Genesis 29:28

28 Jacob did so, and completed her week; then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as a wife.

Genesis 29:28 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 29:28

And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week
The week of the days of the feast of Leah, as the Targum of Jonathan adds; he agreed to it; during which time he cohabited with Leah as his wife, and which confirmed the marriage: how justifiable this was, must be left. The marrying of two sisters was forbidden by the law of Moses, ( Leviticus 18:18 ) ; and polygamy was not allowed of in later times, and yet both were dispensed with in times preceding; and there seems to be an overruling Providence in this affair, which oftentimes brings good out of evil, since the Messiah was to spring from Leah, and not Rachel; (See Gill on Genesis 29:35); and having more wives than one, and concubines also, seems to be permitted for this reason, that Jacob might have a numerous progeny, as it was promised he should: and indeed Jacob was under some necessity of marrying both sisters, since the one was ignorantly defiled by him, and the other was his wife by espousal and contract; and though he had served seven years for her, he could not have her without consenting to marry the other, and fulfilling her week, and serving seven years more; to such hard terms was he obliged by an unkind uncle, in a strange country, and destitute:

and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also;
not after seven years' service, as Josephus F21 thinks, but after the seven days of feasting for Leah; though on condition of the above service, as appears from various circumstances related before the seven years' service could be completed; as his going in to Rachel, ( Genesis 29:30 ) ; her envying the fruitfulness of her sister, ( Genesis 30:1 ) ; giving Bilhah her handmaid unto him, ( Genesis 30:3 ) ; and the whole series of the context, and life of Jacob.


FOOTNOTES:

F21 Antiqu. l. 1. c. 19. sect. 7.

Genesis 29:28 In-Context

26 Laban said, "This is not done in our country—giving the younger before the firstborn.
27 Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years."
28 Jacob did so, and completed her week; then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as a wife.
29 (Laban gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her maid.)
30 So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. He served Laban for another seven years.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.