Genesis 29 The Struggle
Dear Ones, as we approach our discussion in Genesis 29, it is helpful for us to get our minds around The totality of God’s Knowledge. God is Omniscient. God is All-Knowing. God is Aware of everything in the past, present, and future. God is not surprised by anything. God’s Knowledge is complete.
Genesis 29.30 – 35 a more profound revelation of God.
Genesis 29.30
Jacob loves Rachel Entirely Completely, In addition to Leah
The surface view of Genesis 29 may appear like men use to barter for their wives. That is not true!! We are equal in God’s eyes. Yet, it may seem like women had little say so in matters like marriage. It isn’t easy to translate into English the depth of what Scripture is expressing. Jacob indeed loved Rachel more than Leah. That does not reveal the part of the picture we can see and understand. Jacob loved Leah even though Leah schemed, plotted and conspired to get her man, Jacob. Leah was not part of the original agreement between Jacob and Laban. The agreement was only for Rachel. Somehow Leah squirmed in there. The Torah tells us of Jacob’s intense love for Rachel. Then somehow, Leah manages to work her way into a relationship with the righteous man, Jacob. She cuts in line! Given the circumstances, we can understand why Jacob may not have the same degree of love for Leah. Our sages teach Jacob planned to divorce Leah. Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz and Rabbi Nosson Scherman, The Artscroll Tanach Series – Bereishis Vol. I (b) (Brooklyn, New York: Mesorah Publications, Ltd. 3rd Impression, 1989), p 1281 HOWEVER, God Knew Leah’s intentions were pure. She did not want to marry Esau because he was wicked. She wanted to marry Jacob because he was righteous. She wanted her children to live in a virtuous atmosphere.
Jacob was attempting to follow his father’s directive. As it turns out, Isaac had a plan for his sons. Esau was to marry Leah, and Jacob was to marry Rachel. He got tired of waiting. He jumped the gun by marrying two Canaanite women. Isaac’s hope was Esau’s marriage’s to the Canaanite women could be VOIDED, but his hand was forced. He had to send Jacob away to prevent Esau from murdering him. That is when Isaac called Jacob.
Genesis 28.1
Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said to him; You shall not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan. Arise, go to Padan-Aram, to the house of Bethuel, your mother’s father, and take a wife from there of the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother.
Still, Jacob went to The Academy of Shem and Eber to study the Torah. He studied Torah for fourteen years in preparation for marriage. Then he arose to go to Padan-Aram to the house of Bethuel. There was ample time for Esau to cool off. There was plenty of time for Isaac’s original plan to happen, but it didn’t. Jacob knew the customs of the land. He knew the older must be married first. That is why he plotted with Rachel to get around that custom. Rabbi Moshe Weissman, The Midrash Says The Book of Beraishis (Brooklyn, New York: Benei Yakov Publications 1980), pp 284 – 285
Now, being aware of these points, we read, Jacob loved Rachel Entirely Completely in addition to Leah. Jacob loved Leah but not entirely. Jacob loved Rachel completely. He was willing to work fourteen years to take Rachel as his wife. Perhaps Jacob wanted to spend most nights with Rachel rather than Leah. He honored Leah’s conjugal rights, but that was not enough. That was not her objection. She could see how Jacob loved her sister, and she felt slighted / hated. Because of that. God saw Leah’s affliction. Her affliction was that she expected a greater level of love and appreciation from Jacob than he gave to Rachel because she was his first wife, and she had given him four sons at this chronological point in Scripture.
Laban and Leah had plenty of time to find her a suitable husband during the seven years Jacob worked for Rachel’s hand in marriage. So it is understandable why it is a little difficult for Jacob to give Leah more love and attention than to Rachel, who he desired to marry. The following Scriptures should help us better understand the above points better.
Genesis 29.31
And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.
Genesis 29.32
And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said, Surely the Lord has looked upon my affliction; now therefore [maybe] my husband will love me [now].
Genesis 29.33
And [Leah] conceived again, and bare a son; and said, ‘Because the Lord has heard that I was hated, he has therefore given me this son also;‘ and she called his name Simeon.
Genesis 29.34
And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, ‘Now this time will my husband be joined to me because I have born him three sons;’ therefore was his name called Levi
Genesis 29.35
And she conceived again, and bare a son; and she said, ‘Now will I praise the Lord; therefore she called his name Judah;’ and ceased bearing.
May each of us enjoy good health, happiness, healing, restoration, and Blessing, as we study the Torah and trust in The Lord.
Good Sabbath!
Blessings,
Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk
