JACOB IS DECEIVED

According to custom, it was arranged that the bride should go in to the groom on the wedding night, veiled and perhaps when the room was in darkness.

You can imagine how irate Jacob was in the morning when he found that his bride was Leah!

Now notice what Uncle Laban is doing—Leah was weak-eyed and not attractive. Rachel was beautiful.

Laban had tricked him, but excused the trick on the ground that the older daughter should be married first according to the local custom.

Then Laban said, “Fulfill her week (that is, carry through on the marriage to Leah) and we will give you this one also (Rachel) for the service which you will serve with me still another seven years.”

At the end of the week-long wedding feast, Jacob also married Rachel, then served seven more years for her.

Jacob had sown deceit, and now he was reaping it!

Genesis 29:23-35 KJV

[23] 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.

[24] And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.

[25] 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?

[26] And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.

[27] Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.

[28] And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.

[29] And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.

[30] And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

[31] And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.

[32] 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.

[33] 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.

[34] 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.

[35] 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.

Genesis 29:23 KJV

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.

  • The act that consummated the marriage.

Genesis 29:24 KJV

And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.

 

 

 

Genesis 29:25 KJV

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?

  • He had pretended to be the right brother.
  • Now he was given the wrong sister.

Genesis 29:26 KJV

And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.

  • To Jacob it is a criminal act that Laban has done, but notice how Uncle Laban passes it off.
  • He is an expert at this type of thing.
  • He tells Jacob that there was a little matter in the contract, a clause in the fine print, that he had forgotten to mention to Jacob.
  • It was a custom in their country that the elder daughter must marry first, and the younger daughter could not marry until the elder daughter was married.

Genesis 29:27 KJV

Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.

  • The younger sister. The idea that it was okay to have more than one wife was not from God.
  • Jacob opted for polygamy.

Genesis 29:28 KJV

And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.

  • It is evident that the marriage of both sisters took place nearly about the same time, and that such a connection was then allowed, though afterwards prohibited (Leviticus 18:18).

Genesis 29:29 KJV

And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.

  • A father in good circumstances still gives his daughter from his household a female slave, over whom the young wife, independently of her husband, has the absolute control.

Genesis 29:30 KJV

And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

 

 

Genesis 29:31 KJV

And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.

  • That is, not loved so much as she ought to have been.
  • Her becoming a mother ensured her rising in the estimation both of her husband and of society.

Genesis 29:32 KJV

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.

  • Names were also significant; and those which Leah gave to her sons were expressive of her varying feelings of thankfulness or joy, or allusive to circumstances in the history of the family.

Genesis 29:33 KJV

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.

  • There was piety and wisdom in attaching a signification to names, as it tended to keep the bearer in remembrance of His duty and the claims of God.

Genesis 29:34 KJV

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.

  • The name means “joined.” Leah “supposed that, in consequence of all these children, Jacob would become joined to her in as strong affection, at least, as he was to Rachel.
  • From Levi sprang the tribe of Levites, who instead of the first-born, were joined unto the priests in the service of the sanctuary.

Genesis 29:35 KJV

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.

  • Notice her statement.
  • The Lord was her strength, not Jacob who never loved her.
  • The last phrase may also be significant.

I hope that you have really enjoyed this post,

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