Genesis 29:1-8
Jacob Arrives in Mesopotamia... [ Continue Reading ]
Jacob Arrives in Mesopotamia... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Jacob went on his journey, literally, he lifted up his feet, that is, he continued on his trip cheerfully, AND CAME IN TO THE LAND OF THE PEOPLE OF THE EAST, to Mesopotamia beyond the Euphrates, which lay to the northeast from Canaan. This journey differed somewhat from that of Eliezer, almost... [ Continue Reading ]
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 their flocks; and a great stone was upon the well's mouth. Knowing that he must be near his destination, Jacob took more careful note of his surroundings and saw... [ Continue Reading ]
And thither were all the flocks gathered, there they were driven at stated times during the day; AND THEY, the shepherds, 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. Water was apparently not too plentiful in the neighborh... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jacob said unto them, my brethren, whence be ye? And they said, of Haran are we.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said unto them, Know ye Laban, the son (in the wider sense, for he was the grandson) OF NAHOR? AND THEY SAID, WE KNOW HIM.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said unto them, Is he well? "Is there peace to him?" AND THEY SAID, HE IS WELL; AND, BEHOLD, RACHEL, HIS DAUGHTER, COMETH, is even now coming, with the sheep.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together, for he assumed that the shepherds would immediately afterwards take them to the enclosure or corral for the night; WATER YE THE SHEEP, AND GO AND FEED THEM. This was not an undue assumption of author... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ordinarily, therefore, it took two or more men to roll the stone away from the opening of the cistern, and they had received orders to come together at a... [ Continue Reading ]
And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she kept them. Rachel was a shepherdess of her father, just as the virgin daughters of the Arabians are to this day.... [ Continue Reading ]
Jacob Meets Rachel... [ Continue Reading ]
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. The joy which Jacob felt in reaching his dest... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. His age and relationship made such an intimate greeting altogether proper, and even now bridal affection may have arisen in his heart, for that was one of the purposes of his journey, to take one of the daughters of Laban for his wife.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, in the wider sense, that of a close relative, AND THAT HE WAS REBEKAH'S SON; AND SHE RAN AND TOLD HER FATHER. Rachel was now, in turn, overjoyed, a fact which caused her to seek her father with all haste.... [ Continue Reading ]
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, thus offering him a hearty welcome. AND HE TOLD LABAN ALL THESE THINGS, all that was necessary to explain his journey.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. He was satisfied with the account as given by Jacob, for it proved conclusively that the latter was his nephew. AND HE ABODE WITH HIM THE SPACE OF A MONTH, thus becoming acquainted both with the family and with the circumstances of the fam... [ Continue Reading ]
And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for naught? Tell me, what shall thy wages be? Jacob had not been idle during the month after his arrival, but had shown himself so willing and so skilful that Laban was glad to take him into his employ, if they... [ Continue Reading ]
Jacob Serves Laban for Rachel... [ Continue Reading ]
And Laban had two daughters; the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger wag Rachel. That Jacob would eventually press his suit for one of these Laban knew, and his offer served to pave the way.... [ Continue Reading ]
Leah was tender-eyed, that is, her eyes were weak and dull, she was no beauty in the sense of the Orient; BUT RACHEL WAS BEAUTIFUL AND WELL FAVORED, she had beauty of form and beauty of face, her eyes especially showing a brightness and luster which is regarded so highly in the East.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jacob loved Rachel and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel, thy younger daughter, this service taking the place of the customary dowry and the presents given to the relatives.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee than that I should give her to another man; abide with me. Laban acted with assumed indifference, for his selfishness and covetousness expected great gain for himself by this arrangement.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days for the love he had to her. In comparison with the prize which was held out to him at the end of the seven years, all the hardships of the service seemed insignificant. His love for Rachel made him cheerful and joyful,... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jacob said unto Laban, at the end of the seven years, GIVE ME MY WIFE, FOR MY DAYS ARE FULFILLED, THAT I MAY GO IN UNTO HER. Note that he calls Rachel his wife, although only engaged to her, for a rightful betrothal is as binding as marriage in the sight of God.... [ Continue Reading ]
Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel... [ Continue Reading ]
And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. He arranged the customary marriage-festival, making it as splendid as his wealth allowed.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. This deception on Laban's part could be carried out all the more easily, since custom required that the bride be heavily veiled when led to the bridegroom and to the bridal chamber.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah, his maid, for an handmaid. This fact is here expressly mentioned on account of later developments.... [ Continue Reading ]
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? While the fraud which was practiced upon Jacob may, in a sense, be regarded as a just punishment, hi... [ Continue Reading ]
And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger-afore the first-born. Granted that this was an established custom in the place, or district, where Laban was living, his excuse was still a flimsy pretext, for his business would have been to acquaint Jacob with that custom a... [ Continue Reading ]
Fulfill her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. The nuptial feast lasting seven days, Jacob was to confirm marriage with Leah by accepting her as his wife during this time. In the second week he was then given Rachel as his wife... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week; and he gave him Rachel, his daughter, to wife also. On either aide, sinful weaknesses had played a role and therefore Jacob's married life in more than one instance became a school of afflictions.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Laban gave to Rachel, his daughter, Bilhah, his handmaid, to be her maid. This fact is also expressly stated on account of later developments.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years. That bigamy, polygamy, is a perversion of God's original order, since marriage is to be a monogamy, the union of one man and one woman, appears even here, for it was impossible for Ja... [ Continue Reading ]
And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, that is, that she was loved less than Rachel, HE OPENED HER WOMB and thus prepared her for bearing children, which are His blessing. BUT RACHEL WAS BARREN, also by God's dispensation.... [ Continue Reading ]
The First Sons of Leah... [ Continue Reading ]
And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben (Behold, a son!); FOR SHE SAID, SURELY THE LORD HATH LOOKED UPON MY AFFLICTION; NOW, THEREFORE, MY HUSBAND WILL LOVE ME. Since children were so particularly desirable at the time of the patriarchs, Leah, whose love for Jacob was so d... [ Continue Reading ]
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 (hearing). God had heard her prayer for another son, and she believed this to be a guarantee that her husband would eventually lov... [ Continue Reading ]
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 (attachment). From her earlier hope of gaining the full love of her husband and of being on an equality with Rachel before him sh... [ Continue Reading ]
And she conceived again, and bare a son; and she said, Now will I praise the Lord; therefore she called his name Judah (praise of God, one for whom one praises God); AND LEFT BEARING. Leah now turned entirely away from herself to Jehovah, who now also stopped her bearing for a time, lest she begin t... [ Continue Reading ]