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Genesis 29

1Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the children of the east.

2And he looked, and, behold, a well in the field, and, lo, three flocks of sheep lying there by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and the stone upon the well’s mouth was great.

3And 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 its place.

4And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence are ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.

5And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.

6And he said unto them, Is it well with him? And they said, It is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.

1Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.

2And 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.

3And 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.

4And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.

5And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.

6And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.

Commentary · verses 1-6

Laban was Rebekah's brother, Jacob's uncle. Rachel, Laban's daughter, was a shepherd.

7And 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.

8And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be 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.

10And 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.

7And 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.

8And 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.

9And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep: for she kept them.

10And 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.

Commentary · verses 7-10

Rebekah helped Abraham's ruler. Jacob helped Rachel.

11And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.

12And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s brother, and that he was Rebekah’s son: and she ran and told her father.

11And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.

12And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s brother, and that he was Rebekah’s son: and she ran and told her father.

Commentary · verses 11-12

Jacob and Rachel were cousins.

13And 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.

14And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.

15And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?

13And 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.

14And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.

15And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?

Commentary · verses 13-15

Laban initiated the exchange where he and Jacob discussed the terms of Jacob serving Laban.

16And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.

17And Leah’s eyes were tender; but Rachel was beautiful and well favored.

18And Jacob loved Rachel; and he said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.

19And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.

16And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.

17Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.

18And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.

19And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.

Commentary · verses 16-19

Laban said he agreed with Jacob's terms: Jacob would serve Laban for seven years for Rachel to be his wife.

20And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.

21And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.

22And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.

23And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.

20And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.

21And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.

22And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.

23And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.

Commentary · verses 20-23

There was no ceremony. A wedding is a feast. Consensual sexual intercourse is Marriage.

24And Laban gave Zilpah his handmaid unto his daughter Leah for a handmaid.

25And it came to pass in the morning that, 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?

24And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.

25And 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?

Commentary · verses 24-25

Notice, Jacob did not know it was Leah until the morning, until after he had intercourse with her. Jacob supplanted Esau. Here, Laban had beguiled Jacob.

26And Laban said, It is not so done in our place, to give the younger before the first-born.

27Fulfil the week of this one, and we will give thee the other also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.

28And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife.

26And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.

27Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.

28And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.

Commentary · verses 26-28

Since Jacob didn't know it was Leah that he had intercourse with, it seems that he still had to agree with keeping her as his wife. However, Jacob still wanted Rachel as his wife as well. Rachel was given to Jacob before the next seven years was served. Remember, Jacob needed as much time away from Esau as possible. Also, by staying with Jacob for the rest of the week, Leah agreed to Rachel also becoming Jacob's wife. This was the same as Sarai did with Abram and Hagar. Notice, Jacob married sisters. This would be a violation of God's Law in the next dispensation according to Leviticus 18:18. This was another proof that sin is not the action (WHAT). Sin is the cause (HOW/WHY) and the action is the effect. This was why an action could be sin during one dispensation and not sin during another dispensation.

Doctrines on this passage

29And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her handmaid.

30And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

31And Jehovah saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.

29And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.

30And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

31And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.

Commentary · verses 29-31

God said Leah was "hated" when it was stated that Jacob loved Rachel more. The definition for hate in God's Word was "love less." This was God's definition of "hate."

32And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Because Jehovah hath looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.

32And 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.

Commentary · verse 32

"Reuben" meant "behold a son."

Doctrines on this passage

33And she conceived again, and bare a son: and said, Because Jehovah hath heard that I am hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.

33And 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.

Commentary · verse 33

"Simeon" meant "heard."

34And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have borne him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.

34And 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.

Commentary · verse 34

"Levi" meant "joined to."

35And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, This time will I praise Jehovah: therefore she called his name Judah; and she left off bearing.

35And 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.

Commentary · verse 35

"Judah" meant "praised."

Leah gave birth to Jacob's first four sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah. Rachel was barren.

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