Laban’s Trickery
Jacob loved Rachel and agreed to work for her father, Laban, for seven years in exchange for her hand in marriage. However, when the time came, Laban deceived Jacob and gave him Rachel’s older sister, Leah, instead. Jacob did not realize the trick until the morning after the wedding. When he confronted Laban, Laban explained that it was their custom to marry off the older daughter before the younger one. Jacob then agreed to work another seven years so that he could also marry Rachel.
This story is found in Genesis 29:18-28 (NIV):
“Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, ‘I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.’ … So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her. Then Jacob said to Laban, ‘Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to make love to her.’ So Laban brought together all the people of the place and gave a feast. But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob made love to her. … When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, ‘What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?’” (Genesis 29:18-25, NIV).