Jacob Marries Leah and Rachael
October 15, 2019
Commentary
Jacob arrived at a well used by the local shepherds to water their flocks (vv. 2-3). The well had a large stone placed over it. Jacob chatted with the shepherds and asked about his uncle Laban (vv. 4-6). He also asked them why they waited to water the sheep. They said they had to wait for the stone to be rolled away so everyone could water their sheep together (vv. 7-8). Either these men were lazy, waiting for others to move the heavy stone, or they were bound by tradition to wait. Either way, Jacob’s actions set him apart. When Jacob saw Rachel arriving with her sheep, he rolled the stone from the well and watered her flock. He then kissed her and revealed his identity as her cousin, the son of her Aunt Rebekah (vv. 9-12). When Abraham’s servant had come to find a wife for Isaac, he came with many gifts. Jacob had no such advantage. He lived in his uncle’s home for a month and was working for him from the start, possibly as a shepherd with Rachel (v. 14). At the end of the month Laban asked him what his wages should be (v. 15). For Jacob the answer was obvious. Jacob would serve seven years for Rachel (v. 18).
Now, Laban had two daughters: Rachel, the younger, was a true beauty, but Leah, the older, was plan (vv. 16-17). At the end of the fastest seven years in Jacob’s life (v. 20), the wedding day finally came. Laban gathered all his people together and they had a feast (vv. 21-22). It’s not stated in the text, but I suspect Jacob might have had a few too many drinks that night, because it wasn’t until the morning that he realized the bride he had been sleeping with that night was Leah, and not Rachel (vv. (23-25). When confronted, Laban stated tradition was his motive for the deception. It would not be right to give the younger before the older. However, Laban’s true motive is clear. Jacob could have Rachel in seven days, but he would need to continue working for Laban another seven years (vv. 26-27). A week later, Rachel and Jacob were married, and Jacob loved Rachel more then he loved Leah (vv. 28-30). The Lord allowed Leah to conceive, and she had four sons with Jacob: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah (vv. 31-35). Rachel, however, was barren. Each time Leah gave birth she hoped to find favor in Jacob’s eyes for bearing him a son, but each time she was disappointed. With her fourth son, Judah, she finally found her hope in God (v. 35).
Application
How do I respond in new environments? Do I take initiative, or do I wait to be told what to do? How do I respond when people trick me? Do I demand justice, or do I accept it as God’s will?
Genesis 29:1– 35 (NET)
1 So Jacob moved on and came to the land of the eastern people. 2 He saw in the field a well with three flocks of sheep lying beside it, because the flocks were watered from that well. Now a large stone covered the mouth of the well. 3 When all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone off the mouth of the well and water the sheep. Then they would put the stone back in its place over the well’s mouth.
4 Jacob asked them, “My brothers, where are you from?” They replied, “We’re from Haran.” 5 So he said to them, “Do you know Laban, the grandson of Nahor?” “We know him,” they said. 6 “Is he well?” Jacob asked. They replied, “He is well. Now look, here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep.” 7 Then Jacob said, “Since it is still the middle of the day, it is not time for the flocks to be gathered. You should water the sheep and then go and let them graze some more.” 8 “We can’t,” they said, “until all the flocks are gathered and the stone is rolled off the mouth of the well. Then we water the sheep.”
9 While he was still speaking with them, Rachel arrived with her father’s sheep, for she was tending them. 10 When Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of his uncle Laban, and the sheep of his uncle Laban, he went over and rolled the stone off the mouth of the well and watered the sheep of his uncle Laban. 11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel and began to weep loudly. 12 When Jacob explained to Rachel that he was a relative of her father and the son of Rebekah, she ran and told her father. 13 When Laban heard this news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he rushed out to meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban how he was related to him. 14 Then Laban said to him, “You are indeed my own flesh and blood.” So Jacob stayed with him for a month.
15 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Should you work for me for nothing because you are my relative? Tell me what your wages should be.” 16 (Now Laban had two daughters; the older one was named Leah, and the younger one Rachel. 17 Leah’s eyes were tender, but Rachel had a lovely figure and beautiful appearance.) 18 Since Jacob had fallen in love with Rachel, he said, “I’ll serve you seven years in exchange for your younger daughter Rachel.” 19 Laban replied, “I’d rather give her to you than to another man. Stay with me.” 20 So Jacob worked for seven years to acquire Rachel. But they seemed like only a few days to him because his love for her was so great.
21 Finally Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my time of service is up. And I want to sleep with her.” 22 So Laban invited all the people of that place and prepared a feast. 23 In the evening he brought his daughter Leah to Jacob, and he slept with her. 24 (Laban gave his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her servant.)
25 In the morning Jacob discovered it was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, “What in the world have you done to me? Didn’t I work for you in exchange for Rachel? Why have you tricked me?” 26 “It is not our custom here,” Laban replied, “to give the younger daughter in marriage before the firstborn. 27 Complete my older daughter’s bridal week. Then we will give you the younger one too, in exchange for seven more years of work.”
28 Jacob did as Laban said. When Jacob completed Leah’s bridal week, Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. 29 (Laban gave his female servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.) 30 Jacob slept with Rachel as well. He also loved Rachel more than Leah. Then he worked for Laban for seven more years.
31 When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, he enabled her to become pregnant while Rachel remained childless. 32 So Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, “The Lord has looked with pity on my oppressed condition. Surely my husband will love me now.”
33 She became pregnant again and had another son. She said, “Because the Lord heard that I was unloved, he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon.
34 She became pregnant again and had another son. She said, “Now this time my husband will show me affection, because I have given birth to three sons for him.” That is why he was named Levi.
35 She became pregnant again and had another son. She said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” That is why she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children.