the Week of Christ the King / Proper 29 / Ordinary 34
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New King James Version
Genesis 29:9
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While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherdess.
While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep. For she kept them.
While Jacob was talking with the shepherds, Rachel came with her father's sheep, because it was her job to care for the sheep.
While he was still speaking with them, Rachel arrived with her father's sheep, for she was tending them.
And while he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she kept them.
While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she kept them.
While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherdess.
Yit thei spaken, and lo! Rachel cam with the scheep of hir fadir.
He is yet speaking with them, and Rachel hath come with the flock which her father hath, for she [is] shepherdess;
While he was still speaking with them, Rachel arrived with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherdess.
While Jacob was still talking with the men, his cousin Rachel came up with her father's sheep.
While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, because she took care of them.
While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she kept them.
While he was still talking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she took care of them.
Whyle he yet talked with them, Rachel came with her fathers sheepe: for she kept them.
While he was still speaking to them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherdess.
While Jacob was talking with the shepherds, Rachel came with her father's sheep. (It was her job to take care of the sheep.)
While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she tended them.
And while hee yet spake with them, Rachel came with her fathers sheepe: for she kept them.
And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she kept them.
He was still talking with them when Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she cared for them.
While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she kept them.
While yet he was speaking with them, Rachel, had come in with the sheep which belonged to her father, for a shepherdess, was she.
While he talked with them, Rahel also came with her fathers sheepe, for she kept them.
gland while he was still conversing with them, Rachel came with her fathers sheep; for she was a shepherdess.
While Jacob was still talking with them, Rachel arrived with the flock.
They were yet speaking, and behold Rachel came with her father’s sheep; for she fed the flock.
While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she kept them.
While he was yet speaking to them, behold, Rachel the daughter of Laban came with her father’s sheep, for she fed the sheep of her father.
While he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she kept them.
While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess.
While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she kept them.
While he was speaking with them, Rachel came with the sheep which belonged to her father, for she was pasturing them.
He still was speaking with them, and Rachel came with the sheep which were her father's; for she was feeding them .
Whyle he yet talked with them, Rachel came with hir fathers shepe, for she kepte ye shepe.
While Jacob was in conversation with them, Rachel came up with her father's sheep. She was the shepherd. The moment Jacob spotted Rachel, daughter of Laban his mother's brother, saw her arriving with his uncle Laban's sheep, he went and single-handedly rolled the stone from the mouth of the well and watered the sheep of his uncle Laban. Then he kissed Rachel and broke into tears. He told Rachel that he was related to her father, that he was Rebekah's son. She ran and told her father. When Laban heard the news—Jacob, his sister's son!—he ran out to meet him, embraced and kissed him and brought him home. Jacob told Laban the story of everything that had happened.
While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherdess.
Jacob was still talking with them when Rachel arrived with her father's flock, for she was a shepherd.
While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherdess.
While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherdess.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
Rachel: Genesis 24:15, Exodus 2:15, Exodus 2:16, Exodus 2:21, Song of Solomon 1:7, Song of Solomon 1:8
for she kept them: In those primitive times, a pastoral life was not only considered useful but honourable: nor was it beneath the dignity of the daughters of the most opulent chiefs to carry water from the well, or tend the sheep. Jacob, Moses, and David were shepherds.
Reciprocal: Genesis 24:13 - daughters Proverbs 31:13 - worketh
Cross-References
And it happened, before he had finished speaking, that behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, came out with her pitcher on her shoulder.
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."
But they said, "We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together, and they have rolled the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep."
Then Laban said to Jacob, "Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what should your wages be?|"
Now Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
Then Moses was content to live with the man, and he gave Zipporah his daughter to Moses.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And while he yet spake with them,.... While Jacob was thus discoursing with the shepherds:
Rachel came with her father's sheep; to water them at the well. She was within sight when Jacob first addressed the shepherds, but now she was come to the well, or near it, with the sheep before her:
for she kept them: or "she was the shepherdess" d; the chief one; she might have servants under her to do some parts of the office of a shepherd, not so fit for her to do; it may be Laban's sons, for some he had, Genesis 31:1; were not as yet grown up, and Leah, the eldest daughter, having tender eyes, could not bear the open air, and light of the sun, nor so well look after the straying sheep; and therefore the flock was committed to the care of Rachel the younger daughter, whose name signifies a sheep. The Jews say e, that the hand of God was upon Laban's flock, and there were but few left, so that he put away his shepherds, and what remained be put before his daughter Rachel, see
Genesis 30:30; and some ascribe it to his covetousness that he did this; but there is no need to suggest anything of that kind; for keeping sheep in those times and countries was a very honourable employment, and not below the sons and daughters of great personages, and still is so accounted. Dr. Shaw f says it is customary, even to this day, for the children of the greatest Emir to attend their flocks; the same is related of the seven children of the king of Thebes, of Antiphus the son of Priam, and of Anchises, Aeneas's father g.
d ×× ×¨×¢× ××× "quia pastor illa", Montanus, "pastrix", Schmidt. e Targ. Jon. in loc. Pirke Eliezer, c. 36. f Travels, p. 240. No. 2. Ed. 2. g Hom. II. 1. ver. 313. II. 6. ver. 424. II. 11. ver. 106.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
- Jacobâs Marriage
6. ר×× raÌcheÌl, Rachel, âa ewe.â
16. ××× leÌ'aÌh, Leah, âwearied.â
24. ×××¤× zıÌlpaÌh, Zilpah, âdrop?â
29. ×××× bıÌlhaÌh, Bilhah, âtimidity.â
32. ר××Ö¼×× re'uvbeÌn, Reuben, âbehold a son.â A paronomasia in allusion to the phrase ××¢× ×× ×¨×× beâaÌnyıÌy raÌ'aÌh. 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. ש×××¢×× shıÌmâoÌn, Shimâon, âhearing, answer.â
34. ××× leÌvıÌy, Levi, âjunction, union.â
35. ×××Ö¼×× yehuÌdaÌh, Jehudah, âpraised.â
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. âThe land of the sons of the east.â 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 Abrahamâs 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 fatherâs 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. âThe day is great.â A great part of it yet remains. It is not yet the time to shut up the cattle for the night; âwater the sheep and go feed them.â Jacob may have wished to meet with Rachel without presence of the shepherds. âWe cannot.â 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
Jacobâs interview with Rachel, and hospitable reception by Laban. Rachelâs approach awakens all Jacobâs 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. âSurely my bone and my flesh art thou.â 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. âWhat shall thy wages be?â An active, industrious man like Jacob was of great value to Laban. âTwo daughters.â 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. âMade a feast.â The feast in the house of the brideâs 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. âA handmaid.â 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 relativeâs hands, though he had himself taken part in proceedings equally questionable. âFulfill the week of this.â 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 Labanâs terms.
Rachel was the wife of Jacobâs 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 Labanâs time Genesis 16:1. âAnd loved also Rachel more than Leah.â 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. âThe Lord saw.â 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. âThat Leah was hatedâ - less loved than Rachel. He therefore recompenses her for the lack of her husbandâs affections by giving her children, while Rachel was barren. âReubenâ - behold a son. âThe Lord hath looked on my affliction.â Leah had qualities of heart, if not of outward appearance, which commanded esteem. She had learned to acknowledge the Lord in all her ways. âSimonâ - answer. She had prayed to the Lord, and this was her answer. âLeviâ - 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. âJudahâ - 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
Verse Genesis 29:9. Rachel came with her father's sheep — So we find that young women were not kept concealed in the house till the time they were married, which is the common gloss put on ×¢××× almah, a virgin, one concealed. Nor was it beneath the dignity of the daughters of the most opulent chiefs to carry water from the well, as in the case of Rebekah; or tend sheep, as in the case of Rachel. The chief property in those times consisted in flocks: and who so proper to take care of them as those who were interested in their safety and increase? Honest labour, far from being a discredit, is an honour both to high and low. The king himself is served by the field; and without it, and the labour necessary for its cultivation, all ranks must perish. Let every son, let every daughter, learn that it is no discredit to be employed, whenever it may be necessary, in the meanest offices, by which the interests of the family may be honestly promoted.
