Womeninthechurch48

Women in the Bible

Lesson Forty-eight: by turtle

Jacob was a man that went through a lot of transitions in his life. With the disappoint of finding himself
in bed with the wrong daughter to being determined to get the wife he wanted. Leah and Rachel seem
to have little choice in this process but to be the bride of Jacob. Societies are much different today then
it was back then or at least here in the states. Woman can marry whoever they want. They do not have
to wait for permission. Yet permission is chivalry and often with blessings.

Jacob journey starts with him leaving his father’s house in fear of Esau killing him for he had stolen his
birthright. Isaac blessed Jacob and sends him on his way. Jacob mother had help Jacob gain the best
blessing from his father. His mother had used trickery on his father. God makes a covenant at Bethel
with Jacob to be His God if he would follow Him. Jacob makes a vow to God to make him God if he
will give him a safe journey and help him to return. I sometimes wonder how much did Leah and
Rachel understand about Jacobs covenant with God. The story never really says until they return to
Bethel. Yet during his journey we see a young man mature into adulthood.

Let’s begin our story with Jacob meeting his second wife and his mother’s family.

Genesis 29:1-6 KJV
(1) Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(6) And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter
cometh with the sheep.

Rachel would be the first of his ancestor’s family that he would meet in a strange land. He finds the
tribe of his Grandfather Abraham and Grandmother Sarah.

Genesis 11:24-32 KJV
(24) And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Terah:
(25) And Nahor lived after he begat Terah an hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and
daughters.
(26) And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran.
(27) Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat
Lot.
(28) And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees.
(29) And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the name of
Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah.
(30) But Sarai was barren; she had no child.
(31) And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter in
law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land
of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.
(32) And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.

The patriarchs of Israel’s faith and family line. Jacob found his people and what exciting time this must
of been for Jacob. To go back to a people he did not know. To meet his cousin who one day he would
marry.

Genesis 29:7-12 KJV
(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.
(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.
(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.

The shepherds were waiting for all the sheep to be gather before rolling away the stone. Jacob sees
Rachel and rolls the stone away. And then tells Rachel who he is. Rachel response is to share the news
with her father. News of a family from a distance would be welcome and after a month of helping
around Laban decides Jacob should be paid for his work.

Genesis 29:13-15 KJV
(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.
(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?

This opportunity talk of payment gets Jacob in trouble. He wants to work for wife. He wants to marry
Rachel. And so Laban agreed to Jacob’s terms of marriage.

Genesis 29:16-20 KJV
(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.
(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.
(20) And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love
he had to her.

Rachel was loved greatly by Jacob. In fact Jacob was ready to wed Rachel after waiting seven years.
One has to wonder though how drunk was Jacob on his wedding night. How drunk was he to not know
Laban’s deceit.

Genesis 29:21-25 KJV
(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?

Jacob after sleeping with Leah realize ti is not Rachel. He is angry because of trickery done to him.
Poor Leah no choice but to do what her father had said. Leah being the oldest and it being custom for
the oldest to marry first. Yet instead of telling Jacob the rules he deceives him. He worked long and
hard to marry his love and now is deceived. What worse is it is by his own kinsmen. Jacob had no
choice but to agree to his father in law demands of working another seven years for Rachel. He loved
her that much. He however would honor the marriage to Leah.

Genesis 29:26-31 KJV
(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.
(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.
(31) And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.

Jacob seem to have no trouble fulfilling his husband duties to his two wives. In fact he seem to sleep
with both. For Leah though hated did conceive children and though Rachel is loved greatly she bares
no children. Leah continues to be blessed greatly by God and conceives several sons.

Genesis 29:32-35 KJV
(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.

This would begin the war of two sisters to bear children. And so until next week we will pick up the
war of bearing children between to woman.