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Genesis Chapter
Twenty-Nine
I.
Content of the Chapter
Jacob Went to the House of His Mother’s
Brother Laban
A. Jacob chanced upon Rachel near the well
(v.1-12);
B. Laban accepted Jacob (v.13-14);
C. Jacob and Laban talked about the condition
of marrying Rachel (v.15-20);
D. Laban cheated Jacob and gave him Leah
instead of Rachel (v.21-26);
E. Jacob served Laban more seven years for the
purpose of taking Rachel as his wife (v.27-30);
F. Leah was unloved, and yet bore four sons
(v.31-35);
II.
Verse by Verse Commentary
Gen. 29:1 “So Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the
people of the East.”
YLT:
“And
Jacob lifteth up his feet, and goeth towards the land of the sons of the east;”
Literal
Meaning: “so Jacob went on
his journey”, it was inferred that Jacob made the journey on foot, not by camel
(see 32:10).
“And
came to the land of the people of the East”, “the East”: it was a common name for the Syrians,
so “the land of the people of the East” referred to the wilderness near
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The common people often make the mistake of
saying without doing. Faith without works is dead (James 2:17, 26).
2) The
way of man is not in himself. It is not in man who walks to direct his own
steps (Jer. 10:23). Let us learn from Jacob and commit the way before us to God
through prayer (see 28:20) so that we will also arrive at our destination
peacefully like him.
Gen. 29:2 “And he looked, and saw a well in the field; and behold,
there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they
watered the flocks. A large stone was on the well’s mouth.”
YLT:
“and
he looketh, and lo, a well in the field, and lo, there three droves of a flock
crouching by it, for from that well they water the droves, and the great stone
on the mouth of the well.”
Literal
Meaning: “field”: it was the
uncultivated “land” for shepherding the flocks of the sheep (see 31:4);
“A
large stone was on the well’s mouth”, the large stone could probably be rolled away by
several men together, which was set there to prevent someone from arriving
ahead to draw water. Otherwise the water would not be enough to those who came
later. Meanwhile, it was also good to shepherdesses who were physically weak
(see v.8).
This
chapter mentions “the stone” many times, which seems to respond to that stone
in
Gen. 29:3 “Now all the flocks would be gathered there; and they would
roll the stone from the well’s mouth, water the sheep, and put the stone back
in its place on the well’s mouth.”
YLT:
“(When
thither have all the droves been gathered, and they have rolled the stone from
off the mouth of the well, and have watered the flock, then they have turned
back the stone on the mouth of the well to its place.)”
Literal
Meaning: at that time, people
covered the well with stones for probably three reasons:
1. Do not let others draw water easily.
2. Prevent the dusts from entering in the well.
3. Prevent the sheep from falling into the
well.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) People generally pay attention to only how to
get and use the implement, but ignore to put it back to its position. We
believers shall do everything well from beginning to end with order.
2)
There is spring of living water of life in believers (see John 7:38), but is
often stopped by our natural life. Therefore, the flesh should be put to death
so that the living water will flow out to provide men.
Gen. 29:4 “And Jacob said to them, “My brethren, where are you
from?” And
they said, “We are from
YLT:
“And
Jacob saith to them, `My brethren, from whence ye?' and they say, `We from
Literal
Meaning: Jacob called them
“brethren”. Note that the word “brethren” is mentioned for many times in this
chapter, showing that Jacob had realized the importance of “brethren” after the
experience in chapter twenty-eight.
Gen. 29:5 “Then he said to them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?” And they said,
“We know him.””
YLT:
“And
he saith to them, `Have ye known Laban, son of Nahor?' and they say, `We have
known.'”
Meaning
of Words: “son”: the male descendant;
Gen. 29:6 “So he said to them, “Is he well?” And they said,
“He is well. And look, his daughter Rachel is coming with the sheep.””
YLT: “And
he saith to them, `Hath he peace?' and they say, `Peace; and lo, Rachel his
daughter is coming with the flock.'”
Meaning
of Words: “Rachel”: lamb, female sheep;
Literal
Meaning: it was common in the
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The faithful God, according to His promise to
Jacob, not only brought Jacob to the right place but also made it in a proper
time ---- that he met Rachel.
2)
Whatever we meet, it is not by accident. All the steps and experiences of men
are arranged by God.
Gen. 29:7 “Then he said, “Look, it is still high day; it is
not time for the cattle to be gathered together. Water the sheep, and go and
feed them.””
YLT: “And
he saith, `Lo, the day still great, not time for the cattle to be gathered;
water ye the flock, and go, delight yourselves.'”
Literal
Meaning: Jacob’s suggestion
was actually proposing the shepherds to make an exception to roll the stone
from the well’s mouth ahead of time so that he could recognize Rachel alone.
Otherwise, it would be embarrassing (see v.11).
Gen. 29:8 “But they said, “We cannot until all the flocks are gathered
together, and they have rolled the stone from the well’s mouth; then we water
the sheep.””
YLT: “And
they say, `We are not able, till that all the droves be gathered together, and
they have rolled away the stone from the mouth of the well, and we have watered
the flock.'”
Literal
Meaning: “we cannot”, it does
not mean they were unable to roll the stone away from the mouth of the well,
but they could not disobey the appointment of shepherds.
Enlightenment
in the Word: let the members
have the same care for one another in the church (1Cor. 12:25), but not stick
in the mud in everything so as not to block the on-going guidance of God.
Gen. 29:9 “Now while he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with
her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess.”
YLT: “He
is yet speaking with them, and Rachel hath come with the flock which her father
hath, for she shepherdess;”
The Background: in the
Gen. 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.”
YLT: “and
it cometh to pass when Jacob hath seen Rachel, daughter of Laban his mother's
brother, and the flock of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob cometh nigh
and rolleth the stone from off the mouth of the well, and watereth the flock of
Laban his mother's brother.”
Literal
Meaning: “that
Jacob went near and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth”, Jacob did not care for the rules of
shepherds (see v.8) and rolled away the stone alone to show his great strength
to make him attractive to Rachel.
Enlightenment
in the Word: we may not be as
powerful as Jacob, but let us learn from his enthusiasm and willingness to help
those who are in need of help.
Gen. 29:11 “Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice and wept.”
YLT: “And
Jacob kisseth Rachel, and lifteth up his voice, and weepeth,”
The Background: “Jacob kissed Rachel”, it was a custom in the Middle East that
people might be check-to-check with one another to show a kiss when they met
each other.
Literal
Meaning: “lifted
up his voice and wept”, Rachel was the
first relative Jacob met after went away from home. Jacob lifted up his voice
and wept, which indicated that he suffered a lot in his way and endured it by
himself. And now he could not restrain himself any more and wept.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Many people think men should not weep and “tears
are works of weak ones”. However, even our Lord Jesus may sometimes cry (John
11:35; Heb. 5:7).
2)
Tears may not only express our inner emotion but also relax us and clear up our
spirit.
Gen. 29:12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s
relative and that he was Rebekah’s son. So she ran and told her father.
“”
YLT:
“and
Jacob declareth to Rachel that he her father's brother, and that he Rebekah's
son, and she runneth and declareth to her father.”
Literal
Meaning: the way of Jacob’s
presentation is shown to us from verse ten to twelve:
1. Show his might strength (v.10);
2. Offer his diligence (v.10);
3. Reveal his identity emotionally (v.11-12);
Gen. 29:13 “Then it came to pass, when Laban heard the report about
Jacob his sister’s son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed
him, and brought him to his house. So he told Laban all
these things.”
YLT: “And
it cometh to pass, when Laban heareth the report of Jacob his sister's son,
that he runneth to meet him, and embraceth him, and kisseth him, and bringeth
him in unto his house; and he recounteth to Laban all these things,”
The Background: it was inferred that Jacob was seventy seven when
he went away from home (see 27:1 “Age Calculation”). And he was born by Rebekah
after she had married for twenty years (see 25:20, 26), so Laban and his mother
had been kept apart for at least ninety-seven years.
Literal
Meaning: “so he told Laban all these things”, “all these
things” include his self-introduction and his identity of Rebekah’s son and his
obedience to his parents’ command of sending him here to take a wife, etc.
Gen. 29:14 “And Laban said to him, “Surely you are
my bone and my flesh.” And he stayed with him for a month.”
YLT: “and
Laban saith to him, `Only my bone and my flesh thou;' and he dwelleth with him
a month of days.”
Literal
Meaning: “surely you are my
bone and my flesh”, Jacob had many
similarities by nature with Laban, which proved that one’s nature is of
matrilinear inheritance. God particularly arranged Laban to be the rival of
Jacob. And Laban was truly the right person that could be used by God to
chasten and train Jacob.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) God often chastens us through the relatives in
the flesh.
2) God
often deals with man’s craftiness with crafty men, and
man’s covetousness with covetous men, and man’s arrogance with arrogant men.
3) If
man desires to God, he has to go to “
Gen. 29:15 “Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my relative, should
you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what should your wages be?””
YLT:
“And
Laban saith to Jacob, `Is it because thou my brother that thou hast served me
for nought? declare to me what thy hire.'”
Literal Meaning:
“should you therefore serve
me for nothing”, there are two explanations for it. The positive one is that Jacob was
not idle in the house of Laban during the whole month, but helped Laban to work
all the time. The negative one is that Laban might suggest in an indirect way
that though Jacob was his relative, he had still to do something for Laban
instead of eating for free.
“What
should your wages be”, probably Laban was assured that Jacob was a good
helper, so he desired to obtain a cheap hireling by this suggestion. We can see
from Laban’s words that his mind is also a mercenary mind. As Jacob was, so was
Laban he met.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Whoever serves for the sake of wages serves man,
not God.
2) It
is better to serve God than serve man, for wages given by man will become
corrupted finally (see 25).
Gen. 29:16 “Now Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was
Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.”
YLT:
“And
Laban hath two daughters, the name of the elder Leah, and the name of the
younger Rachel,”
Meaning
of Words: “Leah”: weary, delicate eyes, cow; “Rachel”:
female sheep, lamb;
Gen. 29:17 “Leah’s eyes were delicate, but Rachel was beautiful
of form and appearance.”
YLT:
“and
the eyes of Leah tender, and Rachel hath been fair of form and fair of
appearance.”
The Background: “Leah’s eyes were delicate”, at that time, aesthetic evaluation of
females was according to the expression of eyes. Therefore, the earliest
cosmetics were made to make up eyes.
Literal
Meaning: “Leah’s eyes were delicate”, her eyes were lack of
vitality. The elegant and subtle expression out of eyes of young females is
most attractive to males.
“But
Rachel was beautiful of form and appearance”, “beautiful of form”: good figure; “beautiful
of appearance”: beautiful countenance;
Gen. 29:18 “Now Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, “I will serve you seven
years for Rachel your younger daughter.””
YLT: “And
Jacob loveth Rachel, and saith, `I serve thee seven years for Rachel thy
younger daughter:'”
The Background: according to the custom of the
Literal
Meaning: “Jacob
loved Rachel”, it was mentioned
three times in this chapter (see v.20, 30). It was far beyond the common rule
that Jacob suggested to labor for Laban seven years for free as the betrothal
gift of marrying Rachel.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Jacob spared no expense to take Rachel whom
Jacob loved as his wife. The power of love is so great that people will ignore
the value of money (Song 8:7).
2)
Jacob looked upon the outward appearance (see v.17), but God looked upon the
heart (1Sam. 16:7).
3)
Since God was with Jacob and had promised him, Jacob was supposed to let God
deal with the matter of his wife and wages instead of dealing with it according
to his own interest and will. If it was so, he would not fall into the trap of
Laban.
Gen. 29:19 “And Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you
than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.””
YLT:
“and
Laban saith, `It is better for me to give her to thee than to give her to
another man; dwell with me;'”
Literal
Meaning: Laban and Jacob
reached an agreement concerning the condition of marriage. And it was happy to
both of them of laboring for seven years for free instead of giving betrothal
gift.
Gen. 29:20 “So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only
a few days to him because of the love he had for her.”
YLT:
“and
Jacob serveth for Rachel seven years; and they are in his eyes as some days,
because of his loving her.”
Literal
Meaning: the power of love
makes man feel not laborious in labor, and time just flies in a cheerful heart.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Love is the best motive for service. Works out
of love make the burden light, just as parents who take care of their children
in love never feel laborious.
2) If
we pass days as if they were years because of the labor of service, it shows
that we do not love the Lord deep enough.
Gen. 29:21 “Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my
days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.””
YLT: “And
Jacob saith unto Laban, `Give up my wife, for my days have been fulfilled, and
I go in unto her;'”
Literal
Meaning: “give me my wife”, note that Jacob did not mention “Rachel”
clearly, so Laban gave him Leah on this pretext (see v.23).
Gen. 29:22 “And Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made
a feast.”
YLT: “and
Laban gathereth all the men of the place, and maketh a banquet.”
Literal
Meaning: “made
a feast”, the feast of
marriage would generally lasted for seven days (see v.27-28; Judge 14:12)
Gen. 29:23 “Now it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his
daughter and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her.”
YLT:
“And
it cometh to pass in the evening, that he taketh Leah, his daughter, and
bringeth her in unto him, and he goeth in unto her;”
Literal
Meaning: it was appointed to
marry Rachel (see v.18), but now it was Leah. Laban deceived Jacob. Jacob had
cheated his father and brother, and now he was cheated by his relatives in the
same way:
1. When Isaac blessed Jacob, he did not know it
was Jacob. And when Jacob married Leah, he did not know it was Leah.
2. Jacob heard his mother’s word and cheated
Isaac. And Leah heard his father’s word and cheated Jacob.
3. Isaac unconsciously blessed Jacob who was
chosen by God. And Jacob unconsciously married Leah who was chosen by God.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) He who deceives will be deceived. Jacob cheated
his family members before, and now it was his turn to be deceived.
2)
Jacob deceived his old father whose eyes were dim, but he never expected that
his eyes might be also dim in darkness. Whatever a man sows, that he will also
reap (Gal. 6:7).
3) God
makes the cunning Jacob meet Laban and allows Jacob to be cheated by serious
unrighteousness. However, it is the hand of God’s discipline for Jacob’s
profit.
Gen. 29:24 “And Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah as
a maid.”
YLT:
“and
Laban giveth to her Zilpah, his maid-servant, to Leah his daughter, a
maid-servant.”
Meaning
of Words: “Zilpah”: fall, drop;
Gen. 29:25 “So it came to pass in the morning, that behold, it was
Leah. And he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Was it not for
Rachel that I served you? Why then have you deceived me?””
YLT: “And
it cometh to pass in the morning, that lo, it Leah; and he saith unto Laban,
`What this thou hast done to me? for Rachel have I not served with thee? and
why hast thou deceived me?'”
Literal
Meaning: Jacob took the
birthright with a stew (see 25:29-34). Now he was deceived to take the
firstborn daughter as his wife with seven-year labor (see v.27).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Works done in darkness will be exposed in light
(Eph. 5:12-13).
2)
Jacob deceived others, but was unwilling to be deceived. Let us be considerate
of others in our walking ---- if people also do it accordingly on us, will we
be ready to accept it?
Gen. 29:26 “And Laban said, “It must not be done so in our country, to
give the younger before the firstborn.”
YLT: “And
Laban saith, `It is not done so in our place, to give the younger before the
first-born;”
Literal
Meaning: Laban made an excuse
with the custom at that time. Though his reason was legal, he did not tell
Jacob earlier.
Enlightenment
in the Word: it was also a kind
of lie of speaking “right” words in a “wrong” time ---- conceal something when
it should be disclosed and reveal it till things happen.
Gen. 29:27 “Fulfill her week, and we will give you this one also for
the service which you will serve with me still another seven years.””
YLT:
“fulfil
the week of this one, and we give to thee also this one, for the service which
thou dost serve with me yet seven other years.'”
Literal
Meaning: “fulfill
her week”, after the seven-day feast of
marriage;
“And
we will give you this one also”, it was an example of Laban’s
miserliness that he set only one feast for his two daughters.
“For
the service which you will serve with me still another seven years”, Laban’s craftiness lay in that he knew
that Jacob would not serve him another seven years for the sake of Leah.
Therefore, by this way, he took advantage of Jacob for another seven
years.
Gen. 29:28 “Then Jacob did so and fulfilled her week. So he gave him
his daughter Rachel as wife also.”
YLT:
“And
Jacob doth so, and fulfilleth the week of this one, and he giveth to him Rachel
his daughter, to him for a wife;”
Literal
Meaning: “so he gave him his daughter
Rachel as wife also”, it happened
before the second seven years during which Jacob served with Laban.
Gen. 29:29 “And Laban gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as a
maid.”
YLT:
“and
Laban giveth to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his maid-servant, for a maid-servant
to her.”
Meaning
of Words: “Bilhah”: timid, shy, gentle;
Gen. 29:30 “Then Jacob also went in to Rachel, and he also loved
Rachel more than Leah. And he served with Laban still another seven years.”
YLT: “And
he goeth in also unto Rachel, and he also loveth Rachel more than Leah; and he
serveth with him yet seven other years.”
Meaning
of Words: “more than”: excel in, surpass;
Gen. 29:31 “When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, He
opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.”
YLT:
“And
Jehovah seeth that Leah the hated one, and He openeth her womb, and Rachel
barren;”
Literal
Meaning: “Leah
was unloved”, according to the
original Hebrew, it was Leah was hated. That is an expression of “contrast”,
which means that Jacob loved Rachel much more than Leah. Later it was ruled in
the law of Moses that one shall not take a woman as a rival to her sister while
the others is alive (Lev. 18:18).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) God loves to give favor to those who are despised
and afflicted and poor and give more abundant honor to that lacked (1Cor.
12:24).
2)
Life is a gift from God. Besides the cooperation of the husband and wife, the
most important thing for the birth of a life is that it is of the will of God.
Gen. 29:32 “So Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name
Reuben; for she said, “The Lord has surely
looked on my affliction. Now therefore, my husband will love me.””
YLT: “and
Leah conceiveth, and beareth a son, and calleth his name Reuben, for she said,
`Because Jehovah hath looked on mine affliction; because now doth my husband
love me.'”
Meaning
of Words: “Reuben”: bohold, a son;
Literal
Meaning: it showed that when
Reuben was born, Leah was in great affliction, for she was unloved.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Partiality is the main reason for the disharmony
among family members.
2) God
has seen all the afflictions we have suffered. He knows all our situations.
Gen. 29:33 “Then she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because
the Lord has
heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son
also.” And she called his name Simeon.”
YLT: “And
she conceiveth again, and beareth a son, and saith, `Because Jehovah hath heard
that I the hated one, He also giveth to me even this ;' and she calleth his
name Simeon.”
Meaning
of Words: “Simeon”: hear;
Literal
Meaning: this verse shows
that Leah felt that God had heard his painful voice.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) God has heard all the groans of believers before
Him.
2)
When Leah gave his children names, she did not emphasize his affliction and
condition of being in disfavor, but that God had seen and heard her. Her
positive attitude is worthy of imitation.
Gen. 29:34 “She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now this
time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three
sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi.”
YLT:
“And
she conceiveth again, and beareth a son, and saith, `Now the time, my husband
is joined unto me, because I have born to him three sons,' therefore hath
called his name Levi.”
Meaning
of Words: “Levi”: union;
Literal
Meaning: this verse indicated
us that Leah longed for the removal of the cold conjugal relation
between her and Jacob.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Leah did not unlove Jacob because of the partial
treatment. Her positive attitude of yearning for the improvement of the
conjugal relation is truly a good example to Christian
wives.
2) “This time my
husband will become attached to me”, that the husband and wife shall become one flesh
symbolizes the relation between Christ and the church ---- this is a great
mystery (Eph. 5:31-32). Saints who have been married shall learn from the
marriage life that how Christ loves the church and how shall the church make
Christ satisfied.
Gen. 29:35 “And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now I
will praise the Lord.” Therefore she called his name
YLT:
“And
she conceiveth again, and beareth a son, and saith this time, `I praise
Jehovah;' therefore hath she called his name
Meaning
of Words: “
Literal
Meaning: this verse shows
that Leah would keep a positive attitude toward her relation with Jacob.
Enlightenment
in the Word: Christ is out of “
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
Services of the Lord’s Workers in the Lord
A. There were
three flocks of sheep lying by it (v.2) ---- there are flocks of sheep of the Lord
in the church who need to be fed (see John 21:15-17);
B. A
large stone was on the well’s mouth (v.2) ---- man’s stubbornness by nature hinders
the provision of spiritual food;
C. The shepherds would not roll the stone from
the well’s mouth until
all the flocks are gathered together (v.8) ---- the common workers of the Lord are ready
to give regular spiritual food;
D. Jacob
saw the
need and rolled the
stone from the well’s mouth (v.10) ---- the faithful workers are
willing to give at any time;
E. Jacob did the work that required several men
(v.10) ---- one gifted worker is worth several ones;
F. Serve for the sake of love, not wages
(v.15-20) ---- the workers who have love do not serve for the sake of wages;
G. God gave favor especially to those who are
despised (v.31-35) ---- workers who have insight and prudence are enabled to
serve according to the will of God;
H. Bear sons (v.31-35) ---- service is for the
purpose of bearing children concerning the gospel and making them increase;
Names of the First Four Sons of Leah
A. Reuben (v.3) ---- God has “seen” my
affliction.
B. Simeon (v.3) ---- God has “heard” of my
being unloved.
C. Levi (v.3) ---- my husband will become
attached to me, and we “will become one flesh”.
D.
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Mary Zhou