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this time Laban suggests that Jacob should be paid for his services, and asks Jacob to
name his wage:--
"And Jacob loved Rachel, and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy
younger daughter" (Gen. 29: 18).
Now commences the operation of that even-handed justice which commends the
ingredients of our poisoned chalice to our own lips. Jacob of all men has to say to his
uncle:--
"What is this that thou done unto me? Did not I serve thee for Rachel? Wherefore
then hast thou BEGUILED me?" (verse 25).
Laban realized that in Jacob he had too valuable a servant to lose, and possibly noting
the rare love which Jacob had (verse 20) for Rachel acted accordingly. Another seven
years unpaid service must Jacob give for the wife of his choice. Leah was hated
(possibly "not loved so much", see verse 30), and the Lord gave Leah children, but
withheld children from Rachel. Rachel may have been more beautiful and loved more
ardently, yet there is manifested in Leah's attitude a loving patient trust in God, which is
not so marked in Rachel. This comes out in the naming of her children. The first is
called Reuben, "for she said, surely the Lord hath looked upon (raha) my affliction; now
therefore my husband will love me". Her second son she called Simeon (shimeon,
hearing), "because the Lord hath heard (shama) that I was hated". Again a son is born,
and again her sorely tried faith revives, "now this time will my husband be joined unto
me, because I have borne him three sons; therefore was his name called Levi" (joined).
Her fourth son is called Judah, for his mother said, "let me praise the Lord". Man had
failed, her husband still loved Rachel more than herself, and she turns to the God of all
comfort, voicing no more her heart's burden, but saying in true resignation, "let me praise
the Lord".
Leah's fruitfulness, if it failed to arouse her husband's love, moved Rachel's envy.
Even Jacob's anger is kindled against Rachel by her importunity. Rachel then in
agreement with the code of Khammurabi and the example of Sarah gives her handmaid
Bilhah to Jacob. A son is born, and Rachel calls his name Dan, for said she, "God hath
judged me". This child is not born into so kindly an atmosphere as the sons of Leah. The
second one too, called Nephtali, was so called because Rachel said, "with great
wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed". Leah is now stirred and
presents Jacob with her maid Zilpah; another son is born, and in happy exuberance Leah
cries, "a troop cometh", and calls his name Gad. Again another son, and he is called
Asher, for said Leah, "happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed", and so through
the whole story. Isaachar means "hired", Zebulun, "endued with a dowry", Dinah the
daughter is so named, but no reason is given. At last Rachel herself is remembered of
God, and gives birth to a son whom she named Joseph, for she said, "the Lord shall add
to me another son". Here we reach another turning point in Jacob's eventful career.
Immediately the chosen wife of Jacob bears a son, Jacob thinks of home:--
"And it came to pass, when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban,
Send me away that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country" (Gen. 30: 25).