And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.
Gen 29:29-35
He loved also Rachel more than Leah
Leah and Rachel: their trims and compensations
I.
THEIR TRIALS. Leah was hated (Gen 29:31), i.e., she was loved less than Rachel By becoming a party to a heartless fraud she lost her husbands affections. And Rachel, the beloved wife, was denied the blessing of children, so coveted by the ancient Hebrew mothers (Gen 29:31). Both had trials, though of a different kind.
II. THEIR COMPENSATIONS. Leah was blessed with children, which compensated her for the loss of her husbands love. The names of the four sons successively born to her were all significant, and betoken that pious habit of mind which recognized the hand of God in all that befel her. She called the first-born, Reuben (Hebrews) see ye a son. The second, Simeon (Hebrews) hearing, for God had heard her prayer and seen her affliction. The third was named Levi (Hebrews) joined. Now, surely, would the breach be healed and the husband and wife joined together by this threefold cord. The fourth she called Judah (Hebrews) praise, as if recording her thankfulness that she had won the affections of her husband by bearing to him so many sons. Rachel, on the other hand, continued barren. But she was compensated by her beauty, and by the thought that she was first in her husbands affections. Thus with the evils which fall to the lot of individuals, there are compensations. (T. H. Leale.)
Lessons
1. God doth not see as men, not as good men see sometimes in accepting persons.
2. Gods providence may be regardful of them who are neglected by men.
3. Undervalued and hated mercies may, under Gods ordering, prove most fruitful to men.
4. The most regarded by men may be disrespected upon some accounts with God.
5. The most lovely mercies in mans eye may prove barren and unfruitful to him (Gen 29:31), (G. Hughes, B. D.)
Worth better than beauty
The cultivation of the beautiful is, indeed, the first step towards civilization; but it is no more than a means of education; it has accomplished its purpose when it has contributed to awaken the interest for thought and truth; the Greeks were an element in the development of mankind; but their mission ceased when they had opened the minds of men for the reception of abstract ideas; and the sentence which a Greek sage wrote over his door: nothing ugly must enter, was to be superseded by the Biblical maxim: deceitful is gracefulness, and vain is beauty; a woman who feareth the Lord, she alone deserveth praise Pro 31:30). While the first woman was merely she who gives life (Eve); the daughter of Lamech, seven generations later, was the beautiful (Naamah); this was certainly a progress; but many centuries were required to elapse before men ceased to regard beauty both as the test of worth, and a proof of special Divine favour. To contribute towards this important lesson is the end of this portion; for, when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren; by the same act He taught Jacob wisdom, and procured justice to Leah. The latter was clearly aware of this turning-point in her life; for when she gave birth to a son, she exclaimed: Surely, the Lord hath looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me. Nor does she seem to have been unworthy of being blessed with offspring; the love of her husband was the sole object of her thoughts and feelings. (M. M. Kalisch, Ph. D.)
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Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
29. gave to Rachel his daughterBilhah to be her maidA father in good circumstances stillgives his daughter from his household a female slave, over whom theyoung wife, independently of her husband, has the absolute control.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter, Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid. As he had given Leah an handmaid he gave Rachel another; and this in the Targum of Jonathan is said to be a daughter of Laban by a concubine also, as the former.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
CRITICAL NOTES.
Gen. 29:31. Leah was hated.] The word is to be understood relatively, not absolutely. By the usage of the Heb. to be hated, signifies only to be loved less.
Gen. 29:32. Reuben.] The name means, see ye a son.
Gen. 29:33. Simeon.] Heb. hearing.
Gen. 29:34. Levi.] Heb. joined. Implies that the husband and wife would be bound together by this threefold cord of attachment.
Gen. 29:35. Judah.] Heb. praise.
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.Gen. 29:29-35
LEAH AND RACHEL: THEIR TRIALS AND COMPENSATIONS
I. Their trials. Leah was hated (Gen. 29:31), i.e., she was loved less than Rachel. By becoming a party to a heartless fraud she lost her husbands affections. And Rachel, the beloved wife was denied the blessing of children, so coveted by the ancient Hebrew mothers (Gen. 29:31). Both had trials, though of a different kind.
II. Their compensations. Leah was blessed with children, which compensated her for the loss of her husbands love. The names of the four sons successively born to her were all significant, and betoken that pious habit of mind which recognised the hand of God in all that befel her. She called the firstborn, Reuben, Heb. see ye a son. The second, Simeon, Heb. hearing, for God had heard her prayer and seen her affliction. The third was named Levi, Heb. joined. Now, surely, would the breach be healed and the husband and wife joined together by this threefold cord. The fourth she called Judah, Heb. praise, as if recording her thankfulness that she had won the affections of her husband by bearing to him so many sons. Rachel, on the other hand, continued barren. But she was compensated by her beauty, and by the thought that she was first in her husbands affections. Thus with the evils which fall to the lot of individuals, there are compensations.
SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS ON THE VERSES
Gen. 29:29-31. Here we have punishment tempered with mercy. This is what the cross has done for us; it prevents penalty from being simply penalty; it leaves us not alone to punishment, but mingles all with blessing and forgiveness. Through it life has its bright as well as its dark side. (Robertson.)
Rachel whom he loved is barren; Leah, which was despised, is fruitful. How wisely God weighs out to us our favours and crosses in an equal balance; so tempering our sorrows that we may not oppress, and our joys that they may not transport us; each one hath some matter of envy to others, and of grief to himself.(Bishop Hall).
Gen. 29:32-35. Children are joining mercies between husband and wife. As many children as parents have, so many bonds of love exist between them.(Bush).
Signification of the word from which Judah is derived: 1 to thank; 2 to commend; 3 to praise; 4 to confess. From this Judah all Jews received their beautiful name.(Lange).
Fuente: The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary Edited by Joseph S. Exell
‘And Laban gave Bilhah his handmaid to his daughter Rachel to be her handmaid.’
Once again Laban provides a handmaid for his daughter from his household, and another person is added to Jacob’s group. Again the suggestion is that that is all that she receives. Laban is hard-nosed. This prince has come among them bringing nothing, he will therefore receive nothing, apart from the privileged membership of the tribe due to his ancestry.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Gen 29:29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.
Ver. 29. Bilhah his handmaid. ] Who afterward played false play with her master and husband, and incestuously lay with Reuben.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Bilhah. This was strictly in accordance with the Code of Khammurabi, 145. See App-15.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Bilhah: Gen 29:24, Gen 30:3-8, Gen 35:22, Gen 35:25, Gen 37:2
Reciprocal: Gen 31:14 – yet any Gen 46:25 – Bilhah