OT § 29
6th Tuesday Lent Vespers
And Jacob sent and called Lea and Rachel to the plain where the flocks were.
ἀποστείλας δὲ ᾿Ιακὼβ ἐκάλεσε Λείαν καὶ Ραχὴλ εἰς τὸ πεδίον, οὗ ἦν τὰ ποίμνια.
Посла́въ же і҆а́кѡвъ, призва̀ лі́ю и҆ рахи́ль на по́ле, и҆дѣ́же бѧ́хꙋ стада̀,
And he said to them, I see the face of your father, that it is not toward me as before, but the God of my father was with me.
καὶ εἶπεν αὐταῖς· ὁρῶ ἐγὼ τὸ πρόσωπον τοῦ πατρὸς ὑμῶν, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστι πρὸς ἐμοῦ ὡς ἐχθὲς καὶ τρίτην ἡμέραν· ὁ δὲ Θεὸς τοῦ πατρός μου ἦν μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ.
и҆ речѐ и҆̀мъ: ви́ждꙋ а҆́зъ лицѐ ѻ҆тца̀ ва́шегѡ, ꙗ҆́кѡ нѣ́сть ко мнѣ̀, ꙗ҆́коже вчера̀ и҆ тре́тїѧгѡ днѐ: бг҃ъ же ѻ҆тца̀ моегѡ̀ бѣ̀ со мно́ю:
And ye too know that with all my might I have served your father.
καὶ αὐταὶ δὲ οἴδατε, ὅτι ἐν πάσῃ τῇ ἰσχύϊ μου δεδούλευκα τῷ πατρὶ ὑμῶν.
и҆ вы̀ са́ми вѣ́сте, ꙗ҆́кѡ все́ю си́лою мое́ю рабо́тахъ ѻ҆тцꙋ̀ ва́шемꙋ:
But your father deceived me, and changed my wages for the ten lambs, yet God gave him not [power] to hurt me.
ὁ δὲ πατὴρ ὑμῶν παρεκρούσατό με καὶ ἤλλαξε τὸν μισθόν μου τῶν δέκα ἀμνῶν, καὶ οὐκ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ ὁ Θεὸς κακοποιῆσαί με.
ѻ҆те́цъ же ва́шъ ѡ҆би́дѣ мѧ̀ и҆ и҆змѣнѝ мздꙋ̀ мою̀ десѧтѝ а҆́гнцєвъ, но не дадѐ є҆мꙋ̀ бг҃ъ ѕла̀ сотвори́ти мнѣ̀.
(Chapter XXXI, verses 7 and 8) And your father deceived me and changed my wages ten times, and God did not allow him to harm me. If he said, 'Your wages will be the spotted flock,' then every flock was born spotted. And if he said, 'Your wages will be the solid-colored flock,' then every flock was born solid-colored. Because of this, he changed my wages ten times. The Seventy Interpreters have stated, driven by some unknown opinion, that 'moni' in the Hebrew language means 'number' rather than 'lambs.' Finally, the meaning is further confirmed by the fact that Laban always changed the condition of each offspring. If he saw mixed livestock being born, he would say after the birth, 'I want mixed offspring in the future.' Again, when he saw single-colored animals being born (because Jacob had heard this, he did not place rods in the canals), he would say that the future offspring should be of a single color for him. And what more? Laban changed the condition of his flock or Jacob up to ten times. And whatever color he had intended to be born as, it turned into the opposite color. And so that no one may think that in ten years twenty births are incredible, read Virgil (Georg. II), in which it is said:
The pregnant cattle twice. However, it is said that the nature of Italian and Mesopotamian sheep is the same.
Hebrew Questions on GenesisAnd let us consider also how many times his wages were changed while he lived with Laban, even as at the end his words rebuked that crafty man: "Thou hast changed my hire ten times, but the Lord hath not suffered thee to harm me." And again when he served him for his younger daughter, Laban took the other in her stead and brought her in to him, and led him astray in his simplicity, and he perceived it not; and when he asked by word of mouth why this deception had been perpetrated upon him, immediately a plausible excuse was offered to him—even though it was a lying one—his simplicity listened thereto and accepted it. And how many times did Laban in his wickedness seek to oppress Jacob, and how many times did he through his cruelty and cunning change his acts towards him with manifold schemes and tricks! But Jacob's innocency was not disturbed, and his simplicity was not agitated, and his integrity was not made crafty; and so long as he himself was watchful concerning the things which related to himself, so long also was God mindful of the things which concerned him.
13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 4 -- On Faith: First Discourse on SimplicityIf he should say thus, The speckled shall be thy reward, then all the cattle would bear speckled; and if he should say, The white shall be thy reward, then would all the cattle bear white.
ἐὰν οὕτως εἴπῃ, τὰ ποικίλα ἔσται σου μισθός, καὶ τέξεται πάντα τὰ πρόβατα ποικίλα· ἐὰν δὲ εἴπῃ, τὰ λευκὰ ἔσται σου μισθός, καὶ τέξεται πάντα τὰ πρόβατα λευκά·
А҆́ще си́це рече́тъ: пє́стрыѧ, бꙋ́детъ твоѧ̀ мзда̀: и҆ родѧ́тсѧ всѧ̑ ѻ҆́вцы пє́стрыѧ. А҆́ще же рече́тъ: бѣ̑лыѧ, бꙋ́детъ твоѧ̀ мзда̀: и҆ родѧ́тсѧ всѧ̑ ѻ҆́вцы бѣ̑лыѧ.
So God has taken away all the cattle of your father, and given them to me.
καὶ ἀφείλετο ὁ Θεὸς πάντα τὰ κτήνη τοῦ πατρὸς ὑμῶν καὶ ἔδωκέ μοι αὐτά.
И҆ ѿѧ̀ бг҃ъ всѧ̑ скоты̀ ѻ҆тца̀ ва́шегѡ и҆ дадѐ ѧ҆̀ мнѣ̀.
And it came to pass when the cattle conceived and were with young, that I beheld with mine eyes in sleep, and behold the he-goats and the rams leaping on the sheep and the she-goats, speckled and variegated and spotted with ash-coloured spots.
καὶ ἐγένετο ἡνίκα ἐνεκίσσων τὰ πρόβατα ἐν γαστρὶ λαμβάνοντα, καὶ εἶδον τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς μου ἐν τῷ ὕπνῳ, καὶ ἰδοὺ οἱ τράγοι καὶ οἱ κριοὶ ἀναβαίνοντες ἐπὶ τὰ πρόβατα καὶ τὰς αἶγας διάλευκοι καὶ ποικίλοι καὶ σποδοειδεῖς ραντοί.
И҆ бы́сть є҆гда̀ зачина́хꙋ ѻ҆́вцы во чре́вѣ прїе́млющѧ, и҆ ви́дѣхъ ѻ҆чи́ма мои́ма во снѣ̀: и҆ сѐ, козлы̀ и҆ ѻ҆вны̀ восходѧ́ще бѧ́хꙋ на ѻ҆́вцы и҆ ко́зы, бѣлова̑тыѧ и҆ пє́стрыѧ и҆ пепелови̑дныѧ пє́стрыѧ.
And the angel of God said to me in a dream, Jacob; and I said, What is it?
καὶ εἶπέ μοι ὁ ἄγγελος τοῦ Θεοῦ καθ᾿ ὕπνον· ᾿Ιακώβ· ἐγὼ δὲ εἶπα· τί ἐστι;
И҆ рече́ ми а҆́гг҃лъ бж҃їй во снѣ̀: і҆а́кѡве. А҆́зъ же рѣ́хъ: что́ є҆сть;
And he said, Look up with thine eyes, and behold the he-goats and the rams leaping on the sheep and the she-goats, speckled and variegated and spotted with ash-coloured spots; for I have seen all things that Laban does to thee.
καὶ εἶπεν· ἀνάβλεψον τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς σου, καὶ ἰδὲ τοὺς τράγους καὶ τοὺς κριοὺς ἀναβαίνοντας ἐπὶ τὰ πρόβατα καὶ τὰς αἶγας διαλεύκους καὶ ποικίλους καὶ σποδοειδεῖς ραντούς· ἑώρακα γάρ ὅσα σοι Λάβαν ποιεῖ·
И҆ речѐ: воззрѝ ѻ҆чи́ма твои́ма и҆ ви́ждь козлы̀ и҆ ѻ҆вны̀ восходѧ́щыѧ на ѻ҆́вцы и҆ ко́зы, бѣ̑лыѧ и҆ пє́стрыѧ и҆ пепелови̑дныѧ пє́стрыѧ: ви́дѣхъ бо, є҆ли̑ка тебѣ̀ лава́нъ твори́тъ:
We learn from this that whenever we bear people's wrongdoing meekly and mildly, we enjoy help from on high in a richer and more abundant measure. Accordingly, far from resisting those bent on abusing us, let us bear it nobly in the knowledge that the Lord of all will not forget us, provided we ourselves give evidence of our good will. "Vengeance is mine," Scripture says, remember, "I will repay, says the Lord." Hence Jacob also said, "God did not allow him to do me harm." I mean, since he actually intended to deprive me of payment for my work, he is saying, the Lord gave evidence of his care for us in such marvelous abundance as to transfer all his substance to us. He has shown such care for us, aware that I performed his service with good grace, whereas Laban was not kindly disposed to me. For proof that I do not idly say this or with any intention of accusing him without rhyme or reason, I even have God as my witness to what has been done to me by your father. "I have observed all that Laban has been doing to you," God says, remember—not only that he has deprived you of your wage but as well, instead of being disposed toward you as he was previously, he has a completely distorted attitude.
HOMILIES ON GENESIS 57.13I am God that appeared to thee in the place of God where thou anointedst a pillar to me, and vowedst to me there a vow; now then arise and depart out of this land, depart into the land of thy nativity, and I will be with thee.
ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ Θεὸς ὁ ὀφθείς σοι ἐν τόπῳ Θεοῦ, οὗ ἤλειψάς μοι ἐκεῖ στήλην καὶ ηὔξω μοι ἐκεῖ εὐχήν· νῦν οὖν ἀνάστηθι καὶ ἔξελθε ἐκ τῆς γῆς ταύτης καὶ ἄπελθε εἰς τὴν γῆν τῆς γενέσεώς σου, καὶ ἔσομαι μετὰ σοῦ.
а҆́зъ є҆́смь бг҃ъ ꙗ҆ви́выйсѧ тебѣ̀ на мѣ́стѣ бж҃їи, и҆дѣ́же пома́залъ мѝ є҆сѝ та́мѡ сто́лпъ, и҆ ѡ҆бѣтова́лъ мѝ є҆сѝ та́мѡ ѡ҆бѣ́тъ: нн҃ѣ ᲂу҆̀бо воста́ни и҆ и҆зы́ди ѿ землѝ сеѧ̀, и҆ и҆дѝ въ зе́млю рожде́нїѧ твоегѡ̀, и҆ бꙋ́дꙋ съ тобо́ю.
And Rachel and Lea answered and said to him, Have we yet a part or inheritance in the house of our father?
καὶ ἀποκριθεῖσαι Ραχὴλ καὶ Λεία εἶπαν αὐτῷ· μή ἐστιν ἡμῖν ἔτι μερὶς ἢ κληρονομία ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ τοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν;
И҆ ѿвѣща̑вши рахи́ль и҆ лі́а, реко́стѣ є҆мꙋ̀: є҆да̀ є҆́сть на́мъ є҆щѐ ча́сть и҆лѝ наслѣ́дїе въ домꙋ̀ ѻ҆тца̀ на́шегѡ;
Are we not considered strangers by him? for he has sold us, and quite devoured our money.
οὐχ ὡς αἱ ἀλλότριαι λελογίσμεθα αὐτῷ; πέπρακε γὰρ ἡμᾶς καὶ καταβρώσει κατέφαγε τὸ ἀργύριον ἡμῶν.
не ꙗ҆́кѡ ли чꙋжы́ѧ вмѣни́хомсѧ є҆мꙋ̀; продаде́ бо на́съ и҆ снѣдѐ снѣ́дїю сребро̀ на́ше:
All the wealth and the glory which God has taken from our father, it shall be our's and our children's; now then do whatsoever God has said to thee.
πάντα τὸν πλοῦτον καὶ τὴν δόξαν, ἣν ἀφείλετο ὁ Θεὸς τοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν, ἡμῖν ἔσται καὶ τοῖς τέκνοις ἡμῶν. νῦν οὖν ὅσα σοι εἴρηκεν ὁ Θεός, ποίει.
всѐ бога́тство и҆ сла́ва, ю҆́же ѿѧ̀ бг҃ъ ѿ ѻ҆тца̀ на́шегѡ, на́мъ бꙋ́детъ и҆ ча́дѡмъ на́шымъ: нн҃ѣ ᲂу҆̀бо, є҆ли̑ка тебѣ̀ речѐ бг҃ъ, творѝ.
And the Lord said to Jacob, Return to the land of thy father, and to thy family, and I will be with thee.
εἶπε δὲ Κύριος πρὸς ᾿Ιακώβ· ἀποστρέφου εἰς τὴν γῆν τοῦ πατρός σου καὶ εἰς τὴν γενεάν σου, καὶ ἔσομαι μετὰ σοῦ.
Рече́ же гдⷭ҇ь ко і҆а́кѡвꙋ: возврати́сѧ въ зе́млю ѻ҆тца̀ твоегѡ̀ и҆ въ ро́дъ тво́й, и҆ бꙋ́дꙋ съ тобо́ю.
Do you see the good man's great meekness, on the one hand, and their ingratitude, on the other, and how they could not bear to hold their envy in check but even affected their father's attitude? See now God's ineffable care and the degree of considerateness he employs when he sees us doing our best. I mean, when he saw the good man the object of their envy, he said to Jacob, "Return to the land of your father and to your birthplace, and I will be with you." You have had enough of living in a foreign land, he is saying. What I promised you previously in the words "I will return you to your country," this I now intend to bring to pass. So go back without fear; after all, "I will be with you." You see, to prevent the good man becoming lethargic in departing instead of taking to the road with confidence, he says, "I will be with you." The One who has managed your affairs until now and caused your descendants to increase, "I will be with you" in future as well.
HOMILIES ON GENESIS 57.10