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
§ Jacob identifies these men as his brethren, likely due to their occupation of shepherding
§ He made it to Haran Haran
o Abraham’s servant made the journey for Rebekah about 100 years earlier
o Abraham left Haran
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 2nd 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
- 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
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