Why Leah Sat Waiting for Esau and Jacob Served Seven Years for Rachel

"And Rachel was beautiful of form and beautiful of appearance" (Genesis 29:17). For what reason? As it is stated, "A good report fattens the bone" (Proverbs 15:30). Esau took no action; rather, "Esau went to Ishmael and took Mahalath daughter of Ishmael... to himself as a wife" (Genesis 28:9). Jacob said: For the sake of the blessings he sought to kill me, and when I take his wife Leah, who knows whether he will leave Mahalath daughter of Ishmael and come against me and say to me, "Was it not enough for you that you took my birthright and my blessing, but you have also taken my betrothed?" Therefore he said to Laban, "I will serve you seven years for Rachel..." (Genesis 29:18). Were it not so, is there a man who takes a wife and leaves the elder and takes the younger? Rather, this is to teach you that Leah was sitting set apart for the name of Esau. Jacob said, "I will serve you seven years..." And when Laban saw this, he said: Behold, I will give the elder one straightaway. "And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter..." (Genesis 29:23). Jacob said to him: And were these the terms? "Did I not serve with you for Rachel?" "And Laban said: It is not so done in our place..." "And Jacob did so..." (Genesis 29:25–28). He began to love her more than Leah. The Holy One said: Behold, I will give children to Leah so that she will be more beloved than Rachel. "And the LORD saw that Leah was hated, and He opened her womb" (Genesis 29:31).