What could Jacob have done to help her? Artist William Dyce captures this fateful moment in his mid-19th-century painting The Meeting of Jacob and Rachel., Photograph by Hamburger Kunsthalle, Hamburg, Germany/Bridgeman Images. As we are reminded in Romans 8:28, And we know that in all things God works for the goodof those who love him, who have been calledaccording to his purpose.. Jacob, as he had already lain with Leah, was stuck. The Cross And Separation From The World (1 Peter 4:1-6), 7. WebWe would like to show you a description here but the site wont allow us. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. He had prospered to such an extent that Laban no longer felt very kindly toward him. Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, OT Law: Genesis 29:20 Jacob served seven years for Rachel (Gen. Ge Gn). At one point a decade passes between 2 verses (Genesis 33:17-18), then the narration continues forward without mentioning Joseph being sold by his brothers. Is there a generic term for these trajectories? If God set the maximum age to 120, then how could Jacob be 130 years old? Jacob buried her in a tomb near Bethlehem and set up a pillar that reportedly still remains (Genesis 35:16-20). She has a weekly YouTube devotional, too. As a result I've always tried to guesstimate the length of their marriage from the age difference between Benjamin and his older brothers, but unless some details are hiding in the original Hebrew that are lost in translation, it doesn't seem to me that there are enough details in Genesis to have any real idea. En route to resettle with his father, Isaac, Rachel died giving birth to Jacobs 12th son, Benjamin. Where does the version of Hamapil that is different from the Gemara come from? We're not told exactly how long after they left Succoth that Benjamin was born, but it was likely in the first year or two. She gave her handmaid Bilhah to Jacob so that he could have a son by her, and she did it twice (30:3-8). Homemakers want to be working wives, and working wives want to be full-time homemakers. The next morning when he woke up and saw the woman he married, he realized that is was LEAH!!!! What differentiates living as mere roommates from living in a marriage-like relationship? Was Jacob so Sexually driven that He mistook Leah for Rachel? When Laban heard that his nephew had come, he ran out to meet Jacob. He went straight to Laban and started asking him so many questions. Richard, was a 1954 graduate of Wheaton College, and received his Th.M. Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! And he said,I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel., Speak a blessing over your kids: 1 John 4:16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her; for though to lovers time seems long ere they enjoy the object beloved; yet Jacob here respects not so much the time as the toil and labour of service he endured in it; he thought that seven years' service was a trifle, like the service of so many days, in comparison of the lovely and worthy person he obtained thereby; all that he endured was nothing in comparison of her, and through the love he bore to her: besides, the many pleasant hours he spent in conversation with her made the time slide on insensibly, so that it seemed to be quickly gone; which shows that his love was pure and constant. Why did God wrestle with Jacob and why did this appearance not become a "big deal"? Jacob was so upset. (Note: This is the case still with the Bedouins, the Druses, and other Eastern tribes (Burckhardt, Voleny, Layard, and Lane). Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! Jacob waited, and his romantic love at first sight grew to become a deep bond of spirit and a total commitment of soul. Now Jacob had two wives, Leah and Rachel, both sisters, It could be a parent, grandparent, sibling, friend, anyone. 23 That night Laban took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob. One of these men kept their promise and the other didnt. How many years did Jacob serve laban? Song of Solomon 8:6,7 Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. It was not Gods perfect will. "Signpost" puzzle from Tatham's collection, Passing negative parameters to a wolframscript. Genesis 30:26 Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and let me go: for thou knowest my service which I have done thee. 17 Leah looked rather plain, but Rachel was lovely in form and appearance. Web30 Rachel, realizing she was barren, became envious of her sister. (Q) 30Jacob made love to Rachel also, and his love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah. We first meet Jacob in Genesis 25, when he is born as the second of twin boys who comes from the womb grasping his older brothers heel. But that is a guess. Laban agreed with Jacobs wages and told Jacob if he worked for 7 years, Laban would give Rachel to Jacob. Article Images Copyright , How Jacob and Rachels Bible Story Show's us God's Love in Action. And the marital misfortunes of the proverbial football hero and homecoming queen bear it out too. Dinah is also 17). Forced to serve Rachels father, Laban, for seven years to win her, Jacob was tricked at the end of that time into marrying her sister, Leah. He was then allowed to marry Rachel as well, in return for seven more years of labour. At first childless, Rachel eventually gave birth to Joseph and died giving birth to Benjamin. She gave birth to Joseph. Jacob's flocks grazed as far south as Hebron, because. We go on to read, Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted his voice and wept (Gen. 29:11). 13:5). Give me children or Ill die, she exclaimed to Jacob. But when a man is enamored of a woman, he does not want to hear those things. The consequences of deception are usually painful and distressing. As a result, he had to work for another 7 years (v30) for the second wife as well. How is it possible Jacob didnt see Leahs face or hear her voice? Start your free trial today! How do the interferometers on the drag-free satellite LISA receive power without altering their geodesic trajectory? He moved a stone that normally took several people to move, and watered all of Rachels sheep. The uncertainty arises from the unknown time between Jacob leaving Paddan-aram and arriving in Ephrath which was presumably at least 2 years (with Bethel in between) and when Joseph was 17 years old. Some wives are discontented with their husbands. Laban agreed on the deal again and gave Rachel to be Jacobs wife. But what good did it do her? The message came in the form of a dream about a ladder that stretched from heaven to earth. God is love. What ensued was a love triangle that expanded to include the sisters maidservants and many years of bitter jealousy and competition. 2 Jacob flew into a rage. 27 Fulfill the week for this daughter, then well give you the other one in exchange for serving me another seven years., 28 So Jacob completed another seven years work, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. The Cross And Christs Suffering For Sins (1 Peter 3:18-22), 6. Then we shall be able to receive with gratitude what He gives us, and at the same time thank Him for what He denies us, being confident that His ways are perfect. When we last saw Jacob he was running from Beersheba for his life, fleeing the vengeance of his brother Esau. He told Rachel that he was a relative of her father, Laban. He marries also Rachel, and serves for her seven years more. Browse other questions tagged, Like any library, Christianity Stack Exchange offers great information, but, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. What characteristics in your mate bring you the greatest contentment? There he met a beautiful woman named Rachel. Did the drapes in old theatres actually say "ASBESTOS" on them? Sly, deceitful old trickster that he was, he substituted Leah for Rachel on Jacobs wedding night. Uncle Laban was the one who threw the monkey wrench into the machinery. The physical attraction was still there, but he could not live in such close contact with her through a seven-year engagement period and not learn a great deal about her, both good and bad. Indeed, the Bible tells us those seven years of labor seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her (Genesis 29:20). Gods purpose and plan prevails. Then she died, leaving Jacob to the sister she envied so much in life. All rights reserved, National Geographic explores notable biblical figures in our ongoing series People in the Bible, as part of our coverage of the. So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and indeed he loved Rachel more than Leah, and he served with Laban for another seven years (Gen. 29:30). When we can recognize the presence of discontentment in our lives and acknowledge it as sin, we can seek Gods grace to overcome it and find new joy in living. So Jacob gathered his wives and children and his belongings and he slipped away while Laban was out shearing his sheep. Ultimately, Jacob makes peace with his older brother, Esau. Those 12 sons went on to become the 12 tribes of Israel. Let us leave aside the age of Jacob, it is possible to deduce the a number of other facts about his chronology. Glen : It is a very good answer +1, Seven years wages and most likely a 12 hour day, the then wages amounted to 50 shekels of silver. Technically, the children of that union would be Rachels children in their culture. There were some shepherds sitting around the well, so Jacob started a conversation with them: My brothers, where are you from? They answered, We are from Haran. Jacob probably heaved a sigh of relief. He loved her to the end of his life. Am I God? he flared. Jacob was one of two twin sons born to Isaac and Rebekah. And may I remind you that Leah, not Rachel, was the mother of Judah, through whom the Savior would ultimately come (Gen. 29:35). Unexpected uint64 behaviour 0xFFFF'FFFF'FFFF'FFFF - 1 = 0? To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. This lovely little Rachel seems to have been a shrew! Jacob was far from perfect, but he is an example to us of how a husband ought to treat his wife when she isnt all that she ought to be. God wants us to be content with what we have. Genesis: Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Pentateuch by John Goldingay. Rachel proved that. Even though Laban didnt set a good example of keeping a promise, God does. But tensions within the clan, particularly between Jacob and Labans sons, compelled Jacob to return to Canaan with his wives and handmaidens, who also served as Jacobs concubines. Some commentators insist that he should have rejected Leah since he did not take her willingly. Little Reuben, Leahs firstborn, who may have been about four years old at the time, was out in the field following the reapers around picking some plants called mandrakes or love apples, as any little boy of that time might do. Then, after seven years, Jacob was ready to receive his wife, Rachelonly to be tricked by his father-in-law. Tricked by his father-in-law into marrying his true loves sister, Jacob waited 14 years before he could be with Rachel. How to Have Joy in Your Golden Years Despite These 10 Life A God-Centered Life: 10 Faith-Based Practices When Youre Feeling Anxious, Grumpy, or Stressed, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. It isolated her in a grim world of loneliness. When you get a chance, please take the, from your pastor, priest, or other trustworthy counselor, New blog post from our CEO Prashanth: Community is the future of AI, Improving the copy in the close modal and post notices - 2023 edition. Did Laban change his mind about giving Rachel to Jacob before he had completed the seven years in Genesis 29:30? Review Activity BibleWise has a great activity to do with your kids to help them retain the Bible Story. Well Jacob knew he loved Rachel so much and he wanted to do everything in his power to marry her. Jacobs work for Laban wasnt easyit was hard, grueling labor. WebNew International Version. But archaeology is confirming that Persia's engineering triumph was real. It was so late at the wedding that Jacob was too tired to know what was going on. We know this because Benjamin was a father when they went into Egypt 22 years after leaving Succoth (Joseph 17 years old - 39 years old). Dickering over the value of a bride may have been an insult to the bride. How should we view/interpret Jacob's initiative involving the rolling of the stone from the mouth of the well? We also know that by the time Joseph was 17 years old (Gen 37:2) his mother had been dead for some unknown time before. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Why did you give me Leah? I specifically asked for Rachel! Why have you tricked me? Jacob was not happy at all. Why the obscure but specific description of Jane Doe II in the original complaint for Westenbroek v. Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity? He did not get very far before he learned that God was going with him. Why did you deceive me?, 26 But Laban responded, Its not the practice of our place to give the younger one in marriage before the firstborn. The miracle of conception lies within the power of God. To Jacob, however, the seven years seemed but "a few days, because he loved Rachel." Jacob stayed married to Leah, but a week later he also took Rachel as his wifeworking an additional seven years for her ( Genesis 29:2728 ). (N), 28And Jacob did so. 24 Laban also gave his servant woman Zilpah to Leah to be her maidservant. Even the range of 15-22 years is pretty precise, all things given, and pins it down much more than I would have thought possible. And most of us have moments like that. When Laban finally overtook them and searched their belongings for his terephim, Rachel lied to him and deceived him to keep him from finding them (Gen. 31:33-35). Laban had given Leah to Jacob. Passing negative parameters to a wolframscript, A boy can regenerate, so demons eat him for years. WebJacob is 84 years old. Jacob couldnt believe what had happened. What is this brick with a round back and a stud on the side used for? You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and more. Again, Rachels greed was showing. He was made to work for seven years for Rachel and another seven years for Leah. By this time, these women had borne him 11 sons and a daughter. But godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment (1 Tim. Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Jacob had stayed and worked for Laban for a month. Too many couples marry in haste and repent at leisure. (J) I served you for Rachel, didnt I? Some husbands are discontented with their wives. This is what happened with Jacob, he had to work 7 years before being with the love of his life but then found out he had to work another 7 years before his deal was up with Laban. Richard L. Strauss authored nine books, and served as pastor of churches in Fort Worth, TX, Huntsville, AL. All rights reserved, history of the Bible and the search for sacred texts, Who's Who in the Bible: Unforgettable People and Timeless Stories from Genesis to Revelation, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. What is the meaning of Jacob wrestling with God. Then he worked But more so he could have refused. He has instructed us to be content with what we have, for while the circumstances of life change daily, He is unchanging and ever with us (Heb. Jacob turned his head, took one fateful look, and it was without a doubt love at first sight. Now we are even more dubious. Some women try to buy a man with sex, or trap him with a baby, or lure him with family fortune. (L) 27Finish this daughters bridal week;(M) then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. Seven years?! Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. How could Jacob not notice he married Leah instead of Rachel? And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had to her. Jacob called the name of the place Bethel, meaning house of God.. That was not exactly the happiest way for Leah to start her married life, was it? True love requires thorough knowledge. Rachel's death (shortly after giving birth to Benjamin) is record in Genesis 35:16-18. So Jacob went in to Finding the distance from a corner of a cube to the midpoint of an edge, What are the arguments for/against anonymous authorship of the Gospels. Why did Jacob insist that Joseph's sons were his?
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