Welcome to my Hebrew reading & language series.

Genesis 29:20-25

We were talking about the deal that Jacob made with his future father-in-law last week, where Jacob offered to be a servant for seven years in order to be able to marry Laban's younger daughter Rachel.

Today's passage begins with those seven years flying by in one verse. We also read about the wedding party and the night time consummation.

In Hebrew marriages, the woman is not allowed to do anything but smile at a distance until the wedding takes place. She is veiled throughout the festival and the first contact is made well after dark when it is time to sleep.

As a wise person once said, "Inspect your purchase before leaving the store! " and he did not. In the morning, Jacob noticed that he was given the wrong item - not the one of his heart's desire. He complained, I imagine, quite loudly.

Today's reading

English

So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.

Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed." So Laban gathered together all the people of the place and made a feast. But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he went in to her. (Laban gave his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her servant.) And in the morning, behold, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?"

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Hebrew

The story continues next week as Laban explains the mix up ...

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Info on each letter starting at the beginning

If you are just starting, my lessons are all here starting at Alef, adding vowels (the dots and lines) as we go. I explain the meaning of each letter and its numerical value. Just go to my blog and scroll to the bottom or click here

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Thanks for reading.

Shabbat Shalom