[Avodah] False Piety and Superstition

[Prof. Levine]

The following is from RSRH's commentary on Bereishis 30: 27 - 30.

27 Lavan said to him: Would that I found favor in your eyes, for I 
have a presentiment that God has blessed me for your sake.

28 Then he said: Set your wage from me and I will gladly give it.

29 [Ya'akov] said to him: You know very well how I have served you 
and what your property has become with me.

30 For the little that you had before I came increased tremendously 
because God blessed you according
to my endeavor. And now, when will I, as well, provide for my household?

Lavan would very much like to retain Ya'akov's services, preferably for
no other payment except his keep, as heretofore. Hence, he begins to
speak in the manner that is typical of self-righteous hypocrites, who
affect piety. He does not admit that he would like to keep Ya'akov because
of the diligent services he has rendered. He knows that such actual
things have to be paid for, and that he who praises them will pay a
high price. For this reason he affects extreme piety (just as, today, those
who have cast off all genuine piety turn to superstition, imagining that
Nechush, superstitious belief in omens, is tantamount to piety). Lavan says
to Ya'akov: I don't like to let you go. There is no real reason for it, but
I have a Nechush (presentiment): It seems to me that "Hashem," Whom you serve,
has blessed me for your sake, because you are such a pious man. I
would not like to see such a pious man leave me.




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