Genesis 29
29
Jacob Meets Rachel
1So Jacob went on his journey #Gen. 25:6; Num. 23:7; Judg. 6:3, 33; Hos. 12:12and came to the land of the people of the East. 2And he looked, and saw a #Gen. 24:10, 11; Ex. 2:15, 16well in the field; and behold, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks. A large stone was on the well’s mouth. 3Now all the flocks would be gathered there; and they would roll the stone from the well’s mouth, water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place on the well’s mouth.
4And Jacob said to them, “My brethren, where are you from?”
And they said, “We are from #Gen. 11:31; 28:10Haran.”
5Then he said to them, “Do you know #Gen. 24:24, 29; 28:2Laban the son of Nahor?”
And they said, “We know him.”
6So he said to them, #Gen. 43:27“Is he well?”
And they said, “He is well. And look, his daughter Rachel #Gen. 24:11; Ex. 2:16, 17is coming with the sheep.”
7Then he said, “Look, it is still high day; it is not time for the cattle to be gathered together. Water the sheep, and go and feed them.”
8But they said, “We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together, and they have rolled the stone from the well’s mouth; then we water the sheep.”
9Now while he was still speaking with them, #Ex. 2:16Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess. 10And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, that Jacob went near and #Ex. 2:17rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother. 11Then Jacob #Gen. 33:4; 45:14, 15kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice and wept. 12And Jacob told Rachel that he was #Gen. 13:8; 14:14, 16; 28:5her father’s relative and that he was Rebekah’s son. #Gen. 24:28So she ran and told her father.
13Then it came to pass, when Laban heard the report about Jacob his sister’s son, that #Gen. 24:29–31; Luke 15:20he ran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his house. So he told Laban all these things. 14And Laban said to him, #Gen. 2:23; 37:27; Judg. 9:2; 2 Sam. 5:1; 19:12, 13“Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” And he stayed with him for a month.
Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel
15Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, #Gen. 30:28; 31:41what should your wages be?” 16Now Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17Leah’s eyes were delicate, but Rachel was #Gen. 12:11, 14; 26:7beautiful of form and appearance.
18Now Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, #Gen. 31:41; 2 Sam. 3:14; Hos. 12:12“I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter.”
19And Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.” 20So Jacob #Gen. 30:26; Hos. 12:12served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her.
21Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may #Judg. 15:1go in to her.” 22And Laban gathered together all the men of the place and #Judg. 14:10; John 2:1, 2made a feast. 23Now it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her. 24And Laban gave his maid #Gen. 30:9, 10Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a maid. 25So it came to pass in the morning, that behold, it was Leah. And he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why then have you #Gen. 27:35; 31:7; 1 Sam. 28:12deceived me?”
26And Laban said, “It must not be done so in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27#Gen. 31:41; Judg. 14:2Fulfill her week, and we will give you this one also for the service which you will serve with me still another seven years.”
28Then Jacob did so and fulfilled her week. So he gave him his daughter Rachel as wife also. 29And Laban gave his maid #Gen. 30:3–5Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as a maid. 30Then Jacob also went in to Rachel, and he also #Gen. 29:17–20; Deut. 21:15–17loved Rachel more than Leah. And he served with Laban #Gen. 30:26; 31:41; Hos. 12:12still another seven years.
The Children of Jacob
31When the Lord #Ps. 127:3saw that Leah was unloved, He #Gen. 30:1opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. 32So Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said, “The Lord has surely #Gen. 16:11; 31:42; Ex. 3:7; 4:31; Deut. 26:7; Ps. 25:18looked on my affliction. Now therefore, my husband will love me.” 33Then she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the Lord has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon. 34She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi. 35And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she called his name #Gen. 49:8; Matt. 1:2Judah. Then she stopped bearing.
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Genesis 29: NKJV
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
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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