Génesis 29:25

25 Cuando fue de mañana, he aquí que era Lea. Y Jacob dijo a Labán: ¿Qué es esto que me has hecho? ¿No fue por Raquel que te serví? ¿Por qué, pues, me has engañado?

Génesis 29:25 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 29:25

And it came to pass, that, in the morning, behold, it [was]
Leah
The morning light discovered her, and her veil being off, her tender eyes showed who she was: it is much her voice had not betrayed her; but perhaps there might be a likeness of voice in her and her sister; or she might keep silence, and so not be discovered in that way; but to excuse her from sin is not easy, even the sin of adultery and incest. Manythings may be said indeed in her favour, as obedience to her father, and, being the eldest daughter, might be desirous of having an husband first, and especially of having the promised seed, which God promised to Abraham, and was to be in the line of Jacob: and it may be, as Schmidt observes, that Laban had persuaded her to believe, that the matrimonial contract he had made with Jacob was on her account, and that she was truly his spouse; and the same he might say to Rachel, which made her easy, or otherwise it is difficult to account for it that she should acquiesce in it; for it can hardly be thought to be done without her knowledge, when it was for the solemnity of her marriage that the men of the city were called together, and a feast made for them; for that she should deliver up to her sister the things or signs that Jacob had given her to carry on the fraud, as the Jewish writers F18 say, is beyond belief:

and he said to Laban;
when he arose in the morning, and at first meeting with him:

what is this that thou hast done unto me?
what a wicked thing is it? as it was, to put another woman to bed to him that was not his wife, and in the room of his lawful wife; or why hast thou done this to me? what reason was there for it? what have I done, that could induce thee to do me such an injury? for Jacob knew what he had done, of that he does not inquire, but of the reason of it, and expostulates with him about the crime, as it was a sin against God, and an injury to him:

did I not serve thee, for Rachel?
even seven years, according to agreement? was not this the covenant I made with thee, that she should be my wife at the end of them?

wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?
by giving Leah instead of her: though Laban is not to be justified in this action, yet here appears in Providence a righteous retaliation of Jacob; he beguiled his own father, pretending he was his brother Esau; and now his father-in-law beguiles him, giving him blear eyed Leah instead of beautiful Rachel.


FOOTNOTES:

F18 Targum Jon. & Jarchi in loc.

Génesis 29:25 In-Context

23 Y sucedió que al anochecer tomó a su hija Lea y se la trajo, y Jacob se llegó a ella.
24 Y Labán dio su sierva Zilpa a su hija Lea como sierva.
25 Cuando fue de mañana, he aquí que era Lea. Y Jacob dijo a Labán: ¿Qué es esto que me has hecho? ¿No fue por Raquel que te serví? ¿Por qué, pues, me has engañado?
26 Y Labán respondió: No se acostumbra en nuestro lugar dar a la menor antes que a la mayor.
27 Cumple la semana nupcial de ésta, y te daremos también la otra por el servicio que habrás de rendirme aún otros siete años.
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