Genesis 30: 1 – 43
The tables are turned
30 Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister, and said to Jacob, “Give me children, or else I die!” 2 And Jacob’s anger was aroused against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?” 3 So she said, “Here is my maid Bilhah; go in to her, and she will bear a child on my knees, that I also may have children by her.” 4 Then she gave him Bilhah her maid as wife, and Jacob went in to her. 5 And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son. 6 Then Rachel said, “God has judged my case; and He has also heard my voice and given me a son.” Therefore she called his name Dan. 7 And Rachel’s maid Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. 8 Then Rachel said, “With great wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister, and indeed I have prevailed.” So she called his name Naphtali. 9 When Leah saw that she had stopped bearing, she took Zilpah her maid and gave her to Jacob as wife. 10 And Leah’s maid Zilpah bore Jacob a son. 11 Then Leah said, “A troop comes!” So she called his name Gad. 12 And Leah’s maid Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. 13 Then Leah said, “I am happy, for the daughters will call me blessed.” So she called his name Asher. 14 Now Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.” 15 But she said to her, “Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? Would you take away my son’s mandrakes also?” And Rachel said, “Therefore he will lie with you tonight for your son’s mandrakes.” 16 When Jacob came out of the field in the evening, Leah went out to meet him and said, “You must come in to me, for I have surely hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” And he lay with her that night. 17 And God listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son. 18 Leah said, “God has given me my wages, because I have given my maid to my husband.” So she called his name Issachar. 19 Then Leah conceived again and bore Jacob a sixth son. 20 And Leah said, “God has endowed me with a good endowment; now my husband will dwell with me, because I have borne him six sons.” So she called his name Zebulun. 21 Afterward she bore a daughter, and called her name Dinah. 22 Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb. 23 And she conceived and bore a son, and said, “God has taken away my reproach.” 24 So she called his name Joseph, and said, “The LORD shall add to me another son.” 25 And it came to pass, when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go to my own place and to my country. 26 Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and let me go; for you know my service which I have done for you.” 27 And Laban said to him, “Please stay, if I have found favor in your eyes, for I have learned by experience that the LORD has blessed me for your sake.” 28 Then he said, “Name me your wages, and I will give it.” 29 So Jacob said to him, “You know how I have served you and how your livestock has been with me. 30 For what you had before I came was little, and it has increased to a great amount; the LORD has blessed you since my coming. And now, when shall I also provide for my own house?” 31 So he said, “What shall I give you?” And Jacob said, “You shall not give me anything. If you will do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep your flocks: 32 Let me pass through all your flock today, removing from there all the speckled and spotted sheep, and all the brown ones among the lambs, and the spotted and speckled among the goats; and these shall be my wages. 33 So my righteousness will answer for me in time to come, when the subject of my wages comes before you: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the lambs, will be considered stolen, if it is with me.” 34 And Laban said, “Oh, that it were according to your word!” 35 So he removed that day the male goats that were speckled and spotted, all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had some white in it, and all the brown ones among the lambs, and gave them into the hand of his sons. 36 Then he put three days’ journey between himself and Jacob, and Jacob fed the rest of Laban’s flocks. 37 Now Jacob took for himself rods of green poplar and of the almond and chestnut trees, peeled white strips in them, and exposed the white which was in the rods. 38 And the rods which he had peeled, he set before the flocks in the gutters, in the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink, so that they should conceive when they came to drink. 39 So the flocks conceived before the rods, and the flocks brought forth streaked, speckled, and spotted. 40 Then Jacob separated the lambs, and made the flocks face toward the streaked and all the brown in the flock of Laban; but he put his own flocks by themselves and did not put them with Laban’s flock. 41 And it came to pass, whenever the stronger livestock conceived, that Jacob placed the rods before the eyes of the livestock in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods. 42 But when the flocks were feeble, he did not put them in; so the feebler were Laban’s and the stronger Jacob’s. 43 Thus the man became exceedingly prosperous, and had large flocks, female and male servants, and camels and donkeys.
The phrase 'Turn the tables' mean to ‘Reverse the positions of adversaries’. The phrase is often used when the weaker position subsequently becomes dominant.
The origin of the phrase 'Turn the tables' has been established in games like backgammon which we all know as 'tables' games. The phrase 'turn the tables' derives from these games and from the practice of reversing the board so that players play from their opponent's previous position.
The first known example of the figurative use of the phrase in print is in Robert Sanderson's XII sermons, 1634, titled Persuasion of conscience. Sanderson became personally known to the king. ‘I carry my ears to hear other preachers,’ king Charles used to say, ‘but I carry my conscience to hear Dr. Sanderson.’
An impacting statement in his sermon was, "Whosoever thou art that dost another wrong, do but turn the tables: imagine thy neighbor were now playing thy game, and thou his."
In the book of Genesis we have come to the life of Jacob. A key characteristic of his was deceit. You cannot miss the point that he had to learn a lesson and it was costly yet in the end the Lord blessed him immensely.
Our Holy God allowed him to migrate to his relatives in Iraq who name was Laban. This man was the king of deceit. He tried to take advantage of Jacob at every instance. The Lord helped him out from this constant oppression. We will see in this study how He went about it.
30 Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister, and said to Jacob, “Give me children, or else I die!”
Rachel’s great distress at the way things have turned out is apparent. She feels she has failed Jacob and is conscious of the congratulations being heaped on Leah. Her words here probably reflect a continual period of nagging, which to someone who loved her so much became exasperating.
2 And Jacob’s anger was aroused against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?”
Rachel’s accusations stir up Jacob’s anger. He too no doubt feels frustrated. So he reacts with an outburst. He points out that it is God who is withholding a child not him.
3 So she said, “Here is my maid Bilhah; go in to her, and she will bear a child on my knees, that I also may have children by her.” 4 Then she gave him Bilhah her maid as wife, and Jacob went in to her.
The statement ‘Bear on my knees’ confirms what we earlier saw with Sarah. When the maid bears a child she does it on her mistress’s behalf. The child is Rachel’s. But as Sarah’s case demonstrated, the consequences were not always so simple when a blood child was later born. So the child does not rank fully with the true born unless fully accepted. It is to Jacob’s credit that he does not differentiate between his sons. On the other hand in his case the slave children were not the firstborn. There is not the same rivalry as with Ishmael and Isaac.
5 And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son. 6 Then Rachel said, “God has judged my case; and He has also heard my voice and given me a son.” Therefore she called his name Dan.
The depth of Rachel’s feelings comes out in her expression of vindication. She has shown that she is not morally to blame after all. God has not withheld a son through Bilhah. She sees her ‘son’ as God’s judgment passed on her situation. He has vindicated her. But there is not the intensity of feeling shown neither by Leah with her first four children, nor by herself when Joseph is born. Then it is YHWH, the covenant God, Who acts, and her faith is renewed.
7 And Rachel’s maid Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. 8 Then Rachel said, “With great wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister, and indeed I have prevailed.” So she called his name Naphtali.
The rivalry between the two sisters comes out vividly. Rachel feels that she is having a great battle with her sister, and that she has now succeeded. The ‘wrestling’ must be seen as through prayer. She has fought for her position before God. Jacob will later be seen as wrestling with God although the Hebrew word is different (32.24).
9 When Leah saw that she had stopped bearing, she took Zilpah her maid and gave her to Jacob as wife. 10 And Leah’s maid Zilpah bore Jacob a son. 11 Then Leah said, “A troop comes!” So she called his name Gad. 12 And Leah’s maid Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. 13 Then Leah said, “I am happy, for the daughters will call me blessed.” So she called his name Asher.
The names reflect Leah’s growing contentment. No longer torn at heart she now feels triumphant. She has done well by her husband. We note that the naming are by the two main wives. The maids take a secondary place.
14 Now Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.”
Reuben is by this time just a few years old, four or five at the most. He discovers in the fields little, strongly smelling yellow fruits and he brings them to his mother. We do not know whether he knew what they were, but his mother knew immediately. They were mandrakes, well known for their supposed aphrodisiac qualities. They have been loosely called ‘love-apples’ because they look like small apples. Rachel, on seeing them, pleads for some so that she can quicken her sexual drive and effectiveness.
15 But she said to her, “Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? Would you take away my son’s mandrakes also?” And Rachel said, “Therefore he will lie with you tonight for your son’s mandrakes.”
Leah feels cast aside. Perhaps Jacob has decided she is beyond bearing. Certainly he is seemingly refusing to sleep with her, preferring Rachel. So Rachel, aware of her power over him enters into a contract that if she receives the mandrakes Leah can sleep with Jacob that night. Indeed the next verse suggests that the contract may well have been in accordance with custom between two wives.
16 When Jacob came out of the field in the evening, Leah went out to meet him and said, “You must come in to me, for I have surely hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” And he lay with her that night. 17 And God listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son. 18 Leah said, “God has given me my wages, because I have given my maid to my husband.” So she called his name Issachar.
Leah clearly has a sense of humor. Personally she sees the name as resulting from her hiring of Jacob with the mandrakes, but in God’s eyes and in the eyes of others she sees it as her reward for allowing her handmaid to bear children on her behalf.
19 Then Leah conceived again and bore Jacob a sixth son. 20 And Leah said, “God has endowed me with a good endowment; now my husband will dwell with me, because I have borne him six sons.” So she called his name Zebulun.
We sense Leah’s internal feelings when she says ‘God has endowed me with a good dowry.’ We will see that her father is cheap and keeps all his assets to himself not willing to lavish his kids with wealth of their own. She feels God has made amends for this by giving her six sons, twice the perfect three. She has brought Jacob better than wealth. ’ It seems that the bearing of further sons has established her status. She is no longer put to one side, but receives the honor due as a wife.
21 Afterward she bore a daughter, and called her name Dinah.
The mention of Dinah is noteworthy. It prepares the way for the later event (chapter 34). But it may arise from the fact that she grew to be famous as an outstanding personality or beauty. Everyone knew about Dinah!
22 Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb. 23 And she conceived and bore a son, and said, “God has taken away my reproach.” 24 So she called his name Joseph, and said, “The LORD shall add to me another son.”
Rachel’s at last bears a son. Now she feels she can identify herself with YHWH and His covenant. And in her exultation she looks to Him for more sons. Her words show once again how keenly she had felt her barrenness.
25 And it came to pass, when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go to my own place and to my country. 26 Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and let me go; for you know my service which I have done for you.”
Jacob’s servitude has come to its end. Now he seeks to clarify his position with Laban. He has fulfilled his dues and should be free to return home with all he has earned. His case is a little different from the normal ‘Hebrew bondsman’ for the latter would, on completion of his servitude, be required to leave his wives behind. But in this case they are his wages, and he is a relative of equal standing.
27 And Laban said to him, “Please stay, if I have found favor in your eyes, for I have learned by experience that the LORD has blessed me for your sake.” 28 Then he said, “Name me your wages, and I will give it.”
Laban does not directly dispute Jacob’s right to leave along with his family. Laban does not want him to leave. He recognizes the prosperity that has come to him is through Jacob’s presence and activities. And he acknowledges that this is partly due to Jacob’s God. Another way to interpret what Laban is really saying to Jacob is, ‘Let me feed you a pack of lies to keep you here serving me and of course I will deceive you again.’
29 So Jacob said to him, “You know how I have served you and how your livestock has been with me. 30 For what you had before I came was little, and it has increased to a great amount; the LORD has blessed you since my coming. And now, when shall I also provide for my own house?”
Jacob puts forth his case. His activity has turned their fortunes, and their flocks and herds have multiplied. And he agrees with Laban that this is due to YHWH his God. But now it is time for him to consider his own prosperity. He wants flocks and herds of his own for the benefit of his family.
31 So he said, “What shall I give you?” And Jacob said, “You shall not give me anything. If you will do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep your flocks: 32 Let me pass through all your flock today, removing from there all the speckled and spotted sheep, and all the brown ones among the lambs, and the spotted and speckled among the goats; and these shall be my wages. 33 So my righteousness will answer for me in time to come, when the subject of my wages comes before you: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the lambs, will be considered stolen, if it is with me.”
The bargaining begins. Laban wants to know Jacob’s terms, and what he requires of him. Now a suggestion is brought forth which I believe Jacob didn’t originate. Although we do not see any verses in which The Holy Spirit actually tells us but I believe He revealed to Jacob the way in which he will not be taken advantage. In fact the tables will be turned around as we will soon read about.
Jacob is saying that he will accept speckled and spotted goats and sheep. Therefore, he highlights that they will be no future contention on what belongs to Laban and what Jacob’s is rightfully.
34 And Laban said, “Oh, that it were according to your word!”
Laban must have been thinking. ‘Apparently boy you do not know what I am about to do to wind having you work for me for free.’
35 So he removed that day the male goats that were speckled and spotted, all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had some white in it, and all the brown ones among the lambs, and gave them into the hand of his sons. 36 Then he put three days’ journey between himself and Jacob, and Jacob fed the rest of Laban’s flocks.
You have to note that Jacob had asked for the speckled and spotted goats and sheep of Laban. So, what does Laban do? He pulls a fast one over Jacob. He gives his boys the speckled goats and lambs. In other words, ‘Hey Jacob I do not have any spotted and speckled goats and sheep – my sons who are not part of this agreement however do, so whatever you are able to have born in the future are yours.’
37 Now Jacob took for himself rods of green poplar and of the almond and chestnut trees, peeled white strips in them, and exposed the white which was in the rods. 38 And the rods which he had peeled, he set before the flocks in the gutters, in the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink, so that they should conceive when they came to drink. 39 So the flocks conceived before the rods, and the flocks brought forth streaked, speckled, and spotted. 40 Then Jacob separated the lambs, and made the flocks face toward the streaked and all the brown in the flock of Laban; but he put his own flocks by themselves and did not put them with Laban’s flock. 41 And it came to pass, whenever the stronger livestock conceived, that Jacob placed the rods before the eyes of the livestock in the gutters that they might conceive among the rods. 42 But when the flocks were feeble, he did not put them in; so the feebler were Laban’s and the stronger Jacob’s. 43 Thus the man became exceedingly prosperous, and had large flocks, female and male servants, and camels and donkeys.
Now I have done a lot of research into husbandry and I have not come across the technique Jacob used. Since sheep and goats are usually the same color and are not spotted or speckled when one does appear this way they are an anomaly. In addition they are normally deficient in strong DNA’s. This is the reason why I believe that The Holy Lord God Is behind Jacob’s idea. We will see the tables turned when the weaker animals of Jacob’s become the strong and healthy ones while the supposedly normal animals of Laban’s will become the sickly ones.
Truly the tables will be turned. The trickster Laban has been out tricked.
