Genesis 29:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the east.

NIV: Then Jacob continued on his journey and came to the land of the eastern peoples.

NASB: Then Jacob set out on his journey, and went to the land of the people of the east.

CSB: Jacob resumed his journey and went to the eastern country.

NLT: Then Jacob hurried on, finally arriving in the land of the east.

KJV: Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.

NKJV: So Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the East.

The Lord appeared to Jacob in a dream (Genesis 28:10–12) as he was journeying from his father's household toward Haran, where his mother's brother lives. Jacob had two reasons for the journey. One was to flee the wrath of his brother Esau, who planned to kill him (Genesis 27:41). The other reason was to look for wife. Isaac had told Jacob specifically to marry one of the daughters of Laban, Rebekah's brother (Genesis 28:1–2).

So after vowing to make the Lord his God if the Lord would really be with him and care for him (Genesis 28:20–22), Jacob set out once again for Haran. The text literally reads that Jacob "picked up his feet." It's like the meeting with God had filled him with new confidence about his purpose and future.

In time, he came to the land of the people of the east, or the eastern lands. He had left behind the land of Canaan. He was closer to reaching his destination than he realized.

Genesis 29:1–30 describes Jacob's arrival at his uncle's household. Laban is happy to see his nephew, likely for the first time. Jacob falls in love with Laban's more attractive daughter, Rachel, and agrees to work for Laban seven years to marry her. On the wedding night, however, Laban treacherously switches Rachel for her older sister Leah. Jacob agrees to marry Rachel the next week, but now must work another seven years.

Jacob's journey from his home brings him to his uncle's household in Haran. He falls in love with Laban's younger daughter Rachel and agrees to work for Laban for seven years to marry her. When the time comes, Laban switches out Rachel for her older, less attractive sister Leah. Jacob is surprised to find he has consummated the marriage with the wrong sister. Manipulative Laban assures Jacob he can still marry Rachel the next week, as long as he will work another seven years. Jacob loves Rachel more than Leah, but with the Lord's help, unloved Leah bears Jacob his first four sons.

The previous chapter described Jacob fleeing from home to seek his uncle in Mesopotamia. This was both to escape the rage of his brother, Esau, and to look for a suitable wife. Now Jacob arrives and falls in love with his uncle's daughter Rachel. After working seven years to marry her, Jacob is tricked by his uncle into marrying the older daughter, Leah, instead. Laban allows Jacob to marry Rachel, as well, in exchange for another seven years' work. Though she is unloved by Jacob, the Lord notices Leah's heartbreak and allows her to bear four sons. In the next chapter, Rachel's jealousy sets off something of a birth war, as she and Leah compete to obtain children.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.

Accessed 5/2/2024 5:23:05 AM