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Genesis 29 |
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| 29:1
Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of
the east. |
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| 29:2
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. |
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| 29:3
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. |
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| 29:4
And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of
Haran are we. |
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| 29:5
And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know
him. |
"Laban the son of Nahor"
Who was Laban's father?
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| 29:6
And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold,
Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep. |
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| 29:7
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. |
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| 29:8
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. |
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| 29:9
And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep; for
she kept them. |
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| 29:10
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. |
 Jacob's
Encounter with Rachel
(Rapheal, 1518-19)
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| 29:11
And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. |
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| 29:12
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. |
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| 29:13
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. |
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| 29:14
And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode
with him the space of a month. |
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| 29:15
And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou
therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be? |
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| 29:16
And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name
of the younger was Rachel. |
 Jacob and his
cousins
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| 29:17
Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.
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| 29:18
And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years
for Rachel thy younger daughter. |
"I will serve thee seven years for Rachel."
Jacob offers to work for seven years to pay for Rachel.
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| 29:19
And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should
give her to another man: abide with me. |
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| 29:20
And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a
few days, for the love he had to her. |
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| 29:21
And Jacob said unto
Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto
her. |
(29:21-30)
"Give me my wife ... that I may go in unto her."
Jacob is tricked by Laban, the
father of Rachel and Leah. Jacob asks for Rachel so that he can "go in unto
her." But Laban gives him Leah instead, and Jacob "went in unto her
[Leah]" by mistake. Jacob was fooled until morning -- apparently he didn't
know who he was going in unto. Finally they worked things out and Jacob got to
"go in unto" Rachel, too.
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| 29:22
And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
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| 29:23
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.
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| 29:24
And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid. |
"Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid."
As part of the deal with Jacob, Zilpah and Bilhah (Laban's slaves) are handed
over to Leah and Rachel.
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| 29:25
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? |
"And it came to pass,
that in the morning, behold, it was Leah."
Jacob "goes in unto" Leah by mistake! (Hey, it happens. -- a lot in Genesis! See
19:33, 19:35, 29:23,
38:16)
Sex
by mistake: Could this have happened to Pastor Ted?
 Jacob Reproaching Laban
(Hendrick Terbrugghen,
1628)
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| 29:26
And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger
before the firstborn.
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| 29:27
Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which
thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. |
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| 29:28
And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his
daughter to wife also. |
"He gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also."
Laban gives Rachel and Bilhah to Jacob.
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| 29:29
And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be
her maid. |
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29:30
And he went in also
unto Rachel , and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served
with him yet seven other years.
"He went in also unto Rachel."
Jacob finally gets to "go in unto" Rachel. He loved Rachel more than Leah.
"When the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb."
Since Jacob hated Leah, God decided to "open her womb" and make Rachel barren. (Like he did to Sarah and Rebekah.)
 Jacob's
Wives
Compete
"Because the LORD hath heard I was hated"
Leah conceives and bears four sons. And it's a good thing, too, since Jacob hated her until
then.
| | 29:31
And when the LORD saw
that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.
| | 29:32
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.
| | 29:33
And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath
heard I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called
his name Simeon.
| | 29:34
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. |
| | 29:35 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. |
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Jacob's
Encounter with Rachel
Jacob Reproaching Laban