RACHEL (Hebr. Râhêl). — JACOB, MAX (v.). At the suggestion of his mother Rebecca (Gen. 27:46), Jacob travels to Mesopotamia to choose a wife from his own family. Upon reaching “the land of the Easterners” (Gen. 29:1), near Haran (Gen. 29:4), Jacob meets Rachel, Laban (v.), Rebecca’s brother and thus his own cousin.
The meeting at the well, where the young woman was bringing her flock to drink, is described in idyllic terms (Gen. 29:10–12). Jacob asks for Rachel’s hand in marriage, but unable to offer a gift to his future father-in-law according to the marriage customs of the time, he declares himself willing to serve Laban for seven years. However, Laban, wishing first to settle his elder daughter Leah, substitutes her for Rachel on the wedding night, and Jacob is compelled to remain another seven years to obtain his beloved Rachel as well (Gen. 29:15–18). While Jacob spends his seven years in Laban’s house, Leah, though