Jacob in Haran, from J and E Genesis 29:1-14. Jacob at the well. 15 30. Jacob's marriage with Leah and Rachel. 31 30:24. Birth of Jacob's children. 25 43. Jacob serves Laban for a wage in flocks and herds.... [ Continue Reading ]
_went on his journey_ Heb. _lifted up his feet_. _the children of the east_ A phrase generally used of the nomad Arab tribes to the east of Palestine: see note on Genesis 25:6. Cf. Numbers 23:7; Judges 6:3. Here it is used for the Aramaeans of Haran, N.E. of Palestine. In Hosea 12:12 Jacob is said... [ Continue Reading ]
_in the field_ There is no exact description of the place where this well was. It was not, apparently, the same as "the well of water," "without the city," in Genesis 24:11. _for out of that well_ This clause and Genesis 29:3 are parenthetical, describing the custom of the country, i.e. "they were... [ Continue Reading ]
_unto them_ i.e. the shepherds of the three flocks mentioned in Genesis 29:2. _Of Haran_ See Genesis 27:43. There is nothing to shew whether Haran, the town, was near or far off.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Laban … of Nahor_ See note on Genesis 24:15. In Genesis 24:24 Rebekah is daughter of Bethuel, the son of Nahor. In Genesis 24:29 ff. Laban is Rebekah's brother. Here he is son of Nahor. It is possible that the tradition, followed here and in chap. 24, differs from that of the genealogy in Genesis 2... [ Continue Reading ]
_Rachel_ The name means "Ewe," a personal name, though, possibly, also tribal. In very early times, the designation of an animal seems often to have been transferred to a family or clan in connexion with the "totem," or animal associated in worship with the spirit-god of the community.... [ Continue Reading ]
_it is yet high day_ Lit. "the day is great"; like the Fr. "_il fait grand jour_." Lat. _adhuc multum diei super est_. Jacob is a practical shepherd; he says "there is still the whole afternoon: what is the good of wasting time, and delaying to water the sheep?" It was not yet time to gather togethe... [ Continue Reading ]
_We cannot_ The local custom was not to be broken. All the flocks were to be collected, before any were to be watered; and then those who had come first had the privilege of watering their flocks first.... [ Continue Reading ]
_went near, and rolled_ Jacob disregards the rule of the well; and at the risk of incurring the wrath of the local herdsmen and shepherds, by a feat of great personal strength, removes unaided the stone covering, and renders Rachel the service of watering Laban's flock. The shepherds were apparently... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jacob kissed … wept_ This demonstrative display of feeling is Homeric in its simplicity. The suddenness of Jacob's opportune meeting with his relatives, the removal of doubt and anxiety from his mind on entering a strange country, and the apparition of his young and fair cousin, had all deeply stir... [ Continue Reading ]
_her father's brother_ In the sense of "relative"; strictly speaking, her father's sister's son. Cf. Genesis 29:15 and Genesis 13:8. _ran and told_ We are reminded of Rebekah's action in Genesis 24:28-29.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Laban_ According to the P narrative, Genesis 26:34, it was over forty years since Laban had said farewell to his sister Rebekah. He now effusively greets and welcomes her son. Perhaps he recollects the gifts of Rebekah's dowry (Genesis 24:30), and also perceives in Jacob a strong and capable worker... [ Continue Reading ]
_my bone and my flesh_ See note on Genesis 2:23, and cf. Genesis 37:27. Laban readily acknowledges the relationship which Jacob claims. _the space of a month_ Lit. "a month of days." See on Genesis 24:55, "_a few_days.... [ Continue Reading ]
Jacob's Marriage with Leah and Rachel 15. _Because … brother_ Lit. "art thou a brother, and shouldest thou serve me for nothing?" For "brother," see note on Genesis 29:12. Laban asks Jacob to state on what terms he would serve.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Leah_ The meaning of "Leah" is uncertain. According to some scholars, who see in it a _totem_name, it should be compared with an Arabic word meaning "a wild cow"; according to others, with an Assyrian word meaning "a lady.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Leah's eyes were tender_ i.e. weak or soft, wanting in clearness and brilliancy. The eye was the chief feature of Oriental beauty. The versions rather exaggerate the sense. LXX ἀσθενεῖς = "weak," Lat. _lippis oculis_, Aq. Sym. ἁπαλοί = "tender." _beautiful and well favoured_ Lit. "fair of form and... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will serve … Rachel_ He has no money to offer; he is ready to give seven years" service without wages, in order to win Rachel as his bride. He cannot as bridegroom, or suitor, offer the usual gifts, or _mohar_(see note on Genesis 24:53). So he offers the equivalent in work. See the reference to t... [ Continue Reading ]
_It is better_ Laban means that it is in the interests of the family his daughter should be married to one of their own kindred. The marriage of first cousins is considered especially desirable among the Bedouin.... [ Continue Reading ]
_for the love_ These simple and touching words are noticeable for their beauty in a narrative which in many of its details is repulsive to our notions of delicacy.... [ Continue Reading ]
_made a feast_ The marriage feast was a great affair. The ceremonial lasted for seven days. Cf. Judges 14:10; Judges 14:12; Tob 11:18. "All the men of the place," not only "brethren," i.e. "relations," are invited. "The place" is the residence of a large community, cf. Genesis 29:26.... [ Continue Reading ]
_he took Leah_ The bride was brought to the bridegroom enveloped in a veil; cf. Genesis 24:65. "The bridegroom can scarcely ever obtain even a surreptitious glance at the features of his bride until he finds her in his absolute possession." Lane, _Manners and Customs of the Modern Egyptians_. 24 (P... [ Continue Reading ]
_beguiled_ i.e. "deceived," as Joshua 9:22; but a different word in the Hebrew from that in Genesis 3:13. Laban had succeeded in astutely bestowing his less attractive daughter in marriage.... [ Continue Reading ]
_It is not so done_ Cf. Genesis 20:9, Gen 34:7; 2 Samuel 13:12. Laban's excuse was specious, that it was necessary to conform to local customs, and that Jacob, as a stranger, did not know them. But, if so, he should in decency and honour have explained the custom to Jacob before consenting to the ma... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fulfil the week_ Laban's proposal is that when the week's marriage festivities for Leah are over, Jacob shall take Rachel as his second wife, on condition that he gives his services for another period of seven years. Nothing would justify the interruption of the seven days" marriage ceremonial. Ma... [ Continue Reading ]
_hated_ By this is meant that Jacob had less affection for Leah than for Rachel. Cf. Deuteronomy 21:15, "if a man have two wives, the one beloved and the other hated." In order to prevent the evil effects of jealousy, the marriage by one man of two sisters is forbidden in Leviticus 18:18. See, also,... [ Continue Reading ]
Genesis 29:31 to Genesis 30:24. Birth of Jacob's Children 31 35 (J); Genesis 30:1-24 (J, E and P) In this section is narrated the account of the birth of eleven sons and one daughter. Six of the sons, viz. Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun, and the daughter Dinah, are the children... [ Continue Reading ]
_Reuben_ The name is evidently here assumed to consist of two words, _re"û_= "behold ye," _ben_= "a son." _hath … affliction_ Heb. _râ"ah be-onyi_. The sound of these two words forms some kind of a play on the name Reuben, and represents a popular and unscientific etymology. In some MSS. of LXX and... [ Continue Reading ]
_heard_ Heb. _shama_; cf. Genesis 16:11. _Simeon_ Heb. _Shimeon_. The meaning of this name is very likely that of an animal, "the hyaena"; cf. the Arabic _sim-_, the hybrid offspring of the hyaena and the female wolf.... [ Continue Reading ]
_joined_ From the root _lavah_, "to join." In Numbers 18:2; Numbers 18:4, this word _lavah_is especially used of the _attachment_of the sons of Levi to the service of Jehovah, as the priestly tribe. According to many scholars, the name denotes _the_tribe _par excellence_of the Leah group; which, owi... [ Continue Reading ]
_praise_ From the Heb. _hôdah_. _Judah_ Heb. _Jehudah_. This is the regular form of the name in the O.T. The origin of the name is uncertain; but its sound resembles that of the word for "praise." On Judah, see notes on chap. 38 and Genesis 49:8-12.... [ Continue Reading ]