Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel
Jacob worked seven years for the woman he loved, and woke on his wedding morning to find he had married her sister.
Jacob arrived in Haran as a fugitive and soon loved Rachel, the younger daughter of his uncle Laban. He offered to serve seven years for her, 'and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.' But on the wedding night Laban brought him Leah, the elder sister, and in the morning Jacob discovered the deception. The man who had deceived his blind father was now deceived himself. Laban insisted that the younger could not be given before the firstborn, so after Leah's bridal week Jacob also married Rachel and served another seven years. From this troubled household, with the handmaids Zilpah and Bilhah, came the sons who would become the tribes of Israel.
Did You Know?
Jacob served Laban fourteen years for his two wives and twenty years in all before returning to Canaan.
Laban gave each daughter a handmaid: Zilpah to Leah and Bilhah to Rachel.
Though Rachel was loved more, it was Leah who bore Levi, the priestly tribe, and Judah, the royal line of David and of Christ.
Key Passage
Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel
Genesis 29:15-30
15nd Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?
Meanwhile in the World
Egypt's Old Kingdom builds the pyramids (c. 2600-2100 BC). Mesopotamia is dominated by Akkad and then Ur III. The Indus Valley civilization flourishes. Stonehenge is being constructed in Britain. This is the era of the great ziggurats and the first law codes (Ur-Nammu).
