Jacob Fell In Love

Genesis 29:15-35

After a month of having Jacob around, helping with the cattle and sheep and visiting, Laban didn’t want to lose such valuable help. He decided to take advantage of the family relationship and offered Jacob a job to get him to stick around. Laban’s father had focused on the gold the servant had given Rebekah. Laban focused on what he could get out of Jacob. Even family relationships are affected by human nature.

“And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be? And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.” (Genesis 29:15-18)

Jacob had come to Laban for assistance in finding a wife. Jacob had seen Rachael when he first came and fallen for her immediately. While her sister had beautiful eyes, Rachael was far more beautiful of face and very shapely, and Jacob was smitten with her. He offered to work seven years for the privilege of marrying her.

“And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me. And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.” (Genesis 29:19-21)

Seeing an opportunity to get seven years of free labor, and to get her married off to someone he trusted, Laban seized the chance. Who knew how much work he could extract in seven years. It would undoubtedly be more than somebody else would give for a dowry. Jacob was so madly in love that he hardly noticed the passage of time. But after seven years demanded Laban keep his promise.

“And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. 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. And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.”

“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?” (Genesis 29:22-25)

Knowing how much Jacob loved Rachael and that once he married her, he might decide to return to his family, Laban set out to guarantee another seven years of service. Since guys weren’t just standing in line offering a dowry for Leah he decided to trick Jacob into paying the same for her. Late in the evening, after the lights were out he switched girls, bringing Leah to Jacob instead of Rachael. The next morning when Jacob found out the girl he’d slept with was not Rachael, he was really upset, and accused Laban of tricking him.

“And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.” (Genesis 29:26-27)

Laban excused himself by claiming that the younger daughter could not marry until her older sibling had married and that thus the agreement was invalid, but that if Jacob would give another seven years, he could have Rachael as well. Since Leah was a virgin, and he’d had sex with her, Jacob could not refuse to accept her as his wife according to Deuteronomy 22:13-19. He still wanted to marry Rachael, so he agreed to the deal. Please understand that polygamy was never specifically forbidden in the Bible, except for those who wish to be pastors or church leaders. Adultery, or sex without taking responsibility, on the other hand, was forbidden.

“And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid. And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.” (Genesis 29:28-30)

Jacob worked another seven years to get the woman he loved. That he’d been tricked into accepting Leah probably caused some resentment toward her, weakening the relationship. A marriage based on deceit has an extra set of problems to overcome. Couples who marry while concealing prior sexual behavior or because the girl lies about being pregnant have to overcome these lies in addition to the regular marital problems.

“And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. 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. And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon. 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. 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.” (Genesis 29:31-35)

Under the Mosaic law, a man who married another woman could not neglect his responsibilities to his first wife because he loved the second one more. Both Exodus 21:10 and Deuteronomy 21:15-17 stress the responsibility. Because Jacob was not fulfilling his responsibility to love her, God intervened on Leah’s behalf, giving her children and preventing Rachael from having them.

Even after being cheated and tricked, because it was family, Jacob stayed seven more years. We’d like to think our family always had our best interest at heart, but it is not always true.