Introduction
At the end of Genesis 28, Jacob, afraid that his twin brother, Esau, would kill him, was leaving home, and fleeing to Haran.
Verses
1Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the children of the east.
2He looked, and behold, a well in the field, and saw three flocks of sheep lying there by it. For out of that well they watered the flocks. The stone on the well’s mouth was large.
3There all the flocks were gathered. They rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again on the well’s mouth in its place.
6He said to them, “Is it well with him?”
They said, “It is well. See, Rachel, his daughter, is coming with the sheep.”
They said, “It is well. See, Rachel, his daughter, is coming with the sheep.”
7He said, “Behold, it is still the middle of the day, not time to gather the livestock together. Water the sheep, and go and feed them.”
8They said, “We can’t, until all the flocks are gathered together, and they roll the stone from the well’s mouth. Then we water the sheep.”
9While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she kept them.
10When Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban, his mother’s brother, Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother.
11Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.
12Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s relative, and that he was Rebekah’s son. She ran and told her father.
13When Laban heard the news of Jacob, his sister’s son, he ran to meet Jacob, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things.
14Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” Jacob stayed with him for a month.
15Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what will your wages be?”
16Laban had two daughters. The name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
17Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and attractive.
18Jacob loved Rachel. He said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter.”
19Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you, than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.”
20Jacob served seven years for Rachel. They seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had for her.
21Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.”
22Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
23In the evening, he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to Jacob. He went in to her.
24Laban gave Zilpah his servant to his daughter Leah for a servant.
25In the morning, behold, it was Leah! He said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Didn’t I serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?”
26Laban said, “It is not done so in our place, to give the younger before the firstborn.
27Fulfil the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you will serve with me for seven more years.”
28Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week. He gave him Rachel his daughter as wife.
29Laban gave Bilhah, his servant, to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.
30He went in also to Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him seven more years.
31The LORD saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.
32Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she named him Reuben. For she said, “Because the LORD has looked at my affliction; for now my husband will love me.”
33She conceived again, and bore a son, and said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am hated, he has therefore given me this son also.” She named him Simeon.
34She conceived again, and bore a son. She said, “Now this time my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi.
35She conceived again, and bore a son. She said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing.
Questions
1. Why did Jacob love Rachel rather than Leah?
v 17 Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and attractive.
2. Why did Jacob have to work another 7 years?
v 26 and 27 … “It is not done so in our place, to give the younger before the firstborn ... we will give you the other (Rachel) also for the service which you will serve with me for seven more years.”
3. What do we learn about Leah’s hopes and concerns from the names she gives to her children?
v 32 ... the LORD has looked at my affliction; for now my husband will love me."
v 33 ... the LORD has heard that I am hated, ...
v 34 ... my husband will be joined to me, ...
v 35 ... “This time I will praise the LORD.” ...
Summary Points
- v 1 to 12 Jacob travels about 450 miles (725 km.) from Bethel to Haran, the area of his relatives. By a well he meets his cousin Rachel, Laban’s daughter looking after the sheep
- v 13 to 20 Jacob is taken into Laban's household and agrees to work for his uncle for seven years so that he can marry Rachel
- v 21 to 30 Laban deceives Jacob and gives him Rachel’s older sister Leah as a wife. A week later he is given Rachel, but must serve another seven years
- v 31 to 35 Jacob has four children by Leah
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