The evening world., 1920-08-11
The LOUe Stories
of the Bible /
By Rev. Thomas B. Gregory
Copyright, 1920 ~ The Prers Ppblishina CO
tine New York EEsnine world.
No. 5-JgcOb and Rachel.


TT was a toregone conclusion that
Jacob, after the mean trick that
his mother and himself had played
on Bsau about the birthright would
have to get out from the old home,
and at Rebekah's suggestion he fled
to Haran. to remain for time with
Laban.
Laban had two daughters--LeaiI
and Rachel. Leah was the elder OF
the two and was far from being
handsome, having some defect of the
eyes which made her anything but
wlnsome, while Rachel was. from all
accounts, exceedingly fair.
Al any rate, the meeting Of Jacob
with Laban's youngest daughter
turned out To be a case OF love az
first sight Love overpowering and
uncomfortable. There is no improv-
ing upon the original account OF tho
meeting as given in Genesis, 29:
While he yet spake with them (La-
pans serYants), Rachel came with her
fathers sheep; for she kept them.
And II came to pass, when Jacob saw
Rachel, the daughter of Laban his
mothers brother, and the sheep OF
Laban his mothers brother, that Ja-
cob went near and rolled the stone
from the wells mouth, and watered
the flock of Laban his mothers brother.
And Jacob kissed Rachel, and Hfted
UP his voice and wept." He loved
ner so much that the sight Of her
made him cry for Joy! Before meet
ing Laban Jacob said, Il will serve
thee seven years for Rachel thy
youngere daughter. And Laiban said
1t is better that l give her to thee
than that should give her to another
man; abide with me. And Jacob
served seven years for Rachel; and
they seemed unto him but a few days,
for the love he had for her"
And now everything was ready for
the wedding. The feast was pre-
pared, the guests were on hand, and
! the lovers were about to celebrate
the long deferred nuptialS.
But Laban was about to play the
same trick on Jacob that Jacob had
played on his brother Esau. LaIban
was not pleased with the fact that
the younger Rachel should have been
preferred to the elder sister, he was
afraid that the plain Leah with tho
squlnt in her eyes would be left on
his hands, so he resolved to forestall
such calamity by resorting to a ruse.
After the manner OF the East Leah
was covered with a thick veil, her
face altogether hid, her figure almost.
Jacob goes forth TO meet his bride.
he stands by her side and in the
presence OF the company takes the
marria re vow. The Aolemn act -
completed; the bridegroom lifts the
brides veil, and 10! 1t is not Rachel
Ibut Leah!
Jacobs chickens were coming home
to roost and he was getting from the
crafty Laban the same medicine that
he gave poor Esau.
But Jacob was, in sense, the
forerunner OF our Henry Clay-he
was great compromiseT''-and he
arranged with his father in-law that
he was 10 have his Rachel the fol-
lowing week, upon the condition that
after the marriage he should serve
for her another seven years.
So after all Jacob came out OF the
difficulty with more than even honors
he got ell he wanted in addition TO
something that he did not want.
Leah was always a sort of thorn in
his side, for he never loved her, buo
Rachel, with great placidity OF soul
and admirable common sense, got on
the best she could with only the half
of Jacob.
She knew that Jacob loved her and
that in her husbands sight she was
the only wife. She knew that while
Leah held the key to Jacobs house
she held the key to his heart.
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