GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 29:1 There are similarities between this passage and the earlier journey of Abraham’s servant to Paddan-aram to find a wife for Isaac (ch. Genesis 24:1). While both accounts involve providential encounters at a well, Abraham’s servant prayed for guidance, but the text says no... [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 29:4 When Jacob discovers that the shepherds are from HARAN, he asks about his uncle, LABAN THE SON OF NAHOR. Strictly speaking, Laban is Nahor’s grandson. The Hebrew term for “son” may indicate any male descendant. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); fo... [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 29:6 Providentially, Laban’s daughter RACHEL is bringing her herd to the well. Rachel means “ewe,” an appropriate name for a shepherdess (v. Genesis 29:9). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 29:10 JACOB CAME NEAR AND ROLLED THE STONE FROM THE WELL’S MOUTH. Jacob demonstrates great strength in being able to move the stone. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 29:11 JACOB KISSED RACHEL, probably showing family affection rather than feelings of romance (compare v. Genesis 29:13). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 29:18 I WILL SERVE YOU SEVEN YEARS FOR YOUR YOUNGER DAUGHTER RACHEL. In the ancient Near East it was customary for a prospective husband to give the bride’s father a substantial gift of money, known as the bride-price. Jacob offers to work for Laban to give the equivalent of... [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 29:22 MADE A FEAST. Feasting was an important element of ancient Near Eastern weddings. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 29:23 IN THE EVENING. It was dark or nearly dark when Leah was introduced to Jacob for the consummation of their marriage. In a world without artificial lighting, darkness can be pitch-black. Jacob did not realize that Leah was the bride. She may also have come to him wearing... [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 29:25 Only IN THE MORNING does Jacob realize he has been deceived. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 29:26 TO GIVE THE YOUNGER BEFORE THE FIRSTBORN. Laban’s remarks are highly ironic in light of Jacob’s earlier deception of his father. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 29:27 COMPLETE THE WEEK OF THIS ONE. The wedding celebrations lasted for seven days. Laban persuades Jacob to complete this process with Leah, with the understanding that that he will then be able to marry Rachel. This would also give opportunity for Leah to conceive a child.... [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 29:31 WHEN THE LORD SAW THAT LEAH WAS HATED. From the beginning, Jacob had loved RACHEL (v. Genesis 29:18). He probably found it difficult to love Leah, given the events that had brought them together. Rachel probably loathed her sister for the same reason. Yet their treatmen... [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 29:32 LEAH bears Jacob four SONS. As the esv footnotes reveal, each son’s name is a wordplay on Leah’s comment after his birth. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]