Jacob and Esau
79
And generally all the dowry the father had received was given to his
daughter at her marriage.
What a contrast to the course now pursued by parents and children!
There are many unhappy marriages because of so much haste. Two
unite their interest at the marriage altar, by most solemn vows before
God, without previously weighing the matter, and devoting time to
sober reflection and earnest prayer. Many move from impulse. They
have no thorough acquaintance with the dispositions of each other.
They do not realize that the happiness of their whole life is at stake. If
they move wrong in this matter, and their marriage life proves unhappy,
it cannot be taken back. If they find they are not calculated to make
each other happy, they must endure it the best they can. In some
instances the husband proves to be too indolent to provide for a family,
and his wife and children suffer. If the ability of such had been proved,
as was the custom anciently before marriage, much misery would have
been saved. In the case of Rachel and Leah, Laban selfishly kept the
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dowry which should have been given to them. They have reference to
this when they say, “He hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our
money.”
In the absence of Laban, Jacob took his family, and all that he had,
and left Laban. After he had pursued his journey three days Laban
learned that he had left him, and he was very angry. And he pursued
after him, determined to bring him back by force. But the Lord had
pity upon Jacob, and as Laban was about to overtake him, gave him a
dream not to speak good or bad to Jacob. That is, he should not force
him to return, or urge him by flattering inducements. When Laban
met Jacob, he inquired why he had stolen away unawares, and carried
away his daughters as captives taken with the sword. Laban tells him,
“It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt, but the God of your
fathers spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou
speak not to Jacob either good or bad.” Jacob then rehearsed to Laban
the ungenerous course he had pursued toward him, that he had only
studied his own advantage. He appeals to Laban as to the uprightness
of his conduct while with him, and says, “That which was torn of
beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst
thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night. Thus I was,
in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night, and my
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sleep departed from mine eyes.”