A Wife for Jacob

Jacob Meets His Family

Genesis 29:1-14

• Jacob met Rachel at a well near Haran– Rachel, Laban’s daughter, had come to water her

father’s sheep– Jacob rolled away the stone– He tearfully identified himself as Rebekah’s son

• Laban ran to meet him and brought him to his house

The Deceiver Is DeceivedGenesis 29:15-30

• Laban asked Jacob what wages he wished– Jacob agreed to work 7 years for Rachel’s hand– Laban prepared a feast for the wedding

• Jacob got the soft-eyed Leah instead– Laban said their custom was for the older to

marry first– He agreed to give Rachel to Jacob, after the

week’s celebration was complete– Jacob had to work 7 more years– Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah

Four Sons for Leah

• Leah named her firstborn Reuben (look, a son)– She hoped Jacob would love her because she bore a

son

• She called her second son Simeon (heard)– She felt the Lord heard she was not as well loved

• Her 3rd son was named Levi (will be joined)– She hoped Jacob would be joined to her

• Leah named her 4th son Judah (will praise)– She was praising the Lord

Rachel’s Sons through Bilhah

Genesis 30:1-8

• Rachel, frustrated with her inability to have children, gave Jacob her handmaid, Bilhah– She named the 1st Dan (he has judged) because she

thought God had judged her case and heard her appeal

– The 2nd was named Naphtali (my wrestling), apparently because she saw herself in a contest with Leah in bearing children to Jacob and felt she had won with 2 sons through her handmaid

Leah’s Sons through Zilpah

Genesis 30:9-13

• Leah may have given her handmaid, Zilpah, to Jacob because she did not want to be outdone by her sister

• Zilpah bore 2 sons– Leah named the first Gad (good fortune, or a

troop comes)– She named the 2nd Asher (happy) because

she said other women would call her blessed

Two Sons and a Daughter for Leah

Genesis 30:14-21

• Rachel exchanged an opportunity for Leah to be with Jacob for some mandrakes (poisonous plant of the potato family)– She may have thought they produced fertility– She may have wanted them because they are rare

• Leah named her next son Issachar (my hire)

• She then bore Zebulun (honor) because she felt God was honoring her with 6 sons

• She then bore Dinah (judgment)

Rachel Bears a Son

Genesis 30:22-24• “God listened to Rachel” probably indicates

she had been praying– Reminds us God is the source of all blessings

• Rachel bore a son and called him Joseph (he adds)– God had taken away her shame by allowing her

to bear a child– His name may also have been a prayer for more

God Caused Jacob to Prosper

Genesis 30:25-43; 31:7, 9• After 14 years of work, Jacob told Laban he

desired to go home– Both Laban and Jacob knew God had prospered

Laban because of Jacob

• Jacob asked to be paid the oddly colored sheep• Laban kept changing which animals Jacob

was to receive– God is the one who blesses– Jacob’s flocks grew with the strong types of

animals