Jacob’s Wives
Jacob’s Wives
In the East
Jacob continued on his way to the land of those who live in the east. There he ran across a well in a field. Three flocks of sheep were lying down near it because that was the well people drew water from for their flocks. A large stone covered the top of the well, and they’d remove the stone only when all the animals were gathered there. Then they’d draw water for the flocks and place the stone back over the top of the well.
Jacob asked the shepherds, “Where are you from, my friends?”
“We’re from Harran,” they replied.
“Do you know Laban, Nahor’s grandson?”
“Yes, we do.”
“How is he?” Jacob asked.
“He’s doing well. And there’s his daughter Rachel coming with their flock.”
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After leaving Bethel, Jacob still had to travel for several weeks through unfamiliar territory before he would reach Harran. He had to rely on others to point him in the right direction. One day, he came across some shepherds resting their flocks near a well. When Jacob questioned them, he discovered they were from Harran and knew his uncle Laban. They even pointed out Laban’s daughter Rachel approaching the well to draw water for her father’s flock. Jacob had finally reached his destination, and God led him directly to one of his cousins.
This is the only time Scripture locates Harran in the east. Though slightly east of Canaan, it is much more to the north. But moving east is often associated with separation from Yahweh and his blessings, especially in Genesis.1 This description portrays Jacob’s time there as an exile from the promised land. Jacob had wronged his father and his brother and would have to pay the price. But Yahweh had promised to be with Jacob even in exile.
Harran would serve as a training ground. Far from his parents and the land God had promised him, Jacob would endure hardships that would temper his faith by teaching him to depend on Yahweh alone.
Culture Clash
Then Jacob said, “Look! The sun is still high in the sky. It’s not yet time to bring the flocks in. Draw water for the sheep, and take them back to pasture.”
“We can’t!” the shepherds said. “Not until all the flocks are gathered. Then we’ll move the stone and draw water for the flocks.”
While he was talking to them, Rachel approached with her father’s sheep because she shepherded them. As soon as Jacob saw his uncle Laban’s daughter Rachel and his uncle’s sheep, he went up to the well and removed the stone on top of it. Then he drew water for his uncle’s sheep.
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When Jacob saw his cousin Rachel approaching, he suddenly changed the topic of conversation with the shepherds of Harran. It seems he wanted them to leave.2 He pointed out that it was still the middle of the day, so they needed to draw the water and return the sheep to pasture. But the shepherds informed him they couldn’t remove the stone until all the flocks had gathered.
Verse 2 describes the stone covering the well as large, so one man would probably struggle to lift it. But it wouldn’t have required every shepherd in Harran. Rather a local custom prevented the shepherds from moving the stone. By waiting until everyone came, the shepherds ensured a fair distribution of the water.3 But Jacob was in a foreign land and didn’t understand why they did things differently. When Rachel arrived, he took it upon himself to remove the stone and draw water for his uncle’s flock.
Jacob’s arrival in Harran contrasts with the earlier arrival of Abraham’s chief steward. Both sought a bride, and both found her at a well. The steward asked God to reveal Isaac’s bride through a feat of strength, voluntarily drawing enough water for ten camels.4 Here Jacob performed the feat of strength, single-handedly removing the large stone. But Jacob didn’t pray or seek God’s guidance.
Jacob’s faith was real but immature, and he still relied primarily on himself. The trip to Harran served as the climax of the steward’s faith journey.5 But for Jacob, it was only the beginning.
A Warm Welcome
Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud. He told her he was Rebekah’s son, her father’s nephew, so she ran to tell her father. As soon as Laban heard about his nephew Jacob, he ran to meet him. Laban embraced Jacob, kissed him, and brought him to his home. When Jacob told Laban what had happened, Laban replied, “You are truly my own flesh and blood!”
Image by Mark Stuckey from Creation Swap
After drawing water for his uncle’s flock, Jacob was overcome with emotion. His long journey was over! He cried as he kissed his cousin Rachel on the cheek, an appropriate greeting for a family member, although Rachel had no idea what was going on. Finally, Jacob composed himself enough to tell her who he was. Like her aunt Rebekah before her, Rachel ran home to tell Laban.6 And Laban again ran out to welcome their sudden visitor.
Unlike Abraham’s steward, Jacob brought no camels bearing satchels full of riches.7 He had nothing, yet Laban welcomed him with open arms. Jacob told his story, which certainly included information about Rebekah, Laban’s sister. This convinced Laban that Jacob was indeed his nephew. Their relationship was starting out on the right foot.
Seven Years
After Jacob had stayed with Laban for a month, Laban asked him, “Should you work for me for nothing just because you’re my nephew? Tell me what you want for your wages.”
Now Laban had two daughters. The eldest was Leah, and the youngest was Rachel. Leah had a gentle demeanor, but Rachel was shapely and beautiful. Jacob loved Rachel, so he said, “I will work for you for seven years to marry your youngest daughter, Rachel.”
Laban replied, “I’d rather give her to you than to another man. Stay here with me.”
So Jacob worked seven years to marry Rachel, but the years flew by because of how much he loved her.
Isaac sent Jacob to Harran to marry one of Laban’s daughters.8 But Jacob lived with his uncle a month before bringing up the topic, probably because he had nothing to offer as a bride-price. During that time, he proved himself useful by helping care for Laban’s flock.9 Wanting Jacob to stay, Laban offered to pay him for his service. This gave Jacob the perfect opening.
Laban had two daughters, but Jacob knew which one he wanted to marry. Leah, the older daughter, had a gentle demeanor (literally “eyes”), which may mean she was quiet and shy. The Hebrew word rak means “gentle” or “tender” and is not an insult. But Leah was not as attractive or outgoing as her younger sister. Rachel, the hardy shepherdess, took after her industrious aunt Rebekah.10 She was beautiful, and Jacob had fallen in love with her.
Jacob offered to stay with Laban and work for seven years to marry Rachel. This generous proposal equalled as much as twice the normal bride-price.11 Laban agreed. He would not receive a better offer or find a more desirable match.12 For the next seven years, Jacob was happy simply being near his beloved, and the time passed quickly as he anticipated their union.
Leah
Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife! I have completed the time we agreed to for me to marry her.”
So Laban invited everyone around to the wedding feast. When evening came, he took his daughter Leah to Jacob, and Jacob made love to her. Laban gave his slave Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her servant.
In the morning, Jacob discovered it was Leah! So he confronted Laban. “What have you done to me! Didn’t I work for you to marry Rachel? Why have you deceived me?”
Seven years after Jacob arrived in Harran, the time came for him to marry Rachel. Laban must not have arranged for the wedding because Jacob approached him and demanded he keep his end of the deal. So Laban prepared a feast and invited all his neighbors. But the day Jacob had waited seven years for would quickly turn into a nightmare.
In the ancient Near East, marriages didn’t involve a formal ceremony or exchanging vows. Instead, the families hosted a weeklong feast, and the bride and groom consummated the marriage on the first night.13 Laban wouldn’t have succeeded in tricking Jacob in broad daylight, but he didn’t need to try. The critical moment didn’t come until sunset, when Jacob was under the influence of the wine from the feast. At that point, the bride’s father brought the veiled bride to the groom.14 But the bride Laban brought was Leah.
Scripture gives no indication of where Rachel was or how either sister felt about their father using them as pawns in his scheme. Jacob had submitted to his mother in pretending to be his older brother.15 Now Leah submitted to her father in pretending to be her younger sister. The tables had turned. Once Jacob had slept with Leah, the marriage was official. He couldn’t undo his wedding night any more than Isaac could undo his blessing.16 When Jacob confronted Laban in the morning, he was powerless, and Laban knew it.
Rachel
Laban replied, “We don’t do such things here! We don’t give a younger daughter in marriage before the firstborn. Finish the marriage week for this one, and then we’ll give you the other as well, in return for another seven years of work.”
So Jacob did what Laban said and finished her marriage week. Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife. Laban gave his slave Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her servant. Then Jacob also made love to Rachel, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. So he worked for Laban seven more years.
Image by Marian Trinidad from Creation Swap
As his excuse for tricking Jacob, Laban claimed a cultural taboo against giving the younger daughter in marriage before the firstborn. In Harran, they didn’t do such things! Even if true, this clearly didn’t justify Laban’s deceitful behavior. But for Jacob, Laban’s words served as a sound rebuke of his own deceit in surpassing his older brother. He was caught and could say nothing more about it.
Laban still willingly allowed Jacob to marry Rachel, in addition to Leah, but only in exchange for seven more years of service. Coercing Jacob to continue serving him was likely Laban’s true motive for giving him Leah. If Jacob wanted to marry the woman he loved, he had no choice but to agree.
Jacob had to serve Laban for seven more years, but he didn’t have to wait that long to marry Rachel. Laban required him to finish the weeklong feast for Leah first and then gave him Rachel soon after. But although Jacob outwardly accepted Leah as his wife, he didn’t accept her in his heart. He loved only Rachel, and he made no secret of it.
- Genesis 3:24; 4:16; 11:2; 13:11; 25:6.
- Hamilton, Book of Genesis: Chapters 18–50, 253.
- Walton et al., Bible Background Commentary, Genesis 29:2, 3, 10.
- See Watering Camels.
- See Even Me!
- See Laban.
- Genesis 24:10.
- See To Paddan Aram.
- See Genesis 31:38–39.
- See Watering Camels; Rebekah’s Plan.
- Kidner, Genesis, 171; Walton, “Genesis,” 109; Wenham, Genesis 16–50, 235.
- See Nahor and Milcah.
- See Judges 14:10–12.
- See Genesis 24:64–65.
- See Playing Esau.
- See Esau’s Plea.