NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Then he worked But do you know what? Three, we can see the love of Christ in the sacrifice Jacob made willingly to claim Rachel as his wife. We're not told exactly how long after they left Succoth that Benjamin was born, but it was likely in the first year or two. Their story comprises a large portion of the Old Testament, and while on the surface it might not be easy to understand the deeper truth behind their complicated romance, it teaches us much about the vast and merciful love God has for each of us. Knowing they arrived in Succoth when Joseph was 6 and that they left when he (and Dinah) was 17, we can say they were married about 25 years when she died. Jacob's flocks grazed as far south as Hebron, because. Are there any canonical examples of the Prime Directive being broken that aren't shown on screen? How could Jacob not notice he married Leah instead of Rachel? After discovering that he had been tricked, Jacob married Rachel also and then worked out another seven-year contract for this marriage. God told them to go to Bethel (Genesis 35:1,5), The family repented, buried their idols and moved to Bethel. A man may also trap a woman by promising wealth, or trick a woman by pretending to be something he is not, masking his faults until after the ceremony. Axolotls and capybaras are TikTok famousis that a problem? Which reverse polarity protection is better and why? This means that it was a minimum of 13 years in Paddan-aram plus at least 2 more years that Jacob was married to Rachel. How to reconcile the number of people that went down to Egypt with Jacob? Generating points along line with specifying the origin of point generation in QGIS. Yet he still kept on deceiving, until he ultimately repented and was welcomed and blessed by God. Why did you deceive me?, 26 But Laban responded, Its not the practice of our place to give the younger one in marriage before the firstborn. Why did Jacob insist that Joseph's sons were his? From the start, Jacob in his youth is portrayed as a deceiver, which is what his name means. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. When she realized that Leah was bearing Jacob children and she was not, she became intensely jealous of her sister and said to Jacob, Give me children, or else I die (Gen. 30:1). Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular, Seven, seven times, a week, an indefinite number, Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular, Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | third person masculine singular, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular, Direct object marker | third person feminine singular, Untranslatable mark of the accusative case. She had to have everything she wanted or life was not worth living. God told Jacob that it was time to leave Uncle Laban and go back home to Canaan. The miracle of conception lies within the power of God. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. They criticize them for the way they dress, the way they fix their hair, the way they cook, the way they keep house, or the way they treat the children. 21 Eventually, Jacob told Laban, Bring me my wife, now that my time of service has been completed, so I can go be with her. 22 So Laban gathered all the men who lived in that place and held a wedding festival. Some women try to buy a man with sex, or trap him with a baby, or lure him with family fortune. It's now been 11 years since they left Haran (Joseph was 6, now is 17. 3:2). Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for professors, theologians, and those interested in exegetical analysis of biblical texts. Jacob was traveling to a place called Paddan Aram. So Laban gave his daughter to Jacob and they got married. Benjamin was born, but Rachel didn't survive. Save 15% on BibleGateway+ with code SPRINGSTUDY15. WebRachel Jacobs (October 3, 1975 May 12, 2015) [1] [2] was an American businesswoman and social entrepreneur. Later, God blessed him again, reiterating Jacobs new name as Israel and renewing the same covenant God had made with Isaac and Abraham, Jacobs father and grandfather. He was pastor of Emmanuel Faith Community Church in Escondido, CA from 1972 to 1993 when the Lord called him home. One day years before she had screamed, Give me children, or else I die. And she died giving birth to her second son. And he said,I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel., Speak a blessing over your kids: 1 John 4:16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God loves you so much that He would do anything to help you. He promises to take care of you and protect you in all circumstances. : Genesis 29:18, biblehub.com/commentaries/genesis/29-18.htm, payscale.com/research/US/Job=Laborer/Hourly_Rate, New blog post from our CEO Prashanth: Community is the future of AI, Improving the copy in the close modal and post notices - 2023 edition. [That is Joseph was about 11 years old when Rachel died??] In desperation over her barrenness, Rachel begged Jacob to lie with her servant, Bilhah, and thereby give her sons through this union (Genesis 30). Laban promised to give Rachel to Jacob for the work he did. How to subdivide triangles into four triangles with Geometry Nodes? Does eating close to bedtime make you gain weight? Did Jacob placing branches in front of his flock really result in the offspring being speckled and spotted? Why? He was probably furious with the whole family for their double-dealing fraud. We, too, must willingly suffer for Christ, knowing our ultimate reward will comejust like Jacob won Rachel. His anger was not right in Gods sight, but his evaluation of the situation surely was. What is this brick with a round back and a stud on the side used for? 1. But godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment (1 Tim. (This must have been at least 1 year later.). Finally, after 7 long years, the time had come for Jacob to marry Rachel. Too many couples marry in haste and repent at leisure. Jacob was so shocked! He had just worked 7 years for Rachel, who he loved so much and then he wakes up to realize that he married Leah instead! Did Laban change his mind about giving Rachel to Jacob before he had completed the seven years in Genesis 29:30? WebJacob offered to serve him seven years for Rachel, the younger of his two daughters, whom he loved because of her beauty; i.e., just as many years as the week has days, Did the drapes in old theatres actually say "ASBESTOS" on them? for your younger daughter Rachel.. What could Rachel have done to overcome her jealous discontentment? Technically, the children of that union would be Rachels children in their culture. (J) I served you for Rachel, didnt I? You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and more. Throughout Scripture, we hear God often described as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Deuteronomy 9:5, Matthew 22:32, Acts 3:13), in honor of Gods covenantal promise that He would make their children numerous and give them land and other great blessings. NIV, Biblical Theology Study Bible, Comfort Print: Follow Gods Redemptive Plan as It Unfolds throughout Scripture, NIV, Lucado Encouraging Word Bible, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV, Story of Jesus: Experience the Life of Jesus as One Seamless Story, NIV, Beautiful Word Bible Journal, Galatians, Paperback, Comfort Print, NIV, The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People, NIV, Verse Mapping Bible, Comfort Print: Find Connections in Scripture Using a Unique 5-Step Process. Web30 Rachel, realizing she was barren, became envious of her sister. Jacob was so upset. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. The Hebrew name of Rachel means ewe or beautiful. Didnt I serve you for seven years in order to marry Rachel? God wants us to be content with what we have. She named the child Naphtah, which means wrestling. She saw herself in a contest with her sister for first place in Jacobs estimation. Are these the stolen gods/idols of Laban in Genesis 35:2? 17 Leah looked rather plain, but Rachel was lovely in form and appearance. Rachel was the favorite wife of Jacob, who had been earlier tricked into marrying Rachels older sister, Leah, after working for Laban for seven years as a contract for the marriage. Article Images Copyright , How Jacob and Rachels Bible Story Show's us God's Love in Action. We can, however, follow the chronology and the geography to know within about a year how long Jacob and Rachel were married. But Rachel was pregnant with another son, and as they journeyed south from Bethel and were a short distance from Bethlehem, Rachel went into labor. Even though it was so many years, it felt like a couple of days for Jacob because he loved Rachel so much. But we get another glimpse into Rachels selfish nature when Bilhahs second son is born. So if Jacob has already worked 7 years and then agrees to work another 7 years, how many years total did Jacob work for Laban in order to get Rachel as his wife??? 5:25). Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. This stone has a mysterious past beyond British coronations, Ultimate Italy: 14 ways to see the country in a new light, 6 unforgettable Italy hotels, from Lake Como to Rome, A taste of Rioja, from crispy croquettas to piquillo peppers, Trek through this stunning European wilderness, Land of the lemurs: the race to save Madagascar's sacred forests, When Jacob met Rachel he kissed her and lifted up his voice, and wept (Genesis 29:11). Dinah is also 17). Browse other questions tagged, Like any library, Christianity Stack Exchange offers great information, but, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. Seven years?! He moved a stone that normally took several people to move, and watered all of Rachels sheep. And it came about, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mothers brother, and the sheep of Laban his mothers brother, that Jacob went up, and rolled the stone from the mouth of the well, and watered the flock of Laban his mothers brother (Gen. 29:9, 10). Here's how we get that number: Now they've been married 13 years. Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. Despite Rachel and Leahs sisterly squabbles and the addition of two more wives into their already crowded marriage, God produced Gods people through what looked like a mess. Required fields are marked *. God always keeps His promises no matter what. While traveling south, close to the Jabbok River, Jacob came upon a stranger who challenged him to a struggle. Jacob was so shocked! Again his heart must have leaped within him at the realization of Gods faithful direction. Seven years is a long time to wait, and I think Jacob really did grow to love Rachel during those years. 25 The next morning, Jacob realized that it was Leah! To save chestnut trees, we may have to play God, Why you should add native plants to your garden, What you can do right now to advocate for the planet, Why poison ivy is an unlikely climate change winner, The gory history of Europes mummy-eating fad, This ordinary woman hid Anne Frankand kept her story alive, This Persian marvel was lost for millennia. But he had to work seven more years without pay after marrying her. Laban said it would be very good for Rachel to marry Jacob. The Scripture says that Jacob loved Rachel and offered to serve Laban seven years for her hand in marriage (Gen. 29:18). But that is a guess. What characteristics bother you the most? The Cross And Our Response to Trials (1 Peter 4:12-19), 8. But Jacob thought he was in love. What are the things in your life you would consider of the greatest value? You're right, we're never given Benjamin's age so we can't link him to his brothers that way. So Jacob served seven years for Rachel and they seemed to him but a few days because of his love for her (Gen. 29:20). Jacob was in love with Rachel, so he told Laban he would work for seven years in exchange for Rachels hand in marriage. If Rachel died just (say) two years before Joseph was 17, that is at the age of (say) 15, then Jacob and Rachel would have been married for 13 years in Paddan-aram plus another 9 years, a total of no more than 22 years. Leah was Labans oldest daughter, she had weak eyes and wasnt as beautiful as her younger sister Rachel. And most of us have moments like that. And Jacob lost his cool, Then Jacobs anger burned against Rachel, and he said, Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb? (Gen. 30:2). Later still, the moved to Ephrath (Gen 35:16). The Cross And Christs Suffering For Sins (1 Peter 3:18-22), 6. Then they let their father Jacob think Joseph had been killed by a wild animal. He had prospered to such an extent that Laban no longer felt very kindly toward him. Jacob agreed to work for Laban for as long as you have been alive! Jacob did not have to wait seven more years for Rachel, only one week. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. And they replied, It is well, and behold, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep (Gen. 29:4-6). Give me children or Ill die, she exclaimed to Jacob. There is an old saying that goes, True love never runs smoothly. Thats the way it was with Jacob and Rachel. And may I remind you that Leah, not Rachel, was the mother of Judah, through whom the Savior would ultimately come (Gen. 29:35). 3. But a spirit of discontent that causes us to fuss, nag, bicker, quarrel, and complain is a great hindrance to happy marital relationships. How this animal can survive is a mystery. He ran up to her and hugged and kissed her because he was so relieved to meet family. Jacob decided to call the place Peniel (Gods face), saying, I have seen God face to face (Genesis 32:30). Isaac was the son of Abraham, the miracle child borne of Sarah in their old age. 30 For it was little indeed you had before I came, Why the obscure but specific description of Jane Doe II in the original complaint for Westenbroek v. Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity? When the seven years were fulfilled at last, Jacob spent his wedding night only to discover at dawn that it wasnt Rachel, but her elder sister Leah whom Laban had delivered to Jacobs tent. Jacob had two wives, they were the daughters of Laban, their names were rachel and Leah. His death is recorded in Genesis 49roughly half of the Book of Genesis. Look, finally, at love through deep sorrow. She was envious, selfish, peevish, fretful, discontented, and demanding. Uncle Laban was the one who threw the monkey wrench into the machinery. Why have you deceived me? He had nothing to offer Laban for his daughter, so his labor was promised in lieu of a dowry. To approach a question 400 million years in the making, researchers turned to mudskippers, blinking fish that live partially out of water. He worked the Genesis 29:18 Jacob loved Rachel. It was a long and lonely journey. Jessica Brodie is an award-winning Christian novelist, journalist, editor, blogger, and writing coach and the recipient of the 2018 American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis Award for her novel, The Memory Garden. So she peddled Jacobs affections to Leah for the night for a couple of those love apples (Gen. 30:14, 15). Time travel in this animation through the history of the Bible. Joseph and Dinah are 6 years old. He was going to have what he wanted in spite of Gods will. At one point a decade passes between 2 verses (Genesis 33:17-18), then the narration continues forward without mentioning Joseph being sold by his brothers. Why did you give me Leah? I specifically asked for Rachel! Why have you tricked me? Jacob was not happy at all. He went straight to Laban and started asking him so many questions. He finished the week with Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. The sin of discontentment has ruined countless relationships since Jacobs day. WebNew International Version. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. Likewise, we too are never too far gone for the redeeming love of God. 8. For various reasons, I've always wondered how long Jacob and Rachel were married before her death. The median wage for a laborer is $14.47/hr. In spite of their complicated courtship and marriage, Jacob and Rachel had a deep and passionate love for each other. Laban was somewhat avarice and bargained. Who were Jacob and Rachel, and what can we learn from their story? The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? When Jacob met Rachel he kissed her and But he was more than willing to do this in order to marry his beloved Rachel. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! Rachel's death (shortly after giving birth to Benjamin) is record in Genesis 35:16-18. She was the most beautiful creature he had ever laid eyes on, and he felt life without her would be worthless. When Laban finally overtook them and searched their belongings for his terephim, Rachel lied to him and deceived him to keep him from finding them (Gen. 31:33-35). What part did your kids seem to like the most in this Bible Lesson??? My best guess (that is all) is that they were married for about 18 years on the basis that it was about 5 years between Paddan-aram and Ephrath and about 6 years before Joseph's 17 birthday. What would seven years in wages amount to? 2124 Then Jacob said to Laban, Give me my wife; Ive completed what we agreed Id do. please read and comment. Even though Laban didnt set a good example of keeping a promise, God does. Isnt this a crazy story??? So Jacob went in to Part boulder, part myth, part treasure, one of Europes most enigmatic artifacts will return to the global stage May 6. Jacob promised to work 7 years in order to get his wife. Since Jacob was in love with Rachel, he replied: "I am will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel." Jacob called the name of the place Bethel, meaning house of God.. Even the range of 15-22 years is pretty precise, all things given, and pins it down much more than I would have thought possible. Passing negative parameters to a wolframscript, A boy can regenerate, so demons eat him for years. 24 Laban also gave his servant woman Zilpah to Leah to be her maidservant. Rachels discontentment led her to the same kind of fleshly scheme Sarah tried. Following his deception of Esau, Jacob left Beersheba (Gen 28:9) and went to Paddan-aram (Gen 29) and worked for his uncle Laban for 7 years (Gen 29:20) for the hand of Rachel but ended up having to marry Leah as well as Rachel (v27). 23 That night Laban took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob. In fact, they are about the loveliest words ever penned of a mans feeling for a woman. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. Made with clay, wire, and recycled paper, the characters come to life in frame-by-frame motion. Jacob, as he had already lain with Leah, was stuck. He spotted a well and stopped to rest. She said, With mighty wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister, and I have indeed prevailed (Gen. 30:8). How many years Jacob lived in Egypt? All rights reserved worldwide. Even though Jacob deceived his own family, he later embraced humility and was deceived himself. When they came to Bethel, God said to Jacob, Joseph was Jacob's only child with Rachel, and he was presumed dead. No, it wasnt, not for Rachel. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. True love requires thorough knowledge. The neighborhood beauty and the new boy in town had found each other. Is there anything I'm missing? How Can I Recognize and Understand the Holy Spirit Better? Some of these things are important and need to be talked out. See. THEN, after all that time, Jacob wakes up to find that he had married the wrong woman! Laban explained that according to tribal custom, the oldest daughter should be married first (Genesis 29:26). Some husbands are discontented with their wives. Rachels older sister Leah was also unmarried, but their father, Laban, agreed to let Jacob work seven years for Rachels hand in marriage (Genesis 29:18-20). Then Leah became pregnant again and bore Issachar, Zebulun, and a daughter, Dinah. Laban had given Leah to Jacob. This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright 2023, Crosswalk.com. God allowed Rachel to have her one last request. Well Jacob knew he loved Rachel so much and he wanted to do everything in his power to marry her. What were the most popular text editors for MS-DOS in the 1980s? This was 11 years after leaving Paddan-aram. 20 So Jacob worked seven years for Rachel. Glenn ::Yes, it is an awful lot of money, he was in love. 29:15 Later, Laban asked Jacob, Should you serve me for free, just because youre my nephew? Shes also produced a free eBook, A God-Centered Life: 10 Faith-Based Practices When Youre Feeling Anxious, Grumpy, or Stressed. If Jacob wanted to marry Rachel as well, he would owe Laban another seven years of labor. Indeed, the Bible tells us those seven years of labor seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her (Genesis 29:20). Laban agreed with Jacobs wages and told Jacob if he worked for 7 years, Laban would give Rachel to Jacob. Together with the sons of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, these 12 men would become the forefathers of the 12 tribes of Israel, sealing Gods covenant. Thats right! 29 Laban also gave his woman servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her maidservant. Armed with that precious promise of Gods presence, Jacob headed for Haran, the land of his mothers family. How many of you guys are 7 years old??? But she named him Joseph, which means may he add. And she said, May the Lord give me another son (Gen. 30:24). 6. She gave birth to Joseph. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament. Ultimately, Jacob makes peace with his older brother, Esau. rev2023.5.1.43405. As a result I've always tried to guesstimate the length of their marriage from the age difference between Benjamin and his older brothers, but unless some details are hiding in the original Hebrew that are lost in translation, it doesn't seem to me that there are enough details in Genesis to have any real idea. But more so he could have refused. Complete the bridal week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you shall serve with me for another seven years (Gen. 29:27). Although Jacob was tricked into it, there were alternatives. It was not Gods perfect will. Jacob's proposal may be explained, partly on the ground that he was not then in a condition to give the customary dowry, or the usual presents to relations, and partly also from the fact that his situation with regard to Esau compelled him to remain some time with Laban. 18:18; 1 Tim. He worked 7 years to marry Rachel, but he was tricked into marrying Leah. She has a weekly YouTube devotional, too. There were some shepherds sitting around the well, so Jacob started a conversation with them: My brothers, where are you from? They answered, We are from Haran. Jacob probably heaved a sigh of relief. It isolated her in a grim world of loneliness. They whine and scold because the men dont pay enough attention to them, dont spend enough time with the children, wont do little jobs around the house, stay out too late, or think more of their jobs, their cars, their hobbies, television, or sports than they think of them. The Cross And Separation From The World (1 Peter 4:1-6), 7. We go on to read, Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted his voice and wept (Gen. 29:11). En route to resettle with his father, Isaac, Rachel died giving birth to Jacobs 12th son, Benjamin. Richard L. Strauss authored nine books, and served as pastor of churches in Fort Worth, TX, Huntsville, AL. All rights reserved, history of the Bible and the search for sacred texts, Who's Who in the Bible: Unforgettable People and Timeless Stories from Genesis to Revelation, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. At this point, Joseph was the youngest son (Gen 33:2) and the only child of Rachel. Jacob tore his clothes and refused to be consoled and said, Judah did not approve of his brothers' dealings with Joseph, and lying to their father letting him think Joseph was dead. What do I do about calling a priest father at my Catholic University? We also know that by the time Joseph was 17 years old (Gen 37:2) his mother had been dead for some unknown time before. How to Have Joy in Your Golden Years Despite These 10 Life A God-Centered Life: 10 Faith-Based Practices When Youre Feeling Anxious, Grumpy, or Stressed, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Who buys lion bones? Laban agrees to allow him, in a week, to marry Rachel as well but he He loves us so much He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). Jacob had stayed and worked for Laban for a month. She cooperated willingly with her fathers scheme but found very little satisfaction in the husband she had gained by deceit. We thought we knew turtles. If we had a video livestream of a clock being sent to Mars, what would we see? (D), 21Then Jacob said to Laban, Give me my wife. God finally did give her a son of her own, and now we expect her to be satisfied. Paul could say, For I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am (Phil. 4:11). 7. Tricking someone into marriage is dangerous business, but it is still being done today. He was made to work for seven years for Rachel and another seven years for Leah. Am I God? he flared. Laban had sent Leah in to lie with him (Genesis 29:23).
Jason Ingram Alpine, Ca, 8 Of Wands As How Someone Sees You, Doug Percy Jerry Thompson, Articles H