Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Spotify | TuneIn | RSS | More
Jacob finds family in the field (1-8)
- Haran is located in the southern region of Turkey, just above the northern border of Syria. It is the place where Abraham’s father, Terah, took his family when they left Ur of the Chaldees. Evidently, the city was named for Abraham’s brother, Haran, Lot’s father, who died before they left Ur (Gen. 11:27-32). It is where Nahor’s family eventually resided.
- Jacob demonstrated his knowledge of “cattle” by telling the shepherds that they ought to be feeding their sheep instead of watering them in the middle of the day. Jacob was obviously a much better shepherd than his cousins (Gen. 30:27-30, 43).
Jacob meets Rachel (9-14)
- Jacob met Rachel when she came to the well with Laban’s sheep. It seems odd that Rachel would be watching his sheep since he had sons who could do this. Laban’s sons neglected their father’s flock and Jacob ended up with the best of them.
- Laban must see opportunity in Jacob.
Jacob’s negotiation (15-20)
- Jacob offered to work for Laban for 7 years in order to marry his daughter, Rachel.
- Laban tricks Jacob
Jacob’s marriages (21-30)
- Leah – On his wedding night, Jacob is deceived.
- Rachel – Laban gave Rachel to Jacob in exchange for another 7 years of service. This set up a rivalry between Leah and Rachel, since Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah. Each of the wives brought a handmaid to the marriage.
- Here is a definition of weeks for future reference in the Bible. Daniel will follow this definition.
Jacob’s souls (31-35)
- The Lord had pity on Leah, since she was hated, and gave her four children without giving Rachel one.
- Her first four children were:
- Reuben – God has seen my affliction because the Lord had looked upon her affliction.
- Simeon – God has heard me because the Lord had heard that she was hated.
- Levi – Husband joined me because now her husband would be joined to her.
- Judah – Praise the Lord because now she would praise the Lord.
- Dan – God has judged
- Naphtali – wrestled and prevailed
- Gad – a troop cometh
- Asher – Happy am I
- Isachaar – given my hire
- Zebulun – God given me a good dowry
- Joseph – taken away my reproach
- Benjamin – son of my right hand
