Genesis study & commentary

Genesis 29:1-3

God was true to His promise.  Jacob travel was blessed and he found his way safely to mother's family.  He came to the land of the 'eastern people'; this was a generic designation for anyone east of the Promised Land.  Jacob came upon a well in a field with some flocks.  The stone was to protect the well.  It was probably large enough one person couldn't roll it away.  But when several flocks were gathered the shepherds could work together to remove the stone and water the flocks. 

In verse on the Hebrew phrase is 'Jacob lifted up his feet'.  It's an unusual expression and some see Jacob as having a new lease on life.  There see this as a new vibrancy to his steps.  If his outlook is new it is certainly not matured, still rooted in earthly hopes.  I don't believe Jacob is changed until the Lord begins to call him Israel.

Genesis 29:4-12

Jacob had not only come to the right place but he also came at just the right time.  Did Jacob see this as guidance and a blessing from God or did he consider himself lucky?  Rachel was a shepherdess, arriving at the well with her flocks.  This may be the same well from which his mother drew water for the camels of Eliezer, Abraham's servant.  the daughter of Laban was coming to him also.  We see the hand of God moving these two people together.  This is His design, not any kind of coincidence.

Jacob advises these men to water their flocks and then pasture them.  It sounds like he wants to be alone with Rachel. However, they couldn't water their flocks until all the flocks were there and the stone rolled away.  It must have taken more than three shepherds to roll the stone back to access the water.  There were three flocks there when the man said they couldn't.  This meant they needed the strength of Racheal with their own to move the stone.  When Rachel arrived with her sheep, Jacob, upon seeing her, went to the well, rolled the stone away himself and watered the sheep.  It seems Jacob drew on some love inspired strength to move the stone by himself.  

Jacob then kissed Rachel, a normal greeting of that day.  You can imagine that both of them had heard about the other and they were happy to meet.  It had been many years since Rebekah had left to marry Isaac.  He established himself as a relative at which Rebekah was eager to tell her father.  It is clear that Jacob is focused on impressing not only Rebekah but also his Uncle Laban.

Genesis 29:13-15
The traditions of the area allowed for a stranger to be given hospitality of food and shelter for 3 days.  After 3 days, a stranger had to give their name and mission.  They could then stay but they had to work in some way that both parties agreed to.  Or, they could go away.  Jacob was not really a stranger but seemed to be offered a tremendous hospitality, a home away from his broken home.  After a month, Laban offered to begin paying him for the work he had done.  From what we learn about Laban and what we know about Jacob, this was a duel of wits, control and conniving; like a slowly played chess match.  Jacob was working putting Laban in debt to him.  Laban finally caught on, realizing he didn't want to be indebted to Jacob. 

Genesis 29:16-18
Jacob came to this place to get a wife and while there seemed to be two choices, he was in love with Rachel.  The text says Leah's had weak (NIV) or delicate (NKJV) eyes.  This could be taken as either negative or positive in nature.  The eyes could be light colored, pale or dull eyes; or it could mean delicate, tender or lovely eyes.  Leah was likely very beautiful with striking eyes.  If she was beautiful, then Rachel was beautiful, beautiful.  The text repeats the word emphasize its importance.  She was beautiful in form and appearance, both visual that brought a pleasing affect or emotion. 

Jacob suggested that he work seven years for Laban to have Rachel for his wife.  Suddenly this short-sided man, traveling the road alone, that worried only about himself, suddenly has an extended view.  He so desired this woman he would work seven years for her.  The seven years is the bride price.  Was that a good price for a wife at that time?  Abraham's servant brought out gold, silver and precious jewelry to pay the bride price for Jacob's mother, Rebekah.  David was told the bride price for Michel was 100 Philistine foreskins.  Shechem offered any price for Dinah.  Jacob had left home with nothing so he had to do some creative financing to offer a bride price for Rachel.   

Herodotus mentions a very singular custom among the Babylonians, which may serve to throw light on Laban's conduct towards Jacob. "In every district they annually assemble all the marriageable virgins on a certain day; and when the men are come together and stand round the place, the crier rising up sells one after another, always bringing forward the most beautiful first; and having sold her for a great sum of gold, he puts up her who is esteemed second in beauty. On this occasion^[1]

Genesis 29:19-24
Laban agreed to the plan, not necessarily thrilled but the only deal available at the time.  Should we assume Rachel agreed?  You have to wonder if anyone asked her.  Jacob served joyfully for seven years and time flew because he was in the presence of Rachel.  When the seven years of service was complete, he asked that he give her to him.  Jacob was anxious to start their married life together.

Laban set up a wedding feast and invited all the people.  This feast would begin the weeklong ceremony of marriage.  When it is time to consummate the marriage, Laban pulled a switch.  The bride was veiled until they were alone, so Laban veiled Leah instead of Rachel.  Apparently in the dark, Jacob was betrayed. 

Genesis 29:25-27
The deceiver had been deceived.  The confusion and shock Jacob felt were of the same zip code as that of Esau and even Isaac when Jacob deceived them.  He had pretended to be the older son, put up to it by his mother; Leah had pretended to be the younger sister, put up to it by her father.  It's a classic example of the truth that we reap what we sow.  It's strange how offended a deceiver can be when they are deceived.  Laban's excuse was that things just weren't done that way around those parts.  The younger can't be married before the older.  This information would have come in handy about seven years back, he could have helped find Leah a husband.  Laban told Jacob to complete the seven-day wedding ceremony with Leah and then he could start working another seven-year stint for Rachel. 

Imagine how these two women felt.  All Leah saw was that this man had to be tricked into marrying her.  That won't do much for your self-esteem.  Rachel saw her sister marry the love of her life.  There must have been quite a strain between the two sisters.  However, the father called all the shots, that's the way it was done.

Genesis 29:28-30
At the end of the wedding week with Leah, Laban gave Rachel to Jacob as his wife.  Then he began another seven-year contract to pay the bride price for the second wife.  It seems like he got her on credit; 7 years same as cash!  What a strange concept this is for us.  Imagine what weird event this family gathering would be.  Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah.  This was a stressful environment for a family.

Genesis 29:31-35

The Lord allowed Leah to bear children.  The statement that she wasn't loved is the way the language was used to convey that Jacob loved Rachel more.  She was the primary object of his affections.  Leah would be looked at more favorably by others than a barren woman, Rachel.  Its as though God blessed Leah in her circumstance with children to care for and love. 

Leah:

• Reuben, the firstborn; "Behold a son."  The name literally is 'look, a son'; a word play on God looked on her circumstances and blessed her with a son.  We see her broken heartedness in that she hoped a son would endear her to Jacob.    
• Simeon; means hearing with acceptance.  She was sure the Lord heard she was not loved so she was given another son.  Two should surely do it.
• Levi; means adhesion, joined together.  She thought that surely three sons would bond Jacob to her.
• Judah; Means praise the Lord.  This time, with this son, she would praise the Lord.  She still held out hope of being loved.

Note: Judah is the lineage of Jesus Christ.  It's interesting that this lonely, unloved wife of Jacob had just given birth to a son that will become the tribe from which Christ would come.  Did God give her a sense of the incredible thing that just happened to her?  Did she feel that something special had just occurred?  I tend to believe she did.  She praised the Lord in her circumstances, even though she was still despised by her sister and unloved by her husband.  God had mercy on her and extended this loving grace on her.  She is now forever remembered in the lineage of Jesus Christ.

©2019 Doug Ford