DBG - January 11 - Genesis 29-30

In this chapter Jacob arrives at the home of his mother’s family and begins his family.

vs. 1 – This is Haran, where Terah died in 11:32 and Rebekah’s family lived in 24:10

vs. 2-3 – The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown commentary explains the stone covering the well: “In Arabia, owing to the shifting sands and in other places, owing to the strong evaporation, the mouth of a well is generally covered, especially when it is private property. Over many is laid a broad, thick, flat stone, with a round hole cut in the middle, forming the mouth of the cistern. This hole is covered with a heavy stone which it would require two or three men to roll away. Such was the description of the well at Haran.”

vs. 4-6 – Thus it is proven that by Providence Jacob had arrived at his destination.

vs. 7-9 – Jacob is advising the shepherds that it was not good for the flocks to be standing in the sun waiting for the water in the heat of the day, but they had no choice until men enough came to roll the stone back.

vs. 10 – It appears that Jacob took it upon himself to roll the stone from the well without waiting for aid.  The reason for doing so was so that Rachel and her flock could be the first to drink.

vs. 11 – This is not a romantic kiss, but an expression of love between friends and family.

vs. 12 – The word “brother” is often used for any kinsman.  Ancient Hebrew did not have as many names for relations as we do today.

vs. 17 – Leah means “weary”. There is much debate about the meaning of the phrase “tender eyed” that describes her.  It could be she suffered from an ailment in her eyes, or that eyes were weak or unattractive. 

vs. 17 – Rachel means “ewe”.  Her description is all about the natural beauty she possessed.

vs. 18-20 – Since Jacob had left home without any portion of the family fortune, he agrees to work seven years to pay the dowry price for Rachel to be his wife.

vs. 21-26 – It is almost comical that Jacob, who had obtained the birthright by supplanting his brother through trickery, is now the subject of trickery.  Laban switches brides and instead of wedding Rachel, he finds it is Leah.

vs. 24 – Zilpah means “drooping”

vs. 27 – The week here is the traditional wedding/honeymoon period.

vs. 28-30 Laban allows Jacob to go ahead and marry Rachel before he serves another seven years to pay her dowry.

vs. 29 – Bilhah means “bashful”.

vs. 31 – Leah is “hated” in a comparative sense to Jacob’s love for Rachel.

vs. 32 – Rueben means “behold a son”

vs. 33 – Simeon means “heard”

vs. 34 – Levi means “joined”

vs. 35 – Judah means “praised”

If you are keeping score as the two wives of Jacob were certainly doing, the child count is now 4-0 in favor of Leah.  This does not bring any more favor upon Leah from her husband.

This chapter shows the continued growth of Jacob’s family and the start of his personal wealth.

vs. 1 – Rachel’s jealousy caused her to lash out at her husband in dramatic fashion. 

vs. 3 – The carnal emotions of a carnal person led to a carnal solution.  Just as Sarah had given Abraham Hagar to wife, so would Rachel give her handmaid Bilhah to Jacob to be a wife.  Essentially, she would have a child through a proxy.

vs. 6 – Dan means “judgment”, which is meant here as a vindication because Rachel’s scheme worked.

vs. 8 – Naphtali means “my wrestling”.

vs. 9 – Since Rachel could have children by proxy through her maid, so could Leah.  Two could play this game!

vs. 11 – Gad means “troop”.  The sense is that a host of children were about to born through Leah and Zilpah. Rachel is certainly not the only petty one in this competition.

vs. 13 – Asher means “blessed”

vs. 14 – Reuben, who is only 4 or 5 years old, find mandrakes in the field.  These are the fruit of a toxic plant of the genus mandragora.  It is likely that they believed it helped in conceiving children.

vs. 15 – The deal is struck: Rachel receives the mandrakes and Leah receives a night with her husband.

vs. 18 – Issachar means “reward”.

vs. 20 – Zebulun means “dwelling”.

vs. 21 - Dinah means “judgment” as in acquittal or vindication.  This is the only daughter born to Jacob.

vs. 24 – Joseph means “added”.  If you are still keeping score, Team Leah/Zilpah has 9 sons and 1 daughter while Team Rachel/Bilhah has 3 sons.  The only other child will be Benjamin, born in 35:18.

vs. 25-26 – Joseph has served his 14 year commitment for his wives and is ready to go back to Canaan.

vs. 27 – Laban has gotten the best of Jacob in their dealings so far.  He is expecting the same if he can keep him working a little while longer.

vs. 30 – Jacob does not need to work to expand his family, but does need to build his personal wealth.

vs. 31-33 – The deal made between Jacob and Laban was that Jacob could have the abnormally colored animals from Laban’s herds.  Henry Morris writes: “The dominant color traits in Laban’s flocks and herds were evidently white among the sheep, black among the goats, and brown among the cattle.  Most of the animals were these colors, but there were a few that were spotted and speckled among the cattle and goats, and brown among the sheep.  It was of such as these that Jacob’s pay would be.”

vs. 35-36 – The abnormally colored animals that were already born are removed from the herds and moved far enough away that they could not breed with the rest of the herds that were of the dominant colors.

vs. 37-42 – Jacob is far more advanced in his knowledge of sheep that his uncle Laban.  In his experience with his father’s sheep and his uncle’s, he had come to an understanding of genetics and the passing on of dominant and recessive traits.  Many have accused Jacob of using superstitious means to create more abnormally colored livestock, but careful reading and understanding of livestock proves otherwise.  The striped rods in vs. 38 could have been used to segregate animals to encourage the proper pairings to produce the desired traits.  I do think another scenario is more likely though.  The word used in vs. 38 for conceive literally means to be in heat.  We saw in chapter 29 that the well that was used to water the livestock was communal.  Jacob could by these rods induce the animals to go into heat and breed with other animals gathered for water.  Vs. 40 tells us that through this breeding program he encouraged the birth of abnormal colored animals without breeding with those already separated for himself.  He not only bred the animals for their color but also for strength. 

It amazes me how God uses Jacob’s family to be the foundation for the twelve tribes of Israel.  I have often joked that they remind me of “The Jerry Springer Show”.   This is only the beginning and we have the rest of Genesis to cover them!  I then realize that it is amazing that God uses any human at all.  It is only through His grace that we can amount to anything.  He specializes in working with flawed people for His glory.

After reading today’s chapters I am sure it will come as no surprise that that there are not really any hymns based on them.  I have chosen a hymn by Anna Beeman (1738-1809), who was one of the first American Baptist women to write hymns.  It begins with Jacob being blessed by God in a foreign land where he found his wives.  It then quickly turns this metaphor into Christ seeking His Bride, and His love and care for her.

 Jacob was found in desart land,
In a waste howling wilderness;
God takes and leads him by the hand,
To promis'd seats of happiness.

Christ finds his bride in desarts too,
Yes, in a howling wilderness;
And by her hand he leads her through
To seats of endless happiness.

She doth not boast she found him there,
But he found her and brought her out;
He makes her his peculiar care,
Fair bride saith he, you could not doubt.

You need not wish to have the care,
Of your salvation in your hands:
Could it be so you might despair,
Of reaching to the promis'd land.

My bride the favorite of my choice,
For her this work I undertook;
She's like the apple of mine eyes,
Her name is written in my book.

But in our hearts these thoughts will rise,
Can I be one he makes his choice?
Our tears alas! be-cloud our eyes,
While in his love we would rejoice.

 But oh we've no where else to go,
We throw our souls into his hand;
Lead us dear Jesus while below,
And bring us to the heavenly land.