A: Leah. However the bible shows that he took both Leah and Rachel immediately before he began serving Laban. This type of celebration is seen several times throughout the Bible. He agrees to Laban's offer, and soon Rachel is his. Before he left, though, Rachel stole Laban's household idols. Both Jacob and Laban, Rachel’s father, were sheepherders. Before too long he had 13 children (12 boys and 1 girl)! How Jacob was “blind” to Leah in his bed that night is not explained. Note the irony in Jacob’s situation. Then we will give you the younger one too, in exchange for seven more years of work.”. Jacob sees through Laban and shrewdly makes an offer his father-in-law cannot resist. 30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years. 15 And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? Jacob said to Laban, “What have you done? “Now give me my wife so I can sleep with her.” 22 So Laban invited everyone in the neighborhood and prepared a wedding feast. Jacob loves Rachel and arranges to marry her and to work seven years as her bride wealth. 29:15 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Should you work for me for nothing because you are my relative? CHAPTER 31 1. Laban’s flock would have consisted mainly of pure white sheep and solidly colored goats; few black lambs or speckled goats would be present. Rebekah’s brother was Laban [Gen 29:10] and Laban’s daughters were Leah and Rachel. How do we know if a dream is from God? Day after day he faithfully and patiently did all that Laban asked. “What have you done to me?” he demanded of Laban. We need to understand that Jacob was in Laban's home because he had run away. Laban, however, was eager to have Jacob remain, for God had blessed everything Jacob did while in Laban's household, and Laban had grown rich. Leah was the oldest daughter. Q: Who was the first son Jacob had with Rachel? How did Laban trick Jacob? Jacob was in love with Rachel so he told Laban, “I will work for you for seven years in return for marriage to your daughter Rachel.”. Good News Translation Then Jacob said to Laban, "The time is up; let me marry … A: Joseph Q: What did God change Jacob’s name to "Name me your wages, and I will give it," Laban said (verse 28), hoping to entice Jacob to stay. Didn’t I work for you in exchange for Rachel? Answer: Jacob was fleeing from his brother, Esau, who wanted to kill him, when he found his uncle, Laban. 29:23 In the evening he brought his daughter Leah to Jacob, and Jacob had marital relations with her. New poll shows churches have successfully shifted to online services during the coronavirus pandemic. Why have you tricked me?”, Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one. The perpetrator of deceit is now the victim of a similar deception. Pastor resigns from church over the pro-Trump views of his congregation. Home › Forums › Bais Medrash › Did Rachel come to Jacob only seven days after Jacob married Leah? It was time to make Rachel his bride! When Jacob and Rachel tried to quietly move away from Laban to Jacob's homeland, Laban pursued them with a band of men. Sign up for the Bible Blender newsletter and receive the latest on science and tech news, new product notifications, exclusive features, and more. A week after Jacob had married Leah, Laban gave him Rachel, too. But first, Jacob and Rachel would combine for a double whammy on Laban: 1) Rachel steals Laban’s small household idols while he shears sheep; 2) Jacob goes against God’s way by not informing Laban of their departure, (despite following God’s will to go home). We are told that Jacob married both Rachel and Leah, and later Bilhah and Zilpah, all daughters of Laban. So Jacob answered, “I will work for you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”, 19 “It is far better,” said Laban, “that I give her to you than marry her to some outsider. What did Laban make Jacob do to finally marry Rachel? Lesson 7. 21 Finally, the time came for him to marry her. That’s what Jacob had to do. I want to have marital relations with her.” 29:22 So Laban invited all the people of that place and prepared a feast. 29:17 Leah’s eyes were tender, but Rachel had a lovely figure and beautiful appearance.) Jacob's story gives new meaning to the saying "Love is blind." In our section today we will follow him as he begins to separate himself from his father-in-law, Laban, and begin to journey home. I’m ready to consummate my marriage.” Laban invited everyone around and threw a big feast. What did Jacob do for the flocks so that they might conceive when they went to drink from the water? Laban would likely have seen an offer of seven years of free labor as very generous. Not only was his family growing, but so were his flocks of sheep. Jacob was in love with Rachel so he told Laban, “I will work for you for seven years in return for marriage to your daughter Rachel.” Laban agreed that Rachel would be a good wife for Jacob and accepted Jacob’s proposal. Small wonder, Laban chases after Jacob when he learns they skedaddled. Jacob worked for Laban another seven years (Gen 29:19-31). Jacob deceived his father and brother and now the tables have been turned by the brother of Jacob’s mother (who in the past, partnered with Jacob and his schemes). Perhaps Laban did not tell his daughters about his arrangement with Jacob (Genesis 29:18), and Leah assumed that, according to custom, she (as the older daughter) was to marry Jacob that night (see verse 26). The story of how Jacob ends up marrying his two cousins, Leah and Rachel, begins in Canaan, with the marriage of his older twin, Esau, to two Hittite women of whom Isaac and Rebekah do not approve. 2. But it will cost you another seven years of work.”. The parable of the wedding banquet – many are invited but few are chosen (Matthew 22:1 – 22:14), The parable of the landowner and the tenants (Matthew 21:33 – 21:46), The parable of the two sons and God’s contempt for hypocrisy (Matthew 21:28 – 21:32). When the seven years ended, Laban threw a feast for the wedding. So Jacob agreed to work seven more years. Jacob tried to nudge the shepherds along so he could spend time alone with Rachel. Half of the tribes of Israel, including the tribe of Levi, will trace their ancestry back to Leah. Laban welcomed his nephew as a young man, and set him the stipulation of seven years' labour before he permitted him to marry his daughter Rachel. Many Christians thought that Jacob worked seven years for Laban, realized that Laban deceived him to marry Leah, and then worked seven more years before finally getting married to Rachel. And it was Rachel that Jacob loved. He did not take them in obedience to a command from G‑d. Jacob then slept with her. 1 Biography 1.1 Encounter with Jacob 1.2 Having children 1.3 Fleeing from her father 2 Verses Rachel, who was a shepherd first encountered Jacob when she was guiding … Jacob did not have to wait seven more years for Rachel, only … From ancient Mesopotamian literature, we know that giving a servant to the bride was a widely accepted custom and to readers in ancient times, would have been a mere side note to the story. Q: Who was the first son Jacob had with Rachel? Finally, after the long seven years of work, Jacob asked Laban for his bride Rachel. 23 That night Laban brought his daughter Leah to Jacob. The Talmud suggests that Rachel was 14 years old, which meant she was 21 when she finally married Jacob. Let’s talk about what your wages should be.”, 16 Now Laban happened to have two daughters. Lessons abound whether we recognize them as opportunities or not. Laban agreed that Rachel would be a good wife for Jacob and accepted Jacob’s proposal. Jacob and Leah had sexual relations together. They did this by making a promise not to harm each other and by piling up rocks to remind them of that promise. So Jacob began seven years of work to make Rachel his wife. Peterson, Eugene H. The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. The Bible pointedly tells us that Jacob’s love for Rachel “was greater than his love for Leah”. 29:29 (Laban gave his female servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.) Question: What did Laban make Jacob do to finally marry Rachel? (Laban gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her maid.) Biblical Studies Press, 2006. Regardless, even though it is not clear what the original text meant when describing Leah’s eyes, it is clear that Leah was not considered as beautiful as her sister, Rachel. Jacob said to Laban, "The time is up, and I want to marry Rachel now!" https://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/jacob-and-rachel-a-bible-love-story This story is found in Genesis 28-29. Let’s … Jacob raged at Laban. 18 Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, “I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.”. A: Put him in a basket by the river. Print. If Jacob wished to get Rachel as his wife, he would have to serve him another seven years. He finally gets his bride and escapes from Laban… So Jacob began seven years of work to make Rachel his wife. (Rachel!) On the night that Jacob and Rachel were to be married, Laban gave Rachel’s older sister, Leah, to him as a wife instead. He then stayed and worked for Laban the … Jacob is burning inwardly, but he sees his prize in sight. Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009. But Laban was not honest or fair with Jacob. When he’d completed the honeymoon week, Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. In yet another instance of irony, recall that Jacob tricked his father by disguising himself as his elder brother Esau. Read more about Jacob … Tell the Story: Last week we learned how Jacob married Rachel and Leah, and his family was growing. When Jacob, discovering that his uncle had tricked him, demanded an explanation, Laban told him that it was not the custom of the land to marry off the younger daughter before the older one. Questions About The Exodus And Early History Of Isreal. This relates to the Merchant of Venice because Shylock was very hesitant to lend the money to somebody he did not like in particular, just like Laban did not want to give his daughter to Jacob. Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. 29:15 Later, Laban asked Jacob, “Should you serve me for free, just because you’re my nephew? What did Jacob do when he saw Rachel? Answer: Joseph. And Jacob did so. 24 And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid. All Rights Reserved. Stay here with me.” 20 So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her. Test your children’s knowledge about the facts related to the Exodus and the early history of Israel. 29:18 Since Jacob had fallen in love with Rachel, he said, “I’ll serve you seven years in exchange for your younger daughter Rachel.” 29:19 Laban replied, “I’d rather give her to you than to another man. He came to the place where his mother’s relatives lived. You can check out our online Christian store for faith-based apparel, jewelry, accessories, and more. We saw this earlier when Abraham told his servant to ensure that Isaac did not seek a wife from the “daughters of Canaanites” but instead, find a wife from his “country” amongst his own relatives. Jacob completed the honeymoon week with Leah, and then Laban gave Jacob Rachel to be his wife. ), 29:25 In the morning Jacob discovered it was Leah! It is heartwarming to see Jacob put aside his cunning devices and act out of unselfish love, giving 14 years of his life for the woman he cherishes. 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]." He worked for Laban for another seven years. 19 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 … NET Bible. The mention of slavery is upsetting and Laban’s gift of “servants” to Leah and Rachel may seem a distraction to the core story. He tried to impress Rachel with his strength, lifting the boulder from the well by himself (though he was nowhere noted to be an unusually strong man—a girl can bring out the … A: Rachel. 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