Happy Passover!

Today's reading is from Genesis (Beresheet) 29.

Beresheet 29:1-3 "So Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the East. And he looked, and saw a well in the field; and behold, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks A large stone was on the well's mouth. Now all the flocks would be gathered there; and they would roll the stone from the well's mouth, water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place on the well's mouth."

Ok, it's totally understandable that he'd come across a few flocks of sheep, this is after all, sheep country. But why go through that process of pulling the rock off the well's mouth, watering the sheep, and then putting it back on time after time? Well, water is kinda scarce over in that section of the globe. I've heard that in order to get to it via well, you have to dig really really deep and through some stuff that is a lot harder than dirt. I'm no geologist, so I couldn't tell you exactly what they were digging in, but it was probably hard work, what with a general lack of modern machinery and CAT cranes. How does this all tie in? Not only is water scarce over there, but it is HOT. Really hot. Think... desert. What happens when the water, even in the bottom of the well, gets really hot? Evaporation. That rock over the top of the well was keeping the water shaded so the sun couldn't get to it to heat it up and have it disappear. And that is your blogger science lesson of the day.

Beresheet 29:4-8 "And Jacob said to them, 'My brethren, where are you from?' And they said, 'We are from Haran.' Then he said to them, 'Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?' And they said, 'We know him.' So he said to them, 'Is he well?' And they said, 'He is well. And look, his daughter Rachel is coming with the sheep. Then he said, 'Look, it is still high day; it is not time for the cattle to be gathered together. Water the sheep, and go and feed them.' But they said, 'We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together, and they have rolled the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep.'"

See? They knew about evaporation. The faster you water all the sheep, and if you can get it done all at once, you don't have to worry too much about the water getting too hot. On the other hand though, they're talking about some other people having to move the rock. Could it be a little bit on the heavy side?

Beresheet 29:9-12 "Now while he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherdess. And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother. Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice and wept. And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's relative and that he was Rebekah's son. So she ran and told her father."

So much for it being kinda heavy! Jacob moved the stone, watered all her father's sheep, and then kissed her. Didn't we read earlier about somebody else kissing someone when they met? I'm not sure if it's before this or after this, but it looks like kissing might be a kind of greeting. Sort of like how Italians do it, maybe? Both cheeks? The weeping though, that's not normal greeting. You have to remember though, that the night before, he was sleeping on a rock, on the run from his entire family, the weeping was probably relief; happy tears.

Beresheet 29:13-14 "Then it came to pass, when Laban heard the report about Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his house. So he told Laban all these things. And Laban said to him, 'Surely you are my bone and my flesh.' And he stayed with him for a month."

Maybe Jacob looks sort of like his mom, Rebekah. A family resemblance would definitely help Jacob's story.

Beresheet 29:15-17 "Then Laban said to Jacob, 'Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what should your wages be?' Now Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah's eyes were delicate, but Rachel was beautiful of form and appearance."

Hmm... Me thinks Jacob is considering asking for one of the daughters as his wages... Let's find out.

Beresheet 29:18-21 "Now Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, 'I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter.' And Laban said, 'It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.' So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her."

Let me help you get something straight here... Yes, Rachel is Jacob's cousin. Yes, Jacob loves Rachel. No, it's not that weird, at least, not back then. Remember, Rebekah wanted him to pick one of the girls from her side of the family. Rebekah was related to her husband, Isaac, and Sarah was Abraham's half-sister. It wasn't that uncommon, but nowadays, it's just not normal.

Beresheet 29:22-25 "Then Jacob said to Laban, 'Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.' And Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast. Now it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her. And Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a maid. So it came to pass in the morning, that behold, it was Leah. And he said to Laban, 'What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why then have you deceived me?'"

I don't know much about ancient wedding traditions. Ok, I don't know anything about ancient wedding traditions. Was Leah wearing a really thick veil? Did she actually want to marry Jacob? Is she just stuck in the middle of this because of her father? I don't really know, but you're free to voice your ideas in the comments. All I know is, Jacob was wronged. Rachel was wronged. Leah was wronged. And it's too late to fix.

Beresheet 29:26-27 "And Laban said, 'It must not be done so in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. Fulfill her week, and we will give you this one also for the service which you will serve with me still another seven years.'"

Ok, the first part sort of makes sense. I can see how the eldest sister might want to get married before her younger sisters. But on the other side, was Laban mostly just trying to get another seven years of labor from Jacob? Hmm...

Beresheet 29:28-30 "Then Jacob did so and fulfilled her week. So he gave him his daughter Rachel as wife also. And Laban gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as a maid. Then Jacob also went in to Rachel, and he also loved Rachel more than Leah. And he served with Laban still another seven years."

Polygamy back then was another not-uncommon thing. However, usually, I'm guessing, the groom knew exactly who his bride was before they got married. Unfortunately, the older sister Leah is stuck living with a man who doesn't love her very much and her sister whom he does love, for the rest of her life. That would be like watching your boyfriend blowing kisses to your younger sister every day, forever, only worse. He didn't even want Leah in the first place.

Beresheet 29:31-35 "When Yahuah saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. So Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said, 'Yahuah has surely looked on my affliction. Now therefore, my husband will love me.' Then she conceived again and bore a son, and said, 'Because Yahuah has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also.' And she called his name Simeon. She conceived again and bore a son, and said, 'Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.' Therefore his name was called Levi. And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, 'Now I will praise Yahuah.' Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she stopped bearing."

Four boys. Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah. Look up their names here. Four boys, and Rachel has had none. Ever heard of the twelve tribes of Israel? Well you'll soon find out who Israel was, and who those twelve tribes were, but here's a hint: four of those tribes have been born so far in the story.

That's all I've got for today, tomorrow we'll be reading chapter 30.

Lehitraot! (leh-hEE-tra-Ot) (See you later!)

-Kj