Tyndale Open Study NotesGenesis 29

• These chapters describe how God fulfilled his promise by greatly blessing Jacob with a family and possessions. God also disciplined Jacob, leaving him to struggle with Laban for many years. Laban was Jacob’s match in deception, and thus a means of correction.

• The story of Jacob and Laban is similar to Israel's later stay in Egypt. Jacob struggled while serving his uncle but finally emerged with a large family (the founders of the 12 tribes) and great wealth. In Egypt, the Israelites suffered under their oppressors, but they also flourished, becoming a great nation of 12 large tribes and escaping with great riches.

Jacob resumed his journey: The Hebrew text can be literally translated as he "lifted up his feet," suggesting he felt inspired. He continued his journey with renewed enthusiasm. This change in attitude came from the vision he received at Bethel.

It was a wonderful revelation that God would protect and bless him. Now, he expected God's promises to come true, not only to escape from Esau. Jacob’s attitude had become positive and magnanimous to the point of being naive and vulnerable.

Jacob met Rachel at the well at just the right time. This happened under God’s guidance, because God rules over all things (God is sovereign). God was leading Jacob toward the fulfillment of his promises (see 24:12–20). The well was a reminder of God’s blessing (compare 16:13–14; 21:19; 26:19–25, 33).

• Unlike the lazy, unhelpful shepherds (29:7–8), this verse shows Jacob to be generous, hardworking, and energetic.

• watered his uncle's sheep: Laban's flocks would thrive under Jacob's care.

Jacob kissed Rachel: Kissing relatives was an appropriate way to greet them (29:13; compare Song 8:1).

Jacob looked forward with joy to marrying Rachel, but this hope became a time of testing. Laban acted with shrewdness (clever but not honest behavior), and Jacob was disciplined (corrected and trained). Jacob and his mother had deceived his father and brother to gain the blessing. Now Laban, his mother’s brother, deceived him.

Jacob experienced the results of his own dishonesty through 20 years of hard work, suffering, and being misled while serving Laban (31:38).

In God’s fair judgment, people receive what they do (Galatians 6:7). Laban’s actions helped Jacob see his own tendency to deceive others. God often brings people into the lives of believers to discipline them. But Jacob was determined, and God greatly blessed him with a large family and many possessions during this time of service (30:25–43).

You are indeed my own flesh and blood: Laban welcomed Jacob into his house and treated him much like a son.

Seven years of service was a high bride-price in the ancient world, but Rachel was beautiful (like Sarah and Rebekah), and Jacob was in love with her.

• Like Isaac, Jacob was given food and wine (compare 27:25). He could not see in the darkness (compare 27:1). He became confused by clothing (compare 27:15) and misled by touch (compare 27:23).

• The marriage had already been completed (the husband and wife had come together as one; 29:23; compare 2:24). Because of this, Jacob was bound to Leah.

• It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older: Laban's words are a reminder of what Jacob did when he, the younger son, pretended to be his older brother to gain the blessing (chapter 27). Now Leah, the older sister, pretended to be the younger sister to get a husband. God gave the deceiver a dose of his own deception as a discipline in his life.

After the bridal week ended, Jacob also married Rachel (29:27). But he had to work another seven years (see 31:41). Laban seemed to have the advantage.

he loved Rachel more than Leah: This kind of favoritism (showing special love to one person over others) caused ongoing trouble in his family (see 25:28; 37:3). Jacob’s favoritism had lasting effects. His family was often divided, and their descendants (the tribes of Israel) were rarely united.

• The rivalry between these sisters explains much of the later conflict among their sons, and then among the tribes. This is similar to how Jacob and Laban's rivalry predicted future conflicts between Israel and the Arameans of Damascus (2 Samuel 8:5–6; 10:8–19; 1 Kings 20:1–34; 2 Kings 5:1–8:29; 13:1–25; Isaiah 7:1–9).

• God fights for the cause of the poor and oppressed. He honored Leah, the despised first wife, by making her the first mother. Judah's royal tribe and Levi's priestly line came from her. This was despite Jacob's favoritism for Rachel and her children.

  Despite the tension and jealousy resulting from Laban’s deceit and Jacob’s favoritism, God still grew Jacob’s family and brought about the births of the tribal ancestors.

• Leah’s first four sons were born in rapid succession, but Rachel could not conceive. She was unable to have children, like Sarah and Rebekah (compare 16:1; 25:21; see also 1 Samuel 1:1–28; Luke 1:5–25).

• Each name is a memorable wordplay on Leah’s experience and hopes.

The LORD has seen my affliction: The name Reuben (from the Hebrew re’uben) sounds like the Hebrew phrase ra‘ah be‘onyi, which means “he has seen my affliction.” Leah felt that God had seen her suffering and had comforted her when her son was born, and she hoped that Jacob would now love her.

Jacob did not notice her suffering, but God did (compare 16:14; 24:62; 25:11). The name was a reminder of God’s care and help.

Leah named her second son Simeon. The name suggests that she had cried out to the Lord and was heard (compare 16:11).

Leah named her third son Levi because she hoped her husband would become attached to her after she had borne him three sons. The name Levi sounds like the Hebrew word for “attached” or “joined.” But this did not happen.

Leah accepted that Jacob would never love her. She named her fourth son Judah, saying, "I will praise the Lord." In Hebrew, Judah means "praised." She appeared to have stopped hoping for Jacob's love and found comfort in the Lord.