Genesis 29:15-30
29:18 a Seven years of service was a high bride-price in the ancient world, but Rachel was beautiful (like Sarah and Rebekah), and Jacob was in love with her.Summary for Gen 29:23-26: 29:23-26 b Like Isaac, Jacob was plied with food and wine (cp. 27:25 c), deprived of sight in the darkness (cp. 27:1 d), baffled by clothing (cp. 27:15 e), and misled by touch (cp. 27:23 f). The marriage had been consummated (29:23 g; see 2:24 h), so Jacob was bound to Leah.
• It’s not our custom here to marry off a younger daughter ahead of the firstborn: Laban’s words are a reminder of what Jacob did when he, the younger son, pretended to be his older brother to gain the blessing (ch 27 i). Now Leah, the older sister, pretended to be the younger sister to get a husband. God gave the deceiver a dose of his own deception as a discipline in his life.
Summary for Gen 29:28-30: 29:28-30 j After the bridal week ended (29:27 k), Jacob also received Rachel as his wife, though he then would have to work an additional seven years (cp. 31:41 l). Laban seemed to have gained the upper hand.
29:30 m Jacob loved Rachel much more than Leah: Favoritism was an ongoing cause of dysfunction in Jacob’s family (cp. 25:28 n; 37:3 o). Jacob’s favoritism had lasting effects: his family was never together, and their descendants, the tribes of Israel, were rarely unified.
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