(41) Thus have I been . . . --Heb., This for me twenty years in thy house, but taken in connection with the preceding this, in Genesis 31:38, the meaning is "During the one twenty years that I was with thee, thy ewes, &c.," upon which follows "During the other twenty years that were for me in thy house, I served thee, &c." (See Note on Genesis 29:27, and Excursus on the Chronology of Jacob's Life.)

31:36-42 If Jacob were willingly consumed with heat in the day, and frost by night, to become the son-in-law of Laban, what should we refuse to endure, to become the sons of God? Jacob speaks of God as the God of his father; he thought himself unworthy to be regarded, but was beloved for his father's sake. He calls him the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac; for Abraham was dead, and gone to that world where perfect love casts out fear; but Isaac was yet alive, sanctifying the Lord in his heart, as his fear and his dread.Thus have I been twenty years in thy house,.... Attended with these difficulties, inconveniencies, and hardships:

I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters; Rachel and Leah; first seven years for Rachel; and having Leah imposed upon him instead of her, was obliged to serve seven years more, which he did for her sake; whereas he ought to have given them, and a dowry with them, to one who was heir to the land of Canaan, and not have exacted servitude of him:

and six years for thy cattle, to have as many of them for his hire, as were produced from a flock of white sheep, that were speckled, spotted, or ringstraked, or brown:

and thou hast changed my wages ten times; See Gill on Genesis 31:7;