Genesis 29:21

Gen 29:21 And Jacob said unto Laban, Give [me] my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.

Ver. 21. Give me my wife, for my days, &c.] Jacob had served out his time, and now demands his due. David also is said to have "served the will of God, for his own age"; {Act 13:36} and John Baptist to have "fulfilled his course". {Act 13:25} "Moses also was faithful in all God’s house, as a servant". {Heb 3:2} Yet these could not call for heaven as their wages, because they were (as the best are, at their best) but "unprofitable servants," {Luk 17:10} and did not, in any measure, what their duty was to do. We have not a bit of bread of our own earning; and are therefore taught to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread": we get our living by begging. Our best plea is, Domine, non sum dignus, nihi - lominus tamen sum indigens :Lord, I am not worthy, but I am needy, as Pomeran said. Then will God, of his free grace, supply all our necessities, and "afterwards receive us to glory." He will bring us into the bride chamber of heaven, and there will he give us his loves. He will let out himself into us, to our infinite delight. Of all natural delights, that of marriage is the greatest, because there is the greatest communication of one creature to another; and according to the degrees of communication are the degrees of delight. Think the same in the mystical marriage.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Gen_29:21-28

He took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him

Labans fraud on Jacob

I.

THE CHARACTER OF THE FRAUD.

1. Deliberate.

2. Bold.

3. Selfish.

II. THE FRAUD CONSIDERED AS A RETRIBUTION. There are sins which in this world are often punished in kind. (T. H. Leale.)

Lessons

1. The day revealeth that evil usually which the night covereth, sin may hide itself a little while till the morning.

2. Seeming Rachel over night is found Leah in the morning. Fair offers to be deceits.

3. Honest souls, though drawn into error, are full of indignation against it, and the cursors of it when discovered.

4. Plain covenant work is sufficient to convince deceivers that forsake 2:5. Service for Rachel should have Rachel for its reward.

6. It is gross falsehood and deceit to deny covenant reward, and adulterate it with worse (Gen_2:25). (G. Hughes, B. D.)

Labans deceit

This discloses a baseness in Labans character, arousing contempt and aversion; but it ought not to blind us against the redeeming qualities of his heart. In the human mind, fragrant flowers often blossom surprisingly by the side of noxious weeds. The deceit of Laban was practicable, on account of the custom by which the bride is, on the day of marriage, conducted veiled to her future husband. (M. M. Kalisch, Ph. D.)

Evil result of Labans fraud

But the fraud of Laban was not only a moral offence in itself; it was the more deplorable, as it destroyed the principle of monogamy to which the patriarchs on the whole adhered. Jacob had intended to marry Rachel alone; and when he found himself, against his will, allied with Leah, his heart could not renounce her from whom he expected the best part of his happiness; he took her to wife besides Leah; nor was he permitted to dismiss the latter after the solemnization of the marriage. (M. M. Kalisch, Ph. D.)

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

CRITICAL NOTES.—

Gen_29:23. He took Leah, his daughter, and brought her to him.] “The fraud was rendered possible by the Eastern custom of the bride being veiled, aided by the darkness of the night.” (Alford.)—

Gen_29:27. Fulfil her week.] “Attach thyself to her during the accustomed days of the wedding-feast” (Jdg_14:12; Tob_11:18.) Alford.

MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.—Gen_29:21-28

LABAN’S FRAUD ON JACOB

I. The character of the fraud. Jacob had served for his wife, and now demands her as his just right. When the time came for the bride to be conducted to the marriage chamber, Laban substitutes Leah for Rachel. It was not difficult to carry out this deception, as it was evening and the bride was conducted to the chamber of the husband closely veiled. In the morning Jacob discovered the fraud, and complained, “Did not I serve with thee for Rachel? Wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?” (Gen_29:25.) This fraud was,

1. Deliberate. It was not the result of sudden temptation by which a man is overtaken in a fault, but was quite in accordance with the settled habits and principles of Laban’s character. He was a covetous and scheming man, and had little scruple in demanding the services of a helpless relative under plausible professions of disinterestedness.

2. Bold. Laban attempts to justify his conduct by a reference to the custom of the country. (Gen_29:26.) But, why did he not mention this objection before, and why did he promise that which he considered he ought not to perform? He is bold and daring in the defence of his conduct as he was crafty in designing it.

3. Selfish. He proposes to give him Rachel when another week is fulfilled. (Gen_29:27.) Jacob’s labours were very valuable to him, and this was a shrewd device to bind Jacob for a longer term of service.

II. The fraud considered as a retribution. Jacob had deceived his own father, and now he is himself deceived. The measure which he meted is measured to him again. The sheep of God’s pasture may be found and restored, but they are often brought back wounded and lacerated, and smarting from the effects of their own folly and sin. Jacob who had deceived is now, in turn, overreached. Leah also deceived her husband, and as a natural consequence lost his affections. There are sins which in this world are often punished in kind. “Be sure your sin will find you out.” (Num_32:23).

SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS ON THE VERSES

Gen_29:21-22. Laban, like some in their gifts to God, is not wanting in ceremony. He “made a feast,” gave his daughter a hand-maid, and went through all the forms; but the gift was a deception.—(Fuller).

Gen_29:23. According to the custom of those eastern nations, the bride was conducted to the bed of her husband, with silence, in darkness, and covered from head to foot with a veil; circumstances all of them favourable to the wicked, selfish plan which Laban had formed to detain his son-in-law longer in his service. He who employed undue advantage to arrive at the right of the first-born has undue advantage taken of him in having the first-born put in place of the younger. He who could practise on a father’s blindness, though to obtain a laudable end, is, in his turn, practised upon by a father, employing the cover of the night to accomplish a very unwarrantable purpose.—(Hunter.)

God pays us often in our own coin, Herod mocked the wise men, and is mocked of them. (Mat_2:16.) And how oft do we see those that would beguile others, punished with illusion? God usually retaliates, and proportions jealousy to jealousy, provocation to provocation (Deu_32:21,) number to number (Isa_65:11-12,) choice to choice (Isa_66:3-4,) device to device (Mic_2:1; Mic_2:3,) frowardness to frowardness (Psa_18:26,) contrariety to contrariety (Lev_26:21.) Even the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth (Pro_11:31,) as was Jacob.—(Trapp.)

Gen_29:24. It is still customary in the East for a father, who can afford it, to transfer to his daughter, on her marriage, some female slave of the household, who becomes her confidential domestic and humble friend. This slave forms a link between the old and new households, which often proves irksome, but he has little, if any, control over the female slaves in his establishment.—(Bush.)

Gen_29:25-26. A foul disappointment, but so the world ever serves us. The Hebrews have taken up this passage for a proverb, when a man’s hopes are deceived in a wife, or anything else, wherein he looked for content or comfort.—(Trapp.)

But he received, notwithstanding his ignorance as to Leah, the wife designed for him by God, who was to become the mother of the Messiah, just as Isaac blessed him unwittingly as the rightful heir of the promise. Ah, in how many errors and follies of man, here and everywhere, do we find God’s inevitable grace and faithfulness intertwined.—(Ross.)

Gen_29:27-28. And now he must begin a new hope, where he made account of fruition. To raise up an expectation, once frustrate, is more difficult than to continue a long hope drawn on with likelihoods of performance; yet thus dear is Jacob content to pay for Rachel fourteen year’s servitude. Commonly, God’s children come not easily by their pleasures. What miseries will not love digest and overcome? And if Jacob were willingly consumed with heat in the day, and frost in the night, to become the son-in-law to Laban, what should we refuse to be the sons of God?—(Bishop Hall).

Jacob’s service for Rachel presents us a picture of bridal love equalled only in the same development and its poetic beauty in the Song of Solomon. It is particularly to be noticed that Jacob, however, was not indifferent to Rachel’s infirmities (Gen_30:2), and even treated Leah with patience and indulgence, through having suffered from her the most mortifying deception.—(Lange).

The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary (gen. ed. Joseph S. Exell; Funk & Wagnalls, c. 1892) — public domain (pre-1929). A full-Bible homiletical/sermon-outline anthology covering 65 of 66 books (2 John is absent from the source module). Text from a community e-Sword module.

Hebrew, my days are full.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Jacob said, Give me my wife--At the expiry of the stipulated term the marriage festivities were held. But an infamous fraud was practised on Jacob, and on his showing a righteous indignation, the usage of the country was pleaded in excuse. No plea of kindred should ever be allowed to come in opposition to the claim of justice. But this is often overlooked by the selfish mind of man, and fashion or custom rules instead of the will of God. This was what Laban did, as he said, "It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the first-born." But, then, if that were the prevailing custom of society at Haran, he should have apprized his nephew of it at an early period in an honorable manner. This, however, is too much the way with the people of the East still. The duty of marrying an elder daughter before a younger, the tricks which parents take to get off an elder daughter that is plain or deformed and in which they are favored by the long bridal veil that entirely conceals her features all the wedding day, and the prolongation for a week of the marriage festivities among the greater sheiks, are accordant with the habits of the people in Arabia and Armenia in the present day.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 21. My days are fulfilled] My seven years are now completed, let me have my wife, for whom I have given this service as a dowry.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(21) My days are fulfilled.—That is, the appointed time of service is completed. It was undeniably at the end of the seven years that the marriage took place.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And Jacob said unto Laban, give me my wife,.... Meaning Rachel, who was his wife by contract; the conditions of her being his wife were now fulfilled by him, and therefore he might challenge her as his wife:

for my days are now fulfilled; the seven years were up he agreed to serve him for his daughter; and therefore it was but just and right she should be given him:

that I may go in unto her; as his lawful wife, and it was high time Jacob had her; for he was now, as the Jewish writers generally say (n), and that very rightly, eighty four years of age; and from him were to spring twelve princes, the heads of twelve tribes, which should inhabit the land of Canaan.

(n) Bereshit Rabba, sect. 70. fol. 63. 1. Jarchi in loc. and others.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Go in, &c. To consummate my marriage; (Menochius) as the time is expired. (Haydock)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

[1753]

Give me my wife; so she was by promise and contract; persons betrothed or espoused being oft called wives in Scripture, as Mt 1:18,20; Lu 2:5.

My days are fulfilled, the seven years of service agreed upon, Ge 29:18.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

And Jacob said unto Laban (who, though the term of servitude had expired, appeared to be in no haste to implement his part of the bargain), Give me my wife (i.e. my affianced wife, as in Deu_22:23, Deu_22:24; Mat_1:20) for my days are fulfilled (i.e. my term of service is completed), that I may go in unto herquo significant intactam adhuc esse virginem (Calvin); a proof that Jacob"s love was pure and true.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

But when Jacob asked for his reward at the expiration of this period, and according to the usual custom a great marriage feast had been prepared, instead of Rachel, Laban took his elder daughter Leah into the bride-chamber, and Jacob went in unto her, without discovering in the dark the deception that had been practised. Thus the overreacher of Esau was overreached himself, and sin was punished by sin.

Keil & Delitzsch — Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament (1861–1891) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API. (Old Testament only.)

Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel

v. 21. And Jacob said unto Laban, at the end of the seven years, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. Note that he calls Rachel his wife, although only engaged to her, for a rightful betrothal is as binding as marriage in the sight of God.

v. 22. And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. He arranged the customary marriage-festival, making it as splendid as his wealth allowed.

v. 23. And it came to pass in the evening that he took Leah, his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. This deception on Laban’s part could be carried out all the more easily, since custom required that the bride be heavily veiled when led to the bridegroom and to the bridal chamber.

v. 24. And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah, his maid, for an handmaid. This fact is here expressly mentioned on account of later developments.

v. 25. And it came to pass that, in the morning, behold, it was Leah; and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? Did not I serve with thee for Rachel? Wherefore, then, hast thou beguiled me? While the fraud which was practiced upon Jacob may, in a sense, be regarded as a just punishment, his reproof of Laban was nevertheless fully justified, and he might well, according to the contract, have dismissed Leah.

v. 26. And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger-afore the first-born. Granted that this was an established custom in the place, or district, where Laban was living, his excuse was still a flimsy pretext, for his business would have been to acquaint Jacob with that custom at the time the contract was made His selfish motives, especially his avarice, here came to the surface, even as it was in evidence more and more in the succeeding years.

v. 27. Fulfill her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. The nuptial feast lasting seven days, Jacob was to confirm marriage with Leah by accepting her as his wife during this time. In the second week he was then given Rachel as his wife, with the understanding that he would serve another seven years for her, thus really paying a greater price than he owed.

v. 28. And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week; and he gave him Rachel, his daughter, to wife also. On either aide, sinful weaknesses had played a role and therefore Jacob’s married life in more than one instance became a school of afflictions.

v. 29. And Laban gave to Rachel, his daughter, Bilhah, his handmaid, to be her maid. This fact is also expressly stated on account of later developments.

v. 30. And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years. That bigamy, polygamy, is a perversion of God’s original order, since marriage is to be a monogamy, the union of one man and one woman, appears even here, for it was impossible for Jacob to distribute his affections with impartiality. In spite of the fact, therefore, that the blessing of God upon Abraham made use also of these means to make of the descendants of Abraham a great nation, it is clear, nevertheless, that much of the subsequent trouble was due to this unnatural arrangement.

Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Give me my wife, for my days have been completed—so that I may marry her!

The phrase "have been completed" can be stated in active form. The statement is emphatic. AT: Give me my wife, so that I may marry her, for I have completed the length of time that I was to work for you!"Give me Rachel so that I may marry her, for I have worked seven years for you!" (See: Active or Passive)

made a feast

"prepared a wedding feast." Most likely Laban had others prepare the feast. AT: "had others prepare a wedding feast" (See: Metonymy)

translationWords

Laban

feast

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

מלאו ימי MY DAYS ARE FULFILLED — which my mother told me to remain with you. And another explanation is: MY DAYS ARE FULFILLED for I am now eighty-four years old and when shall I beget twelve tribes? That is what he meant by adding “that I may go in unto her”; for surely even the commonest of people would not use such an expression. But he said this because his mind was intent upon having issue (to fulfil his mission of rearing children who would carry on the religious traditions of his fathers) (Genesis Rabbah 70:18).

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.

FOR MY DAYS ARE FULFILLED. This means “the time which my mother told me to remain away from home.” Another explanation is: For my days are fulfilled — “I am now eighty-four years old and when shall I beget twelve tribes?” These are the words of Rashi.

Ramban (Nachmanides) on the Tanakh — English translation: “Commentary on the Torah by Ramban (Nachmanides). Translated and annotated by Charles B. Chavel. New York, Shilo Pub. House, 1971-1976” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.