Genesis 29:18-28

29:18

love <0157> [loved.]

serve <05647> [I will serve.]

In ancient times, it was a custom among many nations to give dowries for their wives; but Jacob, being poor, offered for Rachel seven year's service.

29:19

29:20

worked <05647> [A.M. 2251. B.C. 1753. served.]

<0160> [for the love.]

29:21

Give .... wife <03051 0802> [Give me.]

time <03117> [my days.]

have marital relations <0935> [go in.]

29:22

prepared <06213> [and made.]

29:23

brought ......... had marital relations <0935> [brought her.]

29:24

Zilpah <02153> [Zilpah.]

29:25

morning <01242> [in the morning.]

tricked <07411> [wherefore.]

29:26

here <04725> [country. Heb. place.]

29:27

week <07620> [week.]

give <05414> [we will.]

29:28

When ... completed .... week <07620 04390> [fulfilled her week.]

The public marriage feast made on this occasion, seems to have formed the regular method of recognising the marriage, and lasted seven days: it would therefore have been improper to have broken off the solemnities to which all the men of the place had been invited (ver. 22) and probably Laban wished to keep the fraud from the public eye. It is perfectly plain that Jacob did not serve seven years more before he got Rachel to wife.