Last time, we concluded with this statement:
Jacob even bargains with God.
(Gen 28:20) Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, {21} "so that I come back to my father's house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God. {22} "And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God's house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.""
As we pick up the story, Jacob has reached his destination
(Gen 29 NKJV) So Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the East. {2} And he looked, and saw a well 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. (3) Now 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. (4) And Jacob said to them, "My brethren, where are you from?" And they said, "We are from Haran."
"My brethren,” We use the term “brethren” in a much more restrictive way. These were apparently men who at least spoke the same language, and he felt he was in the vicinity of relatives of his mother.
"We are from Haran." That was good news for Jacob. He was in the right place.
(Gen 29:5) Then he said to them, "Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?" And they said, "We know him."
That’s good news. He has found who he is looking for.
(Gen 29:6) So he said to them, "Is he well?" And they said, "He is well. And look, his daughter Rachel is coming with the sheep."
(Gen 29:7 Then 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."
This seems a bit out of place. Here is a perfect stranger who walks up and says: "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." So how do we explain this? It does follow the statement: And look, his daughter Rachel is coming with the sheep." Some have suggested that this was his plan for getting rid of the others so that he could be with Rachel alone.
(Gen 29:8) But 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." {9} Now while he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherdess. (10) And 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 rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother.
This is somewhat the opposite of what happened with respect to Jacob’s mother Rebekah.
(Gen 24:17-20 NKJV) And the servant ran to meet her [Rebekah] and said, "Please let me drink a little water from your pitcher." {18} So she said, "Drink, my lord." Then she quickly let her pitcher down to her hand, and gave him a drink. {19} And when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, "I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking." {20} Then she quickly emptied her pitcher into the trough, ran back to the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.
In the case of Jacob, we have him drawing the water.
(Gen 29:11) Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice and wept.
The kiss can be interpreted in various ways. In its most innocent form, it was a fairly common form of greeting in that day. It may have meant much more than that for Jacob, but Rachel is not repulsed by his kiss. In verse 13, we find Laban kissing Jacob.
Then the more formal introductions begin:
(Gen 29:12) And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's relative and that he was Rebekah's son. So she ran and told her father. {13} Then it came to pass, when Laban heard the report about Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his house. So he told Laban all these things.
That is, the events that had just taken place.
So Laban acknowledges Jacob as a relative:
(Gen 29:14) And Laban said to him, "Surely you are my bone and my flesh." And he stayed with him for a month.
Some have suggested that this comes from the creation of woman:
(Gen 2:23 NKJV) And Adam said: "This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh;”
We have changed the expression a little as we say, “Your own flesh and blood,” when referring to relatives.
(Gen 29:15) Then Laban said to Jacob, "Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what should your wages be?" {16} (Now Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.) {17} Leah's eyes were delicate, but Rachel was beautiful of form and appearance. {18} Now Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, "I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter."
This is Jacob’s deal. Consider the following:
1) We don’t know much about dowry of those days.
2) Jacob may be thinking that he needs a good reason to be gone from home for some time because of Esau.
(Gen 29:19) And Laban said, "It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me."
Stay with me:” It sounds like a deal, but was it?
(Gen 29:20) So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her. {21} Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her." {22} And Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast. {23} Now it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her. {24} And Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a maid. {25} So 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 deceived me?"
We have more questions than answers:
1) Why was the deception not discovered on their wedding night?
2) Some have suggested that she wore a veil and that it was at night, so there was little light.
3) To that, we ask, did she not say anything during the entire evening?
4) What part did Leah have in all of this? Did she really want the one who was to be married to her sister, or was she afraid of her father not to agree to this?
5) Is this a cruel pay back time for Jacob, the “over-reacher” who himself has now been cheated.
6) Who paid the highest price for this deception? Leah or Laban? Probably Leah
(Gen 29:26) And Laban said, "It must not be done so in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.
Some say that this is true. That it was a custom of that day in that country. Problem: The announcement was seven years late!
(Gen 29:27) "Fulfill her week, and we will give you this one also for the service which you will serve with me still another seven years."
Jacob has met his match and then some.
“Fulfill her week:” As soon as the week of feasting is over, you can have her sister. What kind of week of marriage was that for Leah? What kind of father is Laban?
Isaac did not take care of Jacob, as Abraham had looked out for Isaac. But the problem had been complicated because Jacob had to flee for his life. He has no power to negotiate – now he will pay! – Seven years for what should have already been his.
(Gen 29:280 Then Jacob did so and fulfilled her week. So he gave him his daughter Rachel as wife also. {29} And Laban gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as a maid. {30} Then Jacob also went in to Rachel, and he also loved Rachel more than Leah. And he served with Laban still another seven years.
“Jacob . . . loved Rachel more than Leah.”
No surprise, but how sad for everyone involved. There is a reason for God’s laws.
(Gen 29:31) When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. {32} So Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said, "The LORD has surely looked on my affliction. Now therefore, my husband will love me."
But probably little changed!
(Gen 29:33) Then 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. {34} She 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. {35} And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, "Now I will praise the LORD." Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she stopped bearing.
Levi. The priestly tribe.
Judah. The kingly tribe. The one through whom Christ came, but was she ever loved?