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._ In the evening, that he took Leah ... and brought her to him. The ample bridal veil enveloped the whole person, so that it was impossible to discern the features of the wearer. This circumstance favoured the execution of a selfish scheme of Laban, by whom an infamous fraud was practiced on Jacob, and on his showing a righteous indignation, the useage of the country was pleaded in excuse. No plea of kindred should ever be allowed to come in opposition to the claim of justice. But this is often overlooked by the selfish mind of man, and fashion or custom rules instead of the will of God. This was what Laban did, as he said, "It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the first-born." But, then, if that had been the prevailing custom of society at Ha...

15-30 During the month that Jacob spent as a guest, he was not idle. Wherever we are, it is good to employ ourselves in some useful business. Laban was desirous that Jacob should continue with him. Inferior relations must not be imposed upon; it is our duty to reward them. Jacob made known to Laban the affection he had for his daughter Rachel. And having no wordly goods with which to endow her, he promises seven years' service Love makes long and hard services short and easy; hence we read of the labour of love, Hebrews 6:10. If we know how to value the happiness of heaven, the sufferings of this present time will be as nothing to us. An age of work will be but as a few days to those that love God, and long for Christ's appearing. Jacob, who had imposed upon his father, is imposed upon by Laban, his father-in-law, by a like deception. Herein, how unrighteous soever Laban was, the Lord w...

Verse Genesis 29:23. _IN THE EVENING - HE TOOK LEAH HIS DAUGHTER_] As the bride was always _veiled_, and the bride chamber generally _dark_, or nearly so, and as Leah was brought to Jacob in the _evening_, the imposition here practised might easily pass undetected by Jacob, till the ensuing day discovered the fraud....

- Jacob’s Marriage 6. רחל _rāchēl_, Rachel, “a ewe.” 16. לאה _lê'âh_, Leah, “wearied.” 24. זלפה _zı̂lpâh_, Zilpah, “drop?” 29. בלהה _bı̂lhâh_, Bilhah, “timidity.” 32. ראוּבן _re'uvbēn_, Reuben, “behold a son.” A paronomasia in allusion to the phrase בעניי ראה _be‛ānyı̂y_ _rā'âh_. Derivatives and compounds, being formed by the common speaker, are sometimes founded upon resemblance in sound, and not always on precise forms of the original sentence which prompted them. 33. ש

EXPOSITION GENESIS 29:15 AND LABAN SAID UNTO JACOB (probably at the month's end), BECAUSE THOU ART—literally, _is it not that_._ thou art _(cf. Genesis 27:36; 2 Samuel 23:19)—MY BROTHER,—my kinsman (_vide_ on Genesis 29:12)—SHOULDEST THOU THEREFORE SERVE ME FOR NAUGHT? (literally, _and thou server me gratuitously_)_ _TELL ME, WHAT SHALL THY WAGES BE? A proof of Laban's generosity and justice (Kalisch); of his selfishness and greed (Keil); of his prudence and

AND IT CAME TO PASS IN THE EVENING,.... After the feast was over, and the guests were departed; when it was night, a fit season to execute his designs, and practise deceit: THAT HE TOOK LEAH HIS DAUGHTER, AND BROUGHT HER TO HIM, to Jacob, in his apartment, his bedchamber, or to him in bed: for it is still the custom in some eastern countries for the bridegroom to go to bed first, and then the bride comes, or is brought to him in the dark, and veiled, so that he sees her not: so the Armenians have now such a custom at their marriages that the husband goes to bed first; nor does the bride put off her veil till in bed o: and in Barbary the bride is brought to the bridegroom's house, and with some of her female relations conveyed into a private room p; then the bride's mother, or some very near relation, introduces the bridegroom to his new spouse, who is in the dark, and obliged in modesty...

CHAPTER 29 JACOB WITH LABAN _ 1. Jacob's arrival at Padan-aram (Genesis 29:1)_ 2. His service for Rachel (Genesis 29:15) 3. Laban's deception (Genesis 29:21) 4. Jacob receives Rachel (Genesis 29:26) 5. Leah's sons (Genesis 29:32) The Lord brought him to Padan-aram, where he was to dwell as an exile for twenty years. During these twenty years Jehovah did not manifest Himself to him, even as Israel dispersed among the nations has no communications from the Lord. His sojourn in Padan-aram produce

JACOB SERVES SEVEN YEARS FOR RACHEL. LABAN SUBSTITUTES LEAH AND SECURES FOURTEEN YEARS'SERVICE IN EXCHANGE FOR THE TWO. Apart from bits of P (Genesis 29:24; Genesis 29:28_ b_, Genesis 29:29) the section belongs to JE. Analysis is very uncertain. Probably Genesis 29:1 is from E, Genesis 29:2 from J. Opinions differ as to Genesis 29:15; for our purpose further analysis is unnecessary. Jacob comes in his journey to a well, and finds three flocks waiting to

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....

IN THE EVENING, &C.— It was the custom to introduce the bride veiled to the bridegroom in the nuptial chamber, in which there was very little or no light. This made it easy for Laban to deceive Jacob; but as Leah herself must have been an accomplice in the fraud, one cannot wonder at Jacob's great preference of Rachel to her. Piqued and grieved as Jacob was, no doubt, at such treatment, his conscience must have represented it to him as a kind of retaliation to him for his guile in personating his brother....