Jacob Marries Leah And Rachel.So Jacob complied and fulfilled Leah’s week [of celebration]; then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his [second] wife.
Laban also gave Bilhah his maid to his daughter Rachel as a maid. Gen 29:27-29
INTRODUCTION TO THE OLD TESTAMENT
II. GOD AND THE CHOSEN FAMILY, Genesis 12-50
2. The History of Isaac and Jacob, Genesis 25:19-35:29
53. How was the cheater cheated?
JACOB MARRIES LEAH AND RACHEL
Finally, Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my time [of service] is completed, so that I may take her to me [as my wife].”
So Laban gathered together all the men of the place and prepared a [wedding] feast [with wine].
But in the evening he took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob went in to [consummate the marriage with] her.
Laban also gave Zilpah his maid to his daughter Leah as a maid.
But in the morning [when Jacob awoke], it was Leah [who was with him]! And he said to Laban, “What is this that you have done to me? Did I not work for you [for seven years] for Rachel? Why have you deceived and betrayed me [like this]?”
But Laban only said, “It is not the tradition here to give the younger [daughter in marriage] before the older.
Finish the week [of the wedding feast] for Leah; then we will give you Rachel also, and in return you shall work for me for seven more years.”
So Jacob complied and fulfilled Leah’s week [of celebration]; then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his [second] wife.
Laban also gave Bilhah his maid to his daughter Rachel as a maid.
So Jacob consummated his marriage and lived with Rachel [as his wife], and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and he served with Laban for another seven years.
JACOB’S CHILDREN
Now when the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, He made her able to bear children, but Rachel was barren.
Leah conceived and gave birth to a son and named him Reuben (See, a son!), for she said, “Because the LORD has seen my humiliation and suffering; now my husband will love me [since I have given him a son].”
Then she conceived again and gave birth to a son and said, “Because the LORD heard that I am unloved, He has given me this son also.” So she named him Simeon (God hears).
She conceived again and gave birth to a son and said, “Now this time my husband will become attached to me [as a companion], for I have given him three sons.” Therefore he was named Levi.
Again she conceived and gave birth to a [fourth] son, and she said, “Now I will praise the LORD.” So she named him Judah; then [for a time] she stopped bearing [children].
JACOB MARRIES LEAH AND RACHEL
The chief lesson of this paragraph is its illustration of the awful nemesis which accompanies wrongdoing. No thoughtful person can watch the events of history or experience without realizing that we are already standing before the judgment-seat of God, and that His sentences are in process of being executed. Jacob deceived his father, and was himself deceived. “With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” What disappointments there are in life! We think that we are to be dowered with Rachel, and lo! Leah is substituted; but in after-days Jacob spoke of Reuben as his might, the beginning of his dignity and excellency. The names of Leah’s sons suggest the blessings that accrue through heartbreak. For the Leahs of the world there are great compensations. God remembers and hears them. Brokenhearted and forsaken, they live again in the lives of those whom they have borne either naturally or spiritually.
Comments by
WILLIAM MACDONALD
Believers Bible Commentary
On
Genesis 29:21-35
II. THE PATRIARCHS OF ISRAEL (Chaps. 12-50)
C. Jacob (27:1–36:43)
3. Jacob, His Wives, and His Offspring (29:1–30:24)
29:15-35 Laban agreed to give Rachel to Jacob in exchange for seven years of service. The years seemed to Jacob but a few days because of the love he had for her. That is how it should be in our service for the Lord.
Leah was weak-eyed and not attractive. Rachel was beautiful.
According to custom, it was arranged that the bride should go in to the groom on the wedding night, veiled and perhaps when the room was in darkness. You can imagine how irate Jacob was in the morning when he found that his bride was Leah! Laban had tricked him, but excused the trick on the ground that the older daughter should be married first according to the local custom. Then Laban said, “Fulfill her week (that is, carry through on the marriage to Leah) and we will give you this one also (Rachel) for the service which you will serve with me still another seven years.” At the end of the week-long wedding feast, Jacob also married Rachel, then served seven more years for her. Jacob had sown deceit, and now he was reaping it! When the Lord saw that Leah was hated (that is, loved less than Rachel) He compensated for this by giving her children. This law of divine compensation still operates: People who lack in one area are given extra in another. Leah acknowledged the Lord when she named her children (vv. 32, 33, 35). From her comes the priesthood (Levi), the royal line (Judah), and ultimately the Christ. In this chapter we have the first four of the sons of Jacob. The complete list of Jacob’s sons is as follows:
The sons born to Leah:
Reuben — (see, a son) (29:32)
Simeon — (hearing) (29:33)
Levi — (joined) (29:34)
Judah — (praise) (29:35)
Issachar — (hire) (30:18)
Zebulun — (dwelling) (30:20)
The sons born to Bilhah, the handmaid of Rachel:
Dan — (judge) (30:6)
Naphtali — (wrestling) (30:8)
The sons born to Zilpah, handmaid of Leah:
Gad — (a troop or good fortune) (30:11)
Asher — (happy) (30:13)
The sons born to Rachel:
Joseph — (adding) (30:24)
Benjamin — (son of the right hand) (35:18)
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