Genesis 29:29-30:13

L.     Genesis 29:29 – And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.

§        Bilhah - בלהה Bilhah, "troubled"

M.     Genesis 29:30 – And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

§        Imagine Leah, here she is married to a man who wanted her sister and the only reason he’s married to her is due in part to her deception.  Her self-confidence had to be rather low.

§        Here we can see he was given Rachel and then he worked the seven years, he didn’t have to work the seven years first.

N.     Genesis 29:31 – And when the LORD saw that Leah [was] hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel [was] barren.

§        God looks upon our circumstances and accommodates in unusual ways

§        Hated – loved less

§        We can see here the problems with polygamy.  We find Leah unloved and hoping to win the affection of her husband with the delivery of each new son

§        Rachel who is loved by her husband is jealous of the fact that her sister can have children,

§        No one seems happy and this is all due to Laban’s deceit

O.    Genesis 29:32 – 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.

§        LORD - יהוה Yĕhovah, Leah invokes the covenant name for each of her sons, and Rachel invokes it for Joseph

§        Reuben - ראובן Rĕ'uwben, "behold a son"

§        Apparent from Leah’s statement theat the Lord has looked upon her “affliction” that she is living in misery

P.     Genesis 29:33 – 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.

§        LORD - יהוה Yĕhovah

§        Simeon - שמעון Shim`own, "heard"

§        Another son, another statement of anguish; however, even though Jacob may not love her as much as Rachel, he is apparently spending some time with her.  More evidence that a marriage should be according to God’s perfect Will between one man and one woman.

Q.     Genesis 29:34 – 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.

§        LORD - יהוה Yĕhovah

§        Levi – לוי Leviy, "joined to"

§        Leah cannot be blamed for wanting to be joined to her husband exclusively, however, she does not seem to consider the circumstances surrounding her predicament.  Jacob loved Rachel from the start, its not like he ever loved Leah she usurped her sisters rightful place and now she laments her situation.

R.    Genesis 29:35 – 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.

§        LORD - יהוה Yĕhovah

§       Judah – יהודה Yĕhuwdah, "praised"

§       Leah finally surrenders to God, rather than making a negative statement about her personal relationship with her husband, she has grown to a point where she is fully dependent upon God.  She therefore makes a positive statement, praising the Lord and naming her son “the Lord be praised”.

 

Chapter 30

I.               Jacob’s Family is Growing (Genesis 30:1-25)

A.     Genesis 30:1 – And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.

§        Rachel lashes out and blames Jacob for something that he clearly has no control over.  Rather than seek God to grant her children, she blames and hurts the one that loves her the most.

§        What motivates these feelings within Rachel? Envy of her sister.  Not necessarily her inability to have children as much as it is her sister’s ability too have children.  Even though she has something her sister doesn’t have (Jacob’s love) she is not content with that.  Is it wrong for her to want children of her own? Of course not, but that does not seem to be the motivating factor.

o       Isaiah 54:1 - Sing, O barren, thou [that] didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou [that] didst not travail with child: for more [are] the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD.

§        Other women who are barren that end up having prominent children include:

o       Sarah – Genesis 11:30

o       Rebekah – Genesis 25:21

o       Manoah’s wife (Samson’s mother) – Judges 13:2

o       Elizabeth Luke 1:7

o       Hannah – 1 Samuel Chapter 1

-        Hannah’s situation is very similar to that of Rachel, yet Hannah behaves entirely different.

-        Compare/Contrast Hannah with Rachel

RACHEL	HANNAH
One of two wives, the other was fruitful she was barren	One of two wives, the other was fruitful she was barren
Was preferred by her husband	Was preferred by her husband
Provoked by the other wife	Provoked by the other wife
Envious of her sister’s ability to birth children	Wept and fasted to have children
Went to her husband with a sense of entitlement	Prayed to the Lord in humility (“poured out my soul before the Lord”)
Wanted Children	Wanted a Child
Demanding	Submissive
Wants the child as a power piece	Wants to give the child to the Lord
Wanted children more than her husband’s love, to the extent that she gave him to another woman	Was comforted by her husband when he said “am I not better to thee than ten sons?”
Named her firstborn son Joseph meaning the Lord has taken away my reproach and shall add to me another.  This is an indication that she needed a child to validate her and is already looking forward to the next child and not exhibiting thanksgiving for the one she just gave birth to.	Named her firstborn son Samuel meaning “asked of God” acknowledging that he was the son she had asked for and God granted her request.
	These are Hannah’s words after she gave up Samuel to the service of the Lord: “My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, Mine horn is exalted in the Lord: My mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; Because I rejoice in Thy salvation.  There is none holy as the Lord: For there is none beside Thee: Neither is there any rock like our God…”
Rachel gave her handmaid to Jacob a second time producing Naphtali, and eventually had two sons of her own in Joseph and Benjamin	Hannah gave birth to three more sons and two daughters

§        2 Peter 1:8 - For if these things be in you, and abound, they make [you that ye shall] neither [be] barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

B.     Genesis 30:2 – And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, [Am] I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?

§        One thing leads to another, Rachel hurts Jacob with her accusations, Jacob gets angry and lashes back.  Even though what he said was truthful, it was probably not the right to say this to her out of anger.

o       Deuteronomy 7:14 - Thou shalt be blessed above all people: there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle.

§        What did Rachel expect Jacob to do? Maybe she could have simply asked Jacob to pray that God would give her children, but instead we see what comes next seems to transpire out of sibling rivalry competing for the same husband.

o       Psalm 127:3 - Lo, children [are] an heritage of the LORD: [and] the fruit of the womb [is his] reward.

C.     Genesis 30:3 – And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her.

§        Rachel appears hurt and desperate, rather than trust God she follows the example of Sarah, giving her hand maid to her husband

§        She would rather have children that were not hers biologically than to feel somehow beneath her sister.

o       Her sisters sons would have been her nephews, but rather than demonstrate her love for them she wanted her own to use as power pieces in her struggle with her sister.

o       This was in accordance with the code of Hammurabi:

§145- If a man takes a wife, and she bears him no children, and he intends to take another wife: if he take this second wife, and bring her into the house, this second wife shall not be allowed equality with his wife.

§146- If a man take a wife and she give this man a maid-servant as wife and she bear him children, and then this maid assume equality with the wife: because she has borne him children her master shall not sell her for money, but he may keep her as a slave, reckoning her among the maid-servants.

D.    Genesis 30:4 – And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.

§        Wife – אשה 'ishshah, woman, wife, female

E.     Genesis 30:5 – And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son.

F.     Genesis 30:6 – And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan.

§        Note that Rachel names the son even though it is Bilhah’s.  This clearly shows that even though Bilhah was given to Jacob for a “wife” she did not rise to the level of Rachel or Leah.  (See Code of Hammurabi §145 above)

§        God - אלהים 'elohiym

§        Dan - דן Dan, "a judge"

o       “God hath judged me” à “God has given sentence in my favor”

G.    Genesis 30:7 – And Bilhah Rachel's maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son.

§        Conceived - הרה harah, to conceive, become pregnant, bear, be with child, be conceived, progenitor

o       Conceived again would indicate two separate pregnancies and therefore two separate intimate moments with Jacob.  We see from this that Rachel was willing to trade her husband’s affections for children that were not even her own.

§        So even though Rachel already had one son by way of Bilhah, that didn’t satisfy her envious thirst for equality with her sister.

§        No complaints from Jacob

H.    Genesis 30:8 – And Rachel said, with great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.

§        No mention of God

§        Naphtali - נפתלי Naphtaliy, "wrestling"

o       What a contentious home, Rachel is sowing seeds of strife in her children because of her jealousy of Leah

I.       Genesis 30:9 – When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife.

§        Leah, who had already bare Jacob 4 sons is now driven by her rivalry with Rachel to hand over her handmaid to Jacob. 

§        This is an irrational decision by Leah, she has four sons of her own and for the sole purpose of competing with her sister she turns her handmaid over to Jacob.

o       This actually seems to run counter to the intent of Hammurabi’s code in that a wife would normally turn her handmaid over to her husband unless she is barren, clearly Leah is not barren.

§        Still no complaints from Jacob

J.      Genesis 30:10 – And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a son.

K.    Genesis 30:11 – And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad.

§        Gad - גד Gad, "troop"

L.     Genesis 30:12 – And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a second son.

§        Leah, who has been competing for Jacob’s affections makes her task even more difficult by bringing another woman into the marriage.

§        These decisions are not rational, and are motivated by sin, but God shows that He is able to bring good out of evil

§        Jacob has been a real sport throughout all of this ordeal, never once complaining about all of these demands that his wives have put on him.

§        Note that it doesn’t say she conceived again only that she bare him a second son, this may indicate that Gad and Asher were twins.

M.   Genesis 30:13 – And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.

§        Asher - אשר 'Asher, "happy"

§        Why is she suddenly happy? She says because the daughters will call her blessed.  Wasn’t she already blessed with her own children, why does it take a son from the bondwoman to make her happy?  Is her happiness rooted in maintaining an advantage over her sister?

Genesis 29:1-28

I.               Arrival at Padan-Aram (Genesis 29:1-14)

A.     Genesis 29:1 – Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.

§        Went – “lifted up his feet and went”

o       Saying that meant he had a spring in his step

o       After Jacob’s encounter with the Lord he has something to be happy about, his outlook on life has changed dramatically.

B.     Genesis 29:2 – 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.

§        Just as Abraham’s servant found Rebekah at a well, here we have Jacob about to meet Rachel at a well. 

§        This could possibly be the same well as it was fairly close to Laban’s house (although the description here doesn’t appear to match to other)

C.     Genesis 29:3 – 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.

§        Indicates that there was some sort of a watering trough at the base of the well and the stone had to be rolled back or the water would saturate the field making a muddy mess.

§        Must have been an artesian well, so likely is not the same well where Rebekah watered the camels

D.    Genesis 29:4 – And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence [be] ye? And they said, Of Haran [are] we.

§        Jacob identifies these men as his brethren, likely due to their occupation of shepherding

§        He made it to Haran, it would not be easy to find Haran there wasn’t highways and roads with street signs.  How would Jacob have been able to find this place?

o       Abraham’s servant made the journey for Rebekah about 100 years earlier

o       Abraham left Haran and headed south

o       Could they have recorded landmarks to help a future traveler?

o       Were there ancient maps that merchants may have used?

o       Asked for directions from people along the way?

o       Led by the Spirit

E.     Genesis 29:5 – And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know [him].

§        Son – would have been grandson of Nahor

§        They know him, but don’t mention how they know him or what their opinion is of him (him is not even included, they responded “We know…”)

F.     Genesis 29:6 – And he said unto them, [Is] he well? And they said, [He is] well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.

§        They answer only what asked, were they hiding anything about Laban?

§        Don’t come across as particularly fond of Laban, but they seem to light up when they mention Rachel.

§        Is this perhaps another reason why they were waiting? Looking forward to Rachel bringing her flock? Could have been the highlight of their day.

G.    Genesis 29:7 – 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].

§        Jacob seems to see them as servants in the way he speaks to them, giving commands without understanding the circumstances

§        Seems like he is trying to get rid of them so he could make his move?

H.    Genesis 29:8 – 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.

§        Who are “they” that roll the stone away? Wouldn’t it be themselves? Who else was going to move it?

§        Indicates that the stone is fairly large and requires more than one man to roll it away

§        They were waiting on Rachel to join her flock with the others before opening the well

§        All the flocks need to be gathered before the stone can be rolled away? Why? As mentioned, the well may have saturated the ground if the well was left open too long. Or it could have just been an excuse.

I.       Genesis 29:9 – And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she kept them.

§        Shepherds were usually slaves, younger sons or daughters

§        Rachel - רחל Rachel, "ewe"

J.      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.

§        Jacob (perhaps showing off) demonstrates great strength in rolling the large stone away by himself.  Remember he is 77 years old!

§        3X mentioned that Laban was “his mother’s brother” is there any significance?

§        We have another picture of Christ. Just as the stone was rolled away from the tomb so that the flock of Christ could have an opportunity to receive the living water of the risen Christ.  So too does Jacob roll away the stone from the well providing water to the earthly flock of his kinsman Laban.

§        Note that it wasn’t only the flock of Laban that received the water, but it was the flock of Laban that motivated Jacob to roll the stone away.  All of the flocks benefitted from the flock of the kinsman.  Symbolic of all the world being blessed by the the Messiah through Israel.

§        Kind of a reversal from his mother Rebekah who was the one who watered the camels.

K.    Genesis 29:11 – And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.

§        Kissed – נשק nashaq, 1) to put together, kiss 2) to handle, be equipped with

§        Wept – בכה bakah, to weep, bewail, cry, shed tears

o       We can see that Jacob is not practiced in meeting women, this doesn’t seem like a very good first impression

L.     Genesis 29:12 – 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.

§        Brother – Laban was Jacob’s uncle

§        She ran – excitement, haste like her aunt Rebekah

§        Maybe it frightened her, this guy showed up and started kissing her, weeping and then told her they were cousins

M.   Genesis 29:13 – 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.

§        Note that Laban is over 100 years old and here we see him running to meet Jacob. (If Jacob is 77 that means Rebekah married Isaac 97 years prior.  Laban was involved in the decision to allow Rebekah to leave to marry Isaac so he would be well over 100 years old now)

§        Laban remembers that this family is rich from what the servant brought for his sister, this may have influenced his enthusiasm

§        Lets look at what Laban said the last time:

o       Genesis 24:29 - And Rebekah had a brother, and his name [was] Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well.  And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well.  And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the LORD; wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.

o       Laban seems to be attracted to the riches, he doesn’t know yet that Jacob is broke.

N.    Genesis 29:14 – And Laban said to him, Surely thou [art] my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.

§        Bone – עצם `etsem, bone, essence, substance

§        Flesh – בשר basar, flesh

O.    Genesis 29:15 – And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou [art] my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what [shall] thy wages [be]?

§        Note that Laban let Jacob work for an entire month before he brought up anything about wages. 

§        Laban probably has an idea of what Jacob wants and that is why he let Jacob name his own wages. 

P.     Genesis 29:16 – And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder [was] Leah, and the name of the younger [was] Rachel.

§        Two daughters Leah being the eldest; Rachel being the younger is whom Jacob is attracted to

o       Leah - לאה Le'ah, "weary"

§        Just like the two sons of Isaac, Esau was the elder and Jacob was the younger.

§        Appears that God had made provision for each of Isaac’s sons to take each of Laban’s daughters to wife had His perfect will been followed.

o       God often makes provision for us yet through our own life decisions we often choose something other than God’s best for us.

o       How often do we miss out on God’s best because we get impatient like Esau impatiently marrying Canaanite women instead of waiting for God’s best.

Q.    Genesis 29:17 – Leah [was] tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.

§        Tender – רך rak,  tender, soft, delicate, weak

II.            In Servitude (Genesis 29:18-35)

A.     Genesis 29:18 – And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.

§        Jacob names his wage, that being the 2^nd daughter, Rachel, Laban would have likely wanted this anyway.  So for Jacob to ask this for a wage was a perfect way for Laban to add an added hand without adding to the payroll.

§        Was Rachel a mere piece of property to be sold? It was customary for the groom to provide a dowry to the father-in-law, this should have been part of the bride’s inheritance.

§        Did she have any say in the matter whatsoever?  We only see that Jacob had tremendous love for Rachel, we don’t see if the feelings were mutual in Rachel.  We read of no objections so it is reasonable to assume that the feelings were mutual.

B.     Genesis 29:19 – And Laban said, [It is] better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.

§        Appears that Laban is the sole decision maker here.

§        Laban shows deference to Jacob because he is his sisters son

o       Laban must have thought this to be a good idea, he doesn’t even try to negotiate

C.     Genesis 29:20 – And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him [but] a few days, for the love he had to her.

§        Love is patient, Jacob will be 84 years old before he can actually claim his bride is willing to sacrifice himself.  Much different that the impatient lust of the flesh that seeks immediate gratification.

§        Why did Jacob offer seven years? He was given the opportunity to name his wage and he started off with what seems to be a long time.

§        Maybe he thought he would need this time to acquire his own wealth to provide for her since he had nothing.

D.    Genesis 29:21 – And Jacob said unto Laban, Give [me] my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.

E.     Genesis 29:22 – And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.

§        Notice all of the men, where are the women?

F.     Genesis 29:23– 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.

§        See the similar deceptions Jacob went into his father’s tent disguised as someone else in order to receive the family blessing.  Likewise, Leah went into Jacob’s tent disguised as someone else in order to receive the blessing of marriage.

§        A reversal: Jacob a second born deceives to claim what belongs to the firstborn, Leah the firstborn deceives to claim what belongs to the second born.

o       Note that God does not hold this against Leah for he blesses her with many children

§        Just as we have those who try to deceive us, Jacob was deceived by Laban

o       At first Laban may be looking to Jacob as a potential heir marrying him to the firstborn daughter would have secured his place, but after his sons are born it all changed

-        Jasher 30:13 – And Laban had no sons but only daughters, and his other wives and handmaids were still barren in those days…

o       God blessed Laban on account of Jacob with sons, this ensured Jacob would not be Laban’s heir.  This was perhaps God’s suttle way of making sure Jacob left Haran to return to the land of his own inheritance.

-        Jasher 30:18 – And in the fourth year of Jacob’s residence in the house of Laban, the Lord visited Laban and remembered him on account of Jacob, and sons were born unto him, and his first born was Boer, his second was Alib, and the third was Chorash.

G.    Genesis 29:24 – And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid [for] an handmaid.

§        Zilpah - זלפה Zilpah, "a trickling"

H.    Genesis 29:25 – 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?

§        Where was Rachel? Was she under house arrest?

§        A little retribution

I.       Genesis 29:26 – And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.

§        This is an odd time to mention this tidbit of information (seems like he may be playing on Jacob’s guilt) in fact Laban may have even made this “custom” up since there is no record of its existence anywhere else.

§        This should have been mentioned at the commencement of the seven years, not the end but Laban wanted to squeeze as much out of Jacob as he could.  He knew Jacob would not have worked seven years for Leah.

§        He did this to his own family, speaks volumes to Laban’s character.  Jacob is learning the pain of deception as the victim, this probably gives him a greater understanding to how Isaaac and Esau felt after his deception of them.

J.      Genesis 29:27 – Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.

§        Here Laban names the price, he knows he holds all of the bargaining chips

§        Leah gets Jacob exclusively for 1 week then Jacob can take Rachel as his wife too.

§        Jacob did not have to wait another 7 years for Rachel

K.    Genesis 29:28 – And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.

§        Jacob seems unbelievably accommodating to Laban’s demands, why? Likely Jacob recognizes that this is retribution for the deception he used with his father and brother.

§        He also didn’t have much of a choice, he was now married to Leah and he wanted Rachel so he had to cooperate