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Genesis: Jacob Meets Rachel
April 14, 2018

In our reading of Genesis, we most recently read of Jacob's ladder to heaven that he dreamed about on his journey to Haran to comply with his parents' wishes. Finally, Jacob came to Haran, and when Jacob realized he was in the land where Laban lived, he asked the people he met if they knew where Laban lived. Jacob realized that in Haran, they took care of the livestock a little differently than back home. He saw Rachel bringing the sheep to the well to drink in the middle of the day. He decided to help and rolled the stone back so water could flow from the well so the sheep could drink and kissed Rachel. The Bible doesn't record any type of conversation between the two prior to the kiss. In today's world kissing somebody you had never met before without any prior dialog would be very problematic, and needs to be avoided. Things were different back then, and a kiss as recorded in Genesis was a type of greeting. When Jacob told Rachel he was a relative, Rachel ran and told her father.

Genesis 29:1-12
Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east. 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. 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. And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we. And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.  And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep. 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. 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. And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she kept them. 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. And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. 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.

Laban was pleased to hear the news of a visiting younger relative and brought Jacob to the family residence. Jacob lived with Laban and the family for a month and helped Laban with the family. In addition to Rachel, the older sister was Leah, and what the Bible records for us in Genesis is the first Mary Ann or Ginger debate and it appears to this author Jacob was leaning team Ginger. Laban didn't want to take advantage of Jacob and offered to pay him. When given this offer Jacob shared he would be willing to work for seven years if he would have Laban's blessing to marry Rachel. Laban agreed and the seven years quickly passed. The time to be married had arrived and to celebrate Laban had a huge celebration.

Genesis 29:13-22
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. And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month. And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?  And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me. And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.

This party must have involved getting Jacob a little inebriated, with too much celebration. This was by design as Laban instead of bringing Rachel to Jacob brought the older sister, Leah. Somehow Jacob didn't notice that he was with Leah and not Rachel; the marriage was consummated and it was the next morning when he could clearly see again that Jacob realized he was married to Leah and not Rachel. Jacob called foul because he had worked seven years to marry Rachel. Laban explained that locally it was inconceivable that a younger daughter be married before an older daughter. Laban offered Jacob the opportunity to work another seven years to marry Rachel; today this is called bait-and-switch, something that legally can get you into trouble when you are the seller. Jacob agreed and Laban was kind enough to allow Jacob to also marry Rachel. The idea of two wives at the same time is something that in the western world is the fodder of cable reality television programming.

Genesis 29:23-35
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. And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid. 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? And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid. And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years. And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me. And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon. And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi. And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.

In the triangle between Leah, Rachel, and Jacob, Leah was the odd person out and really through no fault of her own. She was deceived as much as Jacob was deceived. God took mercy on her and allowed her have children first. First came Reuben, and then was born Simeon, followed by Levi and Judah.

All verses are from the King James Version.
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