The reading for Monday, January 9, 2023 , is Genesis 29 - 31

Today's reading: Genesis 29 - 31

Jacob flees to his Uncle Laban, Jacob marries Leah & Rachel, Jacob's children, Jacob flees from Laban

Here, Jacob is deceived by being given Leah instead of Rachel. It kinda seems like poetic justice for the way Jacob deceived his father, Isaac, to steal Esau's blessing. 

Rachel giving Bilhah to Jacob to build a family for Rachel reminds me of Sarah giving Hagar to Abraham for a similar purpose. 

This mandrakes story has always puzzled me. Why was Rachel so eager to have them? A quick google says mandrakes were thought to help with fertility. The other part of this story that intrigues me is that Rachel tells Leah that Jacob could sleep with Leah that night. How did who Jacob sleep with generally get decided? What made it Rachel's to give?

Then we have the branches in the troughs. A quick google search does not bring any concise explanation. 

In 31:14, I just noticed that Leah and Rachel appear to be as one mind regarding leaving their father. They both say let's go. I find myself really curious about Leah and Rachel's relationship as sisters. 

So, Rachel steals her father's household gods. How powerful can they be if she has to sit on them to hid them from Laban while he searches her tent? 

Comments

  1. CindyJanuary 9, 2023 at 6:45 AM

    I love your commentary Jane. Thank you for the time it takes

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jane F.January 9, 2023 at 4:48 PM

      Thank you! I am finding doing it very interesting myself.

      Delete

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