Bible Women: Rachel - Loved by her husband

Wife of Jacob, mother of Joseph and Benjamin,  sister of Leah,  daughter of Laban, Rachel is one of the most prominent women in the book of Genesis.

We first meet Rachel upon Jacob's arrival in Haran, where he has gone to search for his uncle Laban after being sent on this journey by his father Isaac.  (Genesis 28:1 "And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.  Arise, go to Padan-aram, to the house of Betheuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother.").  Upon arriving in Haran, Jacob saw a  well in the field, and 3 flocks of sheep lying by it, and so Jacob asked the keepers of  the sheep of what land they were and they told him Haran, and that is how Jacob discovers that he has reached the land of his uncle.  Jacob asked if they knew Laban, and they did, and at that moment, "Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she kept them.  And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban...that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother." (Genesis 29:9-10) and he kissed Rachel a kiss of greeting and wept..he must have been so glad that his journey was finally over.  And Rachel, hearing that Jacob was her cousin, ran to tell her father, upon which Laban came running, and Jacob was brought to their house.

After a month, Laban asked Jacob what he desired to be his wages for serving for him, and Jacob gives his answer.  "And Laban  had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.  Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and wellfavoured.  And Jacob loved Rachel; and said I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter." (Genesis 29:16-18)  And so Jacob worked seven years for Rachel and that "they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her." (Genesis 29:20)

Bible Women: Leah - Wife by Deception

Sister of Rachel, daughter of Laban, wife of Jacob..this is Leah.  Her story is one of obedience to her father, desire for her husband,  envy by her sister.  She bears the honour of being the mother of half of the twelve tribes of Israel, and one of her sons, Judah, was to be the line through whom came Joseph,  the husband of Mary, of whom was born the Lord Jesus Christ.

Genesis 29:16-17  "..Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.  Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and wellfavoured."   I would like to believe that the expression "tender eyes"  is an expression of a compassionate, gentle soul, but Strongs concordance interprets this expression as one who has weak eyes. This is in contrast to her sister who was beautiful,  "Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.   Still the important thing to remember here is that the Lord does not judge us by our physical appearance, and praise His name for that.  Truly, "...the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7)

The story of Leah begins when Jacob was called by his father Isaac who "blessed him and charged him, and said unto him, ....go to Padan-aram,to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother." (Genesis 28:2) Jacob was specifically instructed "thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan) (Genesis 28:1)  Leah was not present when Jacob arrived at Padan-aram, and it was Rachel that Jacob met first, and Jacob loved Rachel.  Genesis 29:18 "..Jacob loved Rachel; and said (to Laban her father) I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter."   No doubt Leah came to know Jacob quite well as he worked those seven years for Rachel to be his wife,  but we do not know whether or not Leah knew that it would be her that would be given to Jacob on his wedding night.  The custom of the time was that the younger daughter should not marry before the older daughter, and so perhaps Leah was aware of what was to happen.. in any event on the night when Jacob was to receive Rachel as his wife, Laban took Leah instead, and brought her to Jacob.  Genesis 29:23 "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." No doubt Leah was covered, as was the custom of women in those days to be wholly covered when the marriage took place.  Jacob would not have recognized the deception until morning which is exactly what happened "...in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, what is this thou hast done unto me?..." (Gen 29:25) and Laban gives his explanation Genesis 26-27 "..Laban said, it must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.  Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years."  And Jacob did so and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also."  and so Leah had Jacob for herself for a period of seven days, before Rachel was given to him also as his wife for which he then had to serve Laban for seven more years.