Jacob meets Rachel at a well
Jacob finally arrives near Laban’s home. He reaches a well, and learns from some shepherds there that Laban’s daughter Rachel was approaching. This reminds me of when Abraham’s servant met Laban’s sister Rebekah at a well just a few chapters earlier. Rachel took Jacob back to her father Laban for an emotional family reunion.
Jacob stayed with Laban for a month, and because Jacob was working on his land, he asked what wages he could pay for his work. Jacob still had his eye on Laban’s younger daughter Rachel, the more beautiful of the two daughters, and offered to work for 7 years in return for Rachel’s hand in marriage.
Laban gives Jacob the other daughter, Leah
After 7 years, Laban brought his daughter to Jacob. After spending the night together, Jacob realized it was Leah, not Rachel, he had been with all night. Laban tricked Jacob because he did not want his youngest daughter to marry before the older. Jacob agreed to work another 7 years to earn Rachel’s hand in marriage.
After another 7 years, Laban gave Rachel to Jacob. Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah, and stayed with Laban for yet another 7 years.
Jacob was fooled, really?
So much deceit in Genesis. And so much gullibility… it’s hard to believe that Jacob would spend a night of intimacy with his new wife and not realize until morning that it was not Rachel. It is also bazaar to think of someone working for 14 years to marry a woman because her father decided to lie to him. And there is no mention of Laban doing anything wrong. Weird.