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| Chapter IX.
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Chapter IX.
Laban had two daughters,
Leah and Rachel; but Leah had tender eyes, while Rachel is said to have
been beautiful. Jacob, captivated by her beauty, burned with love for
the virgin, and, asking her in marriage from the father, gave himself
up to a servitude of seven years. But when the time was fulfilled, Leah
was foisted upon him, and he was subjected to another servitude of
seven years, after which Rachel was given him. But we are told that she
was long barren, while Leah was fruitful. Of the sons whom Jacob had by
Leah, the following are the names: Reuben, Symeon, Levi, Judah,
Issachar, Zebulon, and a daughter Dinah; while there were born to him
by the handmaid of Leah, Gad and Asher, and by the handmaid of Rachel,
Dan and Naphtali. But Rachel, after she had despaired of offspring,
bare Joseph. Then Jacob, being desirous of returning to his father,
when Laban his father-in-law had given him a portion of the flock as a
reward for his service, and Jacob the son-in-law, thinking him not to
be acting justly in that matter, while he [also] suspected deceit on
his part, privately departed about the thirtieth year after his
arrival. Rachel, without the knowledge of her husband, stole the
idols262
| 262 εἴδωλα is the
Septuagint rendering of the Hebrew word Teraphim. Perhaps the
original word should simply be transliterated into English as has been
done in the Revised Version. | of her father, and on account of this
injury Laban followed his son-in-law, but not finding his idols,
returned, after being reconciled, having straitly charged his
son-in-law not to take other wives in addition to his daughters. Then
Jacob, going on his way, is said to have had a vision of angels and of
the army263
| 263 The rendering of the
LXX. | of the Lord. But,
as he directed his journey past the region of Edom, which his brother
Esau inhabited, suspecting the temper of Esau, he first sent messengers
and gifts to try him. Then he went to meet his brother, but Jacob took
care not to trust him beyond what he could help. On the day before the
brothers were to meet, God, taking a human form, is said to have
wrestled with Jacob. And when he had prevailed with God, still he was
not ignorant that his adversary was no mere mortal; and therefore
begged to be blessed by him. Then his name was changed by God, so that
from Jacob he was called Israel. But when he, in turn, inquired of God
the name of God, he was told that that should not be asked after
because it was wonderful.264
Moreover, from
that wrestling, the breadth265
| 265
“Latitudo”: Vorstius says this refers to the broad bone, or
broad nerve of the thigh. | of Jacob’s
thigh shrank.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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