Genesis 29:16: “Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.”
Before the sun rose the desert lay in quiet expectation. Sheepherders liked to travel to their pastures in the cool of the morning. At the crack of dawn Leah got up and prepared breakfast for the shepherds. She served bread and mashed cooked beans with a drizzle of olive oil and lemon juice. There were cucumbers, olives, seasonal fruit and extra bread and dried fruit for the taking. The sheepherders were all indentured slaves, with the exception of Laban’s sons.
The men filed into the breakfast area, which looked like a big old porch, only a stone’s throw away from the camp. There Leah had busied herself near the hearth before sunrise while her sister Rachel had been tending to the animals. She was a shepherdess by trade and always milked the goats first thing in the morning.
Presently, Rachel arrived with a bucket-full of creamy goat milk, which she handed over to her sister. “Hello, sis”, she said, “Here’s the milk. One goat was in a sour mood this morning – almost kicked me in the face!” Leah turned around and smiled. Her sister was a fine storyteller. She made a story out of small incidents such as milking goats. “Well, I’m glad you’re alive and well and your face is still intact”, Leah teased her. Rachel grinned as she picked an olive from the platter, threw it in the air and caught it with her mouth. “Come on Rachel!” Leah sighed. Why don’t you take the platter to the table so everybody can have some olives? Go and have breakfast. It is getting late.” Rachel chuckled and said: “Yes Ma’am!” Then she picked up the platter, served everybody and sat down to eat.
From the moment Rachel arrived on scene Jacob felt rejuvenated. He tried not to stare, but whether or not he actually looked at her, he was always drawn to her. Chewing on his breakfast, he barely noticed what he ate.
Years flew by and Jacob settled into the work routines of tending to Laban’s flocks and herds. He was an excellent shepherd and went above and beyond what everybody else considered the norm. After a few bad surprises, he would routinely watch out for predators and often volunteered for the night watch, the least-liked task among sheepherders. Every night the men took turns to sit by the fire and watch the sheepfolds to keep the predators at bay.
One day Laban came to join his men for breakfast. “Leah, your cooking is legendary!” he complimented his daughter. Leah blushed. She was not used to her father’s attention. Her father was consumed with his business and he rarely spent time with his daughters.
Rachel was the baby of the family. Her mother died giving birth to her. At the time of her passing Leah’s teenage brothers were already herding sheep with their father, but Leah was only five years old. Both she and her baby sister were assigned a nanny. And when Leah became of age, she learnt to run her father’s household.
After breakfast Laban took Leah and Rachel aside and said: “We need to have a talk – in private. Meet me at the shop in an hour.”
On their way to Harran the sisters discussed the nature of this visit. “Why does our father want to see us both?” Rachel wondered and Leah replied: “We both know that Jacob’s seven years will soon come to a close and your wedding day is coming up. Our father is going to discuss your wedding with both of us since you are the bride and I am probably responsible for the logistics.” Leah said it in a lighthearted way but the last sentence came out a little sad, which didn’t go unnoticed. Rachel hugged her sister and encouraged her: “I know there is someone waiting for you who will love you more than Jacob loves me.” Leah was touched. “Thanks Rachel. Sometimes I have the feeling that nobody really sees me. I’m always hidden at home while you are out and about tending sheep. How will anybody ever notice me?”
Rachel said with more assurance than she felt: “This is why we pray to Ishtar, the goddess of love. She is the first star we see at night and the last to go in the morning. In a world run by men we women need to stick together. And with Ishtar on our side we have all the protection that we need.” Leah sighed: “Why did our mother die so early? Did Ishtar sleep on that day?” Rachel shook her head and replied: “I don’t think it’s wise to critique the gods.”
Meanwhile they arrived at their father’s shop. The front room displayed wool and animal skins for sale. In the room adjacent to the show room Laban had built a little shrine to honor his household gods. This is where he had private meetings with his clients and in this case with his family. Leah and Rachel entered the room together. Their father was already waiting for them and invited them to take a seat. The two sisters sat down facing their father. Something was off.
Laban opened the meeting with a few general remarks and said: “I’m a blessed man. God gave me two wonderful daughters and two strong sons, and now I am about to have a third son. As you both know, Jacob wants to marry into our family, and this is the reason why we meet today.” Laban paused and gave his daughters a measured look. “You are all grown up now, and what I’m about to tell you requires maturity and discretion. – Both of you will become Jacob’s wives.”
“No!” Rachel blurted out without thinking. “That’s wrong!” Leah just stared at her father and didn’t know what to think. Laban gazed back at his daughters and replied: “Yes, Rachel, it will happen and it will be a blessing to both of you. My sister Rebekah had to leave within a day to marry your Uncle Isaac. We never saw her again. You on the other hand won’t be torn apart because you get married to the same man, and Jacob will have to serve another seven years to pay for each of you.”
“And why would Jacob want to serve for another seven years?” Leah quietly interjected. “I don’t think he is interested in me. He has only eyes for Rachel.” Laban nodded and said: “You are right Leah, as always. Besides your good cooking you have a keen eye.” He paused before he continued, “That is why you, Leah, will be the first to be given away in marriage.”
Addressing his horrified daughters, Laban began to lay out his plan explaining that at the night of the wedding Leah would be sent to Jacob’s tent instead of Rachel. Finally, Laban gave his daughters a little pat on the back and added: “Look Leah, Jacob will cherish you, once you give him children. And Rachel – it’s time for you to grow up. I am not here to cater to your wishes, but to decide what is best for both of you.”
And that was the end of their discussion, which wasn’t a real conversation to begin with. Their father had simply issued a command, and they were obliged to follow, whether they liked it or not. Leah hated to be so powerless. Rachel was just raw with emotions and didn’t join the shepherds that day. Both sisters avoided Jacob from then on, which he noticed. “Rachel and Leah have been acting strange lately. What is up with that?” he wondered out loud while joining the other shepherds at the campfire. “You know women” one of his colleagues ventured, “They are probably busy preparing the wedding.
Jacob was excited. With the wedding day fast approaching, the happiest day of his life seemed right around the corner.