Jacob Gets Married

After meeting with God at Bethel, Jacob went on to Haran where he met his Uncle Laban and his cousins, Leah and Rachel.  After a short time, Laban offered Jacob a job, in Genesis 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?” 

Isaac had told Jacob to find a wife when he met Laban, and he saw the opportunity in Laban’s offer, In Genesis 29:16-18.  “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.” 

Jacob offered to serve seven years as a way of paying a dowry for Rachel.  Originally, the dowry was like an insurance policy to be held in trust so that if something happened to the husband, his wife would have something to live on.  Unfortunately, many families just viewed the dowry as extra money in their account and forgot about keeping it for their daughter.  Laban agreed to Jacobs offer, and Jacob fulfilled his contract, In Genesis 29:19-21.  “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.” 

When Laban’s sister agreed to marry Isaac, Laban had been excited about how much they might make from Abraham’s servant, and he was still greedy.  While Leah had soft sweet eyes, guys were not drawn to her like they were to Rachel, and no one had offered a large dowry for her.  Laban decided tos witch the girls.  That way he would still have the possibility of selling Rachel for a larger price, even if Jacob refused to work for him anymore.  Genesis 29:22-24 describes his deceit.  “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.”

Thanks to the darkness, the wedding veils and the fact that he had spent very little time with Rachel while working for her father, Jacob didn’t realize the girls had been switched until the next morning.  He was quite upset that Laban had broken his contract, In Genesis 29:25-27.  “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 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.  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.”

Laban used the excuse that the customs of the area did not allow the younger daughter to get married before the older one to justify his actions.  He offered to let Jacob marry Rachel as well if he would work another seven years for her.  When Jacob agreed, he was allowed to marry Rachel as well, and kept his part of the agreement, as Genesis 29:30 tells us.  “And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.”