different colour. It would be out of place to dwell here on this. These cases are mentioned in the hope, that they will indicate the nature of the expedient to which Jacob had recourse in order to enrich himself from the flocks of Laban. The term "ring-straked" is applied to white bands on the limbs or necks of the goats, and to black or brown bands on those of the sheep. The zebra is neither spotted nor speckled, but ring-straked.

The rods employed by Jacob were said to have been taken from the poplar (see under Hos. iv. 13), the hazel, and the chestnut-trees. This

is the only passage in which the hazel (luz) is mentioned, and some have questioned the correctness of the translation both of luz and of armon, rendered here and in Ezekiel xxxi. 8, "chestnut-tree." Dr. Shaw early called attention to this (Travels, vol. i., 266). In the Vulgate it is taken as the almond-tree (Amygdalus communis). There are, nevertheless, several important objections to the proposed change from hazel (Corylus avellanus) to almond. Another word is usually applied to the almond (shaked). Besides, it is not the least likely that a tree of such value would be so frequently spoiled in order to supply the rods fresh and green, as must have been the case, if they were

frequently renewed. It has been said that there is another word used for the hazel (Song vi. 11), in which the term egoz is held to refer to the hazel nut. In the same place Dr. Shaw answers this. He saysWhat has been rendered nuts should have been specified, and called wall-nuts; the Hebrew egoz and the Arabic jeuz being the same." But while hazel should be retained in this passage the rendering of armon by chestnut cannot. It is much more appropriately rendered plane-tree (Platanus orientalis), a species ranked under the natural order Platanaceae. The chestnut was not likely to be found in such situations as are indicated here as the scene of this transaction. Moreover, the description of the armon by Ezekiel, answers much better to the plane than to the chestnut tree.

Camels are mentioned in verse 43 as constituting part of Jacob's wealth. They are also named in chapter xii. 16, among the riches of Abraham. Two words are employed in Scripture for camels. These are ahhashteranim and gamal. The former occurs only twice, and its use is limited to the book of Esther; the latter is the term usually employed. It occurs fifty-four times in the sacred books. When the dromedary is noticed, other words are used-as becker (Isa. x. 6, and Jer. ii. 23); reckesh (1 Kings iv. 28), in other passages it is rightly rendered mules; and ramack (Esth. viii. 10), where we have " young dromedaries employed to carry "the letters by posts." (See Plate XXXVI. 3.) The varieties referred to in the distinction between camel and dromedary, and also the uses made of these animals and their habits, are pointed out under Judges vi. 5: which see.

VOL. L

3 K

GENESIS XXXI.

HE bargain between Laban and Jacob in regard to the flocks, had turned out wholly in favour of the latter. The natural means to which Jacob had recourse to influence the flocks, had been so successful, that Laban was startled: "Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was altered towards him" (ver. 2). The continuance of the agreement depended on the will of the uncle, whose efforts were now directed to check the increase of his nephew's flocks, by altering the terms of the bargain. "Jacob called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock (ver. 4), and said unto them, Your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times" (ver. 7). This oppression and deceit appear to have cast Jacob more unreservedly on God, whose favour is again most emphatically acknowledged. The angel of God himself (ver. 11) undertook for Jacob-" I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee" (ver. 12). In verses 10 and 12 a new word is used with reference to the varieties among the members of Laban's flocks, namely, grisled-"the cattle were ring-straked, speckled, and grisled." This word is used only in this place and in Zechariah vi. 3, 6. It is highly expressive. Derived from the Hebrew word for "hail" (barad), it indicates that the cattle were marked like the black soil when a slight shower of hail has fallen on it. Thus the grisled horses mentioned by Zechariah are noticed as intermediate between the black and the white varieties: "The black horses go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth toward the south country."

God made himself known to Jacob, as he had done to his fathers, in the character of a covenant-keeping God. "I am," he said, "the God of Beth-el where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me; now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred." The season at which he left Mesopotamia is to be inferred from verse 19. It was when "Laban went to shear his sheep." This process takes place in Britain when the warm weather has fully set in-generally in the beginning, or about the middle of June. At this time the strong growth of the new crop of wool has