Genesis Chapter 29 Deep-Dive: Rachel and Leah

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GEN 29

1Then Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the east. 2As he looked, he saw a well in the field, and behold, three flocks of sheep lying beside it, for out of that well the flocks were watered. The stone on the well’s mouth was large, 3and when all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place over the mouth of the well.

4Jacob said to them, “My brothers, where do you come from?” They said, “We are from Haran.” 5He said to them, “Do you know Laban (REBEKAH’S BROTHER, JACOB’S UNCLE) the son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.” 6He said to them, “Is it well with him?” They said, “It is well; and see, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep!” 7He said, “Behold, it is still high day; it is not time for the livestock to be gathered together. Water the sheep and go, pasture them.” 8But they said, “We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together and the stone is rolled from the mouth of the well; then we water the sheep.”

9While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess. 10Now as soon as Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, Jacob came near and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother. 11Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud. VERY STRANGE BEHAVIOR IN THE ANCIENT WORLD … THE TEXT IS TRYING TO COMMUNICATE THAT THIS WAS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT ALTHOUGH THAT IDEA WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY STRANGE TO THE ANCIENTS.  12And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s kinsman, and that he was Rebekah’s son, and she ran and told her father.  13As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he ran to meet him and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things, 14and Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh!” And he stayed with him a month.  LABAN RICHLY WELCOMES JACOB JUST AS NAHOR WELCOMED ABRAHAM’S SERVANT, ELIEZER, WHEN HE SOUGHT REBEKAH TO BE ISAAC’S WIFE.

15Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?” JACOB IS A GOOD GUEST AND HELPING OUT AROUND THE RANCH 16Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17Leah’s eyes were weak NOT THAT GOOD LOOKING, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. 18Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” 19Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me.” 20So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.  THAT SHORT TWO MONTH TRIP TO ESCAPE ESAU TURNED INTO 7 YEARS BECAUSE OF JACOB’S LOVE FOR RACHEL.  THE FAMILY STRUCTURE IN THE ANCIENT WORLD WAS VERY DIFFERENT, IT WAS AN AGRARIAN NOMADIC LIFESTYLE AND THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE … RACHEL WAS A SHEPHERDESS, WHO WAS GOING TO DO THAT WORK IF SHE WAS GONE? … IF JACOB WAS GOING TO TAKE HER FROM LABAN’S HOUSEHOLD HE WAS GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE COMPENSATION TO LABAN – THAT’S WHAT A “BRIDE PRICE” WAS.

21Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed.” IN THE ANCIENT WORLD A MARRIAGE CEREMONY INVOLVED THE ACTUAL CONSUMATION OF THE MARRIAGE … THE BRIDAL CHAMBER.  22So Laban gathered together all the people of the place and made a feast. 23But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he went in to her. 24(Laban gave his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her servant.) 25And in the morning, behold, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?” NO TAKE-BACKS ONCE THE MARRIAGE WAS CONSUMATED … THE SAME AS NO TAKE-BACKS ONCE ISAAC GAVE THE BLESSING TO JACOB … WHAT AN IRONIC & WONDERFUL TURN-ABOUT GOD PULLED ON JACOB … JUST LIKE JACOB PULLED ON ISAAC … GOD SHAMES EVERYONE … CAN’T YOU JUST PICTURE GOD BELLY-LAUGHING AS JACOB EMERGED FROM THE TENT.  26 Laban said, “It is not so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years.” 28Jacob did so, and completed her week. Then 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.) 30So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban for another seven years.  IN THE ANCIENT WORLD, AND IN THE TORAH, DECEPTION WAS OK AS LONG AS IT WAS USED TO ESTABLISH JUSTICE OR RESTORE THE CORRECT ORDER OF THINGS, ESPECIALLY IF IT INVOLVED THE POOR, OR WEAK, OR SOMEONE WHO HAD NO POWER, IN THIS CASE IT WAS PROPER TO MARRY LEAH OFF FIRST … BUT LABAN EXPLAINED; “YOU, JACOB, DIDN’T FIND HER ATTRACTIVE SO I HAD TO TRICK YOU INTO MARRYING HER” … THIS IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN MODERN SENSIBILITY ABOUT “RIGHT & WRONG”,  BUT THIS IS HOW THE TORAH WORKS.  SO, IS LABAN REBEKAH’S BROTHER, OR WHAT? … LIKE SISTER, LIKE BROTHER, REBEKAH ARRANGED THAT WHOLE THING WITH JACOB PRETENDING TO BE ESAU IN ORDER TO GET THE BLESSING, NOW HER BROTHER TURNED IT AROUND ON JACOB … PAYBACK … IT RAN IN THE FAMILY!  ONE OF THE FIRST PRACTICAL JOKES THAT GOD PULLS IN THE BIBLE … HILARIOUS

Jacob’s Children

31When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. SO, GOD STEPS IN TO RIGHT AWAY TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT.  LEAH HAD NO POWER, NO SAY IN THE MATTER, SHE’S MARRIED TO A MAN WHO HATES HER AND HER RIVAL IS HER SISTER, RACHEL.  IN THE ANCIENT WORLD, AND IN TORAH, THE GREATEST BLESSING GOD CAN GIVE TO A WOMAN IS TO GIVE HER SONS WHO PROVIDE HER WITH STANDING AND SECURITY … ESPECIALLY IF SHE HAS THE FIRSTBORN SON.  LEAH MAY HAVE BEEN “HATED” BUT JACOB FULFILLED HIS MARITAL RESPONSIBILITY TO HER AND CONTINUED TO HAVE SEX WITH HER.  32And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, “Because the Lord has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.” 33She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the Lord has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon. 34Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be 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, “This time I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she ceased bearing.  NOTE, THE PRIESTHOOD AND THE DAVIDIC DYNASTY OF ISRAEL WERE FROM LEAH … ALTHOUGH SHE’S NOT MENTIONED MUCH IN THE REST OF SCRIPTURE, SHE WAS A VERYBIGDEAL IN THE HISTORY OF ISRAEL.

 

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