Subterfuge
Jacob, madly in love with Rachel, faithfully serves seven years to win her hand, only to be deceived by his father-in-law Laban on the night of his wedding. Under the veil of night and a cruel custom, Jacob unknowingly marries Leah, Rachel’s older sister, realizing the truth only at dawn. Furious, Jacob confronts Laban, who claims the local tradition forbids giving the younger daughter before the elder, forcing Jacob into another seven years of servitude for Rachel. Meanwhile, Leah, feeling unloved, is blessed by God with sons, while the family’s tangled relationships give rise to a saga of rivalry, divine intervention, and the birth of the tribes of Israel.
Major Characters
Minor Characters
Insignificant Characters
GENESIS
35%
JASHER
35%
JUBILEES
30%
Exposition
Y: 2193 | Jacob finished serving Laban for 7 years
Genesis 29:20-22, Jasher 31:1, Jubilees 28:2-3a
Rising Action
Laban tricks Jacob into marrying Leah
Genesis 29:23, Jasher 31:2-4, 6-9, Jubilees 28:3b, 3d
Laban gives Leah the handmaid Zilpah
Genesis 29:24, Jasher 31:5, Jubilees 28:3c
Climax
Jacob confronts Laban about being tricked
Genesis 29:25, Jasher 31:10-11, Jubilees 28:4-5
Falling Action
Laban requests that Jacob serve another 7 years for Rachel
Genesis 29:26-27, Jasher 31:12, Jubilees 28:6-8
Resolution
YHWH opens Leah’s womb
Genesis 29:31, Jasher 31:14, Jubilees 28:12
M: 9 | D: 14 | Reuben born
Genesis 29:32, Jubilees 28:11
Y: 2195 | M: 10 | D: 21 | Simeon born
Genesis 29:33, Jubilees 28:13
Y: 2198 | M: 1 | D: 1 | Levi born
Genesis 29:34, Jubilees 28:14
M: 6 | D: 9 | Dan born to Jacob and Bilhah
Genesis 30:5-6, Jasher 31:16b, Jubilees 28:18
Y: 2200 | M: 3 | D: 15 | Judah born
Genesis 29:35, Jasher 31:15, Jubilees 28:15
Year: 2193
Jacob finished serving Laban for 7 years
Genesis 29:20-22
20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.
21 And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.
22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
Jasher 31:1
1 And in the seventh year, Jacob’s service which he served Laban was completed, and Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for the days of my service are fulfilled; and Laban did so, and Laban and Jacob assembled all the people of that place and they made a feast.
Jubilees 28:2-3a
2 And in the first year of the third week [2122 A.M.] he said unto him: ‘Give me my wife, for whom I have served thee seven years ‘; and Laban said unto Jacob: ‘I will give thee thy wife.’
3a And Laban made a feast,
Laban tricks Jacob into marrying Leah
Jasher 31:6-9
6 And all the people at the feast knew what Laban had done to Jacob, but they did not tell the thing to Jacob.
7 And all the neighbors came that night to Jacob’s house, and they ate and drank and rejoiced, and played before Leah upon timbrels, and with dances, and they responded before Jacob, Heleah, Heleah.
8 And Jacob heard their words but did not understand their meaning, but he thought such might be their custom in this land.
9 And the neighbors spoke these words before Jacob during the night, and all the lights that were in the house Laban had that night extinguished.
Genesis 29:23
23 And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.
Jasher 31:2-4
2 And in the evening Laban came to the house, and afterward Jacob came there with the people of the feast, and Laban extinguished all the lights that were there in the house.
3 And Jacob said unto Laban, Wherefore dost thou do this thing unto us? And Laban answered, Such is our custom to act in this land.
4 And afterward Laban took his daughter Leah, and he brought her to Jacob, and he came to her and Jacob did not know that she was Leah.
Jubilees 28:3b
3b and took Leah his elder daughter, and gave (her) to Jacob as a wife,
Jubilees 28:3d
3d and Jacob did not know, for he thought that she was Rachel.
Laban gives Leah the handmaid Zilpah
Genesis 29:24
24 And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.
Jasher 31:5
5 And Laban gave his daughter Leah his maid Zilpah for a handmaid.
Jubilees 28:3c
3c and gave her Zilpah his handmaid for an hand- maid;
Jacob confronts Laban about being tricked
Genesis 29:25
25 And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? Did not I serve with thee for Rachel? Wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?
Jasher 31:10-11
10 And in the morning, when daylight appeared, Jacob turned to his wife and he saw, and behold it was Leah that had been lying in his bosom, and Jacob said, Behold now I know what the neighbors said last night, Heleah, they said, and I knew it not.
11 And Jacob called unto Laban, and said unto him, What is this that thou didst unto me? Surely I served thee for Rachel, and why didst thou deceive me and didst give me Leah?
Jubilees 28:4
4 And he went in unto her, and behold, she was Leah; and Jacob was angry with Laban, and said unto him: ‘Why hast thou dealt thus with me? Did not I serve thee for Rachel and not for Leah? Why hast thou wronged me?
Jubilees 28:5
5 Take thy daughter, and I will go; for thou hast done evil to me.’ For Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah; for Leah’s eyes were weak, but her form was very handsome; but Rachel had beautiful eyes and a beautiful and very handsome form.
Laban requests that Jacob serve another 7 years for Rachel
Genesis 29:26-27
26 And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.
27 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.
Jasher 31:12
12 And Laban answered Jacob, saying, Not so is it done in our place to give the younger before the elder now therefore if thou desirest to take her sister likewise, take her unto thee for the service which thou wilt serve me for another seven years.
Jubilees 28:6-8
6 And Laban said to Jacob: ‘It is not so done in our country, to give the younger before the elder.’ And it is not right to do this; for thus it is ordained and written in the heavenly tablets, that no one should give his younger daughter before the elder; but the elder, one gives first and after her the younger -and the man who does so, they set down guilt against him in heaven, and none is righteous that does this thing, for this deed is evil before the Lord.
7 And command thou the children of Israel that they do not this thing; let them neither take nor give the younger before they have given the elder, for it is very wicked.
8 And Laban said to Jacob: ‘Let the seven days of the feast of this one pass by, and I shall give thee Rachel, that thou mayst serve me another seven years, that thou mayst pasture my sheep as thou didst in the former week.’
YHWH opens Leah’s womb
Genesis 29:31
31 And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.
Jasher 31:14
14 And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, the Lord opened her womb, and she conceived and bare Jacob four sons in those days.
Jubilees 28:12
12 But the womb of Rachel was closed, for the Lord saw that Leah was hated and Rachel loved.
Month: 9
Day: 14
Reuben born to Jacob and Leah
Genesis 29:32
32 And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.
Jubilees 28:11
11 And the Lord opened the womb of Leah, and she conceived and bare Jacob a son, and he called his name Reuben, on the fourteenth day of the ninth month, in the first year of the third week. [2122 A.M.]
Year: 2195
Month: 10
Day: 21
Simeon born to Jacob and Leah
Genesis 29:33
33 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.
Jubilees 28:13
13 And again Jacob went in unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob a second son, and he called his name Simeon, on the twenty-first of the tenth month, and in the third year of this week. [2124 A.M.]
Year: 2198
Month: 1
Day: 1
Levi born to Jacob and Leah
Genesis 29:34
34 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.
Jubilees 28:14
14 And again Jacob went in unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare him a third son, and he called his name Levi, in the new moon of the first month in the sixth year of this week. [2127 A.M.]
Month: 6
Day: 9
Dan born to Jacob and Bilhah
Genesis 30:5-6
5 And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son.
6 And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan.
Jasher 31:16b
16b and when Rachel saw that she bare no children to Jacob, she took her handmaid Bilhah, and she bare Jacob two sons, Dan and Naphtali.
Jubilees 28:18
18 And he went in unto her, and she conceived, and bare him a son, and he called his name Dan, on the ninth of the sixth month, in the sixth year of the third week. [2127 A.M.]
Year: 2200
Month: 3
Day: 15
Judah born to Jacob and Leah
Genesis 29:35
35 And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.
Jubilees 28:15
15 And again Jacob went in unto her, and she conceived, and bare him a fourth son, and he called his name Judah, on the fifteenth of the third month, in the first year of the fourth week. [2129 A.M.]
Jasher 31:15
15 And these are their names, Reuben Simeon, Levi, and Judah, and she afterward left bearing.
No notes.
Exposition
Y: 2193 | Jacob finished serving Laban for 7 years
Genesis 29:20-22, Jasher 31:1, Jubilees 28:2-3a
And in the 1st year of the 3rd week, Jacob served 7 years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had to her. And 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.
Rising Action
Laban tricks Jacob into marrying Leah
Genesis 29:23, Jasher 31:2-4, 6-9, Jubilees 28:3b, 3d
And all the people at the feast knew what Laban had done to Jacob, but they did not tell the thing to Jacob. And all the neighbors came that night to Jacob’s house, and they ate and drank and rejoiced, and played before Leah upon timbrels, and with dances, and they responded before Jacob, “Heleah, Heleah.”
And Jacob heard their words but did not understand their meaning, but he thought such might be their custom in this land. And the neighbors spoke these words before Jacob during the night, and all the lights that were in the house Laban had that night extinguished.
And in the evening Laban came to the house, and afterward, Jacob came there with the people of the feast, and Laban extinguished all the lights that were there in the house. And Jacob said to Laban, “Why did you do this thing to us?”
And Laban answered, “Such is our custom to act in this land.”
And afterward, Laban took his daughter Leah, and he brought her to Jacob, and he came to her and Jacob thought she was Rachel and did not know that she was Leah.
Laban gives Leah the handmaid Zilpah
Genesis 29:24, Jasher 31:5, Jubilees 28:3c
And Laban gave to his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for a handmaid.
Climax
Jacob confronts Laban about being tricked
Genesis 29:25, Jasher 31:10-11, Jubilees 28:4-5
And in the morning, when daylight appeared, Jacob turned to his wife and he saw, and behold it was Leah that had been lying in his bosom, and Jacob said, “Behold now I know what the neighbors said last night, ‘Heleah,’ they said, and I knew it not.”
And Jacob called to Laban, and said to him, “What is this that you did to me? Surely I served you for Rachel, and why did you deceive me and give me Leah? Take your daughter, and I will go; for you have done evil to me.”
For Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah; for Leah’s eyes were weak, but her form was very handsome; but Rachel had beautiful eyes and a beautiful and very handsome form.”
Falling Action
Laban requests that Jacob serve another 7 years for Rachel
Genesis 29:26-27, Jasher 31:12, Jubilees 28:6-8
And Laban said to Jacob: “It is not so done in our country, to give the younger before the elder.”
And it is not right to do this; for thus it is ordained and written in the heavenly tablets, that no one should give his younger daughter before the elder; but the elder, one gives first and after her the younger -and the man who does so, they set down guilt against him in heaven, and none is righteous that does this thing, for this deed is evil before the Lord. And command the children of Israel that they do not this thing; let them neither take nor give the younger before they have given the elder, for it is very wicked. And Laban said to Jacob: “Let the 7 days of the feast of this one pass by, and I shall give you Rachel, that you may serve me another 7 years, that you may pasture my sheep as you did in the former week.”
Resolution
YHWH opens Leah’s womb
Genesis 29:31, Jasher 31:14, Jubilees 28:12
And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, the Lord opened her womb, and she conceived and bore Jacob 4 sons in those days.
M: 9 | D: 14 | Reuben born
Genesis 29:32, Jubilees 28:11
And Leah conceived, and bore a son on the 14th day of the 9th month, in the 1st year of the 3rd week, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, “Surely the LORD has looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.”
Y: 2195 | M: 10 | D: 21 | Simeon born
Genesis 29:33, Jubilees 28:13
And she conceived again, and bore a son on the 21st of the 10th month, and in the 3rd year of this week; and said, “Because the LORD has heard I was hated, he has therefore given me this son also:” and she called his name Simeon.
Y: 2198 | M: 1 | D: 1 | Levi born
Genesis 29:34, Jubilees 28:14
And she conceived again, and bore a son in the new moon of the 1st month in the 6th year of this week; and said, “Now this time will my husband be joined to me, because I have born him 3 sons:” therefore was his name called Levi.
M: 6 | D: 9 | Dan born to Jacob and Bilhah
Genesis 30:5-6, Jasher 31:16b, Jubilees 28:18
And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son on the 9th of the 6th month, in the 6th year of the 3rd week. And Rachel said, “God has judged me, and has also heard my voice, and has given me a son:” therefore she called his name Dan.
Y: 2200 | M: 3 | D: 15 | Judah born
Genesis 29:35, Jasher 31:15, Jubilees 28:15
And she conceived again, and bore a son on the 15th of the 3rd month, in the 1st year of the 4th week: and she said, “Now will I praise the LORD:” therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.
And these are their names, Reuben Simeon, Levi, and Judah, and she afterward left bearing.
This chart shows who was alive in years 2187-2205.
Years with question marks are estimates.