Jacob's Household With Rachel, Leah and Their Maidsby Joel
29:30Genesis 29:30
And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
Jacob took Rachel as wife in addition to Leah, and his affection rested more upon Rachel than upon Leah. Leah was loved far less because Laban had deceived him by giving Leah to him instead of Rachel. After marrying Rachel he served Laban seven more years to obtain her, making twice seven years of service for Rachel in all.
He served rather than paying a bride-price because he had no money or other valuable property, since labor for a set period was accepted in place of a dowry. That period of service before the marriage provided time to test his worth and the depth of his affection. It was love for Rachel that moved him to such service, and that love made his hard toil feel light.
Preferring Rachel brought envy and jealousy into the family and made his life bitter through rivalry between the sisters. His love for Rachel was deep and lasting, bringing him heavy grief at her death and enduring to his old age in Egypt, when looking back on his long and troubled family life he recalled alone the loss of Rachel.
Jacob took Rachel as wife in addition to Leah, and his affection rested more upon Rachel than upon Leah. Leah was loved far less because Laban had deceived him by giving Leah to him instead of Rachel. After marrying Rachel he served Laban seven more years to obtain her, making twice seven years of service for Rachel in all.
He served rather than paying a bride-price because he had no money or other valuable property, since labor for a set period was accepted in place of a dowry. That period of service before the marriage provided time to test his worth and the depth of his affection. It was love for Rachel that moved him to such service, and that love made his hard toil feel light.
Preferring Rachel brought envy and jealousy into the family and made his life bitter through rivalry between the sisters. His love for Rachel was deep and lasting, bringing him heavy grief at her death and enduring to his old age in Egypt, when looking back on his long and troubled family life he recalled alone the loss of Rachel.