Jacob was so shocked! Soon after his arrival in Harran, Jacob fell in love with the beautiful and lovely Rachel, daughter of his cousin Laban (Genesis 29:17). [That is Joseph was about 11 years old when Rachel died??] Isnt this a crazy story??? Article Images Copyright , How Jacob and Rachels Bible Story Show's us God's Love in Action. Jacob did not have to wait seven more years for Rachel, only one week. He continued, Do you know Laban the son of Nahor? We know him, they said. Genesis 29:18 Jacob loved Rachel. Laban said it would be very good for Rachel to marry Jacob. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. At 147 years of age he called his sons together in Egypt to bless them, and he was still thinking about her. Even though it was so many years, it felt like a couple of days for Jacob because he loved Rachel so much. 29 Laban also gave his woman servant Bilhah to his daughter Seven years?! The Cross And Christs Suffering For Sins (1 Peter 3:18-22), 6. Copyright 2019 by Zondervan. She was envious, selfish, peevish, fretful, discontented, and demanding. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. If the null hypothesis is never really true, is there a point to using a statistical test without a priori power analysis? How could Jacob not notice he married Leah instead of Rachel? But Laban told Jacob hed give Rachel, too, as his wife if Jacob agree to seven more years of labor. Jacob was traveling to a place called Paddan Aram. At this point, Joseph was the youngest son (Gen 33:2) and the only child of Rachel. Knowing they arrived in Succoth when Joseph was 6 and that they left when he (and Dinah) was 17, we can say they were married about 25 years when she died. And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. When the midwife told her she had given birth to a son, she gasped out his name with her last breathBen-oni, which means Son of my sorrow. Jacob later changed it to Benjamin, Son of my right hand. But isnt it ironic? Give me children or Ill die, she exclaimed to Jacob. But godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment (1 Tim. They can make their marriage succeed, but it will take a little extra effort, and they will need to make their relationship grow far beyond the physical magnetism that got it started. "Signpost" puzzle from Tatham's collection, Passing negative parameters to a wolframscript. 30 Jacob also married Rachel, since he loved her. Unexpected uint64 behaviour 0xFFFF'FFFF'FFFF'FFFF - 1 = 0? And even in death, she was alone. She is also the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism. Jacob was so upset. Learn more about her fiction and read her faith blog at jessicabrodie.com. Again his heart must have leaped within him at the realization of Gods faithful direction. It isolated her in a grim world of loneliness. After he had completed his 7 years, he demanded that his father-in-law, Laben, give him Rachel in marriage. For various reasons, I've always wondered how long Jacob and Rachel were married before her death. 29:15 Later, Laban asked Jacob, Should you serve me for free, just because youre my nephew? What were the most popular text editors for MS-DOS in the 1980s? Jacob, as he had already lain with Leah, was stuck. How should we view/interpret Jacob's initiative involving the rolling of the stone from the mouth of the well? Genesis 29:20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, yet it The history of book bansand their changing targetsin the U.S. Should you get tested for a BRCA gene mutation? He moved a stone that normally took several people to move, and watered all of Rachels sheep. En route to resettle with his father, Isaac, Rachel died giving birth to Jacobs 12th son, Benjamin. Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular, Seven, seven times, a week, an indefinite number, Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular, Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | third person masculine singular, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular, Direct object marker | third person feminine singular, Untranslatable mark of the accusative case. Isnt that so crazy??? 13:5). The fourteen years of service for Leah and Rachel must have been fulfilled shortly after the birth of Joseph. Rachel lies alone. But do you know what? Little Reuben, Leahs firstborn, who may have been about four years old at the time, was out in the field following the reapers around picking some plants called mandrakes or love apples, as any little boy of that time might do. And may I remind you that Leah, not Rachel, was the mother of Judah, through whom the Savior would ultimately come (Gen. 29:35). Later, God blessed him again, reiterating Jacobs new name as Israel and renewing the same covenant God had made with Isaac and Abraham, Jacobs father and grandfather. Jacob Save 15% on BibleGateway+ with code SPRINGSTUDY15. 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. The answer may be simply that the seven years totaled up to a reasonable value of Jacob's labor which he was willing to "pay" eventually for Rachel and ultimately Judah left home, went to the area of Adullum, got married and had some kids (Genesis 38:1-5), Jacob, distraught beyond measure, packed up the family and they left their house in Succoth, arriving first in Shechem where he bought a plot of land to pitch his tent, This is where Dinah (17) was sexually violated, then her brothers killed all the men of the town and the family had to flee. Laban was obliged to provide food and shelter. Then we shall be able to receive with gratitude what He gives us, and at the same time thank Him for what He denies us, being confident that His ways are perfect. It was a long and lonely journey. 2 Jacob flew into a rage. What is Wario dropping at the end of Super Mario Land 2 and why? The consequences of deception are usually painful and distressing. Rachel was the favorite wife of Jacob, who had been earlier tricked into marrying Rachels older sister, Leah, after working for Laban for seven years as a contract for the marriage. Genesis 30 TLB - Rachel, realizing she was barren, - Bible Gateway There are a few key lessons in this story. Genesis: Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Pentateuch by John Goldingay. But from the beginning we are a little dubious about the match. It will not change as long as we think satisfaction can be found in any material possession or improved circumstance. When Rachel was near, his heart pounded faster and a wonderful feeling swept over him. It was at the end of the second seven year period that Joseph was born (Gen 30:25ff) and that Jacob wanted to leave but was persuaded to stay longer. Part boulder, part myth, part treasure, one of Europes most enigmatic artifacts will return to the global stage May 6. 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. The Hebrew name of Rachel means ewe or beautiful. Axolotls and capybaras are TikTok famousis that a problem? 20 So Jacob worked seven years for Rachel. 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. Required fields are marked *. He had prospered to such an extent that Laban no longer felt very kindly toward him. How can couples who married without it now compensate for it? He spotted a well and stopped to rest. But Rachel was pregnant with another son, and as they journeyed south from Bethel and were a short distance from Bethlehem, Rachel went into labor. Paul could say, For I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am (Phil. Discuss some of the values of a lengthy and close acquaintance before marriage. How is it possible Jacob didnt see Leahs face or hear her voice? The Bibles original love triangle: Jacob, Leah, and Rachel 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). What's the cheapest way to buy out a sibling's share of our parents house if I have no cash and want to pay less than the appraised value? 19 Laban said, Its better that I (N), 28And Jacob did so. So Laban gave his daughter to Jacob and they got married. Eventually, his mother helps him steal Esaus birthright and blessing, and Jacob flees his brothers wrath. All rights reserved worldwide. Jacob worked for his uncle Laban 7 years, then married Leah & Rachel, He worked the next 6 years for his uncle's flocks, then he left Haran, Jacob stayed in Succoth, built shelters for his livestock, then he built a house there and settled down to raise his 12 kids, As Jacob's sons got older they worked with the flocks. At the top stood God, reaffirming his covenant with Abraham that now passed to Jacob: The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring (Genesis 28:13). Jacob work Too many couples marry in haste and repent at leisure. We can, however, follow the chronology and the geography to know within about a year how long Jacob and Rachel were married. 5:25). He served Laban another full seven years work for Rachel. But Jacob thought he was in love. He worked 7 years to marry Rachel, but he was tricked into marrying Leah. Jacob couldnt believe what had happened. 8. Leah, not to be outdone, realized she had stopped bearing children, so she gave over her servant, Zilpah, to Jacob, and Zilpah bore two sins: Gad and Asher (v. 11-13). He loved her to the end of his life. While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her fathers sheep, for she was a shepherdess. Indeed, the Bible tells us those seven years of labor seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her (Genesis 29:20). How does God want you to handle those feelings? Jacob was one of two twin sons born to Isaac and Rebekah. That is such a long time! Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, Copyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Likewise, in spite of our own sin that has the potential to forever separate us from God, God loves us deeply and so passionately that He chases us down in love to win us back to Him and all the good He has in store for us. It only takes a minute to sign up. Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. Laban had given Leah to Jacob. Jacob agreed to work for Laban for as long as you have been alive! The child lived. So Jacob said to Laban, What is this you have done to me? For husbands: Does your wife continually sense your love for her? And it came about, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mothers brother, and the sheep of Laban his mothers brother, that Jacob went up, and rolled the stone from the mouth of the well, and watered the flock of Laban his mothers brother (Gen. 29:9, 10). More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! 1 Corinthians 13:7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. It only takes a minute to sign up. There is an old saying that goes, True love never runs smoothly. Thats the way it was with Jacob and Rachel. That was enough for him. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. When Laban finally overtook them and searched their belongings for his terephim, Rachel lied to him and deceived him to keep him from finding them (Gen. 31:33-35). 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). Think of someone that you love so much. What is Wario dropping at the end of Super Mario Land 2 and why? To Jacob, however, the seven years seemed but "a few days, because he loved Rachel." That's great, thanks! Wasnt Jacobs love worth more than any number of sons? Christianity Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for committed Christians, experts in Christianity and those interested in learning more. 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. Finish the following statement as you might have done before reading this chapter: I could be happy if only . He was made to work for seven years for Rachel and another seven years for Leah. What would seven years in wages amount to? It was during the move to Ephrath that Benjamin was born and Rachel died. rev2023.5.1.43405. In spite of their complicated courtship and marriage, Jacob and Rachel had a deep and passionate love for each other. Unexpected uint64 behaviour 0xFFFF'FFFF'FFFF'FFFF - 1 = 0? It could be a parent, grandparent, sibling, friend, anyone. Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! 18 "Now Jacob loved Rachel, so he said, I will serve you seven years He is the one who satisfies the thirsty soul and fills the hungry soul with good things (Ps. Why did you give me Leah? I specifically asked for Rachel! Why have you tricked me? Jacob was not happy at all. Laben got Jacob snockered at the wedding feast and pulled a switcheroo, giving his older daughter, Leah, instead. But the shepherds had some sort of agreement that they would not roll the stone back from the mouth of the well until everybodys flocks were gathered (Gen. 29:7, 8). Jacob loved Rachel so much that he requested to work ANOTHER 7 YEARS in order to have Rachel to be his wife. Something else always looks better to them. Now that shows a lot of love! Jacob and Rachels love story pales in comparison to the mighty, never-ending love God our father has for us. Then, after seven years, Jacob was ready to receive his wife, Rachelonly to be tricked by his father-in-law. Thats right! 24 Laban also gave his servant woman Zilpah to Leah to be her maidservant. It was not Gods perfect will. How to Have Joy in Your Golden Years Despite These 10 Life A God-Centered Life: 10 Faith-Based Practices When Youre Feeling Anxious, Grumpy, or Stressed, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Dottard Correct Laban was greedy, he bartered for both of his daughters., Although he played the part of the benevolent uncle, he reduced his blood relationship with Jacob to a service contract. Even the range of 15-22 years is pretty precise, all things given, and pins it down much more than I would have thought possible. 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. 24And Laban gave his servant Zilpah(H) to his daughter as her attendant. The median wage for a laborer is $14.47/hr. Who was Jacob in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Laban explained that according to tribal custom, the oldest daughter should be married first (Genesis 29:26). Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.. Web28 So Jacob completed another seven years work, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. 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. For some long COVID patients, exercise is bad medicine, Radioactive dogs? 29 Laban also gave his woman servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her maidservant. 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. Since they are contrasted with her older sister Leahs, which had no brightness or sparkle, they must have been dark and lustrous, captivatingly beautiful. By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. The "seven" years may have been more reflective of how much Jacobs ability to work was worth. With a heavy veil over her face and long flowing garments covering her body, she got through the ceremony undetected. It seems as though this romance was off to a blazing start. 17 Leah looked rather plain, but Rachel was lovely in form and appearance. But we get another glimpse into Rachels selfish nature when Bilhahs second son is born. Only the conclusion of the bargaining is recorded. Was Jacob so Sexually driven that He mistook Leah for Rachel? 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. To profess to love someone we do not know intimately is merely to love our mental image of that person. His death is recorded in Genesis 49roughly half of the Book of Genesis. She cooperated willingly with her fathers scheme but found very little satisfaction in the husband she had gained by deceit. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. Jacobs overt favoritism toward Rachel had prompted God to keep Rachels womb closed, but Rachels love was ultimately redeemed when she gave birth to a boy named Joseph, Jacobs favorite (Genesis 30:24-25). The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? But he had to work seven more years without pay after marrying her. This must have been at least 1 year later.) One great test of true love, therefore, is the ability to wait. How old was Jacob when he first saw Rachel? When you get a chance, please take the, from your pastor, priest, or other trustworthy counselor, New blog post from our CEO Prashanth: Community is the future of AI, Improving the copy in the close modal and post notices - 2023 edition. God finally did give her a son of her own, and now we expect her to be satisfied. Jacob and Joseph Timeline - Bible Study The unloved Leah bore seven of Jacobs childrensix sons, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, as well as a daughter, Dinah. But when a man is enamored of a woman, he does not want to hear those things. So we have the first of the God-fearing patriarchs entering into a bigamous relationship. She gave birth to Joseph. The neighborhood beauty and the new boy in town had found each other. Now Jacob had two wives, Leah and Rachel, both sisters, one he loved and one he did not. The Lord had brought him safely to his destination. They criticize them for the way they dress, the way they fix their hair, the way they cook, the way they keep house, or the way they treat the children. Complete the bridal week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you shall serve with me for another seven years (Gen. 29:27). What we can learn from Chernobyl's strays. No matter how hard some wives try, they can never please their husbands. Have your kids tell God how much they love Him for all that He is! God made one woman for one man (Gen. 2:24, cf. Bible Lesson | Kids Bible Story | Jacob and Rachel | Power Review Activity BibleWise has a great activity to do with your kids to help them retain the Bible Story. Could he have been showing off just a little? Genesis 29:15-30, Jacob dreams about a ladder and angels at Bethel, Jacob marries Rachel the daughter of Laban, The Cup that held the wine for the King of Egypt, Josephs brothers first trip to Egypt for food, A silver cup belonging to Joseph was put in a Sack, 12 sons of Jacob whom he blesses before he dies, Death of Jacob at one hundred and forty-seven years old, Death of Joseph at one hundred and ten years old, Timeline for the book of Genesis parts one and two . Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! One of these men kept their promise and the other didnt. That gnawing discontentment kept her from enjoying anything totally, and it kept others from enjoying her. Similarly, we know God loves us so much He is willing to go to any lengths to win our hearts and souls for His kingdom. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? What are the things in your life you would consider of the greatest value? 6. Song of Solomon 8:6,7 Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.