Today was all about Jacob and his many wives and children. Seriously, how many wives can one person have?
On his journey, he came across a well. The stone on the well’s mouth was large, and needed to be rolled when all the flocks gathered there to drink. There he met Rachel, the daughter of Laban. She ran and told her father.
“As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he ran to meet him and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things, and Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and flesh!” And he stayed with him a month.”
-Genesis 29:13-14
Because Jacob was staying there, Laban said he should serve him, and asked what his wages should be. Jacob loved Rachel. Out of both of Laban’s daughters Leah and Rachel, Jacob longed for Rachel.
“Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me.” So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.
-Genesis 29:18-20
That is beautiful, except the fact that they are cousins. But hey, if you have to give your daughter away, why not to her cousin? This seems to be a repetitive thing throughout these stories. Incest must not have been an issue or a concern then? Keep it all in the family I guess.
Jacob served his seven years for Rachel, and was ready to take her as his wife. They had a big feast. But in the evening, Laban took his older daughter Leah to Jacob instead of Rachel.
“And in the morning, behold, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?” Laban said, “It is not so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. Complete the week for this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years.”
-Genesis 29:25-27
First thing, is poor Leah. She’s only worth a week!? It’s like a bargaining system, “Here’s what you want, but we have to move this one off the shelf, so we’ll throw her in for cheap.”
Second thing, Jacob was in love with Rachel, and had been around these people for the last seven years. You mean to tell me, he couldn’t tell it wasn’t Rachel that night? Really?
So, Jacob served one pitiful week for Leah, and took Rachel to be his wife; serving Laban for another seven years. However, it was clear that Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah.
“When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.”
-Genesis 29:31
Because Leah was not loved like her sister, God blessed her with childbearing. Leah gave Jacob four sons before she ceased bearing children. Every child was in the hopes of her husband finally loving and honoring her. Their names were Reuben (see), Simeon (heard), Levi (attached), and Judah (praise).
When Rachel saw that her sister bore children, she envied her. She gave her servant Bilhah to Jacob to be his wife and get children through her. This sounds like the exact same thing Abraham and Sarah did.
Bilhah gave Jacob two sons. Rachel named them Dan (judged) and Naphtali (wrestling).
Since Leah had ceased bearing children, and saw that her sister had two children by her servant, Leah did the same thing. Leah gave her servant Zilpah to Jacob. Zilpah bore two sons and they were named Gad (good fortune) and Asher (happy).
At one point, Leah’s son Reuben was out getting mandrakes (plants). Rachel saw this and wanted some. Basically, the two sisters traded the plants for the night with their husband. So, Rachel got mandrakes and Leah got to spend the night with Jacob. She conceived another son and named him Issachar (wages).
Leah went on to have another son named Zebulun (for honor) and a daughter named Dinah.
“Then God remembered Rachel, and listened to her and opened her womb.” She conceived and had a son they named Joseph (may he add; taken away).
“And she said, “God has taken away my reproach.” And she called his name Joseph, saying “May the Lord add to me another son!”
-Genesis 30:23-24
Jacob is finally ready to leave Laban and go to his own home and country. Laban does not want him to go because he has been blessed by the Lord; therefore Laban’s household had done well with Jacob there.
Laban was going to pay him for his time there with all the speckled and spotted sheep and goats, and black lambs. That way they can keep them apart, and see that Jacob had been given his wages.
However, Jacob was being tricky, (I think). He placed fresh sticks of poplar, almond, and plane trees in front of the livestock when they came to drink and breed. Apparently in doing this, that meant the flocks would have more striped and speckled offspring. He then, would breed the strongest ones together in front of the sticks, and the weaker ones he didn’t. “The feebler would be Laban’s, and the stronger Jacob’s.” Jacob increased greatly.
Let’s add it all up shall we. Jacob had 4 wives and 12 children, if I counted correctly; large flocks, female and male servants, and camels and donkeys. He was doing pretty well.
I still don’t understand how you can take so many spouses, or how God is alright with that. Unless marriage isn’t necessarily for love and commitment, but more of a contract for bearing children…
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