Laban warmly welcomed him to his family, but asked a steep price for Rachels hand in marriage: Jacob would first have to work as a shepherd for seven years, tending Labans flocks. Rachel's death (shortly after giving birth to Benjamin) is record in Genesis 35:16-18. Our culture frowns on a man expressing his emotions like this, but honestly expressing ones feelings might promote greater emotional health and greater marital stability. Am I God? he flared. 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. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Dottard Correct Laban was greedy, he bartered for both of his daughters., Although he played the part of the benevolent uncle, he reduced his blood relationship with Jacob to a service contract. But can you imagine Jacobs utter consternation when the morning light exposed Labans chicanery? If Jacob wanted to marry Rachel as well, he would owe Laban another seven years of labor. Joseph reveals himself to his brothers, why the elaborate ruse? Think of someone that you love so much. Article Images Copyright , How Jacob and Rachels Bible Story Show's us God's Love in Action. 18 Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, Ill work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.. 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. There are Christians who are dissatisfied with the places where they live, the jobs they have, the money they make, and the houses they live in. Similarly, we know God loves us so much He is willing to go to any lengths to win our hearts and souls for His kingdom. THAT IS INSANE GUYS! Time travel in this animation through the history of the Bible. 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. What should I follow, if two altimeters show different altitudes? May I suggest another alternative; Jacob could have accepted his marriage to Leah as the will of God for his life and learned to love her alone. Was Jacob so Sexually driven that He mistook Leah for Rachel? Knowing they arrived in Succoth when Joseph was 6 and that they left when he (and Dinah) was 17, we can say they were married about 25 years when she died. 24And Laban gave his servant Zilpah(H) to his daughter as her attendant. Genesis: Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Pentateuch by John Goldingay. Jacob 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. She was a lovely girl, beautiful of form and face (Gen. 29:17). 2 Jacob flew into a rage. In fact, Jesus said, There will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent (Luke 15:7). 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). (g) Meaning after the years were accomplished. Jacob was traveling to a place called Paddan Aram. Technically, the children of that union would be Rachels children in their culture. A new discovery raises a mystery. And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him. And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. Jacob did not refuse for a very important reason. At the top stood God, reaffirming his covenant with Abraham that now passed to Jacob: The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring (Genesis 28:13). So one day Jacob went to Laban and told him that the 7 years is up and he was ready to marry his daughter. That is a minimum of 15 years. It's now been 11 years since they left Haran (Joseph was 6, now is 17. But from the beginning we are a little dubious about the match. To approach a question 400 million years in the making, researchers turned to mudskippers, blinking fish that live partially out of water. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! Jacob had two wives, they were the daughters of Laban, their names were rachel and Leah. (D), 21Then Jacob said to Laban, Give me my wife. But a spirit of discontent that causes us to fuss, nag, bicker, quarrel, and complain is a great hindrance to happy marital relationships. Jacob, the deceiver, had become the deceived. Seven years is a long time to wait, and I think Jacob really did grow to love Rachel during those years. Jacob never got over Rachel. (L) 27Finish this daughters bridal week;(M) then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work. What is the story of Jacob, Leah, and Rachel? This is where we meet Rachel, the beautiful second daughter of Laban, Jacobs relative in another land (Genesis 29). How many years Jacob lived in Egypt? It only takes a minute to sign up. He continued, Do you know Laban the son of Nahor? We know him, they said. He did not get very far before he learned that God was going with him. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. This isn't such a straightforward task, though, since the chronology of Genesis is confusing. Webster's Bible Translation And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and She is also the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism. The Lord stood above the ladder and said to Jacob, Behold, I am with you, and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you (Gen. 28:15). She was envious, selfish, peevish, fretful, discontented, and demanding. Rachel | Bible, Jacob, Leah, & Facts | Britannica Oh my goodness, guys! 9. Dickering over the value of a bride may have been an insult to the bride. This stone has a mysterious past beyond British coronations, Ultimate Italy: 14 ways to see the country in a new light, 6 unforgettable Italy hotels, from Lake Como to Rome, A taste of Rioja, from crispy croquettas to piquillo peppers, Trek through this stunning European wilderness, Land of the lemurs: the race to save Madagascar's sacred forests, When Jacob met Rachel he kissed her and lifted up his voice, and wept (Genesis 29:11). The fourteen years of service for Leah and Rachel must have been fulfilled shortly after the birth of Joseph. 24 Laban also gave his servant woman Zilpah to Leah to be her maidservant. She was killed at age 39 in the 2015 Philadelphia train We thought we knew turtles. And her eyeswhat gorgeous eyes they were! Jacobs work for Laban wasnt easyit was hard, grueling labor. As a result, he had to work for another 7 years (v30) for the second wife as well. He ran up to her and hugged and kissed her because he was so relieved to meet family. God made one woman for one man (Gen. 2:24, cf. All this means that Jacob was married to Rachel for some time between about 15 years and 22 years. Joseph and Dinah are 6 years old. Why did you give me Leah? I specifically asked for Rachel! Why have you tricked me? Jacob was not happy at all. Then she died, leaving Jacob to the sister she envied so much in life. He had just worked 7 years for Rachel, who he loved so much and then he wakes up to realize that he married Leah instead! Just like Jacob loved Rachel so much that he worked 14 years, God loves you even more and gave His son Jesus to die for you! If you inserted some improved circumstance or material possession, how might you finish the statement to be more consistent with the principles of Gods Word? Review Activity BibleWise has a great activity to do with your kids to help them retain the Bible Story. Their story comprises a large portion of the Old Testament, and while on the surface it might not be easy to understand the deeper truth behind their complicated romance, it teaches us much about the vast and merciful love God has for each of us. Genesis 29:20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, yet it 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. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and more. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. Jacob did not have to wait seven more years for Rachel, only one week. For some long COVID patients, exercise is bad medicine, Radioactive dogs? 7. It says, I feel good when I am with you, so I want to hurry up and get you to the altar before I lose you and lose these good feelings. Love says, Your happiness is what I want most of all, and I am willing to wait, if need be, to be sure this is what is best for you. And if it is real, it will stand the test of time. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. "Signpost" puzzle from Tatham's collection, Passing negative parameters to a wolframscript. But Rachel took something that did not belong to any of them; she took her fathers idols, the household gods called terephim (Gen. 31:19). Rachel was never completely happy with what she had. 4:11). Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. But he was more than willing to do this in order to marry his beloved Rachel. What is the difference between a blessing and a birthright (Genesis 25)? Even though Laban didnt set a good example of keeping a promise, God does. 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 ). This marriage was to see hard times, but had it not been for this long engagement and Jacobs deepening and maturing love, it probably would not have survived at all. How long was it before Adam and Eve sinned? Jacob may have been a homebody, but he was no weakling. Jacob buried her in a tomb near Bethlehem and set up a pillar that reportedly still remains (Genesis 35:16-20). Jacob and Rachels love story pales in comparison to the mighty, never-ending love God our father has for us. By talking in whispered tones in the darkened tent, she made it through the night. Finish the following statement as you might have done before reading this chapter: I could be happy if only . Maybe Jacob would have been commended for accepting these consequences from the sovereign hand of God had he exercised that degree of faith. Who were Jacob and Rachel, and what can we learn from their story? The history of book bansand their changing targetsin the U.S. Should you get tested for a BRCA gene mutation? Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. In fact, there are indications that he maintained his devotion to her to the very end of her life. It isolated her in a grim world of loneliness. Is she feeling love, or is she feeling anger, hostility, and rejection? God made a wife with the need to rest secure in her husbands love at all times. Generating points along line with specifying the origin of point generation in QGIS. But she named him Joseph, which means may he add. And she said, May the Lord give me another son (Gen. 30:24). So Jacob served Laban fourteen years for his two daughters and six years for the cattle a total of twenty years. Some of these things are important and need to be talked out. Rachel, in Genesis, the first book of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), one of the two wives of the patriarch Jacob. Judah left home, went to the area of Adullum, got married and had some kids (Genesis 38:1-5), Jacob, distraught beyond measure, packed up the family and they left their house in Succoth, arriving first in Shechem where he bought a plot of land to pitch his tent, This is where Dinah (17) was sexually violated, then her brothers killed all the men of the town and the family had to flee. But it only seemed like a few days, he loved her so much. However, Laban agreed to give Jacob Rachel as well, provided Jacob finish the wedding week with Leah before taking Rachel as a wife, and then work another NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Several factors would have contributed to Jacobs desire to leave. 19 Its better that I give her to you than to another man, Laban replied, so stay with me. 20 Jacob served seven years for Rachel, but it seemed like only a few days because of his love for her. One of these men kept their promise and the other didnt. And it came about, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mothers brother, and the sheep of Laban his mothers brother, that Jacob went up, and rolled the stone from the mouth of the well, and watered the flock of Laban his mothers brother (Gen. 29:9, 10). What is the significance that Jacob offered to work for Laban ,seven years for Rachel ? Jacob couldnt believe what had happened. No, it wasnt, not for Rachel. 29:15 Later, Laban asked Jacob, Should you serve me for free, just because youre my nephew? To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. 1. The Cross And Unjust Suffering (1 Peter 2:19-25), Living in Love: Secrets from Bible Marriages. This was 11 years after leaving Paddan-aram. By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. How Can I Recognize and Understand the Holy Spirit Better? 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. (1958 More. When the seven years were fulfilled at last, Jacob spent his wedding night only to discover at dawn that it wasnt Rachel, but her elder sister Leah whom Laban had delivered to Jacobs tent. Homemakers want to be working wives, and working wives want to be full-time homemakers. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.. He had prospered to such an extent that Laban no longer felt very kindly toward him. STDs are at a shocking high. Why Does God Compare Our Relationship with Him to That of a Bride and Groom? How should we view/interpret Jacob's initiative involving the rolling of the stone from the mouth of the well? 4. His twin Esau is a man of the land, a hunter, and the favorite of their father, while Jacob, who preferred to remain at home, was the favorite of their mother. Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for professors, theologians, and those interested in exegetical analysis of biblical texts. Why the obscure but specific description of Jane Doe II in the original complaint for Westenbroek v. Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity? The miracle of conception lies within the power of God. What ensued was a love triangle that expanded to include the sisters maidservants and many years of bitter jealousy and competition. We can, however, follow the chronology and the geography to know within about a year how long Jacob and Rachel were married. Browse other questions tagged, 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. By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. Well Jacob knew he loved Rachel so much and he wanted to do everything in his power to marry her. 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. God is love. Laben got Jacob snockered at the wedding feast and pulled a switcheroo, giving his older daughter, Leah, instead. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. I'm not sure if the exact value may be calculated today so that we may know if the value he was placing on Rachel was more than or equal to the standard rate that was expected for a bride. Rachel 3:2). Jacob was in love with Rachel, so he told Laban he would work for seven years in exchange for Rachels hand in marriage. One, we can understand thatlike Jacobin spite of our sins and weaknesses, we can still be reconciled to God. What part did your kids seem to like the most in this Bible Lesson??? But what good did it do her? Forced to serve Rachels father, Laban, for seven Some husbands say, I could love her more if she would only be sweet. Love that functions only when she is sweet is not really love. Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, OT Law: Genesis 29:20 Jacob served seven years for Rachel (Gen. Ge Gn). 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. So Jacob gathered his wives and children and his belongings and he slipped away while Laban was out shearing his sheep. Passing negative parameters to a wolframscript, A boy can regenerate, so demons eat him for years. Jacob agreed, and Bilhah went on to have two sons, Dan and Naphtali. Jacob, by now humbled after his treachery and desperate for family ties and a place to call home, falls madly in love with Rachel.
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