And that’s exactly what happened to Jacob when he arrived in Haran.
Think about it: Eliezer, Jacob, Moses, even Saul. As Legends of the Jews (Ginzberg) points out, they all met young women upon their arrival and went on to achieve great things. It’s as if the simple act of meeting a maiden paved the way for future success. But Jacob’s arrival wasn't without its bumps.
We’re told that when Jacob met Rachel at the well, his behavior—likely a simple cousinly greeting—caused quite a stir. Apparently, the locals were shocked by such displays of affection, and they criticized Jacob for it. According to Ginzberg, their strictness stemmed from a desire to avoid the immorality that had led to the Flood. The gossip and judgment even brought Jacob to tears!
But why the tears? Was it just from the reprimand? No, there was more to it than that. Jacob couldn't help but compare himself to Eliezer, his grandfather Abraham's servant. Eliezer had arrived in Haran with ten camels laden with gifts when seeking a bride for Isaac. Jacob, on the other hand, had nothing. Nothing to offer Rachel. As if that wasn't bad enough, Jacob also foresaw that Rachel wouldn't be buried beside him, a thought that filled him with sorrow. Talk about a rough start!
Upon learning that Jacob was her cousin, Rachel rushed home to tell her father, Laban. Now, Laban...he was a character. He immediately thought of Eliezer’s lavish arrival and assumed Jacob must be carrying a fortune. When he saw Jacob was empty-handed, Laban suspected he might be hiding riches in his girdle or even his mouth! He hugged and kissed Jacob, all in a desperate attempt to find hidden treasure. Can you imagine?
When Jacob explained that he had been robbed by Eliphaz (Esau's son!), Laban was dismayed. Jacob recounted how he'd convinced Eliphaz to spare his life and instead take all his possessions, arguing that the descendants of Abraham were destined for servitude and that it was better for him to fulfill that destiny by losing his wealth than by losing his life. (This idea of the "descendants of Abraham" being obligated to serve for four hundred years is a fascinating one, found also in Genesis 15:13 and Exodus 12:40.)
Laban, now realizing Jacob had no money, consulted his teraphim (household idols) for advice. These idols, as Ginzberg tells us, warned Laban to keep Jacob around, saying his presence would bring good fortune. So, Laban, ever the schemer, sought a way to keep Jacob in his service. The teraphim suggested offering Jacob a wife, knowing his interest in women would keep him from leaving.
Laban then asked Jacob what he wanted as wages. Jacob, completely smitten with Rachel, declared that he only wanted her as his wife. Rachel, aware of her father's cunning, warned Jacob that he was no match for Laban's trickery, to which Jacob replied, "I am his brother in cunning!" (A playful echo of their ancestor's, Abraham, dealings perhaps?)
Rachel then revealed Laban's plan to marry off her older sister, Leah, first. To avoid being tricked, Jacob and Rachel devised a secret sign so he could identify her on their wedding night. Despite all precautions, Laban, as we know, was not easily outsmarted. Jacob’s careful wording of the marriage agreement – specifying “Rachel, not Leah; your daughter, so you don't bring me some other woman named Rachel; the younger daughter, so you don't exchange their names in the meantime” – proved futile. As the saying goes, "It profits not if a villain is cast into a sawmill."
Laban deceived not only Jacob but also the wedding guests, setting the stage for a dramatic and complicated family saga.
So, what does this all mean for us? Maybe it's a reminder that even auspicious beginnings can have their challenges. That even when fate seems to be on our side, we still need to be cautious and prepared. And perhaps, most importantly, it's a lesson in the enduring power of love, even in the face of deception and hardship. After all, it was Jacob's love for Rachel that drove this whole story forward, shaping the destiny of generations to come.