Lesson 226: Jacob and Laban-Jacob's Family

Gen. 29; 30:1-24; 35:16-20

Full Lesson HERE

INTRODUCTION. Eventually, Jacob came to Haran, his mother's earlier home, and

stopped by a well in a field where flocks of sheep were gathered for watering. When Jacob asked the shepherds if they knew Laban, they indicated that Laban's daughter Rachel was at that moment coming to the well with her sheep.

Jacob assisted Rachel in watering her sheep then identified himself as the son of Rebekah. Rachel ran and told her father Laban who came to meet Jacob, his sister's son, and embraced him.

After Jacob had stayed a month, Laban asked him what his wages should be. Laban had two daughters-Leah, the firstborn, who was tender-eyed, and Rachel, the younger, who was beautiful. Jacob had fallen in love with Rachel and agreed to work for Laban for seven years in order to marry her. At the end of that time, Laban gave a wedding feast but substituted his older daughter Leah for Rachel as the bride.

When Jacob discovered the next morning that he had been deceived by Laban, he was told their custom required that the firstborn marry before the younger. Laban then agreed to allow Jacob to marry Rachel after one week provided he would serve for another seven years. Thus Jacob who had deceived his father was now deceived by his uncle.