GENESIS 29
15 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?” 16 Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. 18 Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” 19 Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me.” 20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her. – Genesis 29:15-20
GENESIS 29 JACOB’S 7 YEARS DOWRY OFFER TO MARRY RACHEL
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
As soon as Laban knew Jacob was his kinsman
He sets out to get something from his relative Jacob
To ask Rachel’s hand, he offered 7 years of service for Laban
He didn’t think 7 years were too long since he loved Rachel so much
Laban also thought that it was better to marry off Rachel to him
Instead of giving her to be the wife of someone who wasn’t his own kin.
After Jacob had stayed a month with Laban, he must have worked hard to serve and earn his stay in their home. Even though at his home, Jacob had servants to serve him in Isaac’s household. They were wealthy. When he arrived at his uncle’s house, he had nothing much to offer since he was fleeing from his brother’s wrath and threat to his life. We see the integrity of Jacob’s heart to offer his services for seven years. That seems to me like a very generous gift for someone who was never a hired servant in his family of origin. His love for Rachel probably became the driving force for him to offer that dowry so Laban couldn’t refuse it, and he could finally marry his beloved Rachel.
In this account, we also get a character sketch of Laban. Since Jacob’s arrival a month ago, he must have seen how hard-working Jacob was. That’s why the offer for seven years of service for his daughter’s hand in marriage seemed profitable for him. He can scheme for a profitable venture and it seemed like this was one of those lucrative schemes. He had to grab the chance to get profit.
REFLECTION
· What trait of Jacob and Laban can we surmise from this account?
