the Week of Christ the King / Proper 29 / Ordinary 34
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New King James Version
Genesis 29:1
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Then Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the east.
Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the sons of the east.
Then Jacob continued his journey and came to the land of the people of the East.
So Jacob moved on and came to the land of the eastern people.
Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.
Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the children of the east.
Then Jacob went on his way and came to the land of the people of the East [near Haran].
Therfor Jacob passide forth, and cam in to the eest lond;
And Jacob lifteth up his feet, and goeth towards the land of the sons of the east;
Jacob resumed his journey and came to the land of the people of the east.
As Jacob continued on his way to the east,
(ii) Continuing his journey, Ya‘akov came to the land of the people of the east.
Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the children of the east.
Then Jacob went on his journey till he came to the land of the children of the East.
Then Iacob went on his iourney, & came into the lande of the people of the east.
And Jacob continued his journey, and went into the land of the children of the east.
Then Jacob continued his trip. He went to the country in the East.
Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the children of the east.
Then Iacob went on his iourney, and came into the land of the people of the East.
Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.
Then Jacob went on his way and came to the land of the people of the east.
Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the people of the east.
Then Jacob lifted up his feet, - and went his way towards the land of the sons of the East.
Then Iaakob lift vp his feete and came into the East countrey.
THEN Jacob hastened on his journey, and came to the land of the people of the east.
Jacob continued on his way and went toward the land of the East.
Then Jacob went on in his journey, and came into the east country.
Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the people of the east.
And Jacob started and went to the land of the east to Laban, the son of Bathuel the Syrian, and the brother of Rebecca, mother of Jacob and Esau.
Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the children of the east.
Jacob resumed his journey and went to the eastern country.
Then Ya`akov went on his journey, and came to the land of the children of the east.
And Jacob continued his journey and went to the land of the Easterners.
And Jacob lifted his feet and went to the land of the sons of the east.
Then Iacob gat him vp vpon his fete, and wente in to the east countre,
Jacob set out again on his way to the people of the east. He noticed a well out in an open field with three flocks of sheep bedded down around it. This was the common well from which the flocks were watered. The stone over the mouth of the well was huge. When all the flocks were gathered, the shepherds would roll the stone from the well and water the sheep; then they would return the stone, covering the well.
Then Jacob set out on his journey, and went to the land of the people of the east.
Then Jacob hurried on, finally arriving in the land of the east.
Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the sons of the east.
Then Jacob took up his journey and came to the land of the sons of the east.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
Jacob: Psalms 119:32, Psalms 119:60, Ecclesiastes 9:7
went on his journey: Heb. lifted up his feet
came: Genesis 22:20-23, Genesis 24:10, Genesis 25:20, Genesis 28:5-7, Numbers 23:7, Judges 6:3, Judges 6:33, Judges 7:12, Judges 8:10, 1 Kings 4:30, Hosea 12:12
people: Heb. children
east: The district of Mesopotamia, and the whole country beyond the Euphrates, are called Kedem, or the East, in the Sacred Writings.
Reciprocal: Genesis 28:2 - Padanaram Genesis 46:8 - the names Job 1:3 - of the east Ezekiel 25:4 - of the east
Cross-References
Then the servant took ten of his master's camels and departed, for all his master's goods were in his hand. And he arose and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor.
Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah as wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian.
Then he said to them, "Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?" And they said, "We know him."
Then he said, "Look, it is still high day; it is not time for the cattle to be gathered together. Water the sheep, and go and feed them."
So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her.
Now it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her.
And he took up his oracle and said: "Balak the king of Moab has brought me from Aram, From the mountains of the east. "Come, curse Jacob for me, And come, denounce Israel!'
So it was, whenever Israel had sown, Midianites would come up; also Amalekites and the people of the East would come up against them.
Then all the Midianites and Amalekites, the people of the East, gathered together; and they crossed over and encamped in the Valley of Jezreel.
Now the Midianites and Amalekites, all the people of the East, were lying in the valley as numerous as locusts; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the seashore in multitude.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Then Jacob went on his journey,.... After the above vow at Bethel, and having had some intimation that what he desired would be granted him; or "he lift up his feet" x, which not only shows that he walked afoot, but that he went on his journey with great cheerfulness; for having such gracious promises made him, that God would be with him, and keep him, and supply him with all necessaries, and return him again to the land of Canaan, which made his heart glad; his heart, as the Jewish writers say y, lift up his legs, and he walked apace, and with great alacrity:
and came into the land of the people of the east; the land of Mesopotamia or Syria, which lay to the east of the land of Canaan, see Isaiah 9:11; hither he came by several days' journeys.
x וישא-רגליו "et levavit pedes suos", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, Fagius; "sustulit", Drusius, Schmidt. y Bereshit Rabba, sect. 70. fol. 62. 2. Jarchi in loc.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
- Jacob’s Marriage
6. רחל rāchēl, Rachel, “a ewe.”
16. לאה lê'âh, Leah, “wearied.”
24. זלפה zı̂lpâh, Zilpah, “drop?”
29. בלהה bı̂lhâh, Bilhah, “timidity.”
32. ראוּבן re'uvbēn, Reuben, “behold a son.” A paronomasia in allusion to the phrase בעניי ראה be‛ānyı̂y rā'âh. Derivatives and compounds, being formed by the common speaker, are sometimes founded upon resemblance in sound, and not always on precise forms of the original sentence which prompted them.
33. שׁמעין shı̂m‛ôn, Shim‘on, “hearing, answer.”
34. לוי lêvı̂y, Levi, “junction, union.”
35. יחוּדה yehûdâh, Jehudah, “praised.”
In this chapter and the following, Jacob grows from a solitary fugitive with a staff in his hand Genesis 32:10 to be the father of a large family and the owner of great wealth. He proves himself to be a man of patience and perseverance, and the Lord according to promise is with him.
Genesis 29:1-8
Jacob arrives at the well of Haran. “The land of the sons of the east.” The points of the heavens were defined by the usage of practical life, and not by the standard of a science yet unknown. Hence, the east means any quarter toward the sunrising. Haran was about four degrees east of Beer-sheba, and five and a half degrees north. The distance was about four hundred and fifty miles, and therefore it would take Jacob fifteen days to perform the journey at thirty miles a day. If he reached Bethel the first night, he must have travelled about fifty miles the first day. After this he proceeds on his journey without any memorable incident. In the neighborhood of Haran he comes upon a well, by which lay three flocks. This is not the well near Haran where Abraham’s servant met Rebekah. It is in the pasture grounds at some distance from the town. On its mouth was a large stone, indicating that water was precious, and that the well was the common property of the surrounding natives. The custom was to gather the flocks, roll away the stone, which was too great to be moved by a boy or a female, water the flocks, and replace the stone. Jacob, on making inquiry, learns that Haran is at hand, that Laban is well, and that Rachel is drawing nigh with her father’s flocks. Laban is called by Jacob the son of Nahor, that is, his grandson, with the usual latitude of relative names in Scripture Genesis 28:13. “The day is great.” A great part of it yet remains. It is not yet the time to shut up the cattle for the night; “water the sheep and go feed them.” Jacob may have wished to meet with Rachel without presence of the shepherds. “We cannot.” There was a rule or custom that the flocks must be all assembled before the stone was rolled away for the purpose of watering the cattle. This may have been required to insure a fair distribution of the water to all parties, and especially to those who were too weak to roll away the stone.
Genesis 29:9-14
Jacob’s interview with Rachel, and hospitable reception by Laban. Rachel’s approach awakens all Jacob’s warmth of feeling. He rolls away the stone, waters the sheep, kisses Rachel, and bursts into tears. The remembrance of home and of the relationship of his mother to Rachel overpowers him. He informs Rachel who he is, and she runs to acquaint her father. Laban hastens to welcome his relative to his house. “Surely my bone and my flesh art thou.” This is a description of kinsmanship probably derived from the formation of the woman out of the man Genesis 2:23. A month here means the period from new moon to new moon, and consists of twenty-nine or thirty days.
Genesis 29:15-20
Jacob serves seven years for Rachel. “What shall thy wages be?” An active, industrious man like Jacob was of great value to Laban. “Two daughters.” Daughters in those countries and times were also objects of value, for which their parents were accustomed to receive considerable presents Genesis 24:53. Jacob at present, however, is merely worth his labor. He has apparently nothing else to offer. As he loves Rachel, he offers to serve seven years for her, and is accepted. Isaac loved Rebekah after she was sought and won as a bride for him. Jacob loves Rachel before he makes a proposal of marriage. His attachment is pure and constant, and hence the years of his service seem but days to him. The pleasure of her society both in the business and leisure of life makes the hours pass unnoticed. It is obvious that in those early days the contact of the sexes before marriage was more unrestrained than it afterward became.
Genesis 29:21-30
Jacob is betrayed into marrying Leah, and on consenting to serve other seven years obtains Rachel also. He claims his expected reward when due. “Made a feast.” The feast in the house of the bride’s father seems to have lasted seven days, at the close of which the marriage was completed. But the custom seems to have varied according to the circumstances of the bridegroom. Jacob had no house of his own to which to conduct the bride. In the evening: when it was dark. The bride was also closely veiled, so that it was easy for Laban to practise this piece of deceit. “A handmaid.” It was customary to give the bride a handmaid, who became her confidential servant Genesis 24:59, Genesis 24:61. In the morning Jacob discovers that Laban had overreached him. This is the first retribution Jacob experiences for the deceitful practices of his former days. He expostulates with Laban, who pleads the custom of the country.
It is still the custom not to give the younger in marriage before the older, unless the latter be deformed or in some way defective. It is also not unusual to practise the very same trick that Laban now employed, if the suitor is so simple as to be off his guard. Jacob, however, did not expect this at his relative’s hands, though he had himself taken part in proceedings equally questionable. “Fulfill the week of this.” If this was the second day of the feast celebrating the nuptials of Leah, Laban requests him to Complete the week, and then he will give him Rachel also. If, however, Leah was fraudulently put upon him at the close of the week of feasting, then Laban in these words proposes to give Rachel to Jacob on fulfilling another week of nuptial rejoicing. The latter is in the present instance more likely. In either case the marriage of Rachel is only a week after that of Leah. Rather than lose Rachel altogether, Jacob consents to comply with Laban’s terms.
Rachel was the wife of Jacob’s affections and intentions. The taking of a second wife in the lifetime of the first was contrary to the law of nature, which designed one man for one woman Genesis 2:21-25. But the marrying of a sister-in-law was not yet incestuous, because no law had yet been made on the subject. Laban gives a handmaid to each of his daughters. To Rebekah his sister had been given more than one Genesis 24:61. Bondslaves had been in existence long before Laban’s time Genesis 16:1. “And loved also Rachel more than Leah.” This proves that even Leah was not unloved. At the time of his marriage Jacob was eighty-four years of age; which corresponds to half that age according to the present average of human life.
Genesis 29:31-35
Leah bears four sons to Jacob. “The Lord saw.” The eye of the Lord is upon the sufferer. It is remarkable that both the narrator and Leah employ the proper name of God, which makes the performance of promise a prominent feature of his character. This is appropriate in the mouth of Leah, who is the mother of the promised seed. “That Leah was hated” - less loved than Rachel. He therefore recompenses her for the lack of her husband’s affections by giving her children, while Rachel was barren. “Reuben” - behold a son. “The Lord hath looked on my affliction.” Leah had qualities of heart, if not of outward appearance, which commanded esteem. She had learned to acknowledge the Lord in all her ways. “Simon” - answer. She had prayed to the Lord, and this was her answer. “Levi” - union, the reconciler. Her husband could not, according to the prevailing sentiments of those days, fail to be attached to the mother of three sons. “Judah” - praised. Well may she praise the Lord; for this is the ancestor of the promised seed. It is remarkable that the wife of priority, but not of preference, is the mother of the seed in whom all nations are to be blessed. Levi the reconciler is the father of the priestly tribe. Simon is attached to Judah. Reuben retires into the background.
Reuben may have been born when Jacob was still only eighty-four, and consequently Judah was born when Jacob was eighty-seven.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
CHAPTER XXIX
Jacob proceeds on his journey, 1.
Comes to a well where the flocks of his uncle Laban, as well
as those of several others, were usually watered, 2, 3.
Inquires from the shepherds concerning Laban and his family, 4-6.
While they are conversing about watering the sheep, 7, 8,
Rachel arrives, 9.
He assists her to water her flock, 10;
makes himself known unto her, 11, 12.
She hastens home and communicates the tidings of Jacob's arrival
to her father, 12.
Laban hastens to the well, embraces Jacob, and brings him home, 13.
After a month's stay, Laban proposes to give Jacob wages, 14, 15.
Leah and Rachel described, 16, 17.
Jacob proposes to serve seven years for Rachel, 18.
Laban consents, 19.
When the seven years were fulfilled, Jacob demands his wife, 20, 21.
Laban makes a marriage feast, 22;
and in the evening substitutes Leah for Rachel, to whom he gives
Zilpah for handmaid, 23, 24.
Jacob discovers the fraud, and upbraids Laban, 25.
He excuses himself, 26;
and promises to give him Rachel for another seven years of service,
27.
After abiding a week with Leah, he receives Rachel for wife, to
whom Laban gives Bilhah for handmaid, 28, 29.
Jacob loves Rachel more than Leah, and serves seven years for her,
30.
Leah being despised, the Lord makes her fruitful, while Rachel
continues barren, 31.
Leah bears Reuben, 32,
and Simeon, 33,
and Levi, 34,
and Judah; after which she leaves off bearing, 35.
NOTES ON CHAP. XXIX
Verse Genesis 29:1. Then Jacob went on his journey — The original is very remarkable: And Jacob lifted up his feet, and he travelled unto the land of the children of the east. There is a certain cheerfulness marked in the original which comports well with the state of mind into which he had been brought by the vision of the ladder and the promises of God. He now saw that having God for his protector he had nothing to fear, and therefore he went on his way rejoicing.
People of the east. — The inhabitants of Mesopotamia and the whole country beyond the Euphrates are called קדם kedem, or easterns, in the sacred writings.
