Bible Basics: Genesis 29 through 30:24

Genesis 29

Verses 1–6: After his life-changing encounter with God, Jacob continues his journey to his Uncle Laban’s place in Paddam Aram (likely in modern-day Syria). Along the way, he meets some shep- herds waiting near a well to water their sheep. They’re from Haran, and as God would orchestrate it, know Laban. They point out his daughter, Rachel, who is approaching with a flock of sheep.

7–8: Jacob directs the shepherds to water their sheep and return them to pasture. It’s broad daylight—not yet time to gather flocks for the night. They disregard him, explaining that all the flocks are gathered before the heavy well-stone is removed for watering.

9–12: As Rachel arrives, Jacob takes one look and springs into action. He removes the stone from the mouth of the well and waters her entire flock. He then greets her with a kiss and introduces himself as a close kinsman, her cousin. Overcome by God’s favor and no doubt her beauty, he breaks down in tears. God is faithfully fulfilling his promise to guide Jacob's steps. Rachel runs to tell her father the news of Jacob's arrival.

13–15: Excited, Laban rushes to meet him. He embraces Jacob and greets him with a kiss, inviting Jacob into his home. Here, Jacob recounts his miraculous meeting with the shepherds and Rachel, and Laban welcomes him as family. After a month passes, Laban offers to pay Jacob for shepherding his flocks, asking him to name his wages.

16–20: In love with Rachel, Jacob offers to work seven years in exchange for marrying her. Laban agrees to Jacob’s terms, and the time seems like only a few days because of his love for Rachel.

21–30: When the seven years are complete, Jacob asks for his bride, Rachel. Laban cunningly tricks Jacob by replacing her with Leah. Jacob sleeps with Leah the night of the wedding feast, and doesn’t realize the switch until the next morning. Angrily confronting Laban, Jacob is offered a paltry excuse: it’s the custom of the land to give the older daughter in marriage first. Laban audaciously asks Jacob to complete Leah’s bridal week in order to marry Rachel, and adds another seven years’ work to the bridal price! Loving Rachel, Jacob agrees.

31–35: God sees Leah’s plight in light of Jacob’s love for Rachel. While Rachel remains barren, Leah gives birth to four sons. However, she struggles to realize that this won’t win Jacob’s love. She names the fourth son Judah (sounds like “praise” in Hebrew), finally deciding to praise God and be content regardless of her husband’s attitude and actions.

Genesis 30

Verses 1–2: Rachel becomes jealous of Leah, then lashes out at Jacob: “Give me children, or I'll die!” (v. 1). Jacob angrily points out that he's not God; he has no ultimate control over their ability to conceive.

3–8: Desperate, Rachel gives her servant Bilhah to Jacob as a wife. If she can't have her own children, she’ll live vicariously through Bilhah. Despite the strife that two wives have already caused, Jacob agrees to her plan and has two sons by Bilhah. Rachel's character can no longer be maligned or blamed for her barrenness: she feels vindi- cated and victorious over Leah. However, this just fuels the ill will between them.

9–13: Since Leah has stopped bearing children, she returns the favor by giving Jacob a fourth wife, her servant Zilpah. Two sons are born to Jacob and Leah is happy again.

14–21: During the wheat harvest, Leah's son Reuben finds some mandrake plants, and gathers them for her. At the time, they were considered an aphrodisiac and a fertility enhancer.* Rachel asks for some, but Leah responds angrily: “Wasn't it enough that you took away my husband?” (v. 15). Again and again, we see the damaging effects of Laban's deception and his daughters’ complicity and competitiveness in the life of this family.

Rachel offers Leah one night with Jacob in exchange for the man- drakes, but her plan backfires. Leah holds Jacob to their agreement and God grants her a fifth son. She later gives birth to a sixth and, still longing for Jacob’s love, mistakenly believes that he will begin to honor her. After this, she bears a daughter and stops having children.

22–24: Rachel continues praying for children. God hears her, and in kindness grants her a son, Joseph. At last, she feels the disgrace of her barrenness has been removed, and hopes God will gift her with another son. Stay tuned . . .

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