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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