Sat, Sep 12, 2009
Genesis 29 LMAP notes
10 When Jacob saw Rachel daughter of Laban, his mother's brother, and Laban's sheep, he went over and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle's sheep.
L = Jewish tradition says this stone was so huge, it took many men to move it. Jacob moved it by himself, showing great, supernatural strength. Or it could mean that he convinced the men there to help him, which would show strength of character and leadership.
17 Leah had weak [a] eyes, but Rachel was lovely in form, and beautiful.
L = 'tender' or 'faint' eyes; beautiful in body and face. This could mean Leah had nice eyes, but that was it, while Rachel was the whole package. It could mean that Leah had poor eyesight and squinted a lot, maybe hunched over. It could mean she was of a milder spirit, while Rachel was outgoing. It could mean she was timid and cried a lot, with puffy eyes, where Rachel was confident and bold. It could mean she was ugly. We don't know for sure; what we do know is Rachel was much more appealing to Jacob (most likely on a physical level, maybe on a personality level too). Regardless, we will see some faults of Rachel soon enough. By the way, the name Leah means 'weary' and Rachel means 'a good traveler' and also 'a female sheep'.
VERSES 18-29
L = Jacob had not taken any of his father's wealth with him, to purchase a bride (he was in a hurry to escape the wrath of his brother). So he worked.
L = Some Middle Eastern traditions have the bride taken with no light into the bedroom after the feast, and is there formally introduced to her husband (and she is normally quiet at this time). It's also possible during the entire wedding ceremony and feast, she had a thick veil. Regardless, Jacob was probably pretty drunk at this time and in his stupor didn't realize what he was doing.
L = Interestingly enough, when he found out, he accepted it, and was willing to work another seven years for Rachel. He didn't fight back against the trick.
L = Jewish tradition says this stone was so huge, it took many men to move it. Jacob moved it by himself, showing great, supernatural strength. Or it could mean that he convinced the men there to help him, which would show strength of character and leadership.
17 Leah had weak [a] eyes, but Rachel was lovely in form, and beautiful.
L = 'tender' or 'faint' eyes; beautiful in body and face. This could mean Leah had nice eyes, but that was it, while Rachel was the whole package. It could mean that Leah had poor eyesight and squinted a lot, maybe hunched over. It could mean she was of a milder spirit, while Rachel was outgoing. It could mean she was timid and cried a lot, with puffy eyes, where Rachel was confident and bold. It could mean she was ugly. We don't know for sure; what we do know is Rachel was much more appealing to Jacob (most likely on a physical level, maybe on a personality level too). Regardless, we will see some faults of Rachel soon enough. By the way, the name Leah means 'weary' and Rachel means 'a good traveler' and also 'a female sheep'.
VERSES 18-29
L = Jacob had not taken any of his father's wealth with him, to purchase a bride (he was in a hurry to escape the wrath of his brother). So he worked.
L = Some Middle Eastern traditions have the bride taken with no light into the bedroom after the feast, and is there formally introduced to her husband (and she is normally quiet at this time). It's also possible during the entire wedding ceremony and feast, she had a thick veil. Regardless, Jacob was probably pretty drunk at this time and in his stupor didn't realize what he was doing.
L = Interestingly enough, when he found out, he accepted it, and was willing to work another seven years for Rachel. He didn't fight back against the trick.