Genesis 29
Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 27:20
0 ratings
· 14 viewsFiles
Notes
Transcript
Genesis 29 Jacob’s Wives
Genesis 29 Jacob’s Wives
Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.
Went on his journey = A Hebrew Idiom that says “lifted up his feet”. An idiom is a peculiar usage of words and phrases peculiar to one nation or tribe. We need to understand the nuances of the language used in the Bible so that we aren’t lead astray due to lack of comprehending the meaning of the words used.
The Hebrew word used here for “east”, qedem, is often a generic designation for any location to the east of the promised land of Canaan (beyond the border of the Jordan River). It also occurs with respect to territory in other directions outside of Canaan. This doesn’t denote a certain place or people, we have to study the verses around it to understand the context.
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 the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well’s mouth.
Behold being used for emphasis, pointing to the well being important as we have seen over and over throughout Genesis. A stone was placed on the mouth of the well to protect it and to keep it marked. Water being such a rare resource in the area, the shepherds brought their flocks together to water, that way everyone was aware of who and how much water was being used. This was an effort to keep things fair.
And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they 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.
And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.
Jacob completing a journey of around 400 miles, finally arriving in Haran.
And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.
Son here means grandson; it’s a Synecdoche(sin-ek-ducky) (use a part to represent a whole “son being used for all male descendants”). There is no word in Hebrew for grandson. The verse skips over Bethuel.
Laban (la’ban) = White; glorious; (root = to be white; to be clean). Showing us that Jacob has found his kinsmen, that pure bloodline through which Christ would come.
Family Tree showing the generations
And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.
Behold again being used for emphasis, pointing to the importance of Rachel.
And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and feed them.
As we talked earlier about the word “behold” being used to add emphasis, the word “lo” here is used in the same way. It’s meant to point us to something important. Learning these literary devices that are used in the Bible will help our understanding as we go deeper and deeper. Here it’s telling us that it’s midday, the shepherd’s are wasting time gathering around the well, and Jacob is wanting a little privacy for his first meeting with Rachel.
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.
This goes back to what we’ve discussed with water being a precious resource. This is in an effort to keep things fair, and to avoid accusations and corruption.
And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep: for she kept them.
At this time someone that owned herds of sheep would usually employ either slaves, or their younger sons or daughters as shepherds. David being a good example of this.
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.
Note that Jacob says that Laban is his mother’s brother, ie. his uncle. Keep this in mind when we get to verse 12. Jacob jumps into action, giving a good first impression upon Rachel.
And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.
The kiss being a greeting used at the time.
And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s brother, and that he was Rebekah’s son: and she ran and told her father.
Jacob is not Laban’s brother, but his nephew; remember what we just saw in verse 10. This is for the same reason that we saw son instead of grandson in verse 5.
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. And he told Laban all these things.
Jacob explaining to Laban the journey that he has been on, and that he is there to find a wife.
And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.
Among pastoral people a stranger is freely entertained for three days; on the fourth he is expected to tell his name and errand; and if he prolongs his stay after that time, he must set his hand to work in some way, as may be agreed upon. A similar rule obtained in Laban’s establishment, and we will see in the next few verses what the wages for Jacob’s work would be.
And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?
Remember what we have discussed about the word brother in the Hebrew, Jacob is Laban’s nephew.
And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.
Leah means weary or tired, weak eyed; foreshadowing what will happen in regards to how long Jacob will have to work to receive Rachel’s hand.
Rachel means a sheep, with the root of the word being “to cherish”; showing Jacob favored Rachel.
And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.
And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.
And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.
Rebekah had planned to send Jacob away for just a while but seven years have now passed. (translated from Hebrew literally as “a few days”; we saw back in
And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother’s fury turn away;
And we see Jacob’s servitude to secure Rachel as a wife referenced in:
And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, And Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.
And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.
my wife This language is consistent with the ancient Near Eastern cultural view that a betrothed woman had the status of a wife, even if the marriage hadn’t occured yet. The same view is evident in ancient Near Eastern law codes such as that of Hammurabi.This status is made clear in the law:
And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her.
And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
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.
And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.
Giving the bride a servant is a widely attested custom in ancient Mesopotamian literature, and was part of the code of Hammurabi.
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?
behold. Fig. Asterismos. Ap. 6. To call attention to the fact that he was deceived, as he had deceived Isaac. As Jacob had disguised himself to deceive his father (Gen 27:1–29), Laban presented the veiled Leah at the wedding instead of Rachel.
And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.
Laban is saying that it is against custom for the younger (Rachel) to be taken before the older (Leah), so Laban insinuates that he, not Jacob, is the one who has the right to be angry.
Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.
This refers to a seven-day marriage celebration. Laban is going to give Rachel to Jacob as his wife at the end of the week, but he will then have to work for Laban for another seven years. Showing why Leah’s name meaning weary or tired showed what would occur.
And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.
A popular mistake to suppose that Jacob did not marry Rachel till the end of the second seven years, for in the first seven were born seven sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, and Joseph. In the second seven: Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulon, and Dinah.
And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.
Again this is in accordance with the Code of Hammurabi.
And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.
All the sons will come in pairs. Two pairs from Leah, one pair from Bilhah, one from Zilpah, one from Leah, one from Rachel. The Hebrew word used here for hated, senu'ah is better translated “unloved”. Jacob does not have ill-will or hatred toward Leah, he simply prefers Rachel—the woman he labored for in both seven-year periods.
And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the Lord hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.
Reuben (ru’-ben) = Behold a son; vision of the son
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.
Simeon (sim’-e-un) = Hearkening. Hearing with acceptance; hears and obeys; an obeyer; hearing; (root = to hear).
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.
Levi (le’-vi) = Adhesion; joined; (root = to be joined; to cleave to; to lend to; to borrow). Associate. A companion.
The first of the tribes through which Christ would come.
And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the Lord: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.
Judah (ju’-dah) = Praised; the LORD be praised; object of praise; praise of the LORD. He shall be praised.
The other tribe through which Christ would come.
So we see Jacob work tirelessly for fourteen years to earn the hand of Rachel. His perseverance was fueled by love and hope. We often face challenges that require us to persist, whether in our careers, relationships, or spiritual journeys. Just like Jacob, we must remain persistent, trusting in God and His plan. Through this hard work and dedication would come TWO marriages, out of which will come the the twelve tribes of Israel, ultimately leading to the birth of our savior.
SURRENDER
