GENESIS

Notes on Genesis 29

• Genesis 29:1 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 spoke 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.

No doubt he was relieved to have reached his journey. Jacob was a strong powerful person but he was very attached to his family, especially his mother and that is commendable. I'm sure he was very lonely and grieved for the rift that was between his brother and himself. To see someone who was a relative probably brought great joy.

• Genesis 29:12 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.

One thing I can say about all these people we read about is that they were hospitable. Laban though will turn out to be one who takes advantage of those under his roof. He also is one that is tricky and deceptive. Jacob's former deception is about to come back on his own head.

• Genesis 29:14 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 naught? tell me, what shall thy wages be?

Perhaps Laban had this planned to get his daughters married and to make sure Jacob stayed around. It seems he proved to have been a very hard worker. To his credit, Jacob did not stay with them and be idle, he worked and helped with the flocks of Laban or whatever else needed to be done.

• Genesis 29:16 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 favored.
• 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.

In one chapter we see 7 years pass. He was a man in love and the days sped by fast.

• Genesis 29:21 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.

Old Laban knew what he was doing. He planned to get the oldest married and arrange to keep Jacob around another seven years. I believe from the beginning of Jacob's arrival Laban planned all of this. Or course, this is speculation on my part.

• Genesis 29:23 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.

Leah had to have been party to this whole thing. She must have loved Jacob herself.

• Genesis 29:24 And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for a 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?

As Jacob deceived his own father pretending to be Esau when he was not, a wife was given to him pretending to be Rachael when she was not. The law of reaping what we sow, it in effect here even though none of Jacob's mistakes made a difference in the plan of God concerning him. This does not excuse Jacob's sins but it does show that God chose him to be heir to the promise that salvation would come to the whole world through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and then Judah.

• Genesis 29:26 And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.
• 27 Fulfill her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.

Jacob agreed to spend a week with Leah and be a husband to her in order to get Rachael. He had to serve Laban another seven years but he was able to have his wives right away.

• Genesis 29:28 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.

This was a custom in those days to give a maid to daughters who were given in marriage.

• Genesis 29:30 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.

Our God is a God of compassion. He had mercy on Leah the one who was denied the love of her husband. It was Leah's seed that the line of Christ came. Her fourth son was the chosen one to be the tribe bringing forth the Messiah. This was Judah. Notice how much God passes over a lot of firstborn and chooses those whom men would not choose.

Abel was chosen over Cain. Isaac was chosen over Ishmael. Jacob was chosen over Esau. Now we will see Judah chosen over Reuben, Simeon and Levi.

• Genesis 29:32 And Leah conceived, and bore 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.

She was hoping that she would be loved by Jacob since she bore him a son. This is a long period of time here because she had four sons before Rachel had any. The name Reuben means "See a son." Romantic love and also real love is not based on performance though. We can't always help who we love unless of course we ask God to give us love for someone we wouldn't normally love.

• Genesis 29:33 And she conceived again, and bore 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.

Simeon means "Hearing." God heard her prayer.

• Genesis 29:34 And she conceived again, and bore 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.

Levi means "Joined". Levi was the tribe chosen instead of the firstborn to become the religious leaders and priests later when the law was given by Moses.

• Genesis 29:35 And she conceived again, and bore a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.

The name Judah means praise. Now we shall praise the Lord and rejoice. This was the one to be the tribe from which our Lord Jesus Christ was to come. I don't know if Leah knew this but we do see a hint here by the name she named him.

The other sons were named because she was seeking love from her husband. Now it seems she begins to rejoice in the Lord. And surely it is the love of God that is ours to keep for eternity. All other things we desire and hope in can be removed from us. They are conditional. When we love God and trust in Him, it is something no person can take away from us. If Leah found favor and comfort from God, that would have been greater than if Jacob had of loved her best. I do notice later in Genesis that Jacob chose to be buried with Leah. He must have seen something in her in later years. Rachel was beautiful in appearance but Leah was the one chosen to be the line for the Christ to come. God doesn't always see as we see. DC

Genesis 30