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Genesis Chapter 29

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¹ Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.

² And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well's mouth.

³ And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well's mouth in his place.

⁴ And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.

⁵ And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.

⁶ And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.

⁷ And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and feed them.

⁸ And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep.

⁹ And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she kept them.

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.

¹¹ And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.

¹² And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son: and she ran and told her father.

¹³ And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things.

¹⁴ And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.

¹⁵ And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?

¹⁶ And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.

¹⁷ Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.

¹⁸ And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.

¹⁹ And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.

²⁰ And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.

²¹ And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.

²² And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.

²³ And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.

²⁴ And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.

²⁵ And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?

²⁶ And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.

²⁷ Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.

²⁸ And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.

²⁹ And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.

³⁰ And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

³¹ And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.

³² And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.

³³ And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.

³⁴ And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.

³⁵ And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.

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View All Genesis Chapter 29 Comments...

Richard H Priday's Genesis Chapter 29 comment on 2/20/2022, 3:02pm...

This chapter; and indeed the following ones show God's dealings with Jacob. Interestingly; the previous event in chapter 28 showed Jacob stating that if he was blessed; that he would serve the God of Israel. One would think that was what he was doing previously with his upbringing. It is interesting to note at least he didn't make the commitment before he was ready to make it sincerely; and the Lord had to "one up" many of his earlier tactics to demonstrate that He was truly the one in control and to refine him.

It is also interesting seeing the disingenuous gleeful response that Laban showed Jacob in verse 13 and 14. He had learned something; of God's blessings with Isaac earlier and Rebecca. It was his own gain; however which motivated him; much like with Jacob's manipulations. He started a pay arrangement after a month; and interestingly it was Jacob himself who decided to make the terms of marriage as far as the length of servitude of seven years; surely he could have requested her sooner. Then; of course came the "coup de gras" as it were; apparently he didn't see anything with the overnight consummation of the marriage; this shows how little he cared not to at least want to see her face to face but instead being smitten by external beauty. Thus; Laban had the upper hand and stuck him for another seven years for Rachel. The Lord had the final say here to demonstrate to Jacob that he was going to bless the woman who Jacob despised for fleshly reasons; by blessing her with children. It would take some time for Rachel later on to catch up. Again; a covenant of marriage no matter how informal the ceremony was still an arrangement recognized by God and Jacob had to deal with it. It would appear that both marriages were accepted by the Lord; but clearly contention and strife resulted from such arrangements. In all this; of course God's purposes for the tribes which would be the patriarchs of Israel were fulfilled.

Gigi's Genesis Chapter 29 comment on 11/14/2021, 2:12pm...

Well it looks like in this chapter, the tables were turned on Jacob by Laban sending Leah in to where Jacob was following the marriage celebration. It was night, and we do not know what Leah was wearing or how dark it was for Jacob to not be able to discern that the woman he consummated a marriage with was not Rachel. But Jacob really loved Rachel and wanted her for his wife, so he was willing to work another 7 years for Laban in order to secure Rachel as his wife, too. I have always felt sorry for Leah. The "customs" of the time dictated that the elder daughter is to be married first, so she was given to a man who loved her younger sister.

Here we have another plural marriage in Genesis. Both Leah and Rachel were full-fledged wives, not concubine wives, and of equal standing. Of course tensions would arise. Jacob would have known that from being a twin. I am not sure what is meant when Laban told Jacob to complete the week with Leah. Perhaps it was the custom for a man to be wit his wife a full week without any other duties but to share the marriage bed. So, Jacob did, and then he took Rachel as his wife and most likely for a week's time just like for Leah. After that it doesn't speak of the arrangements of who has access to Jacob when and for how long. The text skips to the subject of the barrenness of both women until Leah conceived. Must have been very unbearable for Rachel to see her sister bear 4 sons and she had not conceived at all. Probably put a rift between the sisters in some way.

Since it seems that Jacob did not arrive at Laban's home laden with gifts for the family he would take a wife from, it appears that Jacob would have to work for his father-in-law in exchange for having Laban daughter/s for his wife/wives. Must have been customary for men to supply some kind of dowry in order to take a daughter for a wife.

It is obvious that Leah felt hated in this family relationship. I doubt that Jacob really hated her, he just loved Rachel more.

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