And Laban had two daughters ,.... Grown up and marriageable: and the name of the elder was Leah ; which signifies labour or weariness: and the name of the younger was Rachel ; before mentioned, whom Jacob met with at the well, Genesis 29:10 ; and whose name signifies a sheep, as before observed; see Gill on Genesis 29:9 . read more
Leah was tender eyed ,.... Blear eyed, had a moisture in them, which made them red, and so she was not so agreeable to look at; though Onkelos renders the words,"the eyes of Leah were beautiful,'as if her beauty lay in her eyes, and nowhere else: but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured ; in all parts, in the form of her countenance, in her shape and stature, and in her complexion, her hair black, her flesh white and ruddy, as Ben Melech observes. read more
And Jacob loved Rachel ,.... As he seems to have done from the moment he saw her at the well, being beautiful, modest, humble, affable, diligent, and industrious: and he said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter : signifying, that he desired no other wages for his service than that, that he might have her for his wife, at the end of seven years' servitude, which he was very willing to oblige himself to, on that condition; for having no money to give as a dowry,... read more
And Laban said ,.... Deceitfully, as the Targum of Jonathan adds, pretending great respect for Jacob, and that what he had proposed was very agreeable to him, when he meant to impose upon him: it is better that I should give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man ; by which he not only intimates that he preferred him, a relation, to another man, a stranger; but as if he did not insist upon the servitude for her, but would give her to him; unless he means upon the terms... read more
And Jacob served seven years for Rachel ,.... The whole term of time, diligently, faithfully, and patiently. Reference is had to this in Hosea 11:12 , and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her ; for though to lovers time seems long ere they enjoy the object beloved; yet Jacob here respects not so much the time as the toil and labour of service he endured in it; he thought that seven years' service was a trifle, like the service of so many days, in comparison... read more
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... read more
And Laban gathered together all the men of the place ,.... Of the city of Haran, which may be understood of the chief and principal of them, to make the marriage of his daughter public and authentic: and made a feast ; a marriage or marriage feast, as the Septuagint version, see Matthew 22:2 ; which was usual, when a marriage was solemnized, expressive of joy on that account. read more
And it came to pass in the evening ,.... After the feast was over, and the guests were departed; when it was night, a fit season to execute his designs, and practise deceit: that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him , to Jacob, in his apartment, his bedchamber, or to him in bed: for it is still the custom in some eastern countries for the bridegroom to go to bed first, and then the bride comes, or is brought to him in the dark, and veiled, so that he sees her not: so the... read more
And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid, for an handmaid. It was usual to have many given them at this time, as Rebekah seems to have had, Genesis 24:59 ; but Leah had but one, and this was all the portion Jacob had with her. The Targum of Jonathan is,"and Laban gave her Zilpah his daughter, whom his concubine bore unto him:'hence the Jews say F17 Pirke Eliezer, c. 36. , that the daughters of a man by his concubines are called maids. read more
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John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 29:15
And Laban said unto Jacob, because thou art my brother ,.... Or nephew, his sister's son; see Gill on Genesis 29:12 , shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought ? nearness of kin was no reason why he should serve him freely, or for nothing, but rather why he should be more kind to him than to a stranger, and give him better wages: tell me, what shall thy wages be ? by the day, or month, or year; signifying he was willing to give him anything that was just and reasonable,... read more