JACOB MEETS COME TO HIS RELATIVES' FAMILY TRIBE AND MARRIES LABAN'S TWO DAUGHTERS (GENESIS 29:1). JACOB'S SONS ARE BORN (GENESIS 29:31 TO GENESIS 30:24) This covenant narrative reflects the fulfilment of Yahweh's promise of fruitfulness to Jacob and is based on the covenant significance of the name... [ Continue Reading ]
JACOB MEETS COME TO HIS RELATIVES' FAMILY TRIBE AND MARRIES LABAN'S TWO DAUGHTERS (GENESIS 29:1). JACOB'S SONS ARE BORN (GENESIS 29:31 TO GENESIS 30:24) This covenant narrative reflects the fulfilment of Yahweh's promise of fruitfulness to Jacob and is based on the covenant significance of the name... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And he looked, and behold, a well in the field. And lo, three flocks of sheep lying there by it. For from that well they watered the flocks, and the stone on the well's mouth was great. And to that place all the flocks were gathered, and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth and watered the s... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Jacob said to them, “My brothers, from where are you?” And they said, “We are from Haran.” And he said to them, “Do you know Laban, the son of Nahor?” And they said, “We know him.” And he said to them, “Is it well with him?” And they said, “It is well, and look, Rachel his daughter is coming wi... [ Continue Reading ]
"And he said, “Look, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together. Water the sheep and go and feed them." Jacob is puzzled why they are sitting around waiting. Sheep would normally be brought towards evening, but these have come while the sun is still high. Why... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And they said, “We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together, and they roll the stone from the well's mouth. Then we water the sheep.” ' The answer was that it was because the stone could not be moved. This may have been because there were not enough men there to move the stone. Most of th... [ Continue Reading ]
‘While he yet spoke with them Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she looked after them. And so it happened that 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 w... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Jacob kissed Rachel and lifted up his voice and wept. 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.' The meeting is emotional. In days when families were often out of touch for years such scenes were a regular feature of... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And so it was that when Laban heard the news of his sister's son, Jacob, he ran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things. And Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” And he stayed with him for the period of a mo... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Laban said to Jacob, “Should you serve me for nothing because you are my kinsman? Tell me, what shall your wages be?” ' Once a decent time had passed Laban brings the matter up. He has now realised that Jacob has not come laden with expensive marriage gifts. These words are a delicate indicatio... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Laban had two daughters, the name of the elder was Leah and the name of the younger was Rachel. And Leah's eyes were tender, but Rachel was beautiful and well-favoured.' The word for ‘tender' can mean soft, weak, delicate. This may indicate some weakness in the eye or it may simply mean timid... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Jacob loved Rachel and he said, “I will serve you for seven years for Rachel your younger daughter.” ' Jacob replies that he has made his choice as to which daughter he wants. He is prepared to offer seven years service in exchange for Rachel whom he loves. This may appear a long time but he k... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to another man. Remain with me.” The offer is accepted and it may be that at this stage Laban thought that Leah might be married within the seven years to someone else thus clearing the way for Jacob. The elder daught... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days for the love he had for her. And Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days of service are completed.” Jacob works out his seven years and demands his wages, the hand of Rachel in marriage. The comment about the... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast, and so it was that in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to him, and he went in to her. And Laban gave Zilpah his handmaid to his daughter Leah for a handmaid.' The wedding feast is arranged. It will last for... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And it happened in the morning that behold, it was Leah. And he said to Laban, “What is this that you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?” When Jacob realises what has happened he is no doubt furious and immediately marches in to where Laban is to l... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Laban said, “It is not so done in our place to give the younger before the firstborn. Fulfil the week of this one and we will give you the other also for the service which you will serve with me, yet seven more years.” The taking of a second wife is well witnessed elsewhere, as is the later ta... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Jacob did so and fulfilled her week, and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife.' Jacob carries out his part of the bargain. He gives Leah due deference for the week of the marriage ceremony, and fulfils his responsibilities as a husband. Then he also marries Rachel. Leah's part was not a hap... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Laban gave Bilhah his handmaid to his daughter Rachel to be her handmaid.' Once again Laban provides a handmaid for his daughter from his household, and another person is added to Jacob's group. Again the suggestion is that that is all that she receives. Laban is hard-nosed. This prince has co... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And he went in also to Rachel, and he also loved Rachel more than Leah and served with him yet seven more years.' Jacob plants his seed in both women as custom required, but his heart was with Rachel. And it needed to be for he had to serve another seven years for her.... [ Continue Reading ]
JACOB'S WIVES ARE FRUITFUL AS YAHWEH HAD PROMISED (GENESIS 29:31 TO GENESIS 30:24) Genesis 29:31 ‘And Yahweh saw that Leah was unloved and he opened her womb. But Rachel was barren.' The bearing of a son was of vital importance in Jacob's day for such a son or sons would inherit the family tribe... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, “Because Yahweh has looked on my affliction (raah beonyi), for now my husband will love me.” And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because Yahweh has heard (shama) that I am unloved he has therefore given... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And she conceived again and bore a son, and she said, “This time will I praise (hodah) Yahweh.” Therefore she called his name Judah (Yehudah), and she ceased bearing.' With three sons her confidence had returned. Everyone would be congratulating her. So when a fourth is born she can express praise... [ Continue Reading ]