Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: MARRIAGE (08/25/16)
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TITLE: Jacob's Choice | Previous Challenge Entry
By Robyn Harbour
08/27/16 -
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Years earlier Jacob had fallen deeply in love with his cousin Rachel, a shepherdess. She was the daughter of his mother’s brother. She had a lovely figure, a great personality and was very beautiful. He started working for Uncle Laban, a rich farmer, who told him to name his wages.
'I will work seven years for you without wages; if in return will you give me Rachel for my wife?.’
‘Agreed,’ Laban had answered, ‘I would rather give her to you than any other man,’ and so a deal was struck between the two men.
The seven years flew quickly and seemed like only a few days because of the great love Jacob had for Rachel. He intended to only have one wife as he father had before him. Isaac had married Rebekah and their love for each other was an example that he, Jacob intended to follow. He had observed relatives with multiple wives. These wives continually fought with each other for their husband’s favor and jealousy was rife in these marriages.
The wedding day came and his bride was brought to him in all her splendor. Her blue robe was embroidered with gold thread, her face covered with an opaque veil that reached her fingertips. The whole community gathered together to witness this wedding, the biggest in the district.
It was late evening before the feasting was over and Jacob took his bride to his tent with great anticipation. A night of passionate love making followed and Jacob shared his hopes and dreams with his new wife. In the morning light he turned over to look at her beautiful face, then.... shock, horror....he found that he had married her elder sister Leah. Leah was not beautiful, she had weak eyes and a weak character.
Realizing that he had been deceived, he stormed out of the tent leaving behind a weeping Leah. ‘What have you done to me Laban?’ Jacob yelled. ‘I worked honestly for seven years for Rachel and you have given me Leah. I have done my time, give me Rachel for my wife.’ He angrily demanded.
‘It is the custom in our country for the eldest daughter to be married first.’ Laban explained. ‘Wait seven days and complete your bridal week with Leah, then I will give you Rachel as a wife. You must work a further seven years in payment for this.’
Jacob walked slowly back to his tent as he did not want to face the accusing eyes of Leah. It was not her fault that her father had forced her on him. He now realized that what had been done to him, he had done to his brother Esau. He had deceived his father and taken Esau’s birthright and blessing. His brother had been so angry he had declared that he would kill him. At his mother’s insistence Jacob had run away to live and work for his uncle.
Leah and Rachel could not live peacefully together, they continually fought over the smallest issue. Leah was jealous of the love Jacob had for Rachel. Each time she gave birth to a son she hoped she would gain her husband’s love, but his love eluded her. Rachel on the other hand was jealous of Leah and her four sons, as Rachel had failed to fall pregnant.
In desperation Rachel decided on surrogacy, she gave her servant Bilhah to Jacob for a wife, any sons that Bilhah had would be regarded as belonging to Rachel. This way she was able to satisfy her maternal desires.
Not to be outdone, Leah gave her servant Zilpah to Jacob for a wife, Zilpah also bore sons for Jacob that would be counted as Leah’s sons.
And Jacob, the married man who had no bed of his own, asked the same question every night. “Where shall I sleep tonight?’ knowing that the only bed he ever wanted to sleep in was Rachel’s.
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