Lesson 25: Genesis 29

James exhorts us to “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2–4, ESV). Fact is that the people of God will always have their faith tested. Noah’s faith was tested as he waited for the flood, Abraham’s faith was tested as he waited for the promised heir and again as he was commanded to offer his son back to God. Faith is always tested.

The Lord had made some wondrous promises to Jacob, even though he was not deserving of God’s grace (Genesis 28.13-15). However, it would be some time before those promises were realized in Jacob’s life. Adversity lay in wait; would Jacob grow in faith or would he continue trying to secure blessings by his own means?

Notes From The Text:

Vss. 1-14, Jacob Arrives At Laban’s Home

• Vs. 8, “Herding contracts in the ancient world were critical to assure the fair distribution of resources that were the foundation for survival. Grazing land and water were often in limited supply. Legal agreements existed between herdsmen and the livestock owners whose animals they cared for since they all shared responsibility for the welfare of the herds and flocks, as well as presumably among livestock owners who shared resources.” (Zondervan Illustrated Bible Background Commentary)
• Vs. 10, it was already noted that the “stone on the well’s mouth was large” (vs. 2), so Jacob may have possessed more than average physical strength. Note that the roles are reversed from when Rebekah watered the camels of Abraham’s servant (Genesis 24.19-20).
• Vs. 11, Jacob’s reaction likely show the emotional strain and turmoil he had experienced since fleeing from Esau (Genesis 27.42-45). Jacob was not rejoicing that he had found a wife, rather he was relieved that he had reached safety.

Vss. 15-30, Laban’s Deception; Jacob Marries Leah & Rachel

• Vs. 13, recall from Genesis 24 that Laban had an eye for wealth (vs. 30) and took a lead in making arrangements for Rebekah to become Isaac’s wife (vs. 50). While Jacob stood to inherit even more than Isaac had (Isaac had continued to prosper, Genesis 26.12-14), he fled from home taking none of the wealth and with no presents to give. However, Laban knew what Jacob stood to inherit, thus was interested in exploiting the situation however he could.
• Vs. 17, it is likely that the comment, “Leah’s eyes were weak” referred to their color or form, and not necessarily the quality of her vision.
• Vs. 18, “The groom and his family traditionally provided a contribution to the bridewealth often referred to as the bride price. Jacob has brought no wealth with him (the inheritance he will eventually gain has not yet been divided), so the agreement is reached that his seven years labor will serve in lieu of a bride price. Since bride prices averaged thirty to forty shekels of silver in mid-second millennium Nuzi, and since Jacob’s work would normally pay about a shekel per month, the substitution of seven years of Jacob’s labor for the bride price results in about twice the normal going rate for brides.” (Zondervan Illustrated Bible Background Commentary)
• Vs. 19, note that Laban did not actually promise to give Rachel to Jacob as his wife.
• Vs. 21, Jacob’s not naming Rachel, but saying “give me my wife” played right into Laban’s hands.
• Vs. 23, it would have been dark both inside and within the tent, plus Leah would have been veiled until the moment she was brought into the tent. Significantly, Leah would have been in on the deception. We are not told where Rachel was, perhaps she had even been kept away from the feast by Laban.
• Vs. 25, “Though indefensible on the part of Laban, the substitution of Leah for Rachel was a deserved punishment of Jacob. Having wronged Esau his brother, he is in turn wronged by ‘a brother’—Laban. Having substituted the younger (himself) for the older (Esau), he is recompensed by having the older put into the place of the younger. As Isaac knew not when he blessed Jacob, so Jacob knows not when he marries Leah. As Jacob acted at the instigation of his mother, Leah yields to the suggestion of her father.” (James E. Smith quoting Whitelaw)
• Vs. 27, the week was the wedding week (cf. Judges 14.17), after which time Jacob was able to marry Rachel with the promise of serving Laban for seven more years.
• Vs. 28, note that in the Law of Moses it was forbidden to marry two sisters in each other’s lifetime (Leviticus 18.18).

Vss. 31-35, Jacob’s Descendants

• Vs. 31
  • We’ve noted before how both Sarah and Rebekah were barren (Genesis 11.30; 25.21). Significantly, the Lord would choose the unloved wife and not the barren wife to be in the line of the Messiah.
  • Note vs. 30 for what it meant for Leah to be “hated”.
• Vs. 32
  • “A comment is necessary regarding the names given by Leah and Rachel to their sons. What is true of the name Reuben is true also of the other names given in this chapter. Sound similarity rather than strict etymology determined the name selection.” (James E. Smith)
  • Reuben sounds like the Hebrew word for “looked” (ra-ah).
• Vs. 33, Simeon sounds like the Hebrew word for “heard” (sa-mah)
• Vs. 34, Levi sounds like the Hebrew word for “attached” (lavah)
• Vs. 35, Judah sounds like the Hebrew word for “praise” (hodah)