[b] Jacob is eager to marry Rachel and agrees to provide seven years' labor to her father if he can marry her. 10Now as soon as Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, Jacob came near and rolled the stone from the well's mouth and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother. - Bible Study - BibleWise His seven years were served before they were married. While Leah and Rachel competed for Jacobs attention, Leah is honored in her death as the first wife of Jacob. Rachel and LeahSisters who were matriarchs of Israel. Rachel died giving birth to her second son, Benjamin and was buried on the side of the road leading to Bethlehem (Genesis 35:16-20). All rights reserved. Ancient bone may be earliest evidence of hominin cannibalism, Blocking 'cellular looting' may help treat brain tumors, The source of Turkey's volcanoes lies more than 1,000 miles away, Bob Ballard and James Cameron on what we can learn from Titan, Desert hikes and camping on a budget safari in Namibia, How to plan a family rail adventure around Europe, 10 airport and train station restaurants that are actually good, 4 of Canada's best wildlife-watching experiences, When Jacob met Rachel he kissed her and lifted up his voice, and wept (Genesis 29:11). But Laban deceived Jacob. With the birth of her next two sons, Issachar and Zebulun, Leah acknowledges the gifts the Lord has given her. Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Zilpah, Leahs maid, gives birth to Gad and Asher. A Prayer for Durable Joy - Your Daily Prayer - June 25, A Powerful Morning Prayer to Start Each Day, 10 Uncomfortable Topics Pastors Should Still Preach About, A Prayer to Remain Present - Your Daily Prayer - June 26, 30 Morning Prayers to Start Each Day with God, Why Christians Should Avoid Debt and 6 Steps for How to Start, The One Thing Satan Really Wants to Take from You. The world can throw us off course, keeping us coveting more instead of being content with what we have. 25 Apr The story of Leah in the Bible is quite a tragic love story. When those seven years are over the father then plays a big switcheroo on Jacob and gives him the older sister, Leah, instead on his wedding night. Then the elders and all the people at the gate said, "We are witnesses. Leah and Rachel are remembered as the ancestresses "who built up the house of Israel" (Ruth 4:11). Jacob and Rachel - Bible Story, Verses and Meaning - Bible Study Tools For less than $5/mo. Laban switches Leah, his older daughter, for Rachel, his younger daughter. 6 Beautiful Lessons from the Life of Rachel in the Bible - Crosswalk I urge you to read it for yourselves from the Word, but to help you understand where I am coming from here in this article, I'll briefly summarize how it all gets started. There, he fell in love with Laban's daughter, Rachel, and asked to marry her. If Zilpah and Bilhah were indeed half-sisters of Leah, this would make Leah's adoptive sons, Gad and Asher, and Rachel's adoptive sons, Dan and Naphtali, her nephews. The story of Leah in the Bible - her qualities and lessons we can learn Why then have you deceived me? 26Laban said, It is not so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. All rights reserved worldwide. This is the same well his mother Rebekah drew water from before she married Isaac. According to Genesis 28:2,[5] the family resided in Paddan Aram, an area believed to correspond with the historical Upper Mesopotamia.[6]. Leah was content to praise the Lord for the blessings in her life, even if her husband was not her own. Was Mary Magdalene Wife of Jesus? It is unclear whether Leah had any say in the matter. 19 Leah conceived again and bore Jacob a sixth son. 4Jacob said to them, My brothers, where do you come from? They said, (B)We are from Haran. 5He said to them, Do you know Laban the son of Nahor? They said, We know him. 6He said to them, Is it well with him? They said, It is well; and see, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep! 7He said, Behold, it is still high day; it is not time for the livestock to be gathered together. How could Jacob not notice he married Leah instead of Rachel? But Jacob, a fugitive from Esau, was in no position to bargain. [17], Each woman also continually questioned whether she was doing enough in her personal efforts toward increased spirituality, and would use the other's example to spur herself on. Leah's story has 3 episodes: Leah is a young unmarried girl, rather plain in appearance. Through her sons Levi and Judah, she is thus the matriarch of both the priestly (Levite) and royal (Judahite) tribes in Israel. Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Genesis 30:17-21. Starting with Leah, we see at the very beginning that she is not only described as the less attractive sister but also that her father used the fact of her being the oldest and still single sister as reason to trick Jacob into marrying her first. Leah becomes Jacob's wife through a deception on the part of her father, Laban. Leah and Rachel: A tale of two sisters - The Eagle Rachel was Jacob's first wife, and Leah was his second. At first childless, Rachel eventually gave birth . 29 Laban gave his servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her attendant. The groom paid a bride-price to the brides family. Investigating ancient marriage contracts and the biblical story of Rachel and Leah. God sees your heart and knows your wounds. Fearful of his brother's wrath, Jacob flees his homeland for Haran, where he meets his maternal family, including Laban and his daughters. Thus the Torah describes her eyes as "soft" from weeping. Leah first appears in the Book of Genesis, in Genesis 29, which describes her as the daughter of Laban and the older sister of Rachel, and is said to not compare to Rachel's physical beauty and that she has tender eyes. And he said, (H)I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel. 19Laban said, It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me. 20So Jacob (I)served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her. Can Christians Speak Things into Existence? The Top Bible Verses about Leah in Scripture - Bible Study Tools Therefore, Leah and Rachel each wanted to have as many of those sons as possible, going so far as to offer their handmaids as proxies to Jacob so they could have a share in the upbringing of their handmaids' sons, too. In Hebrews 11:17-18 CSB, it says Your (Abrahams) offspring will be called through Isaac.. Rachel and Leah in the Bible. At first glance, Leahs story is full of grief. By digging into their stories, we can learn so details we may not have realized at first read. Laban initially agrees but, on the night of what would've been Jacob and Rachel's wedding, Laban reneges; he insists Jacob marry Leah instead, as she is older. At that time, women had little control over their lives, and it seems her father was not a man to honor the love between Jacob and Rachel. 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. However, Rachels son is born only after Jacob served for seven more years. In these contracts, the bride-price is paid in installments. She is the sister of Rachel and the cousin of Jacob. 15And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? 9While he was still speaking with them, (C)Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherdess. gain access to 50+ premium resources to enhance your study of Scripture. In this story of Jacob, Leah, and Rachel we see how God worked through this family to bring about His will by their sons eventually making up the twelve tribes of Israel. By Caryl Krueger Categories: Women in the Old Testament Peacemaking is an admirable quality, and the story of Rachel and Leah underlines its necessity. Reading the story in light of the surrounding culture in which it arose provides another possible way to understand the narrative and birth of Leahs and Rachels children. Each woman desired to grow spiritually in her avodat HaShem (service of God), and therefore sought closeness to the tzadik (Jacob) who is God's personal emissary in this world. Explore the ancient Near Eastern context for the biblical story of Rachel and Leah in Kristine Henriksen Garroways article Why Leah Gives Birth Before Rachel, published in the Fall 2022 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review. If Jacob be so respectful as to give him his service without demanding any consideration for it, yet Laban will not be so unjust as to take advantage either of his necessity, or of his good nature. All their children became the tribes of Israel, the first Jewish family. 2. She was not the preferred wife, often forgotten by her husband as his attention remained with Rachel, but at the end of her life, Leah was honored by Jacob as she was laid to rest with her fellow matriarchs and patriarchs of faith. Entries in this series are excerpts from the National Geographic special issue, Controversial oil drilling paused in Namibian wilderness, Dolphin moms use 'baby talk' with their calves, Nevada is crawling with swarms of smelly 'Mormon crickets'. We learn from Rachel that if we arent grateful for the blessings we have, and trust that God is enough, jealousy will always make us want more, insatiably. In Leahs story, we can be encouraged that a life redeemed can not occur with the perfect spouse or an abundance of children, but a with a heart that is tender and surrendered to God. Made with clay, wire, and recycled paper, the characters come to life in frame-by-frame motion. God saw the rejection that Leah faced, and knew what having sons would mean to her. The Bible does not give us many details about Leah. In the case of Leah, she was rejected, dealt with the emotions of jealousy, and deeply desired to be pursued. Who was Rachel in the Bible? Prior to her and Rachel's mentioning, the Book of Genesis details how their first cousin and future husband, Jacob, with the help of his mother, Rebecca, willfully deceives his dying father, Isaac, into giving him his twin brother Esau's birthright. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. When Leah balked, Rachel traded a night with Jacob for the mandrakes (verse 15). 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. The agreement and exchange of goods underscored both the economic aspect of marriage and the strengthening of social kinship bonds. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Thats between her and God, but it does seem her rage to one-up her sister in heirs took her life in an awful downward spiral. In Genesis 49:29-33, we learn that Leah is buried in a cave with Jacobs parents (Rebekah and Isaac) and grandparents (Sarah and Abraham). He also favored Rachel's sons, Joseph and Benjamin, over Leah's, and made no attempts to hide that from her or his other children. Read full chapter Genesis 28 Genesis 30 In one rabbinic narrative, Leah herself tells Jacob, when he awakens to find that she is his bride, that he cannot possibly protest her deception since he was complicit with the deception toward. How Is It Possible that Jacob Mistakes Leah for Rachel? Orange skies are the future. Leahs heart was tender and created specifically to fulfill the task of Jacobs first wife and many sons. To be fair, it was Laban that is to blame for this wife swap, but I know as well as you do that Leah felt looked over. Rachel & Leah - Women of the Bible | The Living Word Library Did Jacob placing branches in front of his flock really result in the offspring being speckled and spotted? Genesis 23:9,17-20;25:9;49:30,31;50:13; Acts 7:16, Genesis 30:20;35:23;46:14;49:13; Exodus 1:3; 1 Chronicles 2:1, NIV, The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People, NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, Red Letter Edition: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture, NIV, Beautiful Word Bible Journal, Revelation, Paperback, Comfort Print, NIV, Verse Mapping Bible, Comfort Print: Find Connections in Scripture Using a Unique 5-Step Process. And while that's not unusual today particularly in the West in Jacob's day and age, the two women would have been practically ancient in terms of being marriage material. Start your free trial today! Jealousy can creep up into any type of situation and does not just affect one type of person more than another. When Jacob realizes the deception, he confronts Laban, and they come to another agreement. Due to the extreme emotional distress suffered by both Leah (and Rachel) during the marriage, Yahweh later strictly clarified his opposition to uncovering the nakedness of a woman and her sister while both were still living (Genesis 30:1, Leviticus 18:18). Start your free trial today! Leah in the Bible, Jacob's First Wife, Second in His Heart RACHEL, JACOB in the BIBLE. Famous love story with passion, tragedy. The groom and the brides fathernot the bridenegotiated the marriage agreement. Marriage prospects appear limited and sadly, all you want is what your sister has. 3. Prepare yourself. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Genesis 29:18-30 NIV - Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, - Bible He stills pursues her heart, even if no one else did. Leah means a wild cow or ox. Leah's Improbable Optimism | My Jewish Learning Leah is the sister of Rachel, and many of the stories about her center around her turbulent relationship with her sister, as they are both Jacob's wives. 5:1; 19:12, 13; 1 Chr. Jacob did not see, hear, or attach himself to Leah, but the Lord filled the void Jacob created Leahs life. Her security eventually turns from a human to her heavenly Father. He saw how she was not loved as she deserved to be and because of her age or lack of suitors she was married to a man that desired someone else her own sister. Rabbinical literature contradicts itself on whether or not Leah and Rachel were half-siblings to Zilpah and Bilhah, two sisters who would serve as mistresses to Leah's future husband, Jacob, and whose children she and Rachel would raise as their own, as one source[which?] Her article, Why Leah Gives Birth Before Rachel, examines Jacobs marriages to Leah and Racheland their resulting childrenin light of ancient Mesopotamian marriage contracts. "[11] Hearing this, Leah spent most of her time weeping and praying to God to change her destined mate. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. On the opposite side, we can only imagine the deep longing that Leah had to be wanted by Jacob. I am sure that made Rachel feel like the queen of the ball that a man desired her that much. Leahs role in the debacle is unknown. Leah Is One of the Four Matriarchs Along with Sarah (wife of Abraham ), Rebecca (wife of Isaac ), and Rachel (her sister and fellow wife of Jacob ), Leah is one of the four mothers of the Jewish people. Her marriage was not ideal, but God used it for His glory as she held an honored first position. a garland of the flowers I have gathered."[22]. Assuming Laban had been itching to marry off Leah as soon he could, she was likely around 13 or 14 when Jacob first took a shine to her sister. On some occasions, the groom was allowed to marry the bride before the full bride-price had been paid. c. 1500 bce). Were her eyes droopy and unattractive? They were also likely quite old, at least, for marrying. You will find abundance in your relationship with the Lord. It appears by computation that Jacob was now seventy years old when he bound himself apprentice for a wife; probably Rachel was young and scarce marriageable when Jacob came first, which made him the more willing to stay for her till his seven years were expired. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. BEST VALUE in digital Bible study. 14And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. The two wrestled all night; the word wrestled (yeabeq) is another of Genesis wordplays, using Jacobs name (yaaqov) and that of the river (yabboq). The next morning, in the light of day and the absence of a veil, the truth is revealed. Unfortunately for one of the two women, the narrative doesn't paint a very flattering picture of her physical appearance. Their father, Laban, was Jacob's uncle. They were sisters, but their interactions with Jacob were not always friendly or pleasant. He finished the week with Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. [13] Jacob accepts the offer and marries Rachel after the week-long celebration of his marriage to Leah. Feeling overlooked or not good enough can be a deep hurt and can snowball into feelings of being less than, forgotten, or the fear of not being wanted just because you havent been picked yet. God ensures Leah a life of honor because He is her Lord. Forced to serve Rachels father, Laban, for seven years to win her, Jacob was tricked at the end of that time into marrying her sister, Leah. She has a beautiful younger sister called Rachel. 40 topical index results for rachel and leah. Copyright 2019 by Zondervan. 17 God listened to Leah, and she became pregnant and bore Jacob a fifth son. The rejection, jealousy, and the desire to be pursued are emotions that are still familiar in this modern day. Jacob, the son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham, fled to his mother's brother Laban. I love how God had a special place in his heart for Leah. Leah, the eldest, had eyes that were "delicate.". [d] 34Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, Now this time my husband will be (R)attached to me, because I have borne him three sons. Therefore his name was called Levi. The narrative, which can be found in Genesis 29, is described by National Geographic as "the Bible's original love triangle," inasmuch as it involves a man, two women, and his, shall we say, "complicated" feelings for both of them. It's difficult to say with certainty since the Bible is generally quite thin when it comes to describing the physical attributes of its characters. Leah has children right away because Jacob has fulfilled his marriage contract obligations. New International Version . The twinned relationship of Leah and Rachel Why are so many dead whales washing up on the East Coast? And he abode with him the space of a month. On a homiletical level, the classic Chassidic texts explain the sisters' rivalry as more than marital jealousy. In the case of Leah and Rachel, I think its safe to say that both of them had to deal with the ugly side of jealousy by feeling it themselves and being on the receiving end. What is the difference between a blessing and a birthright (Genesis 25)? God makes no mistakes and although our human eyes will find pleasure in one person more than another, and for good reason (ex: marriage), we must not bank on our attractiveness to be all that we stand on. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Following seven years of servitude, she'd have been pushing 20. After completing his wedding obligations to Leah, Jacob can marry Rachel immediately in exchange for another seven years of service. But people were saying, "Laban has two daughters and his sister, Rebekah, has two sons. Here's what you should know. When Jacob arrives in Haran, he meets the younger sister, Rachel at a well. Rachel and Leah: Two Destinies, Two Worlds - Vayeitzei The older daughter (Leah) will marry the older son (Esau), and the younger daughter (Rachel) will marry the younger son (Jacob). Interested in an electric car? In the midrash, Leah and Rachel collaborate to get Leah married off to Jacob, and both sisters are responsible to some degree for the later greatness of the people of Israel. The fossilized shin bone shows clear signs of butchery, but the identity of the hominin species is still unclear. 11:1, [See ver. 24(Laban gave[b] (K)his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her servant.) In a selfish world, contentment is not a quality that is popular in the Bible or on social media today. Overall, the midrash's readings of Leah and Rachel tend to offer the sisters more equality and mutual understanding than the text of the Torah alone. Bilhah, Rachels servant and Jacobs concubine, bears two more sons, Dan and Naphtali. In the Rabbinic mind, the two brothers are polar opposites; Jacob being a God-fearing scholar and Esau being a hunter who also indulges in idolatry and adultery. Genesis 29:1-14. The Biblical tale of Jacob, Rachel, and Leah is one of the more enduring love stories from the Bible's Old Testament. Relevant Lessons From Leah's Life 1. Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. May you have standing in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem. These readings aim . Through no fault of her own, she was not one of the "beautiful people" and it caused her a lifetime of heartache. And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. 30 Days in Acts A Journey: Igniting the Flame of the Early Church, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. It is not until Leah has seven children that God remembers Rachel, and she bears her first son (Genesis 20:2024). Jacob decided to call the place Peniel (Gods face), saying, I have seen God face to face (Genesis 32:30). Leah[a] (/le./; /li/) appears in the Hebrew Bible as one of the two wives of the Biblical patriarch Jacob. Her marriage began with scandal, but her position in her family gave her honor and respect in the community. Leah was Jacob's first wife, and the older sister of his second (and favored) wife Rachel. Discovering time-honored traditions in Texas, Video Story, Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, Copyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. After paying the bride-price, the groom was allowed to marry the bride. The annual wage for a shepherd in the Bronze Age was about 10 shekels; hence, seven years of labor was a stiff demand. Article Images Copyright , 5 Important Things You Should Know about Leah. And Jacob said to Laban, What is this you have done to me? Why curly hair was an evolutionary advantage. Rachel and Leahtwo powerful but contrasting personalities, each representing a world of her own. She must have been pretty beautiful, right? And on the day following his wedding night, Jacob woke up to find that he'd been given Leah, not Rachel. Her loves include Jesus, her family and friends, creativity, playing guitar and singing, coffee, laughing, and of course, writing! She Was the Elder Daughter of Laban Should thou therefore serve me for nought? Leah is a matriarch of her people and of Christ. 2 As he looked, he saw a well in the field, and behold, three flocks of sheep lying beside it, for out of that well the flocks were watered. Its by Gods design that our hearts race when we are pursued in a romantic relationship by a man that our heart also desires. January 24, 2022 Rachel, the lovely wife of Jacob, furthered the lineage of God's people and lived to see some of God's promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob realized. So lonely was she that even the Lord took notice of it and blessed her with many children as consolation. Start for FREE. God placed her first and blessed her abundantly. As we see in Jacobs deep desire for Rachel to be his bride, he worked for Laban not just 7 years, but 14 years even with a big switcheroo played on him in the middle. The seven years pass, and Jacob marries Labans daughterbut not the one he expected. The author focuses on Leah and her realization that she is "lovely because God . both young and fair; along a plain she gathered Mandy Smithis a joyful 30-something single living in GA. She is a full-time Speech-Language Pathologist. 18 Then Leah said, "God has rewarded me for giving my servant to my husband.". One night, he dreamed of a ladder going up into heaven. Who was Rachel in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Laban then brings Jacob home, and he stays for a month. ch. Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! Dig into the illuminating world of the Bible with a BAS All-Access membership. This level of praise left a legacy which brought us a Savior. Genesis: Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Pentateuch by John Goldingay. By marrying Jacob and bearing his sons, who would be raised in the tzadik's home and continue his mission into the next generation (indeed, all 12 sons became tzadikim in their own right and formed the foundation of the Nation of Israel), they would develop an even closer relationship to God.