Jacob Marries Twice - Genesis 29

An exposi*onal study taught by Harry Morgan

Outline of Genesis • Crea%on & Fall Of Man (1-5) • Noah, Flood & Babel (6-10) • Tower Of Babel (11) • Abraham (12-25) • Isaac (25-27) • Jacob (27-36) • Joseph (37-50)

Outline of Genesis 29 (1-9) (10-12) Jacob meets Rachel (13-14) Jacob stays with Laban (15-19) Jacob’s betrothal to Rachel (20) Jacob serves Laban 7 years for Rachel (21-30a) Jacob’s wedding (30b) Jacob serves Laban another 7 years (31-35) Leah alone Jacob meets the shepherds of Harran

Overview of Jacob’s Journeys • 77 years and Canaan • 20 years in Haran • 33 years in Canaan • 17 years in Egypt

1. What is the main theme of Genesis 29? Reciprocity Gala$ans 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

2. What is reported in verse 1? Genesis 29:1 So Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the East. (nā·śāʾ) = lift up, pick up (rě·ḡěl) = feet א ר ֶ ג ֶ ל שׂ נ “The heaviness with which he must have le= home had now gone. Assured of the abiding presence and protec@on of Jehovah, he went on his way lightheartedly.” Pink, A. W. (2005). Gleanings in Genesis (p. 254). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible So>ware.

2. What is reported in verse 1? Genesis 29:1 So Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the East. (hā·lǎḵ) = go, travel (qě·ḏěm) = east ה ָ ל ַ . ק ֶ ד ֶ ם Etymology of “orient” = to face the East Jacob completed his 517-mile journey.

Genesis 24 & 29 parallels • Abraham’s servant met Rebekah at a well (24:10–15) • Jacob encounters Rachel at a well (29:10) • For Abraham’s servant “it happened” (24:15) • For Jacob “was still speaking” (29:9) • Rebekah was tending of her family’s flock (24:16–21) • Rachel’s was tending of her father’s flock (v. 6)

John Calvin: “Whenever we may wander in uncertainty through intricate windings, we must contemplate with eyes of faith, the secret providence of God which governs us and our affairs and leads us to unexpected results.” Our heavenly Father is ordering our lives to glorify Him even if we cannot always see it.

3. What 3 things did Jacob see in the land of the east? Genesis 29:2 And he looked, and saw a well in the field; and behold, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks. A large stone was on the well’s mouth.

4. Where was this well? Genesis 29:2 And he looked, and saw a well in the field; (śā·ḏěh) = field, i.e., a cul>vated area for growing things, open field, open country, countryside שׂ ָ ד ֶ ה The same term as used in 25:27, 29, which referred to the place where Esau hunted game.

5. How did Jacob locate this parJcular well? Genesis 29:2 And he looked, and saw a well in the field; Coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous. Coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous. Albert Einstein

6. Why was the well covered? Genesis 29:2 And he looked, and saw a well in the field; and behold, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks. A large stone was on the well’s mouth. (gā·ḏôl) = great, large גּ ָ ד וֹ ל (ʾě·ḇěn) = stone א ֶ ב ֶ ן The same term as used in 28:22 which referred to the stone Jacob “set as a pillar” in Bethel.

7. Where was the gathering place? Why? Genesis 29:3 Now all the flocks would be gathered there; and they would roll the stone from the well’s mouth, water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place on the well’s mouth.

8. What did Jacob call these strangers? Genesis 29:4 And Jacob said to them, “My brethren, where are you from?” 1 Jacob becomes Ma#hew 12:50 whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother…”

9. Where were these men from? Why was their locaJon significant? Genesis 29:4b And Jacob said to them, “My brethren, where are you from?” And they said, “We are from Haran.” Genesis 27:43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice: arise, flee to my brother Laban in Haran. Genesis 28:10 Now Jacob went out from Beersheba and went toward Haran.

10. Of whom did Jacob inquire and what was their response? 2 Genesis 29:5 Then he said to them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?” And they said, “We know him.” Genesis 29:10 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.

11. What was Laban’s daughter’s name? 3 Genesis 29:6 So he said to them, “Is he well?” And they said, “He is well. And look, his daughter Rachel is coming with the sheep.” Literally: “Is shalomto him?” % ו ה ֲ שׁ ָ % ו ם

12. Why didn’t they water the sheep? 4 Genesis 29:7-8 Then he said, “Look, it is s@ll high day; it is not @me for the caXle to be gathered together. Water the sheep, and go and feed them.” 8But they said, “We cannot un@l all the flocks are gathered together, and they have rolled the stone from the well’s mouth; then we water the sheep.” Ø Shepherding was often done by children. Ø A custom of fairness. Ø They may be lazy. Ø They may be interested in Rachel Parunak, H. Van Dyke (2007) www.cyber-chapel.org/sermons/genesis/notes/Genesis29.pdf

13. How is Rachel described when Jacob first sees her? Genesis 29:6a And look, his daughter Rachel is coming with the sheep.” Genesis 29:9 Now while he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess.

14. What did Jacob do to help? Genesis 29:10 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. What do you think Rachel felt and thought when she witnessed Jacob move the stone?

15. How did he greet Rachel? Genesis 29:11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice and wept. נ ָ שׁ ַ ק (nā·šǎq) = kiss, i.e., to touch with the lips, as a gesture of affec6on & mutual rela6onship (cp. Gen. 27:26-27; 33:4; 45:15) (nā·śāʾ) = be liHed up נ ָ שׂ ָ א בּ ָ כ ָ ה (bā·ḵāh) = weep, wail, cry, sob, mourn, i.e., to well-up tears in the eyes and have mild convulsions or spasms of the diaphragm, and oHen make vocal sounds of soH groaning or loud wailing

16. What did Rachel do when Jacob told her who he was? Genesis 29:12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s relative and that he was Rebekah’s son. So she ran and told her father.

17. What did Laban do when he heard his relaJve was there? Genesis 29:13-14 Then it came to pass, when Laban heard the report about Jacob his sister’s son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his house. So he told Laban all these things.

18. What did Laban learn from Jacob? Genesis 29:13b So he told Laban all these things. 1. Jacob’s mother wants him to stay away for a while. Jacob has time on his hands. 2. Jacob’s father instructed him to take one of Laban’s daughters to wife. 3. Jacob is penniless, unable to bring the required bride price. 4. The moving of the stone single-handed shows his strength. This is someone whose services could be useful to Laban. Parunak, H. Van Dyke (2007) www.cyber-chapel.org/sermons/genesis/notes/Genesis29.pdf

19. What did Laban say when he heard his relative was there? Genesis 29:14 And Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” And he stayed with him for a month. שׂ ָ רִ֖ י my flesh my bone וּ ב ְ ﬠ ַ צ ְ מ ִ֥ י א ַ ֛ ךְ surely Gen. 29:14 שׂ ָ֖ ר וּ ב ָ מ ֵֽ ﬠ ֲ צ ָ מ ַ֔ י ﬠ ֶ֚ צ ֶ ם Gen. 2:23 ה ַ פּ ַ֗ ﬠ ַ ם now flesh of bones bone (the same words of Adam used of Eve)

20. How long had Jacob been with Laban, before he had an agreement with him? Genesis 29:15 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my rela@ve, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what should your wages be?”

21. What type of relationship did Jacob agree to with Laban? Genesis 29:15 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my rela@ve, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what should your wages be?” The words “work, serve” ( ע (root שׂ כ ר ) are key terms in the subsequent narrative (29:18, 20, 25, 27, 30; 30:26, 29; 31:6, 41; 30:16, 32, 33; 31:7, 41) and are laden with echoes of the exploitation Jacob suffered at Laban’s hands. ) and “pay” ב ד

22. What were the names of Laban’s daughters? Genesis 29:16 Now Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.

23. What do their names mean and how were they described? Leah = weak “weak eyes?” “cross-eyed?” “near-sighted?” Rachel = ewe “shapely?” “fair, pale?” “near-sighted?”

24. What kind of arrangement was agreed upon between Jacob and Laban?

• Did Laban & Jacob understand “family” the same way? • Laban’s words “bone and flesh” echoed Adam. Did he mean the same thing as Adam? • Was Laban’s “generous offer” a veiled threat? Rembrandt’s sketch of Laban mee;ng Jacob

25. What do these events tell us about Jacob’s character?

26. What happened after Jacob fulfilled his end of the bargain?

27. Who was Jacob’s first wife?

28. Why did Laban give Zilpah to Leah? 24And Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a maid. (zil·pāh) = drip, trickle, frailty; Arabic zulfah, “dignity,” or with dhulifa, “to be small.” ז ִ ל ְ פּ ָ ה

29. What did Jacob say to Laban after his wedding night? 25So it came to pass in the morning, that behold, it was Leah. And he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why then have you deceived me?” 2 1 3 ר ָ מ ָ ה (rā·māh) = deceive, i.e., cause someone to have erroneous, misleading views

An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Wedding Couple

30. What was Laban’s response? Genesis 29:26 And Laban said, “It must not be done so in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. • Tradition – firstborn gets taken care of first • Deal – complete Leah’s wedding feast of 7 days • Credit – you get Rachel on the promise of 7 more years of labor • Triangula>on – everyone gets hurt

31. Why did Laban want Jacob to “fulfill” Leah’s week? Genesis 29:27 Fulfill her week, and we will give you this one also for the service which you will serve with me still another seven years.” (mā·lēʾ) = fill up; finish a period (impera(ve mood) (šā·ḇûaʿ) = a >me period of 7 days (šě·ḇǎʿ) = 7 מ ָ ל ֵ א שׁ ָ ב וּ ﬠ ַ שׁ ֶ ב ַ ע

32. Of what is the seven-day honeymoon symbolic? Genesis 29:27 Fulfill her week... Daniel 9:24 70x ”weeks” or 7s = 490 years

33. Of what is the seven-day honeymoon symbolic? Genesis 29:27 Fulfill her week... Daniel 9:25 “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem (Ezra 7:11-28, 490 BC) until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks (30 AD); the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times. (7 x 7) 49 years + (62 x 7) 434 years = 483 years

32. Of what is the seven-day honeymoon symbolic? Genesis 29:27 Fulfill her week... Daniel 9:26 “And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, and till the end of the war desolations are determined. 490 years - 483 years = 7 years (“1 week”)

32. Of what is the seven-day honeymoon symbolic? Genesis 29:27 Fulfill her week... Daniel 9:27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate.” The Final Week

33. When did Jacob marry Rachel? Genesis 29:28 Then Jacob did so and fulfilled her week. So he (Laban) gave him (Jacob) his daughter Rachel as wife also. (ʾiš·šāh) = woman, female; wife, i.e., female spouse in a marriage union א ִ שּׁ ָ ה

34. Who is Bilhah? (bil·hāh) = simplicity, modesty, timid, or faltering בּ ִ ל ְ ה ָ ה • A wedding gi) given to Rachel by her father Laban (29:28-29) • A concubine given to Jacob by Rachel (30:3) • The mother of 2 of Jacob’s 12 sons: Dan & Naphtali (30:4-8; 35:25). • Reuben, commiPed incest with Bilhah (35:22; 49:3-4)

35. What was Jacob’s heart toward Rachel? (ʾā·hǎḇ) = love, i.e., have an affection based on a close relationship, sometimes in comparison to other persons with a lesser relationship א ָ ה ַ ב

36. What was Jacob’s family life like? • Rivalry between Jacob’s wives • Jacob served another 7 years, but unlike the first, they are not said to have “seemed like a few days” (20)

37. How did the strife between Jacob’s wives mirror his relaJonship with Esau? • Their strife is rooted in favoritism and partiality. • Their strife is of the elder against the younger. • Their strife is rooted in deception (cp. the theft of the blessing in Genesis 27 with the switched brides at the wedding). • Their strife is the object of barter (cp. the sale of the birthright in Genesis 25 with the mandrakes in 30:14-16).

Jacob Marries Twice - Genesis 29