Both Jacob and Laban, Rachels father, were sheepherders. So we have the first of the God-fearing patriarchs entering into a bigamous relationship. It was not Gods perfect will. This must have been at least 1 year later.) (Q) 30Jacob made love to Rachel also, and his love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah. That was not exactly the happiest way for Leah to start her married life, was it? But Jacob, a fugitive from Esau, was in no position to bargain. One night, he dreamed of a ladder going up into heaven. The unloved Leah bore seven of Jacobs childrensix sons, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, as well as a daughter, Dinah. Artist William Dyce captures this fateful moment in his mid-19th-century painting The Meeting of Jacob and Rachel., Photograph by Hamburger Kunsthalle, Hamburg, Germany/Bridgeman Images. Laban was obliged to provide food and shelter. Soon after his arrival in Harran, Jacob fell in love with the beautiful and lovely Rachel, daughter of his cousin Laban (Genesis 29:17). God allowed Rachel to have her one last request. He was made to work for seven years for Rachel and another seven years for Leah. God made one woman for one man (Gen. 2:24, cf. To profess to love someone we do not know intimately is merely to love our mental image of that person. You might find out by asking her. He is the one who satisfies the thirsty soul and fills the hungry soul with good things (Ps. Jacob is tricked by Laban into marrying Leah, his oldest daughter, instead of Rachel. But Rachel was pregnant with another son, and as they journeyed south from Bethel and were a short distance from Bethlehem, Rachel went into labor. Is there anything I'm missing? My time is completed, and I want to make love to her. Jacob, as he had already lain with Leah, was stuck. Since Jacob was in love with Rachel, he replied: "I am will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel." God wants wives to sense their husbands intense love for them even when they are acting like stinkers (Eph. How could Jacob not notice he married Leah instead of Rachel? 3:2). You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. But that is a guess. STDs are at a shocking high. When the midwife told her she had given birth to a son, she gasped out his name with her last breathBen-oni, which means Son of my sorrow. Jacob later changed it to Benjamin, Son of my right hand. But isnt it ironic? What would seven years in wages amount to? Browse other questions tagged, Like any library, Christianity Stack Exchange offers great information, but, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. But can you imagine Jacobs utter consternation when the morning light exposed Labans chicanery? And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had to her. How do we reverse the trend? I suspect that she loved Jacob from the start and longed for him to return her affection. Seven years is a long time to wait, and I think Jacob really did grow to love Rachel during those years. Your email address will not be published. (I), 25When morning came, there was Leah! Isnt that so crazy??? Finally, after 7 long years, the time had come for Jacob to marry Rachel. But a spirit of discontent that causes us to fuss, nag, bicker, quarrel, and complain is a great hindrance to happy marital relationships. Whatever the "value" was for those years of work, it was acceptable to Laban. This is what happened with Jacob, he had to work 7 years before being with the love of his life but then found out he had to work another 7 years before his deal Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! And may I remind you that Leah, not Rachel, was the mother of Judah, through whom the Savior would ultimately come (Gen. 29:35). If you feel that certain things should be changed, what should you do? While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her fathers sheep, for she was a shepherdess. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? Likewise, in spite of our own sin that has the potential to forever separate us from God, God loves us deeply and so passionately that He chases us down in love to win us back to Him and all the good He has in store for us. Maybe Jacob would have been commended for accepting these consequences from the sovereign hand of God had he exercised that degree of faith. Even though Jacob deceived his own family, he later embraced humility and was deceived himself. She could not fully enjoy his love. Throughout Scripture, we hear God often described as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Deuteronomy 9:5, Matthew 22:32, Acts 3:13), in honor of Gods covenantal promise that He would make their children numerous and give them land and other great blessings. When she realized that Leah was bearing Jacob children and she was not, she became intensely jealous of her sister and said to Jacob, Give me children, or else I die (Gen. 30:1). God, as a consolation to the unloved Leah, enabled Leah to become pregnant with four sons in quick successionReuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah. One day years before she had screamed, Give me children, or else I die. And she died giving birth to her second son. Some wives are discontented with their husbands. There were some shepherds sitting around the well, so Jacob started a conversation with them: My brothers, where are you from? They answered, We are from Haran. Jacob probably heaved a sigh of relief. Jacob waited, and his romantic love at first sight grew to become a deep bond of spirit and a total commitment of soul. Then, after seven years, Jacob was ready to receive his wife, Rachelonly to be tricked by his father-in-law. Isaac was the son of Abraham, the miracle child borne of Sarah in their old age. Now Jacob had two wives, Leah and Rachel, both sisters, 4. 17 Leah looked rather plain, but Rachel was lovely in form and appearance. At Jacobs request, they buried him next to Leah in the cave of Machpelah in Hebron beside Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Rebekah (Gen. 49:29-31; 50:13). This is where we meet Rachel, the beautiful second daughter of Laban, Jacobs relative in another land (Genesis 29). We know that a relationship based primarily on physical attraction rests on a shaky foundation. Rachels older sister Leah was also unmarried, but their father, Laban, agreed to let Jacob work seven years for Rachels hand in marriage (Genesis 29:18-20). Jacob was impressedprobably too impressed. After some time of Jacob being with Laban, Laban asked him what Jacob would want in return for working for him. 25 The next morning, Jacob realized that it was Leah! Only the conclusion of the bargaining is recorded. Judah left home, went to the area of Adullum, got married and had some kids (Genesis 38:1-5), Jacob, distraught beyond measure, packed up the family and they left their house in Succoth, arriving first in Shechem where he bought a plot of land to pitch his tent, This is where Dinah (17) was sexually violated, then her brothers killed all the men of the town and the family had to flee. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. Together with the sons of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, these 12 men would become the forefathers of the 12 tribes of Israel, sealing Gods covenant. For husbands: Does your wife continually sense your love for her? Jacob offered to serve him seven years for Rachel, the younger of his two daughters, whom he loved because of her beauty; i.e., just as many years as the week has days, that he might bind himself to a complete and sufficient number of years of service. She cooperated willingly with her fathers scheme but found very little satisfaction in the husband she had gained by deceit. Now that shows a lot of love! In fact, they are about the loveliest words ever penned of a mans feeling for a woman. When they came to Bethel, God said to Jacob, Joseph was Jacob's only child with Rachel, and he was presumed dead. 29:15 Later, Laban asked Jacob, Should you serve me for free, just because youre my nephew? Jacob, by now humbled after his treachery and desperate for family ties and a place to call home, falls madly in love with Rachel. He had just worked 7 years for Rachel, who he loved so much and then he wakes up to realize that he married Leah instead! 20 So Jacob worked seven years for Rachel. Who buys lion bones? It could be a parent, grandparent, sibling, friend, anyone. What differentiates living as mere roommates from living in a marriage-like relationship? 18 Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, Ill work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.. At one point a decade passes between 2 verses (Genesis 33:17-18), then the narration continues forward without mentioning Joseph being sold by his brothers. Thanks for contributing an answer to Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange! THAT IS INSANE GUYS! To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. Some women try to buy a man with sex, or trap him with a baby, or lure him with family fortune. Am I God? he flared. Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. Similarly, we know God loves us so much He is willing to go to any lengths to win our hearts and souls for His kingdom. (L) 27Finish this daughters bridal week;(M) then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work. 18:18; 1 Tim. Forced to serve Rachels father, Laban, for seven Laban agrees to allow him, in a week, to marry Rachel as well but he After these 11 sons and a daughter, Jacob took his family and returned to his homelandafter still more trickery, deception, and conflict with his cousin and father-in-law, Laban. Dottard Correct Laban was greedy, he bartered for both of his daughters., Although he played the part of the benevolent uncle, he reduced his blood relationship with Jacob to a service contract. 8. This was 11 years after leaving Paddan-aram. As we are reminded in Romans 8:28, And we know that in all things God works for the goodof those who love him, who have been calledaccording to his purpose.. How to Have Joy in Your Golden Years Despite These 10 Life A God-Centered Life: 10 Faith-Based Practices When Youre Feeling Anxious, Grumpy, or Stressed, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The sin of discontentment has ruined countless relationships since Jacobs day. I don't know why I didn't think of running through the chronology myself! 18Jacob was in love with Rachel(A) and said, Ill work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.(B), 19Laban said, Its better that I give her to you than to some other man. Jacob worked for his uncle Laban 7 years, then married Leah & Rachel, He worked the next 6 years for his uncle's flocks, then he left Haran, Jacob stayed in Succoth, built shelters for his livestock, then he built a house there and settled down to raise his 12 kids, As Jacob's sons got older they worked with the flocks. She was envious, selfish, peevish, fretful, discontented, and demanding. And they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. The Cross And Separation From The World (1 Peter 4:1-6), 7. 1. What's the cheapest way to buy out a sibling's share of our parents house if I have no cash and want to pay less than the appraised value? Rachel was never completely happy with what she had. Web29 Jacob replied, You know how faithfully Ive served you through these many years, and how your flocks and herds have grown. Now as for me, when I came from Paddan, Rachel died, to my sorrow, in the land of Canaan on the journey, when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath; and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem) (Gen. 48:7). He spotted a well and stopped to rest. Just like Jacob loved Rachel so much that he worked 14 years, God loves you even more and gave His son Jesus to die for you! Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular, Seven, seven times, a week, an indefinite number, Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular, Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | third person masculine singular, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular, Direct object marker | third person feminine singular, Untranslatable mark of the accusative case. The physical attraction was still there, but he could not live in such close contact with her through a seven-year engagement period and not learn a great deal about her, both good and bad. (E), 22So Laban brought together all the people of the place and gave a feast. WebNew International Version. Let us leave aside the age of Jacob, it is possible to deduce the a number of other facts about his chronology. Jacob and Rachels love story pales in comparison to the mighty, never-ending love God our father has for us. He moved a stone that normally took several people to move, and watered all of Rachels sheep. Oh my goodness, guys! The miracle of conception lies within the power of God. Did Laban change his mind about giving Rachel to Jacob before he had completed the seven years in Genesis 29:30? He went straight to Laban and started asking him so many questions. Webster's Bible Translation And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and 10 Things You Need to Know about the Number 666, 10 Books of the Bible You Should Read Again and Again, 10 Most Encouraging Bible Verses That Will Uplift Your Heart and Soul, 5 Things That Hurt Relationships with Grandkids, 30 Morning Prayers to Start Each Day with God, How to Have Joy in Your Golden Years Despite These 10 Life Losses, 4 Things You Should Know about Big George Foreman, 8 Ways You Are Belittling Your Husband and What God Says about It, Maybe Money Can Buy Happiness, but Not Joy. He finished the week with Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. Discuss some of the values of a lengthy and close acquaintance before marriage. And the events that follow should be evidence enough that bigamy was never part of Gods plan for the human race. Now we are even more dubious. It's now been 11 years since they left Haran (Joseph was 6, now is 17. Here's how we get that number: Now they've been married 13 years. Finally, the Bible tells us God remembered Rachel (Genesis 30:22) and allowed her to conceive. How do the interferometers on the drag-free satellite LISA receive power without altering their geodesic trajectory? The assent on the part of Laban cannot be accounted for from the custom of selling daughters to husbands, for it cannot be shown that the purchase of wives was a general custom at that time; but is to be explained solely on the ground of Laban's selfishness and avarice, which came out still more plainly afterwards. 107:9). He had marital relations with her. And they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. God told Jacob that it was time to leave Uncle Laban and go back home to Canaan. Unauthorized use is prohibited. First off, Jacob worked for 7 years before he was able to get Rachel as his wife. Hollywood has given us some good evidence for that thesis. Jacob was in love with Rachel, so he told Laban he would work for seven years in exchange for Rachels hand in marriage. But he had to work seven more years without pay after marrying her. Our culture frowns on a man expressing his emotions like this, but honestly expressing ones feelings might promote greater emotional health and greater marital stability. Jacob promised to work 7 years in order to get his wife. Jacob was so shocked! 18 "Now Jacob loved Rachel, so he said, I will serve you seven years 13:5). That is a remarkable statement. But Laban told Jacob hed give Rachel, too, as his wife if Jacob agree to seven more years of labor. So Laban gave his daughter to Jacob and they got married. Benjamin was born, but Rachel didn't survive. He reminded the shepherds that grazing time was being lost and that they should water their flocks and get them back out to pasture while it was still light, probably a ploy to get rid of them so he could talk to Rachel alone. But the end is not yet. If you inserted some improved circumstance or material possession, how might you finish the statement to be more consistent with the principles of Gods Word? Thank you for your contribution. After discovering that he had been tricked, Jacob married Rachel also and then worked out another seven-year contract for this marriage. By this time, these women had borne him 11 sons and a daughter. New International Version (NIV). What are the teraphim (household gods) Rachel stole from Laban? Some of these things are important and need to be talked out. But the shepherds had some sort of agreement that they would not roll the stone back from the mouth of the well until everybodys flocks were gathered (Gen. 29:7, 8). He was probably furious with the whole family for their double-dealing fraud. If Jacob wanted to marry Rachel as well, he would owe Laban another seven years of labor. All rights reserved worldwide. Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! As a result, he had to work for another 7 years (v30) for the second wife as well. Jacob worked with Labans large flock of sheep for the entirety of those seven years. And even in death, she was alone. The median wage for a laborer is $14.47/hr. So Jacob went in to (1958 More. When we last saw Jacob he was running from Beersheba for his life, fleeing the vengeance of his brother Esau. He loves us so much He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). What characteristics bother you the most? Technically, the children of that union would be Rachels children in their culture. Homemakers want to be working wives, and working wives want to be full-time homemakers. Now imagine having to work 7 years before being able to be with them. 30 For it was little indeed you had before I came, One, we can understand thatlike Jacobin spite of our sins and weaknesses, we can still be reconciled to God. He served Laban another full seven years work for Rachel. She said, With mighty wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister, and I have indeed prevailed (Gen. 30:8). Glen : It is a very good answer +1, Seven years wages and most likely a 12 hour day, the then wages amounted to 50 shekels of silver. It says, I feel good when I am with you, so I want to hurry up and get you to the altar before I lose you and lose these good feelings. Love says, Your happiness is what I want most of all, and I am willing to wait, if need be, to be sure this is what is best for you. And if it is real, it will stand the test of time. Jacob and Rachel Craft 10 Minutes of Quality Time has made a great tutorial and print out of when Jacob met Rachel. Sly, deceitful old trickster that he was, he substituted Leah for Rachel on Jacobs wedding night. That was enough for him. Some husbands are discontented with their wives. Genesis 30:26 Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and let me go: for thou knowest my service which I have done thee. And that will depend largely on the attitude her husband projects by things as little as the look on his face and the tone of his voice, especially when she is moody and disagreeable. In fact, there are indications that he maintained his devotion to her to the very end of her life. When he brought them home and presented them to his mother, Rachel saw them and decided she wanted some too. My best guess (that is all) is that they were married for about 18 years on the basis that it was about 5 years between Paddan-aram and Ephrath and about 6 years before Joseph's 17 birthday. The miracle of Gods guidance and care, the thrill of meeting his pretty cousin, the prospect of what the future would holdall of it filled his heart so full that he wept for joy. Laban asked Jacob what amount he wanted to be paid for his work. See. We know this because Benjamin was a father when they went into Egypt 22 years after leaving Succoth (Joseph 17 years old - 39 years old). He was going to have what he wanted in spite of Gods will. Laban promised to give Rachel to Jacob for the work he did. In desperation over her barrenness, Rachel begged Jacob to lie with her servant, Bilhah, and thereby give her sons through this union (Genesis 30). Why did God wrestle with Jacob and why did this appearance not become a "big deal"? Are there any details that make it possible to estimate (with any accuracy) how long Jacob and Rachel were married before her death? Armed with that precious promise of Gods presence, Jacob headed for Haran, the land of his mothers family. When Laban heard that his nephew had come, he ran out to meet Jacob. Jacob, the deceiver, had become the deceived. Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, OT Law: Genesis 29:20 Jacob served seven years for Rachel (Gen. Ge Gn). Little Reuben, Leahs firstborn, who may have been about four years old at the time, was out in the field following the reapers around picking some plants called mandrakes or love apples, as any little boy of that time might do. What is the difference between a blessing and a birthright (Genesis 25)? 6:6). How this animal can survive is a mystery. (O) 29Laban gave his servant Bilhah(P) to his daughter Rachel as her attendant. Yet he still kept on deceiving, until he ultimately repented and was welcomed and blessed by God. Genesis 29:18 Jacob loved Rachel. 27 Fulfill the week for this daughter, then well give you the other one in exchange for serving me another seven years., 28 So Jacob completed another seven years work, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. 2124 Then Jacob said to Laban, Give me my wife; Ive completed what we agreed Id do. Learn more about her fiction and read her faith blog at jessicabrodie.com. At the top stood God, reaffirming his covenant with Abraham that now passed to Jacob: The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring (Genesis 28:13). What have you done to me? he demanded of Laban. When the seven years were fulfilled at last, Jacob spent his wedding night only to discover at dawn that it wasnt Rachel, but her elder sister Leah whom Laban had delivered to Jacobs tent. What is the biblical basis for thinking God established the principle of birthright and inheritance, Horizontal and vertical centering in xltabular. Why did you deceive me?, 26 But Laban responded, Its not the practice of our place to give the younger one in marriage before the firstborn. After stealing his older brother's inheritance, Jacob feared his brother's wrath and fled to Harran. From the start, Jacob in his youth is portrayed as a deceiver, which is what his name means. 29 Laban also gave his woman servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her maidservant. Their story comprises a large portion of the Old Testament, and while on the surface it might not be easy to understand the deeper truth behind their complicated romance, it teaches us much about the vast and merciful love God has for each of us. Jesus willingly sacrificed Himself, dying a brutal death on the cross to pay our sin-debt and thereby serve as the path to heaven for those of us who believe and follow Him. (D), 21Then Jacob said to Laban, Give me my wife. We have seen Jacobs love at first sight and his love under great stress. Then we shall be able to receive with gratitude what He gives us, and at the same time thank Him for what He denies us, being confident that His ways are perfect. please read and comment. This stone has a mysterious past beyond British coronations, Ultimate Italy: 14 ways to see the country in a new light, 6 unforgettable Italy hotels, from Lake Como to Rome, A taste of Rioja, from crispy croquettas to piquillo peppers, Trek through this stunning European wilderness, Land of the lemurs: the race to save Madagascar's sacred forests, When Jacob met Rachel he kissed her and lifted up his voice, and wept (Genesis 29:11). Then a few chapters later (Genesis 37) it goes back to that point (at the end of the fast-forwarded decade) and picks up the narrative from a Joseph's perspective and shows the events that led to Jacob abandoning his house in Succoth. Even though Laban didnt set a good example of keeping a promise, God does. Made with clay, wire, and recycled paper, the characters come to life in frame-by-frame motion. Laban warmly welcomed him to his family, but asked a steep price for Rachels hand in marriage: Jacob would first have to work as a shepherd for seven years, tending Labans flocks. Ultimately, Jacob makes peace with his older brother, Esau. The Cross And Christs Suffering For Sins (1 Peter 3:18-22), 6. She was saying essentially, if I cant have my own way, Id rather be dead. Here was a woman who had almost everything in lifegreat physical beauty, all the material things she needed, and the adoring devotion of a loving husband. Dickering over the value of a bride may have been an insult to the bride. The uncertainty arises from the unknown time between Jacob leaving Paddan-aram and arriving in Ephrath which was presumably at least 2 years (with Bethel in between) and when Joseph was 17 years old. We're not told exactly how long after they left Succoth that Benjamin was born, but it was likely in the first year or two. The answer may be simply that the seven years totaled up to a reasonable value of Jacob's labor which he was willing to "pay" eventually for Rachel and ultimately All this means that Jacob was married to Rachel for some time between about 15 years and 22 years. How many of you guys are 7 years old??? Why did you give me Leah? I specifically asked for Rachel! Why have you tricked me? Jacob was not happy at all. Leah was Labans oldest daughter, she had weak eyes and wasnt as beautiful as her younger sister Rachel. The message came in the form of a dream about a ladder that stretched from heaven to earth. Did the drapes in old theatres actually say "ASBESTOS" on them? But it only seemed like a few days, he loved her so much. One of these men kept their promise and the other didnt. By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. How can couples who married without it now compensate for it? 18 Jacob loved Rachel, so he made this offer to Laban: Ill serve you for seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter.. Those 12 sons went on to become the 12 tribes of Israel. How long was it before Adam and Eve sinned? He had just worked 7 years for Rachel, who he loved so much and then he wakes up to realize that he married Leah instead! If God set the maximum age to 120, then how could Jacob be 130 years old? Jacob was so upset. The same spirit of discontent shows up again in her life. Have your kids tell God how much they love Him for all that He is! It will not change as long as we think satisfaction can be found in any material possession or improved circumstance. En route to resettle with his father, Isaac, Rachel died giving birth to Jacobs 12th son, Benjamin. The fourteen years of service for Leah and Rachel must have been fulfilled shortly after the birth of Joseph. When Joseph was 17 years old, he went to check on his brothers, and they sold him into slavery. Just as Jacob reminded Laban that it was time to take his wife (29:21), so he must seek his release so that he might return to his homeland and family.
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