And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him [but] a few days, for the love he had to her.
20. for the love ] These simple and touching words are noticeable for their beauty in a narrative which in many of its details is repulsive to our notions of delicacy.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 20. And Jacob served seven years for Rachel.] In ancient times it appears to have been a custom among all nations that men should give dowries for their wives; and in many countries this custom still prevails. When Shechem asked Dinah for wife, he said, Ask me never so much – dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me. When Eliezer went to get Rebekah for Isaac, he took a profusion of riches with him, in silver, gold, jewels, and raiment, with other costly things, which, when the contract was made, he gave to Rebekah, her mother, and her brothers. David, in order to be Saul’s son-in-law, must, instead of a dowry, kill Goliath; and when this was done, he was not permitted to espouse Michal till he had killed one hundred Philistines. The Prophet Hosea bought his wife for fifteen pieces of silver, and a homer and a half of barley. The same custom prevailed among the ancient Greeks, Indians, and Germans. The Romans also had a sort of marriage entitled per coemptionem, “by purchase.” The Tartars and Turks still buy their wives; but among the latter they are bought as a sort of slaves.
Herodotus mentions a very singular custom among the Babylonians, which may serve to throw light on Laban’s conduct towards Jacob. “In every district they annually assemble all the marriageable virgins on a certain day; and when the men are come together and stand round the place, the crier rising up sells one after another, always bringing forward the most beautiful first; and having sold her for a great sum of gold, he puts up her who is esteemed second in beauty. On this occasion the richest of the Babylonians used to contend for the fairest wife, and to outbid one another. But the vulgar are content to take the ugly and lame with money; for when all the beautiful virgins are sold, the crier orders the most deformed to stand up; and after he has openly demanded who will marry her with a small sum, she is at length given to the man that is contented to marry her with the least. And in this manner the money arising from the sale of the handsome served for a portion to those whose look was disagreeable, or who had any bodily imperfection. A father was not permitted to indulge his own fancy in the choice of a husband for his daughter; neither might the purchaser carry off the woman which he had bought without giving sufficient security that he would live with her as his own wife. Those also who received a sum of money with such as could bring no price in this market, were obliged also to give sufficient security that they would live with them, and if they did not they were obliged to refund the money.” Thus Laban made use of the beauty of Rachel to dispose of his daughter Leah, in the spirit of the Babylonian custom, though not in the letter.
And they seemed unto him but a few days] If Jacob had been obliged to wait seven years before he married Rachel, could it possibly be said that they could appear to him as a few days? Though the letter of the text seems to say the contrary, yet there are eminent men who strongly contend that he received Rachel soon after the month was finished, (see Ge 29:14,) and then served seven years for her, which might really appear but a few days to him, because of his increasing love to her; but others think this quite incompatible with all the circumstances marked down in the text, and on the supposition that Jacob was not now seventy-seven years of age, as most chronologers make him, but only fifty-seven, (See Clarke on Ge 31:55,) there will be time sufficient to allow for all the transactions which are recorded in his history, during his stay with Laban. As to the incredibility of a passionate lover, as some have termed him, waiting patiently for seven years before he could possess the object of his wishes, and those seven years appearing to him as only a few days, it may be satisfactorily accounted for, they think, two ways:
1. He had the continual company of his elect spouse, and this certainly would take away all tedium in the case.
2. Love affairs were not carried to such a pitch of insanity among the patriarchs as they have been in modern times; they were much more sober and sedate, and scarcely ever married before they were forty years of age, and then more for conveniency, and the desire of having an offspring, than for any other purpose.
At the very lowest computation Jacob was now fifty-seven, and consequently must have passed those days in which passion runs away with reason. Still, however, the obvious construction of the text shows that he got Rachel the week after he had married Leah.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
He speaks not of the time, which in such cases seems long, Pr 13:12, but of the service of that time, which seemed but little, and far below the worth of Rachel.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And Jacob served seven years for Rachel,…. The whole term of time, diligently, faithfully, and patiently. Reference is had to this in Ho 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 of the lovely and worthy person he obtained thereby; all that he endured was nothing in comparison of her, and through the love he bore to her: besides, the many pleasant hours he spent in conversation with her made the time slide on insensibly, so that it seemed to be quickly gone; which shows that his love was pure and constant.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(20) They seemed unto him but a few days.Jacob was at least fifty-seven years of age, but the late marriages hitherto of the patriarchs show that they only slowly arrived at manhood. We need not be surprised, then, at the warmth of his affection, nor was it a passing emotion, but lasted all his life through. This, however, is the last of these late marriages; for Jacobs sons married when young.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
20. They seemed unto him but a few days “Words breathing the purest tenderness, and expressing more emphatically than the flowery hyperboles of romantic phraseology the deep attachment of an affectionate heart . Love capable of shortening seven laborious years into a term of insignificant brevity, is a flame animating and purifying the soul; a sacred longing, forming its own delight and happiness . ” Kalisch .
‘And Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days for the love he had for her. And Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days of service are completed.”
Jacob works out his seven years and demands his wages, the hand of Rachel in marriage. The comment about the depth of his love is touching.
Gen 29:20. They seemed unto him but a few days, &c. The flattering prospect of possessing the lovely Rachel after the seven years, and the endearments of her pleasing company the mean while, rendered that interval of waiting apparently short and light. Some have supposed that Jacob married at the beginning of the seven years; for (they think) otherwise the time would not have appeared short to him. But the text seems quite contrary to this opinion. And we must remember that Rachel was his constant companion, which made the hours steal agreeably away. Note; 1. Virtuous love brings its own reward with it. 2. Nothing is irksome while those we love are with us, or hard which is done for them. 3. If for a mortal love we can be delighted even with toil, how little should we count every burden which brings us to the enjoyment of the perfection of beauty, in the eternal union of our souls to God.
Gen 29:20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him [but] a few days, for the love he had to her.
Ver. 20. And they seemed unto him but a few days. ] And yet lovers’ hours are full of eternity. But love facilitated the service, and made the time seem short. a Should anything seem hard or heavy to us, so we may have heaven at length? The affliction is but light and momentary; the glory massive, and for all eternity. Hold out, Faith and Patience. Love is a passion, and seen most in suffering; “much water cannot quench it”. Son 8:7 Nay, like fire, it devours all delays and difficulties, spending and exhaling itself, as it were, in continual wishes to be at home, to be with Christ, which is “far, far the better,” ( , , Php 1:23 ). Oh, let the eternal weight of the crown weigh down with us the light and momentary weight of the cross.
a Nox longa quibus mentitur amica, diesque longa videtur opus debentibus, et piger annus pupillis.
served. Compare Hos 12:12.
am 2251, bc 1753
served: Gen 30:26, Hos 12:12
for the love: Gen 24:67, Son 8:6, Son 8:7, 1Co 13:7, 2Co 5:14, Eph 5:2
Reciprocal: Gen 29:18 – loved Gen 29:21 – my days Gen 29:27 – we will Gen 29:30 – he loved Gen 34:19 – because Deu 21:15 – two wives Jdg 16:15 – when thine 1Sa 18:20 – loved David 2Sa 13:1 – loved her Pro 18:22 – findeth a wife Son 5:2 – my head 1Th 1:3 – and labour
THE MID-PASSAGE OF LIFE
And Jacob served.
Gen 29:20
This twenty years have I been with thee.
Gen 31:38
The twenty years of his sojourn in Mesopotamia are the least interesting portion of Jacobs life. The record of this period is spread over three chapters, and in these simple annals of his personal and domestic history we are introduced to a multitude of those little incidents which, however trifling in themselves, go to make up so large a portion of human life, and help considerably in the formation of character. Life is not all a Bethel-vision, an opening of the door, a standing at the gate of heaven. There are long stretches of monotonous earth scenery, and myriads of experiences utterly devoid of glory or romance. After heavens gate comes Laban and his household, a wily, politic, deceitful setafter enraptured gazing on troops of angel forms comes weary tendance of flocks and herds for twenty long years, of which Jacob could say with the pathos of sincerity, Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night: and my sleep departed from mine eyes.
A brief epitome of its principal points is all that is needed as the groundwork of sermonic reflection. Encouraged by the vision at Bethel, Jacob resumed his journey, and in due season reached Haran, where he was received with welcome by Laban and his household. He became the keeper of his uncles flocks, and under very peculiar circumstances the husband of both his daughters, for whom by an infamous trick he was required to serve fourteen years. Six years longer he remained there on new terms, terms which certainly appeared more likely to remunerate the master than the servant, but which really enriched the latter. During this period a large household grew up around him, and with his increasing family circle his cares, too, grew numerous. Jehovahs blessing, however, did not fail him; he became possessed of vast pastoral wealth. At last, Divine intimation, coupled with the growing jealousy and envy of Laban and his sons, induced him to think of returning to the land of promise.
More in detail, let us now consider Jacobs life in Mesopotamia.
I. Its sins. II. Its trials. III. Its blessings.
I. The errors of the years of servitude.Perhaps the leading error of this period was allowing himself, at the end of the first seven years, to be drawn into a violation of the original law of marriage. Jacob became a polygamist, under circumstances, it is true, of an extenuating character, but yet not such as could excuse or atone for his moral blunder and crime. By and by we find him the husband of four wives, and even if we admit that such a circumstance did not in this primitive age wholly militate against the possession of true religion, yet it cannot be denied that Jacob suffered severely for his indulgence, and must frequently have had occasion in after life to reflect, that, though his conduct had not deprived him of religious hope, it had prepared for him all that series of sorrows with which he was subsequently oppressed, and had nearly brought down his gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.
Nor, in spite of the well-meant efforts of some apologists for Jacob, can it be denied that the arrangement which Jacob made with Laban at the beginning of the last six years of his stay in Haran (Gen 30:31-36) savoured too much of deceit, and bore too striking a resemblance to the greedy and unscrupulous conduct of Laban himself. The proposal to which Laban so very readily agreed was one which resulted, as Jacob naturally expected it would, to the latters advantage. The adoption by Jacob of this device showed want of faith in God. Probably he argued that it was necessary that deceit should be met by deceit; but now, as years before, he is guilty of the besetting sin of making haste. He would not wait for the Lord to fulfil His promise; he would use his own means, employ his cunning and devices, to accomplish the purpose of God, instead of committing his cause unto Him. The same taint of evil marked his conduct in leaving his father-in-law. His stealthiness of procedure was due to a lack of trust in Gods promise and care. One who had such to rely upon had no need to say, Because I was afraid (Gen 31:31), for If God be for us, who can be against us?
II. Its trials.His life in Haran was no long Arcadian interval, but, as part of the Divine training, had in it elements of hardness and bitterness such as Abraham and Isaac had never known. During all this period Jacob was compelled to dwell in the society of those who were little else than idolaters; and this, to one who had known the purity of the monotheistic faith, must have been a constant source of trial.
Again, the unpleasant relations in which he was often compelled to stand towards his own relatives must have been a grievous trouble. His sharp-witted employer and father-in-law seemed to look upon Jacob merely in the light of a very profitable servant, to be made the most of, at the least possible expense.
These trials could only be intensified to the subject of them by the thought that many were of a retributive character. Having sowed the wind, he reaped the whirlwind. Jacob was forced over and over again to remember what we may take a New Testament Apostles words to express, Be not deceived, God is not mocked: whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
III. Its blessings.The few days of Rebekahs intention lengthened out to twenty years. This period was a season during which Jehovah began to fulfil the promises made at Bethel. He had promised to be with him and keep him in all places whither he would go, and at the end of this time we find Jacob grown exceedingly rich, and with a large and unbroken family circle. So manifestly did the blessing of Heaven rest upon him, that it overflowed to others; for even the selfish Laban was constrained to admit, I have learned by experience that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake. And the still more visible tokens of Divine favour which Jacob enjoyed during the last years of his stay in Mesopotamia excited the envy of Laban and his sons.
We do not, it is true, discern many signs of growth in grace. Still there was growthgrowth in self-knowledge, growth in self-distrust. More than the history explicitly reveals to us must be supposed to underlie these seemingly prosaic and uneventful years; discipline, personal and domestic, slowly but surely preparing the imperfect and unlovely nature for the great change which Peniel was to witness.
Illustration
Blessed human love that softens the hardest lot, casting a halo over difficulty, as sunset glow over the hard outlines of the hills. To have this a man might well be content to forego the choicest gifts of earthly fortune. But if the love of woman could thus gladden those long dark days, surely the blessed love of Jesus would do the same and more. Life may be long and lonely, bereaved of those dearer far than light, daily tasks irksome, the hills of difficulty many, but if the heart has learnt to take all from the love of Jesus, and to do all in Him, by Him, and for Him, all is changed. The days, as they pass by, become channels down which the strong tides of eternal bliss are ever running at the flood.
Gen 29:20. They seemed to him but a few days That is, the work or service of that time seemed but little in comparison of the worth of Rachel. An age of work will seem but a few days to those that love God, and long for Christs appearance.
29:20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him [but] a {g} few days, for the love he had to her.
(g) Meaning after the years were accomplished.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes