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
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Genesis
35%
Jasher
35%
Jubilees
30%
Exposition
Jubilee: 45
Year: 2193
Month: 1
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
Month: 9
Day: 14
Reuben born
Genesis 29:32
Jubilees 28:11
Year: 2195
Month: 10
Day: 21
Simeon born
Genesis 29:33
Jubilees 28:13
Year: 2198
Month: 1
Day: 1
Levi born
Genesis 29:34
Jubilees 28:14
Month: 6
Day: 9
Dan born to Jacob and Bilhah
Genesis 30:5-6
Jasher 31:16b
Jubilees 28:18
Year: 2200
Month: 3
Day: 15
Judah born
Genesis 29:35
Jasher 31:15
Jubilees 28:15
Jubilee: 45
Year: 2193
Month: 1
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, 3d
3b and took Leah his elder daughter, and gave (her) to Jacob as a wife,
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.
Notes
No notes.
Exposition
Jubilee: 45
Year: 2193
Month: 1
Jacob finished serving Laban for 7 years
Genesis 29:20-22
Jasher 31:1
Jubilees 28:2-3a
In the 1st year of the 3rd week, Jacob had completed 7 years of service for Rachel, and to him they seemed like only a few days because of how much he loved her. Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.”
So Laban gathered all the men of the area and held a feast.
Rising Action
Laban tricks Jacob into marrying Leah
Genesis 29:23
Jasher 31:2-4, 6-9
Jubilees 28:3b, 3d
Everyone at the feast knew what Laban had done to Jacob, but no one said anything to him. That night, all the neighbors came to Jacob’s house to celebrate. They ate, drank, rejoiced, played timbrels, danced in front of Leah, and chanted, “Heleah, Heleah.”
Jacob heard their words but didn’t understand what they meant. He thought it might just be a local custom. The neighbors continued speaking these words to him throughout the night, and all the lights in Laban’s house were put out.
Later in the evening, Laban came into the house, and after that, Jacob came in with the people from the feast. Laban had already extinguished all the lights. Jacob asked him, “Why did you do this thing to us?”
Laban replied, “Such is our custom in this land.”
Then Laban took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob lay with her, believing she was Rachel. He didn’t realize it was Leah.
Laban gives Leah the handmaid Zilpah
Genesis 29:24
Jasher 31:5
Jubilees 28:3c
Laban gave his daughter Leah his maid Zilpah to be her handmaid.
Climax
Jacob confronts Laban about being tricked
Genesis 29:25
Jasher 31:10-11
Jubilees 28:4-5
In the morning, when daylight came, Jacob turned to his wife and saw that it was Leah lying beside him. He said, “Now I understand what the neighbors meant last night. They said, ‘Heleah,’ and I didn’t know it.”
Jacob called for Laban and said, “What is this you’ve done to me? Didn’t I serve you for Rachel? Why did you deceive me and give me Leah? Take your daughter back, and I’ll leave, because you’ve done me wrong.”
Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah. Leah’s eyes were weak, though her form was very attractive. But Rachel had both beautiful eyes and a beautiful, very attractive form.
Falling Action
Laban requests that Jacob serve another 7 years for Rachel
Genesis 29:26-27
Jasher 31:12
Jubilees 28:6-8
Laban said to Jacob, “It’s not our custom here to give the younger daughter before the elder.”
And it’s not right to do so, for it is ordained and written on the heavenly tablets that no one should give the younger before the elder. The elder must be given first, and only then the younger. Anyone who reverses this is considered guilty in heaven, and no one who does this is considered righteous, because the deed is wicked before the Lord. Command the children of Israel never to do this—never take or give the younger before the elder—for it is a very wicked act.
Laban said to Jacob, “Let the 7 days of this feast pass, and then I will give you Rachel, but you must serve me another 7 years and continue to tend my sheep as you did before.”
Resolution
YHWH opens Leah’s womb
Genesis 29:31
Jasher 31:14
Jubilees 28:12
When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb. She conceived and gave Jacob 4 sons during that time.
Month: 9
Day: 14
Reuben born
Genesis 29:32
Jubilees 28:11
Leah conceived and gave birth to a son on the 14th day of the 9th month, in the 1st year of the 3rd week. She named him Reuben and said, “Surely the LORD has looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.”
Year: 2195
Month: 10
Day: 21
Simeon born
Genesis 29:32
Jubilees 28:11
She conceived again and gave birth to a son on the 21st day of the 10th month, in the 3rd year of this week. She said, “Because the LORD has heard I was hated, He has therefore given me this son also,” and she named him Simeon.
Year: 2198
Month: 1
Day: 1
Levi born
Genesis 29:34
Jubilees 28:14
She conceived again and gave birth to a son on the new moon of the 1st month, in the 6th year of this week. She said, “Now this time my husband will be joined to me, because I have given him 3 sons.” So he was named Levi.
Month: 6
Day: 9
Dan born to Jacob and Bilhah
Genesis 30:5-6
Jasher 31:16b
Jubilees 28:18
Bilhah conceived and gave birth to a son for Jacob on the 9th day of the 6th month, in the 6th year of the 3rd week. Rachel said, “God has judged me, and has also heard my voice, and has given me a son,” so she named him Dan.
Year: 2200
Month: 3
Day: 15
Judah born
Genesis 29:35
Jasher 31:15
Jubilees 28:15
Leah conceived again and gave birth to a son on the 15th day of the 3rd month, in the 1st year of the 4th week. She said, “Now I will praise the LORD,” and she named him Judah. After that, she stopped bearing children.
These were their names: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah. After Judah was born, Leah stopped having children for a time.