genesis 30

Here we have the increase:

(1) Of Jacob’s family; eight children more being registered in this chapter.

(2) Of Jacob’s estate. He comes upon a new bargain with Laban, (Genesis 30:25-34). And in the six years’ further service he did to Laban, God wonderfully blessed him, so that his stock of all cattle became very considerable, (Genesis 30:35-43). Thus was fulfilled the blessing with which Isaac dismissed him: God make thee fruitful, and multiply thee.

Matthew Henry (1714) – Genesis 30

In this chapter we have an account of the increase:

I. Of Jacob's family. Eight children more we find registered in this chapter; Dan and Naphtali by Bilhah, Rachel's maid (Genesis 30:1-8). Gad and Asher by Zilpah, Leah's maid (Genesis 30:9-13). Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah, by Leah (Genesis 30:14-21). And, last of all, Joseph, by Rachel (Genesis 30:22-24).

II. Of Jacob's estate. He makes a new bargain with Laban (Genesis 30:25-34). And in the six years' further service he did to Laban God wonderfully blessed him, so that his stock of cattle became very considerable (Genesis 30:35-43). Herein was fulfilled the blessing with which Isaac dismissed him (Genesis 28:3), “God make thee fruitful, and multiply thee.”

Even these small matters concerning Jacob's house and field, though they seem inconsiderable, are improvable for our learning. For the scriptures were written, not for princes and statesmen, to instruct them in politics; but for all people, even the meanest, to direct them in their families and callings: yet some things are here recorded concerning Jacob, not for imitation, but for admonition.

KEY EVENT

Jacob’s family increases – Jacob’s flocks increase.

KEY VERSE

Genesis 30:1 Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she became jealous of her sister; and she said to Jacob, "Give me children, or else I die."

KEY CROSS-REFERENCE

Ecclesiastes 4:4 “I have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a man and his neighbor. This too is vanity and striving after wind.”

KEY THOUGHT

Jealousy, rivalry, envy are common to mankind – but far from godliness.

KEY QUOTE

“Whatever we want, it is God that withholds it, a sovereign Lord, most wise, holy, and just, that may do what he will with his own, and is debtor to no man, that never did, nor ever can do, any wrong to any of his creatures.” Matthew Henry