Episode 292 - Jacob gets out-Jacobed - Genesis 29

Gen. 29:1 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.

Gen. 29:4 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.”

Gen. 29:9 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.

Gen. 29:13 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.

Gen. 29:15 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.

Gen. 29:21 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.

Gen. 29:31 When the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. 32 And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, “Because the LORD has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.” 33 She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon. 34 Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi. 35 And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she ceased bearing.

“Little” details in biblical stories are often significant. Otherwise, why would the author write the details? As this story of Jacob’s approach to his destination unfolds, we’re told about the well and the large stone that covered the mouth of the well. Some people interpret this to suggest that all the shepherds at the well were, collectively, unable to move the stone. Yet, Jacob’s ability to move it himself was evidence that God was with Jacob and gave him the strength to move the stone himself. I would concede that’s a possibility. But let’s look at the story as a whole and see if there’s another possibility.

After Moses provided the seemingly pointless details about the shepherds, the well, and the stone that covers it, he records that Jacob inquired about Laban. The shepherds state that they know him, that he is well, and (drum roll) here comes his daughter. Jacob’s response to this in verse 7 is essentially, “Hey guys! Why don’t you water your sheep and get lost?” It seems to me that Jacob wants them to leave so he can “move in on” Laban’s daughter. But the shepherds respond to Jacob that the custom is to wait until all the flocks are present and they all get watered together. We aren’t told why this is. Perhaps it’s an accounting to make sure that everyone is ok. If a shepherd or shepherdess doesn’t show up within a reasonable amount of time, someone will know to go looking for them.

What happens after that is that Jacob is not concerned about the custom. When Rachel arrived, he rolled the stone away, watered her sheep, and revealed his identity to her. He is then united with Laban and the family and stays with them a month. After that month, Laban proposed a working arrangement with Jacob and asked him what Jacob would want in return for working for his uncle. Jacob asked to serve Laban for seven years, and in exchange he would marry Rachel, Laban’s younger of the two daughters. Moses tells the reader in verse 17, “Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance.” This detail sets the tone for the rest of the story. It shows the contrast of the two daughters that draws Jacob’s attention to Rachel, and it leads the reader’s imagination to a possible or potential rivalry. Laban agreed to this deal.

After seven years of service, there was a wedding. But Laban put Leah in the bride chamber instead of Rachel, and Jacob unknowingly consummated the marriage with Leah. He was unaware of this switch until the next day, when it was light. Jacob had been “out-Jacobed.” Laban gave the excuse that it was not customary to marry off the younger daughter before the older one. Then, Laban told Jacob that after the wedding ceremony was over, Jacob could marry Rachel in return for another seven years of service. Jacob got married twice within just over a week. Laban was truly more of the master manipulator between the two. Yet, Jacob agreed.

After this, we see how Jacob’s love and attention to Rachel created a rivalry between the sisters. Moses wrote that the LORD opened Leah’s womb because he saw that she was “hated.” Therefore, the LORD gave her four consecutive sons while Rachel was barren.

This is a story about the LORD fulfilling his promises to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their descendants. Yet there are things this story reveals about the LORD that we can learn that may help guide and feed our faith. For one, the LORD doesn’t always intervene in the actions of fallen and self-serving people to stop them from doing stupid and sinful things. Yet, he may intervene at times to remind people that he loves them, even if they are not receiving affection from those of whom they would expect it. This story also manifests that the LORD will accomplish his will and fulfill his promises in spite of ourselves. I am reminded of Paul’s words in Romans 8:28 “For we know that God works all things together for good to those who love the LORD and are called according to his promise.” Laban, Jacob, Rachel, and Leah all have things to learn about the LORD. The LORD patiently and sovereignly works to reveal to them and, indirectly, to each reader of this story, that he is both a good and great God.