Genèse 29

1 Jacob se mit en marche, et s'en alla au pays des fils de l'Orient.

2 Il regarda. Et voici, il y avait un puits dans les champs; et voici, il y avait à côté trois troupeaux de brebis qui se reposaient, car c'était à ce puits qu'on abreuvait les troupeaux. Et la pierre sur l'ouverture du puits était grande.

3 Tous les troupeaux se rassemblaient là; on roulait la pierre de dessus l'ouverture du puits, on abreuvait les troupeaux, et l'on remettait la pierre à sa place sur l'ouverture du puits.

4 Jacob dit aux bergers: Mes frères, d'où êtes-vous? Ils répondirent: Nous sommes de Charan.

5 Il leur dit: Connaissez-vous Laban, fils de Nachor? Ils répondirent: Nous le connaissons.

6 Il leur dit: Est-il en bonne santé? Ils répondirent: Il est en bonne santé; et voici Rachel, sa fille, qui vient avec le troupeau.

7 Il dit: Voici, il est encore grand jour, et il n'est pas temps de rassembler les troupeaux; abreuvez les brebis, puis allez, et faites-les paître.

8 Ils répondirent: Nous ne le pouvons pas, jusqu'à ce que tous les troupeaux soient rassemblés; c'est alors qu'on roule la pierre de dessus l'ouverture du puits, et qu'on abreuve les brebis.

9 Comme il leur parlait encore, survint Rachel avec le troupeau de son père; car elle était bergère.

10 Lorsque Jacob vit Rachel, fille de Laban, frère de sa mère, et le troupeau de Laban, frère de sa mère, il s'approcha, roula la pierre de dessus l'ouverture du puits, et abreuva le troupeau de Laban, frère de sa mère.

11 Et Jacob baisa Rachel, il éleva la voix et pleura.

12 Jacob apprit à Rachel qu'il était parent de son père, qu'il était fils de Rebecca. Et elle courut l'annoncer à son père.

13 Dès que Laban eut entendu parler de Jacob, fils de sa soeur, il courut au-devant de lui, il l'embrassa et le baisa, et il le fit venir dans sa maison. Jacob raconta à Laban toutes ces choses.

14 Et Laban lui dit: Certainement, tu es mon os et ma chair. Jacob demeura un mois chez Laban.

15 Puis Laban dit à Jacob: Parce que tu es mon parent, me serviras-tu pour rien? Dis-moi quel sera ton salaire.

16 Or, Laban avait deux filles: l'aînée s'appelait Léa, et la cadette Rachel.

17 Léa avait les yeux délicats; mais Rachel était belle de taille et belle de figure.

18 Jacob aimait Rachel, et il dit: Je te servirai sept ans pour Rachel, ta fille cadette.

19 Et Laban dit: J'aime mieux te la donner que de la donner à un autre homme. Reste chez moi!

20 Ainsi Jacob servit sept années pour Rachel: et elles furent à ses yeux comme quelques jours, parce qu'il l'aimait.

21 Ensuite Jacob dit à Laban: Donne-moi ma femme, car mon temps est accompli: et j'irai vers elle.

22 Laban réunit tous les gens du lieu, et fit un festin.

23 Le soir, il prit Léa, sa fille, et l'amena vers Jacob, qui s'approcha d'elle.

24 Et Laban donna pour servante à Léa, sa fille, Zilpa, sa servante.

25 Le lendemain matin, voilà que c'était Léa. Alors Jacob dit à Laban: Qu'est-ce que tu m'as fait? N'est-ce pas pour Rachel que j'ai servi chez toi? Pourquoi m'as-tu trompé?

26 Laban dit: Ce n'est point la coutume dans ce lieu de donner la cadette avant l'aînée.

27 Achève la semaine avec celle-ci, et nous te donnerons aussi l'autre pour le service que tu feras encore chez moi pendant sept nouvelles années.

28 Jacob fit ainsi, et il acheva la semaine avec Léa; puis Laban lui donna pour femme Rachel, sa fille.

29 Et Laban donna pour servante à Rachel, sa fille, Bilha, sa servante.

30 Jacob alla aussi vers Rachel, qu'il aimait plus que Léa; et il servit encore chez Laban pendant sept nouvelles années.

31 L'Eternel vit que Léa n'était pas aimée; et il la rendit féconde, tandis que Rachel était stérile.

32 Léa devint enceinte, et enfanta un fils, à qui elle donna le nom de Ruben; car elle dit: L'Eternel a vu mon humiliation, et maintenant mon mari m'aimera.

33 Elle devint encore enceinte, et enfanta un fils, et elle dit: L'Eternel a entendu que je n'étais pas aimée, et il m'a aussi accordé celui-ci. Et elle lui donna le nom de Siméon.

34 Elle devint encore enceinte, et enfanta un fils, et elle dit: Pour cette fois, mon mari s'attachera à moi; car je lui ai enfanté trois fils. C'est pourquoi on lui donna le nom de Lévi.

35 Elle devint encore enceinte, et enfanta un fils, et elle dit: Cette fois, je louerai l'Eternel. C'est pourquoi elle lui donna le nom de Juda. Et elle cessa d'enfanter.

Genèse 29 Commentary

Chapter 29

Jacob comes to the well of Haran. (1-8) His interview with Rachel, Laban entertains him. (9-14) Jacob's covenant for Rachel, Laban's deceit. (15-30) Leah's sons. (31-35)

Verses 1-8 Jacob proceeded cheerfully in his journey, after the sweet communion he had with God at Beth-el. Providence brought him to the field where his uncle's flocks were to be watered. What is said of the care of the shepherds for their sheep, may remind us of the tender concern which our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, has for his flock the church; for he is the good Shepherd, that knows his sheep, and is known of them. The stone at the well's mouth was to secure it; water was scarce, it was not there for every one's use: but separate interests should not take us from helping one another. When all the shepherds came together with their flocks, then, like loving neighbours, they watered their flocks together. The law of kindness in the tongue has a commanding power, ( Proverbs 31:26 ) . Jacob was civil to these strangers, and he found them civil to him.

Verses 9-14 See Rachel's humility and industry. Nobody needs to be ashamed of honest, useful labour, nor ought it to hinder any one's preferment. When Jacob understood that this was his kinswoman, he was very ready to serve her. Laban, though not the best humoured, bade him welcome, and was satisfied with the account Jacob gave of himself. While we avoid being foolishly ready to believe every thing which is told us, we must take heed of being uncharitably suspicious.

Verses 15-30 During the month that Jacob spent as a guest, he was not idle. Wherever we are, it is good to employ ourselves in some useful business. Laban was desirous that Jacob should continue with him. Inferior relations must not be imposed upon; it is our duty to reward them. Jacob made known to Laban the affection he had for his daughter Rachel. And having no wordly goods with which to endow her, he promises seven years' service Love makes long and hard services short and easy; hence we read of the labour of love, ( Hebrews 6:10 ) . If we know how to value the happiness of heaven, the sufferings of this present time will be as nothing to us. An age of work will be but as a few days to those that love God, and long for Christ's appearing. Jacob, who had imposed upon his father, is imposed upon by Laban, his father-in-law, by a like deception. Herein, how unrighteous soever Laban was, the Lord was righteous: see ( Judges 1:7 ) . Even the righteous, if they take a false step, are sometimes thus recompensed in the earth. And many who are not, like Jacob, in their marriage, disappointed in person, soon find themselves, as much to their grief, disappointed in the character. The choice of that relation ought to be made with good advice and thought on both sides. There is reason to believe that Laban's excuse was not true. His way of settling the matter made bad worse. Jacob was drawn into the disquiet of multiplying wives. He could not refuse Rachel, for he had espoused her; still less could he refuse Leah. As yet there was no express command against marrying more than one wife. It was in the patriarchs a sin of ignorance; but it will not justify the like practice now, when God's will is plainly made known by the Divine law, ( Leviticus 18:18 ) , and more fully since, by our Saviour, that one man and woman ( 1 Corinthians. 7:2 )

Verses 31-35 The names Leah gave her children, expressed her respect and regard, both to God and to her husband. Reuben, or See a son, with this thought, Now will my husband love me; Levi, or joined, expecting, Now will my husband be joined unto me. Mutual affection is both the duty and comfort of the married relation; and yoke-fellows should study to recommend themselves to each ( 1 Corinthians. 7:33 1 Corinthians. 7:34 ) providence of God in hearing her. Whatever supports and comforts us under afflictions, or tends to our deliverance from them, God must be owned in it. Her fourth son she called Judah, or praise, saying, Now will I praise the Lord. This was he, of whom, as concerning the flesh, Christ came. Whatever is the matter of our rejoicing, ought to be the matter of our thanksgiving. Fresh favours should quicken us to praise God for former favours; Now will I praise the Lord more and better than I have done. All our praises must centre in Christ, both as the matter of them, and as the Mediator of them. He descended after the flesh from him whose name was "Praise," and He is our praise. Is Christ formed in my heart? Now will I praise the Lord.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 29

This chapter informs us of Jacob's coming to a well near Haran, where meeting with some shepherds he inquires after Laban, Ge 29:1-8; and there also with Rachel his daughter, the shepherds made known to him, and acquainted her who he was, Ge 29:9-12; upon which she ran to her father, and told him who was at the well, who went forth and brought him to his house, and kindly entertained him, Ge 29:13,14; with whom he agreed to stay and serve seven years for Rachel his daughter, Ge 29:15-20; at the end of which Jacob demands his wife, but instead of Rachel, Leah was brought to him as his wife, Ge 29:21-25; which being discovered, and complained of, it was proposed he should have Rachel also, provided he would serve yet seven years more, to which he agreed, Ge 29:26-30; and the chapter is concluded with an account of four sons being born to Jacob of Leah, Ge 29:31-35.