Note: When doing a study on a book in the Bible you use a lot of resources. The major influence for me on this study of Genesis is The Genesis Record by Henry Morris.
Genesis 29:1. Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the
people of the east.
Here we pick with Jacob and his travels. He has run away from his brother Esau. On this journey he met up with the Lord. He has his first personal encounter with the Almighty. God is preparing his covenant with Jacob. Jacob is going to learn a big lesson over the next 14 years that will change his life forever.
2 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.
Water was a valuable substance back then. It was protected and guarded. Sheep herding was a big industry and everyone was looking for water. Jacob walks up among these men with their sheep waiting to water their flock.
3 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.
Here is the description of how it worked.
4 And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence [be] ye? And
they said, Of Haran [are] we.
5 And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And
they said, We know [him].
Jacob must have been close to his destination so he begins to inquire of Laban. Now we will see Gods hand in this.
6 And he said unto them, [Is] he well? And they said, [He is]
well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.
It is no coincidence that Jacob met up with this group and also with Rachel. It was not luck or fate this is the work of the almighty. Here we see Rachel the one to marry Jacob.
7 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].
8 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.
I thought this was funny but it also showed a little arrogance on the part of Jacob. Jacob was going to show the shepherds when to water their flock. He did not understand why they were waiting. But come to find out they were waiting on Rachel so they all could water at the same time.
9. And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her
father's sheep: for she kept them.
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.
When Jacob saw Rachel something must have come over him, he moved the large stone all by himself and allowed the sheep to be watered.
11 And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.
12 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 was so excited to see a kinsman. He kissed her and cried and wept. He had finally found what he was looking for. Now look what Rebekah does. She runs home and tells her father. Just as Rebekah did when talked to by Abraham's servant.
13 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.
14 And Laban said to him, Surely thou [art] my bone and my
flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.
What is the difference between the greeting of the servant of Abraham and the greeting here of Jacob?
Now we see that Jacob was here for one month. It doesn't say that he worked he was just there living off of Laban so Laban decides to take advantage of the situation.
15. And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou [art] my brother,
shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what
[shall] thy wages [be]?
So one day over dinner he tactfully begins to talk to Jacob. Instead of saying you owe me and you can't bum off me he says, what will you wages be? You are my brother what can I pay you.
16 And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder [was]
Leah, and the name of the younger [was] Rachel.
17 Leah [was] tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well
favoured.
Leah was not as well looking as Rachel. Uncle Laban knew this but he wanted his daughter to be married.
18 And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven
years for Rachel thy younger daughter.
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.
Do you think Laban knew what he was doing?
20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed
unto him [but] a few days, for the love he had to her.
21 And Jacob said unto Laban, Give [me] my wife, for my days
are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.
22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and
made a feast.
23 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.
24 And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid [for]
an handmaid.
25 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?
If anyone understood this principle it would be David. David sinned with Bath-sheba. Then he had her husband, Uriah, killed. Does anyone remember what happened after David repented. II Samuel 12:18?
26 And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to
give the younger before the firstborn.
27 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the
service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.
28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him
Rachel his daughter to wife also.
Which now means that Jacob has two wives. Polygamy seemed to be popular in the Old Testament. Men have relations with more than one woman or marrying more than one wife. I believe that God frowned upon this. It was intended for man to have but one wife as we see in Genesis 2:4. But mans heart was hardened and had to learn the hard way. Evil is what comes from disobeying God's laws. There was conflict in the life of Abraham with different children we will see even more conflict in the life of Jacob. Levictus 18 the Mosaic law sets some standards on mans relationship with women. Then Jesus says in
Matthew 19:4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he
which made [them] at the beginning made them male and female,
5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother,
and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What
therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
Does God approve of polygamy even though it is in the Bible? No. God does not approve of everything in the Bible. Look at some of the sayings of Job's friend, or the sin What else can you think of?
29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to
be her maid.
30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel
more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
Jacobs generations
31. And when the LORD saw that Leah [was] hated, he opened her
womb: but Rachel [was] barren.
God has a tendency to lean toward the side of the ones who are hurt and oppressed
Jesus said in
Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon me, because he hath
anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to
heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives,
and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that
are bruised,
32 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.
33 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.
34 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.
35 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.
