Genesis 29
29
Chapter 29
Jacob and Laban
1Jacob continued on his journey. He came to the land where the people from the east live. 2He saw a well in a field. Three groups of sheep lay near it. Shepherds took water from the well to give to their sheep. There was a large stone that covered the top of the well. 3The shepherds waited until all the sheep were there together. Then they removed the stone from the top of the well. They gave their sheep water to drink, and then they put the stone back on the top of the well.
4Jacob asked the shepherds, ‘My brothers, where are you from?’ The shepherds replied, ‘We are from Haran.’ 5Jacob said, ‘Do you know Laban? He is Nahor's grandson.’ The shepherds replied, ‘Yes, we know him.’ 6Jacob asked them, ‘Is he in good health?’ They replied, ‘Yes, he is. Look. Here comes his daughter now, with their sheep. Her name is Rachel.’ 7Jacob said to them, ‘The sun is still high in the sky. It is not yet the right time to bring all the sheep together. So give them some water now. Then they can go back to the fields and eat more grass.’ 8The shepherds said, ‘We cannot do that. We have to wait until all the sheep are here together. Then we can remove the big stone from the well and we can give water to the sheep.’
9When Jacob was speaking to the shepherds, Rachel arrived there. She brought her father's sheep with her. She was taking care of them.
10Jacob saw Rachel. She was the daughter of his uncle Laban. Jacob saw that she had Laban's sheep with her. So Jacob went to the well and he removed the big stone. Then he gave water to Laban's sheep. 11Then Jacob kissed Rachel. He began to weep loudly. #29:11 Jacob cried because he was happy to find his relatives.
12Jacob told Rachel that he was a relative of her father, Laban. He told her that he was Rebekah's son. So Rachel ran home to tell her father.
13When Laban heard what Rachel said, he went quickly to meet Jacob, his sister's son. He put his arms round Jacob and he kissed him. Laban brought Jacob to his home. Jacob told Laban all his news. 14Then Laban said, ‘Yes, you really are my own relative.’ So Jacob stayed with Laban for a month.
15Then Laban said to Jacob, ‘You should not work for me for nothing because you are my relative. Tell me what I should pay you.’ 16Laban had two daughters. The name of the older daughter was Leah. The name of the younger daughter was Rachel. 17Leah had weak eyes. But Rachel's face and her body were beautiful. 18Jacob loved Rachel. He said to Laban, ‘I will work for you for seven years. In return, I want to marry your younger daughter, Rachel.’ 19Laban said, ‘It is better for you to marry her than another man. Stay here with me.’
20Jacob worked for seven years to have Rachel as his wife. But the years passed very quickly because Jacob loved Rachel very much. Seven years seemed like only a few days to Jacob.
Jacob marries Leah and Rachel
21After seven years, Jacob said to Laban, ‘Give me my wife. My time to work for you is finished and I want to marry her.’ 22Laban called all the people in that place to come together. He prepared a big meal for them to eat. 23When evening came, Laban took his daughter Leah and he gave her to Jacob. Jacob slept that night with her as his wife. 24Laban gave his female servant to Leah to be her servant. Her name was Zilpah.
25When morning came, Jacob saw that he had slept with Leah! He said to Laban, ‘You have done a very bad thing to me! I worked for you to get Rachel as my wife. Why have you deceived me?’ 26Laban replied, ‘In our land, we do not give the younger daughter to a man first. We let the older daughter marry first. 27So finish this week of Leah's marriage. Then we will give you Rachel to marry too. But you must work for another seven years.’ #29:27 Laban had deceived Jacob. A marriage week was the seven days of the feast. Jacob had to sleep with his wife Leah until the end of the week.
28So Jacob did what Laban said. He finished the marriage week with Leah. Then Laban gave Rachel to Jacob to be his wife. 29Laban gave his female servant Bilhah to Rachel to become her servant. 30Jacob also slept with Rachel. He loved Rachel more than he loved Leah. He worked for Laban for seven more years.
31The Lord saw that Jacob did not love Leah. So he let her become pregnant. But Rachel did not give birth to any children. 32Leah became pregnant and she gave birth to a son. She called him Reuben. She said, ‘It is because the Lord has seen how sad I am. My husband will love me now because I have given birth to a son.’
33Leah became pregnant again. She gave birth to another son. She said, ‘The Lord has given me another son because he knows that I am not loved.’ She called this son Simeon.
34Leah became pregnant again. Later, she gave birth to another son. She said, ‘Now I have given my husband three sons, so he will want to stay with me.’ She called this son Levi.
35Leah became pregnant again. She gave birth to another son. She said, ‘This time I will praise the Lord.’ She called this son Judah. Then she stopped giving birth to children.
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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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