Genesis 29
29
Jacob Arrives in Paddan Aram
1Then Jacob continued on his journey and came to the land of the eastern peoples. 2There he saw a well in the open country, with three flocks of sheep lying near it because the flocks were watered from that well. The stone over the mouth of the well was large. 3When all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone away from the well’s mouth and water the sheep. Then they would return the stone to its place over the mouth of the well.
4Jacob asked the shepherds, “My brothers, where are you from?”
“We’re from Harran,” they replied.
5He said to them, “Do you know Laban, Nahor’s grandson?”
“Yes, we know him,” they answered.
6Then Jacob asked them, “Is he well?”
“Yes, he is,” they said, “and here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep.”
7“Look,” he said, “the sun is still high; it is not time for the flocks to be gathered. Water the sheep and take them back to pasture.”
8“We can’t,” they replied, “until all the flocks are gathered and the stone has been rolled away from the mouth of the well. Then we will water the sheep.”
9While he was still talking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherd. 10When Jacob saw Rachel daughter of his uncle Laban, and Laban’s sheep, he went over and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle’s sheep. 11Then Jacob kissed Rachel and began to weep aloud. 12He had told Rachel that he was a relative of her father and a son of Rebekah. So she ran and told her father.
13As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he hurried to meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his home, and there Jacob told him all these things. 14Then Laban said to him, “You are my own flesh and blood.”
Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel
After Jacob had stayed with him for a whole month, 15Laban said to him, “Just because you are a relative of mine, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.”
16Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17Leah had weak#29:17 Or delicate eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful. 18Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, “I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.”
19Laban said, “It’s better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me.” 20So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.
21Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to make love to her.”
22So Laban brought together all the people of the place and gave a feast. 23But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob made love to her. 24And Laban gave his servant Zilpah to his daughter as her attendant.
25When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?”
26Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one. 27Finish this daughter’s bridal week; then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work.”
28And Jacob did so. He finished the week with Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. 29Laban gave his servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her attendant. 30Jacob made love to Rachel also, and his love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years.
Jacob’s Children
31When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved, he enabled her to conceive, but Rachel remained childless. 32Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben,#29:32 Reuben sounds like the Hebrew for he has seen my misery; the name means see, a son. for she said, “It is because the Lord has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now.”
33She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Because the Lord heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon.#29:33 Simeon probably means one who hears.
34Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi.#29:34 Levi sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for attached.
35She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” So she named him Judah.#29:35 Judah sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for praise. Then she stopped having children.
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Genesis 29: NIV
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The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®
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Genesis 29
29
Jacob Meets a Woman at the Well
1Jacob resumed his journey # 29:1 Or “Jacob lifted up his feet.” This unusual Hebrew expression could be double entendre, telling us that Jacob lifted up his feet not only to go on his journey but also to go up the Stairway he had just seen in his dream. To move forward is always to move higher up with God. and entered the land east of Canaan. # 29:1 Or “the land of the sons of the east,” that is, east of Canaan. Jacob arrived at Paddan-Aram in Mesopotamia. 2One day, Jacob came to a well out in the open country where the shepherds watered their animals. Three flocks of sheep and goats were lying near the well, which had a large, heavy stone covering the opening. 3Whenever all the flocks gathered there, the shepherds would roll away the stone from the mouth of the well, water their sheep, and then roll the stone back over the top of the well.
4Jacob approached them and said, “Good day, friends; where are you from?”
“We’re from Haran,” they answered.
5“Do you happen to know Laban, # 29:5 Laban was the son of Bethuel and the grandson of Nahor, Abraham’s brother. a grandson of Nahor?” Jacob said.
“We do,” they replied.
6Jacob asked, “How’s he doing?”
“He’s doing well,” they answered. “As a matter of fact, here comes his daughter Rachel # 29:6 Rachel means “ewe lamb.” right now with her flock.” # 29:6 It is obvious that God led Jacob supernaturally to the very well where Rachel would appear, and she came at an unusual time of day to water her father’s flocks. This was a divine appointment for Jacob. And you can be assured that God has his hands of guidance upon you also.
7Jacob said to them, “Look, it’s not time for the animals to gather together here; it’s now the hottest hour of the day. Let’s go ahead and water the sheep, then you can go and pasture them.”
8They replied, “First, we have to wait until all the flocks are gathered. After that, the stone needs to be rolled away from the mouth of the well, then we’ll water the animals.”
9While they were still speaking, Rachel, the shepherdess, drew near to the well with her father’s sheep. 10As soon as Jacob took one good look at Rachel, the beautiful daughter of his uncle Laban, he quickly went over to the mouth of the well and single-handedly rolled away the stone and watered all the flock of his uncle Laban! # 29:10 At the sight of the lovely Rachel, Jacob’s soul was so moved that he gained the strength to roll away the stone all by himself. “One flash of [her] eyes” (Song. 4:9) made him a momentary “superman.” After he moved the heavy stone, Jacob drew gallons and gallons of water for her flocks. 11Immediately, he walked up to Rachel and kissed her! Unable to hold back his tears, Jacob wept aloud. # 29:11 This entire scene is filled with emotion. Jacob saw the girl of his dreams and became supercharged to move the heavy stone and water her flock. Then he kissed her and lifted up his voice with passionate tears. You can almost hear the tender music playing in the background as this “guy meets girl” scene unfolds. As you read it over again, think of Jesus who also rolled away a heavy stone so that he could come meet you to romance your soul (see Song of Songs). He drew you to faith in him, then offered you a drink from the well of life. 12After he composed himself, he explained to Rachel, “I’m your father’s nephew, your aunt Rebekah’s son.” Upon hearing this, Rachel ran to tell her father. 13When Laban heard the news that his nephew Jacob had arrived at the well, he ran to greet him. Laban hugged and kissed Jacob and welcomed him into his home. After Jacob told him the story of all that happened, 14Laban said to him, “Certainly, you are my own flesh and blood!” Jacob stayed with him for an entire month and worked for him.
Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel
15Afterward, Laban said to Jacob, “Just because you’re my relative doesn’t mean I expect you to work for nothing. Tell me, what do you want your wages to be?” 16(Now, Laban had two daughters; the older was Leah, # 29:16 The etymology of the name Leah is somewhat ambiguous. Some Hebrew scholars equate the name Leah with “weak,” “sluggish,” or “weary.” Tradition has it that Leah was cross-eyed, or perhaps partly blind. Her vision was impaired; seeing dimly. A “Leah” church does not function with clear vision. Leah represents those with limited vision who cannot discern the timing and ways of God. Like the lukewarm Laodiceans, the church is instructed to “purchase eye salve” so that it can see clearly (Rev. 3:18). A vision-impaired church will live by principles, laws, traditions, and customs. It was the “custom” for Leah to marry Jacob (v. 26). Like many today, she was unable to see clearly, felt unloved, and was unable to perceive God’s greater purpose. The fruit of Leah (and her handmaiden, called “the slave girl” in Gal. 4:21–22) was only bondage. Jacob had to “work” after getting her! and the younger was Rachel. 17Rachel had a lovely figure and was gorgeous, # 29:17 Or “Rachel was beautiful of form and beautiful in appearance.” Rachel becomes a picture of the radiant bride of the last days who makes herself ready for her Bridegroom. See Eph. 5:27; Rev. 19:7. but Leah’s eyes were weak. # 29:17 Or “her eyes were sickly” (LXX). The Hebrew is uncertain. )
18Jacob had fallen in love with Rachel, so he answered Laban, “I will serve you for seven years for the hand of your younger daughter, Rachel!”
19Laban replied, “I’d rather give her to you than to some other man. Stay and work for me.” 20So Jacob served Laban for seven years in exchange for Rachel, but because he loved her so deeply, the seven years seemed like only a few days. # 29:20 Love can make long, hard service short and easy. This is why the Scriptures speak of a labor of love (1 Thess. 1:3; Heb. 6:10). In Hos. 12:12, we learn that Jacob tended sheep for those seven years in order to get the bride he loved. There is another who has now waited for nearly seven thousand years for his bride that he dearly loves! And what has he been doing for all those years? He has been carrying his lambs close to his heart and tending his flock like a Shepherd (see Isa. 40:11).
21After the seven years, Jacob said to Laban, “My time is fulfilled; give me your daughter so that I may marry her and sleep with her.” 22So Laban prepared a wedding feast # 29:22 Or “drinking party.” and invited all the people of the surrounding area. 23That night, Laban tricked Jacob by bringing his older daughter Leah to Jacob’s tent, and he slept with her on his wedding night! # 29:23 Perhaps Jacob was drunk on wine, and Leah was wearing a bridal veil. 24(Laban assigned Zilpah # 29:24 Zilpah means “small” or “a trickling.” to be Leah’s servant.)
25When Jacob woke up the next morning, he was shocked to find Leah lying next to him! So he confronted Laban and said, “What have you done to me? Didn’t I serve you these seven years for Rachel? Why have you tricked me?”
26Laban answered, “It’s not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older daughter is married. 27Wait until this bridal week of festivities is over, then I’ll give you Rachel, but you must serve me for another seven years.” # 29:27 For those seven years, God was teaching Jacob submission to the rights of the firstborn. It was not right to marry the younger before the older. All that Jacob had circumvented in stealing the blessing from Esau he must now learn by serving for another seven years and learn the timing of God. After the first seven years were over, Laban tricked Jacob by giving him Leah, not Rachel, on his wedding night. Jacob was fooled by the veil over the bride’s face, thinking she was Rachel, even as he had fooled his father with a hairy skin over his arms, confusing him with Esau. Every “Jacob” will one day meet his “Laban.”
28-30Jacob complied with Laban’s request. After he completed the prescribed week of Leah’s wedding feast, Laban gave his daughter Rachel to be his wife, and he slept with her. Rachel was his true love, not Leah. (Laban assigned Bilhah # 29:28–30 The name Bilhah may come from an Arabic word for “stupid” or “unconcerned.” If it comes from Hebrew, it means “troubled.” as his daughter Rachel’s servant.) And Jacob remained there serving Laban for another seven years.
Leah’s Four Sons
31When Yahweh saw that Leah was unloved, he opened her womb, but Rachel remained childless. 32Leah conceived, gave birth to a son, and named him Reuben, # 29:32 Reuben means “See! A son!” Leah defined fulfillment by how much Jacob loved her. Envy can often be traced back to an inward struggle to gain identity. Leah and Rachel competed for Jacob’s heart. Leah called her firstborn Reuben, which in Hebrew sounds like “he has seen my misery.” saying, “Because Yahweh looked upon me with compassion in my misery, surely, my husband will love me now!” 33She conceived again, gave birth to a son, and named him Simeon, # 29:33 Simeon’s name comes from the Hebrew verb meaning “to hear.” God saw Leah’s pain and heard her cry. She named her first two children after God’s mercy and compassion for the downcast and rejected. There is a mercy-chord in God’s heart that is touched by the broken, poor, and rejected. God gives greater honor to dishonored ones (see 1 Cor. 12:24). It is the nature of God to be drawn to those who hurt. God saw her pain, her loneliness, and her heartache. If only she had understood how greatly the Lord loved her. saying, “Yahweh has heard that I am despised, and in his mercy, he has given me this son also.” 34Leah conceived the third time, gave birth to a son, and named him Levi, # 29:34 The name Levi sounds like the Hebrew word meaning “to join,” “bind,” or “attach.” saying, “This time my husband will be joined to me, because now I’ve given him three sons!” 35Once again, Leah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Judah, # 29:35 The name Judah sounds like the Hebrew verb meaning “to praise.” Over the years of struggling with the pain of being unloved, Leah finally opened her heart to the Lord, and grace touched her. God was tenderly wooing her to himself through her disappointment in her marriage. At last, she gave birth to her fourth son and resolved to praise the Lord no matter what. Leah had now become a worshiper of the Almighty. She found her fulfillment in God, so she named her son Judah and declared, “This time I will praise the Lord!” Leah, not Rachel, became the mother of Judah and the ancestor of Jesus. saying, “This time I will praise the Lord!” Then she stopped bearing children for a while.
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