Jacob’s Flight and Exile
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They were permitted to labor for the father whose daughter they loved,
the length of time being regulated by the value of the dowry required.
When the suitor was faithful in his services, and proved in other re-
spects worthy, he obtained the daughter as his wife; and generally the
dowry which the father had received was given her at her marriage. In
the case of both Rachel and Leah, however, Laban selfishly retained
the dowry that should have been given them; they referred to this when
they said, just before the removal from Mesopotamia, “He hath sold
us, and hath quite devoured also our money.”
The ancient custom, though sometimes abused, as by Laban, was
productive of good results. When the suitor was required to render
service to secure his bride, a hasty marriage was prevented, and there
was opportunity to test the depth of his affections, as well as his ability
to provide for a family. In our time many evils result from pursuing an
opposite course. It is often the case that persons before marriage have
little opportunity to become acquainted with each other’s habits and
disposition, and, so far as everyday life is concerned, they are virtually
strangers when they unite their interests at the altar. Many find, too
late, that they are not adapted to each other, and lifelong wretchedness
is the result of their union. Often the wife and children suffer from
the indolence and inefficiency or the vicious habits of the husband and
father. If the character of the suitor had been tested before marriage,
according to the ancient custom, great unhappiness might have been
prevented.
Seven years of faithful service Jacob gave for Rachel, and the years
that he served “seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to
her.” But the selfish and grasping Laban, desiring to retain so valuable
a helper, practiced a cruel deception in substituting Leah for Rachel.
The fact that Leah herself was a party to the cheat, caused Jacob to feel
that he could not love her. His indignant rebuke to Laban was met with
the offer of Rachel for another seven years’ service. But the father
insisted that Leah should not be discarded, since this would bring
disgrace upon the family. Jacob was thus placed in a most painful and
trying position; he finally decided to retain Leah and marry Rachel.
Rachel was ever the one best loved; but his preference for her excited
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envy and jealousy, and his life was embittered by the rivalry between
the sister-wives.