Jacob completes his long journey to Haran and arrives at the local watering hole, literally. He sees shepherds gathering at a well to water their sheep. Jacob asks if they know his Uncle Laban. They tell him to ask his daughter. 

After one look at his shepherdess cousin Rachel, Jacob’s smitten. He rolls away the stone covering the well for the shepherds and by the time the sheep have finished drinking, the humans are engaged to be married. That was faster than the freshman at Christian College who wait at least until Winter break.

They go to ask Rachel’s dad, Laban for permission. He says, not so fast. Jacob has to work seven years to earn her. Last time when Abraham’s servant came for Isaac, he stayed less than ten days before taking off with Rebekah, Laban’s sister. That servant had also traded a bunch of gold and camels for her. 

In some eastern countries today, there are still bride prices, especially for young women whose work supports the family. Jacob is not bothered by the requirement, and the seven years flies by because he’s so much in love with Rachel. 

When his time is up, the family throws a big wedding celebration and everyone parties. When it gets dark, Uncle Laban swaps out Rachel for his oldest daughter Leah. Leah is noted to have weak eyes, but Jacob is the one getting blindsided. 

In the morning, Jacob wakes up to find the wrong woman in his bed. Laban blames it on local tradition for the oldest daughter to marry before the youngest. He tells Jacob that he can also have Rachel after the first week of the honeymoon, but he has to work an additional seven years. Jacob may have tricked his twin brother Esau into giving him his inheritance for a bowl of stew, but Uncle Laban is getting a full fourteen years of work out of him for his wives.

Along with his two daughters, Laban gives them two servants, Zilpah and Bihah to serve as handmaids. Remember them for later in the story. 

Getting married under false pretenses doesn’t go well for either marital relations, nor sisterly affection. Leah was not loved as much as Rachel, nevertheless, she is blessed to have children, and Rachel is not. Leah names her four sons Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, meaning “see a son,” “heard,”“attached,” and “praise.” Having sons starts out as Leah’s way of finding value and connection in the family, but ultimately ends by her praising God.