Well it looks like in this chapter, the tables were turned on Jacob by Laban sending Leah in to where Jacob was following the marriage celebration. It was night, and we do not know what Leah was wearing or how dark it was for Jacob to not be able to discern that the woman he consummated a marriage with was not Rachel. But Jacob really loved Rachel and wanted her for his wife, so he was willing to work another 7 years for Laban in order to secure Rachel as his wife, too. I have always felt sorry for Leah. The "customs" of the time dictated that the elder daughter is to be married first, so she was given to a man who loved her younger sister.
Here we have another plural marriage in Genesis. Both Leah and Rachel were full-fledged wives, not concubine wives, and of equal standing. Of course tensions would arise. Jacob would have known that from being a twin. I am not sure what is meant when Laban told Jacob to complete the week with Leah. Perhaps it was the custom for a man to be wit his wife a full week without any other duties but to share the marriage bed. So, Jacob did, and then he took Rachel as his wife and most likely for a week's time just like for Leah. After that it doesn't speak of the arrangements of who has access to Jacob when and for how long. The text skips to the subject of the barrenness of both women until Leah conceived. Must have been very unbearable for Rachel to see her sister bear 4 sons and she had not conceived at all. Probably put a rift between the sisters in some way.
Since it seems that Jacob did not arrive at Laban's home laden with gifts for the family he would take a wife from, it appears that Jacob would have to work for his father-in-law in exchange for having Laban daughter/s for his wife/wives. Must have been customary for men to supply some kind of dowry in order to take a daughter for a wife.
It is obvious that Leah felt hated in this family relationship. I doubt that Jacob really hated her, he just loved Rachel more.
Here we have another plural marriage in Genesis. Both Leah and Rachel were full-fledged wives, not concubine wives, and of equal standing. Of course tensions would arise. Jacob would have known that from being a twin. I am not sure what is meant when Laban told Jacob to complete the week with Leah. Perhaps it was the custom for a man to be wit his wife a full week without any other duties but to share the marriage bed. So, Jacob did, and then he took Rachel as his wife and most likely for a week's time just like for Leah. After that it doesn't speak of the arrangements of who has access to Jacob when and for how long. The text skips to the subject of the barrenness of both women until Leah conceived. Must have been very unbearable for Rachel to see her sister bear 4 sons and she had not conceived at all. Probably put a rift between the sisters in some way.
Since it seems that Jacob did not arrive at Laban's home laden with gifts for the family he would take a wife from, it appears that Jacob would have to work for his father-in-law in exchange for having Laban daughter/s for his wife/wives. Must have been customary for men to supply some kind of dowry in order to take a daughter for a wife.
It is obvious that Leah felt hated in this family relationship. I doubt that Jacob really hated her, he just loved Rachel more.
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