Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel – Genesis 29:1-30

Walton says, “Marriage customs in the ancient Near East combined legal and festive elements in different ways from current Western practice. The legal aspect did not feature a formal ceremony by a licensed cleric or public official. Instead, it was reflected in a private marriage contract drawn up by the families involved. Such contracts did not depend on the agreement of the bride and groom and sometimes were made while they were still children. When the agreed-upon time arrived, a marriage feast was held to honor the couple. It included a ritual, celebratory meal and concluded with the couple retiring to consummate the marriage. Even after the feast the bride continued to live in the house of her father for several months and receive conjugal visits. Often the conception of a child signaled the time for the couple to begin their own household.”

[1] Then Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the east. [2] As he looked, he saw a well in the field, and behold, three flocks of sheep lying beside it, for out of that well the flocks were watered. The stone on the well’s mouth was large, [3] and when all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place over the mouth of the well.

[4] Jacob said to them, “My brothers, where do you come from?” They said, “We are from Haran.” [5] He said to them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.” [6] He said to them, “Is it well with him?” They said, “It is well; and see, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep!” [7] He said, “Behold, it is still high day; it is not time for the livestock to be gathered together. Water the sheep and go, pasture them.” [8] But they said, “We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together and the stone is rolled from the mouth of the well; then we water the sheep.”

[9] While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess. [10] Now as soon as Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, Jacob came near and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother. [11] Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud. [12] And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s kinsman, and that he was Rebekah’s son, and she ran and told her father.

[13] As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he ran to meet him and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things, [14] and Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh!” And he stayed with him a month.

[15] Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?” [16] Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. [17] Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. [18] Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” [19] Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me.” [20] So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.

[21] Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed.” [22] So Laban gathered together all the people of the place and made a feast. [23] But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he went in to her. [24] (Laban gave his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her servant.) [25] And in the morning, behold, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?” [26] Laban said, “It is not so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. [27] Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years.” [28] Jacob did so, and completed her week. Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. [29] (Laban gave his female servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.) [30] So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban for another seven years. (Genesis 29:1–30, ESV)

It is amazing what has happened in the purposes of God at water wells.  “Abraham’s servant met Jacob’s mother at a well (ch. 24), Jacob will meet his future wife at a well (29:9), Moses will meet his future spouse at a well (Ex 2:15–21), and Jesus will introduce a woman at a well to a new relationship with God (Jn 4)” (NIV Grace and Truth Study Bible).  There is an agreement about this well that the heavy stone covering it is only removed when all the shepherds arrive with their flocks.  Walton explains: “Contracts are necessary where water is scarce, and distrust is often warranted. The stone over the well prevents people or animals from stumbling into it (wells did not have protective walls), guards against contamination, and appears also to have served as a means of regulating its use.”  Despite the weight of the stone cover, Jacob is so excited when he sees Rachel and learns she is family that he moves the stone all by himself.

It does not take long for Jacob to decide that he wants to marry Rachel.  He agrees to work for Laban for seven years to cover the bride price that will likely become part of her dowry.  As Walton suggests: “Theoretically, Laban will garner Jacob’s would-be wages and secure them into a bride-price account of some sort.”

But Jacob, the deceiver, the one who grabs his brother’s heel and who cheats him out of the blessing, has met his match in Laban, his father-in-law.  Laban’s switch of Leah for Rachel may have been made possible because of the amount of drinking that took place at the wedding feast as well as the darkness of the marriage suite.  Jacob finishes out the wedding feast week, agrees to another seven years of work to pay for Rachel, then is wed to Rachel as well.  Jacob is not a happy camper, but we know that this start to his family will result in a large number of offspring who multiply into a large nation.