Jacob offered to serve him seven years for Rachel, the younger of his two daughters, whom he loved because of her beauty; i.e., just as many years as the week has days, that he might bind himself to a complete and sufficient number of years of service. She is also the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism. Laban was somewhat avarice and bargained. Is "I didn't think it was serious" usually a good defence against "duty to rescue"? That's great, thanks! If we had a video livestream of a clock being sent to Mars, what would we see? After these 11 sons and a daughter, Jacob took his family and returned to his homelandafter still more trickery, deception, and conflict with his cousin and father-in-law, Laban. But a spirit of discontent that causes us to fuss, nag, bicker, quarrel, and complain is a great hindrance to happy marital relationships. But from the beginning we are a little dubious about the match. To Jacob, however, the seven years seemed but "a few days, because he loved Rachel." Jacob was traveling to a place called Paddan Aram. In time, Jacob was able to acquire a flock of sheep, camels, and goats of his own. 13:5). Laban explained that according to tribal custom, the oldest daughter should be married first (Genesis 29:26). FINALLY, Jacob decides to work ANOTHER 7 YEARS for the woman that he loves so much, Rachel. But Laban told Jacob hed give Rachel, too, as his wife if Jacob agree to seven more years of labor. I suspect that she loved Jacob from the start and longed for him to return her affection. Part boulder, part myth, part treasure, one of Europes most enigmatic artifacts will return to the global stage May 6. But godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment (1 Tim. She wanted her husband rather than her brothers to have the largest share of the family inheritance so she could benefit from it too. The Cross And Christs Suffering For Sins (1 Peter 3:18-22), 6. Thank you for your contribution. Joseph at this point must have been at least 8 years old. Could it be that the loneliness in our lives or the conflicts in our relationships are the result of an underlying spirit of discontentment? Big-hearted Laban offered to give Rachel to Jacob as well if he would work for seven more years. Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, Copyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. And her eyeswhat gorgeous eyes they were! In desperation over her barrenness, Rachel begged Jacob to lie with her servant, Bilhah, and thereby give her sons through this union (Genesis 30). 6. A new discovery raises a mystery. rev2023.5.1.43405. He also rips off an arm to use as a sword. Only one ancient account mentions the existence of Xerxes Canal, long thought to be a tall tale. 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. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? That was enough for him. 24And Laban gave his servant Zilpah(H) to his daughter as her attendant. In spite of their complicated courtship and marriage, Jacob and Rachel had a deep and passionate love for each other. Genesis 29:18 Jacob loved Rachel. Why did you deceive me?, 26 But Laban responded, Its not the practice of our place to give the younger one in marriage before the firstborn. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. Why Does God Compare Our Relationship with Him to That of a Bride and Groom? While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her fathers sheep, for she was a shepherdess. God finally did give her a son of her own, and now we expect her to be satisfied. Except for the one time that Jacob got angry with her for blaming her childlessness on him, there is no indication that he ever loved her any less for her faults. Homemakers want to be working wives, and working wives want to be full-time homemakers. Jacob built an altar and called it betel or Bethel (the house of God). But he was more than willing to do this in order to marry his beloved Rachel. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. 25 The next morning, Jacob realized that it was Leah! While traveling south, close to the Jabbok River, Jacob came upon a stranger who challenged him to a struggle. And may I remind you that Leah, not Rachel, was the mother of Judah, through whom the Savior would ultimately come (Gen. 29:35). Forced to serve Rachels father, Laban, for seven years to win her, Jacob was tricked at the end of that time into marrying her sister, Leah. He was then allowed to marry Rachel as well, in return for seven more years of labour. At first childless, Rachel eventually gave birth to Joseph and died giving birth to Benjamin. Likewise, we too are never too far gone for the redeeming love of God. But that is a guess. Since Jacob was in love with Rachel, he replied: "I am will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel." This is where we meet Rachel, the beautiful second daughter of Laban, Jacobs relative in another land (Genesis 29). 4:11). 30 For it was little indeed you had before I came, How does God want you to handle those feelings? Joseph and Dinah are 6 years old. The neighborhood beauty and the new boy in town had found each other. Jacob's flocks grazed as far south as Hebron, because. Shes also produced a free eBook, A God-Centered Life: 10 Faith-Based Practices When Youre Feeling Anxious, Grumpy, or Stressed. We have seen Jacobs love at first sight and his love under great stress. Dinah is also 17). Her labor was severe, and it became evident that she was going to die in childbirth. 7. Then a few chapters later (Genesis 37) it goes back to that point (at the end of the fast-forwarded decade) and picks up the narrative from a Joseph's perspective and shows the events that led to Jacob abandoning his house in Succoth. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. Artist William Dyce captures this fateful moment in his mid-19th-century painting The Meeting of Jacob and Rachel., Photograph by Hamburger Kunsthalle, Hamburg, Germany/Bridgeman Images. The next morning when he woke up and saw the woman he married, he realized that is was LEAH!!!! The history of book bansand their changing targetsin the U.S. Should you get tested for a BRCA gene mutation? [That is Joseph was about 11 years old when Rachel died??] NIV, Biblical Theology Study Bible, Comfort Print: Follow Gods Redemptive Plan as It Unfolds throughout Scripture, NIV, Lucado Encouraging Word Bible, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV, Story of Jesus: Experience the Life of Jesus as One Seamless Story, NIV, Beautiful Word Bible Journal, Galatians, Paperback, Comfort Print, NIV, The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People, NIV, Verse Mapping Bible, Comfort Print: Find Connections in Scripture Using a Unique 5-Step Process. You might find out by asking her. 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! Glenn ::Yes, it is an awful lot of money, he was in love. Browse other questions tagged, Like any library, Christianity Stack Exchange offers great information, but, 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. Why did God wrestle with Jacob and why did this appearance not become a "big deal"? After stealing his older brother's inheritance, Jacob feared his brother's wrath and fled to Harran. Why did you give me Leah? I specifically asked for Rachel! Why have you tricked me? Jacob was Laban had sent Leah in to lie with him (Genesis 29:23). And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. I don't know why I didn't think of running through the chronology myself! God loves you so much that He would do anything to help you. Maybe Jacob would have been commended for accepting these consequences from the sovereign hand of God had he exercised that degree of faith. After he had completed his 7 years, he demanded that his father-in-law, Laben, give him Rachel in marriage. Then she died, leaving Jacob to the sister she envied so much in life. 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. Could a subterranean river or aquifer generate enough continuous momentum to power a waterwheel for the purpose of producing electricity? 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). The consequences of deception are usually painful and distressing. 27 Fulfill the week for this daughter, then well give you the other one in exchange for serving me another seven years., 28 So Jacob completed another seven years work, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. Why the obscure but specific description of Jane Doe II in the original complaint for Westenbroek v. Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity? Laban asked Jacob what amount he wanted to be paid for his work. Tricked by his father-in-law into marrying his true loves sister, Jacob waited 14 years before he could be with Rachel. Jacob worked with Labans large flock of sheep for the entirety of those seven years. As a result, he had to work for another 7 years (v30) for the second wife as well. Jacob did not have to wait seven more years for Rachel, only one week. In the pressure of that bigamous relationship, Rachels true character began to surface. Jacob was one of two twin sons born to Isaac and Rebekah. Three, we can see the love of Christ in the sacrifice Jacob made willingly to claim Rachel as his wife. Then they let their father Jacob think Joseph had been killed by a wild animal. Jacob worked a total of 20 years for Laban (Gen 31:38). At the end of this, Joseph is 6 years old. At the end of 20 years, Jacob had to deceive Laban (Gen 31:20) and flee for his life and left to return to Beersheba but actually settled in Shechem (Gen 33:18). Jacob's proposal may be explained, partly on the ground that he was not then in a condition to give the customary dowry, or the usual presents to relations, and partly also from the fact that his situation with regard to Esau compelled him to remain some time with Laban. Parabolic, suborbital and ballistic trajectories all follow elliptic paths. (E), 22So Laban brought together all the people of the place and gave a feast. How many years did Jacob serve laban? Jacob worked a total of 20 years for Laban (Gen 31:38). 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. Since they are contrasted with her older sister Leahs, which had no brightness or sparkle, they must have been dark and lustrous, captivatingly beautiful. Jacob buried her in a tomb near Bethlehem and set up a pillar that reportedly still remains (Genesis 35:16-20). Jacob did not have to wait seven more years for Rachel, only one week. Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. The week refers to the week of wedding festivities. 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. He had nothing to offer Laban for his daughter, so his labor was promised in lieu of a dowry. Could he have been showing off just a little? And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had to her. 5. He has instructed us to be content with what we have, for while the circumstances of life change daily, He is unchanging and ever with us (Heb. As our knowledge of Him increases through the study of His Word and through prayerful periods in His presence, we shall find a settled peace and contentment growing within us. He spotted a well and stopped to rest. Some couples get angry with God for not giving them children, while others who do have children look forward to the day when the kids will be grown and gone and they can have some peace and quiet. Access 50+ premium resources. And if he does not measure up to our mental image, then our so-called love turns to disillusionment and resentment, and sometimes to hatred. But do you know what? (K), 26Laban replied, It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one. Jacob agreed, and Bilhah went on to have two sons, Dan and Naphtali. By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. They get upset because they sleep too late, eat too much, waste too much time, or spend too much money. 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. This is what happened with Jacob, he had to work 7 years before being with the love of his life but then found out he had to work another 7 years before his deal The Scripture says that Jacob loved Rachel and offered to serve Laban seven years for her hand in marriage (Gen. 29:18). She named the child Naphtah, which means wrestling. She saw herself in a contest with her sister for first place in Jacobs estimation. And the events that follow should be evidence enough that bigamy was never part of Gods plan for the human race. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. (O) 29Laban gave his servant Bilhah(P) to his daughter Rachel as her attendant. How could Jacob not notice he married Leah instead of Rachel? Then he worked The assent on the part of Laban cannot be accounted for from the custom of selling daughters to husbands, for it cannot be shown that the purchase of wives was a general custom at that time; but is to be explained solely on the ground of Laban's selfishness and avarice, which came out still more plainly afterwards. Your email address will not be published. She had to have everything she wanted or life was not worth living. There he met a beautiful woman named Rachel. This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright 2023, Crosswalk.com. Jacob was so upset. Thats right, Laban. He served Laban another full seven years work for Rachel. He promises to take care of you and protect you in all circumstances. Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for professors, theologians, and those interested in exegetical analysis of biblical texts. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and more. It was a long and lonely journey. Seven years is a long time to wait, and I think Jacob really did grow to love Rachel during those years. Who buys lion bones? But tensions within the clan, particularly between Jacob and Labans sons, compelled Jacob to return to Canaan with his wives and handmaidens, who also served as Jacobs concubines. No, it wasnt, not for Rachel. Thats right! The unloved Leah bore seven of Jacobs childrensix sons, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, as well as a daughter, Dinah. So Jacob served Laban fourteen years for his two daughters and six years for the cattle a total of twenty years. After discovering that he had been tricked, Jacob married Rachel also and then worked out another seven-year contract for this marriage. Thanks for contributing an answer to Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange! 24 Laban also gave his servant woman Zilpah to Leah to be her maidservant. Jacob was so shocked! Required fields are marked *. But he had to work seven more years without pay after marrying her. WebJacob agreed to work seven years for Rachel. He worked the After the bridal feast, Jacob thought he was consummating the marriage with Rachel, but when morning came he realized hed been fooled. He marries also Rachel, and serves for her seven years more. (I), 25When morning came, there was Leah! Now Rachel was the most beautiful woman Jacob had ever seen. for your younger daughter Rachel.. 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? Together with the sons of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, these 12 men would become the forefathers of the 12 tribes of Israel, sealing Gods covenant. Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. His anger was not right in Gods sight, but his evaluation of the situation surely was. Is there anything I'm missing? What we can learn from Chernobyl's strays. Richard, was a 1954 graduate of Wheaton College, and received his Th.M. She always seemed to want what somebody else had. Learn more about her fiction and read her faith blog at jessicabrodie.com. To save chestnut trees, we may have to play God, Why you should add native plants to your garden, What you can do right now to advocate for the planet, Why poison ivy is an unlikely climate change winner, The gory history of Europes mummy-eating fad, This ordinary woman hid Anne Frankand kept her story alive, This Persian marvel was lost for millennia. By talking in whispered tones in the darkened tent, she made it through the night. He had prospered to such an extent that Laban no longer felt very kindly toward him. He wrestles with God one night and endures, and God renames him Israel, because as God said, You have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome (Genesis 32:28). Laben got Jacob snockered at the wedding feast and pulled a switcheroo, giving his older daughter, Leah, instead. WOW! Laban told Jacob that in their family customs, the older daughter gets married before the younger daughter. Her jealous malcontent was seen again a short time later. The Lord had brought him safely to his destination. Give me children or Ill die, she exclaimed to Jacob. How to reconcile the number of people that went down to Egypt with Jacob? Im ready to consummate my marriage. Laban invited everyone around and threw a big feast. 10 Things You Need to Know about the Number 666, 10 Books of the Bible You Should Read Again and Again, 10 Most Encouraging Bible Verses That Will Uplift Your Heart and Soul, 5 Things That Hurt Relationships with Grandkids, 30 Morning Prayers to Start Each Day with God, How to Have Joy in Your Golden Years Despite These 10 Life Losses, 4 Things You Should Know about Big George Foreman, 8 Ways You Are Belittling Your Husband and What God Says about It, Maybe Money Can Buy Happiness, but Not Joy. Stay here with me. 20So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel,(C) but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her. But he had to work seven more years without pay after marrying her. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? Jacob couldnt believe what had happened. 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. It depends. It seems as though this romance was off to a blazing start. Start your free trial today! scholars like william skinner and adam clarke have proposed 40 years for this span of time instead of 20. and Biblical Chronogical studies has provided evidence from Esau's chronology. Several factors would have contributed to Jacobs desire to leave. If Jacob wanted to marry Rachel as well, he would owe Laban another seven years of labor. 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. Some women try to buy a man with sex, or trap him with a baby, or lure him with family fortune. At Jacobs request, they buried him next to Leah in the cave of Machpelah in Hebron beside Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Rebekah (Gen. 49:29-31; 50:13). And Yaquuv worked for Rakhyl seven years, and they were in his eyes as a few days, because he loved her. And Jacob served for Rachel seven years, and they were before him as a few days, by reason of his loving her. Jacob worked seven years for Laban, but the time seemed like only a few days, because he loved Rachel so much. What part did your kids seem to like the most in this Bible Lesson??? He ran up to her and hugged and kissed her because he was so relieved to meet family. 18 "Now Jacob loved Rachel, so he said, I will serve you seven years Seven-year engagements may be a little excessive, but time is needed to learn someones desirable and undesirable traits, so that we can decide whether we can give of ourselves unselfishly for the other persons good in spite of his unappealing characteristics. Forced to serve Rachels father, Laban, for seven (This must have been at least 1 year later.). Laban said it would be very good for Rachel to marry Jacob. WebJacob served seven years for Rachel, and it seemed only a few days to him because of his love for her. Tricked by his father-in-law into marrying his true loves sister, Jacob waited 14 years before he could be with Rachel. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.. Is there a generic term for these trajectories? 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). wynne yellowjackets football schedule, does salt bae juice contain diacetyl, at what age do papillons stop growing,