1Jacob cometh to the well of Haran; 9meeteth Rachel, maketh himself known to her, and is entertained by Laban, 15whom he covenanteth to serve for Rachel. 21He is deceived with Leah; 28marrieth Rachel also, and serveth for her seven years more. 31Leah is fruitful, and beareth Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah.
1THEN Jacob 1went on his journey, and came into the land 2of the people of the east.
1 This manner of speaking gives to understand that Jacob, being comforted and strengthened thus by the late vision and heavenly oracles, he now went on cheerfully and courageously on his journey.
2 That is, of the people that inhabited the country located east from Canaan. So Judges 6:33; 1 Kings 4:30; Job 1:3; Jer. 49:28.
2And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well's mouth.
3And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well's mouth in his place.
4And Jacob said unto them, 3My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.
3 Compare the annotations at Gen. 19 on verse 7.
5And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the 4son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.
4 That is, son’s son.
6And he said unto them, 5Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.
5 Hebr. is peace to him? or has he peace? Also Gen. 43:27; 2 Sam. 18:32; 2 Kings 4:26, etc. See of the word peace, Gen. 37 on verse 14.
7And he said, Lo, 6it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and feed them.
6 Hebr. it is great day yet.
8And they said, 7We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep.
7 Hebr. we shall not be able, namely, by reason of the heaviness of the stones, which a few of us cannot remove, and, because of our custom, to wait one for another.
9¶And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep: for 8she kept them.
8 See similar examples, Exod. 2:16; Cant. 1:7, 8.
10And 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 9rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother.
9 That is, he helped the shepherds to remove the stone in Rachel’s stead; for, alone he was not able to do it. See verse 8.
11And Jacob 10kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and 11wept.
10 After the manner of those countries, this manner of greeting, as well at the first meeting, as verse 13 and Gen. 33:4; Exod. 4:27; 18:7, as at parting, Ruth 1:14; 1 Sam. 20:41; 1 Kings 19:20.
11 Namely, for joy to have met his cousin there so soon and opportunely. See of the same weeping Gen. 33 on verse 4.
12And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s 12brother, and that he was Rebekah's son: and she ran and told her father.
12 See Gen. 13:8.
13And it came to pass, 13when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban 14all these things.
13 Hebr. when Laban heard the hearing of Jacob.
14 To wit, the reason of his journey, and what happened to him by the way, all which served for Laban to know to prevent all sinister suspicion as might be occasioned by such an unusual arrival, in comparison to Eliezer’s arrival; above Genesis 24.
14And Laban said to him, Surely thou art 15my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the 16space of a month.
15 That is, my near kinsman and nephew. See the like phrase Gen. 2:23; Judges 9:2; 2 Sam. 19:12, 13; 1 Chron. 11:1, and so likewise in the spiritual sense, Eph. 5:30.
16 Hebr. a month of days, that is, a complete month, or, so many days as are in one month. So a year of days, Gen. 41:1, is as much as to say, a full year.
15¶And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?
16And Laban had two daughters: the name of the 17elder was Leah, and the name of the 18younger was Rachel.
17 That is, the greater.
18 That is, the smaller.
17Leah was 19tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.
19 That is, weak ones and defective.
18And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, Ia will serve thee 20seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.
a Hosea 12:13.
20 Jacob offers to serve a long time; both in regard that his uncle’s greediness was not unknown to him, and likewise for the great love he bare to Rachel, desiring thus to pay the dowry withal which the bridegrooms were obliged to give in those times; as appears from Exod. 22:17; 1 Sam. 18:25.
19And Laban said, 21It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.
21 A doubtful and subtle answer, as the outcome has proved.
20And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a 22few days, for the love he had to her.
22 Hebr. one, or, single days. See this manner of speaking also Gen. 27:44. The meaning of these words is that the time seemed very short to Jacob.
21¶And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me 23my wife, for 24my days are fulfilled, 25that I may go in unto her.
23 That is, my betrothed wife by virtue of our matrimonial contract. See the like phrase, Mat. 1:18, 19, and Luke 2:5.
24 Namely, the negotiated years of my service.
25 See Gen. 6 on verse 4, and Gen. 16:2.
22And Laban gathered together 26all the men of the place, and made a feast.
26 That is, very many, namely, all his friends and acquaintances, neighbors and the most prominent men of the city, according to the custom. See Judges 14:10, 11; John 2:1, 2, etc. And he invited the more that Jacob would the less dare to annul the vile plot he had devised to deceive him.
23And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, 27and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.
27 It seems that it was the custom in those days to bring the bride into the bridegroom’s bedchamber being covered with a veil or scarf, for her modesty’s sake; but under this pretense Jacob is deceived.
24And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid 28for an handmaid.
28 The particle for, is inserted here from the following 29th verse. It was the custom of those times that the parents, giving out their daughters in marriage, gave a maidservant or other woman with her. See Gen. 24:59.
25And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?
26And Laban said, 29It must not be so done in our country, to give 30the younger before the firstborn.
29 If it were so, Laban ought to have told Jacob beforehand, and not so basely treated and deceived him.
30 Hebr. the little (one), that is, the youngest.
2731Fulfil her week, 32and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.
31 That is, hold out these seven days of Leah’s wedding feast. See a similar example of a seven days’ wedding, Judges 14:12, 15, 17. Some take this week for a year-week.
32 Namely, after the end of this week, as appears by the next verse 28.
28And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he 33gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.
33 Though it seems that this liberty of marrying two sisters to one man, was not prohibited yet by human laws; yet it was repugnant to nature itself and to the express law given afterwards by Moses, Lev. 18:18.
29And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.
30And 34he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
34 Jacob allows himself to be persuaded to take two wives together at one time, which though it was customary in those days, it was contrary to God’s institution, Gen. 2:24; Mal. 2:15. See also the annotations at Gen. 4:19.
31¶And when the LORD saw that Leah was 35hated, he 36opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.
35 That is, that she was not so pleasant to and loved by her husband as Rachel. See verse 20. The word to hate is sometimes used for to love less. See Deut. 21:15; Mat. 6:24, and Luke 14:26.
36 That is, He made her fruitful. See Gen. 20 on verse 18.
32And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name 37Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will 38love me.
37 That is, behold a son, or, a son of regard, as if she said: behold how God hath given me a son now in my affliction, which was that her husband did not love her as well as her sister.
38 That is, more than before.
33And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name 39Simeon.
39 Hebr. Schimon. This name comes from a word that signifies to hear or to answer. For God answered her prayer and her sighs.
34And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name 40called 41Levi.
40 Namely, by Jacob.
41 That is, joined, or, joining, or, my joining. The reason of this name is given in the text.
35And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I 42praise the LORD: therefore she called his name 43Judah; and 44left bearing.
42 From this word is derived Jehudah, that is, praise, thanksgiving, confession, profession.
43 Hebr. Jehudah.
44 Hebr. she stayed from bearing; also Gen. 30:9.