Back in 29:21 Jacob had announced that the seven years were complete and had requested his payment – “give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed.”
Now Jacob declares that the second seven years are complete. “Give me my wives and children for whom I have served you, that I may go.”
Why does Jacob have to ask? Why doesn't he just leave? Because Jacob is no better than a slave.
When Abraham's servant had won the hand of Rebekah for Isaac, he had brought lavish presents which “paid” for her. But Jacob came empty-handed and rather than treat him as a kinsman, Laban has treated him as a slave, and Jacob has had to work for Leah and Rachel. The fourteen years are now up, and Jacob now wishes to return to Canaan – but he acknowledges that Laban remains in charge.
A Babylonian slave who “marries up” as it were, only has right to his wives and children so long as he remains with his master. And the same is true in the later Mosaic law: Exodus 21:2 says, Jacob is a kinsman, and so should be treated better than this, but Jacob seems to recognize that Laban is treating him as a slave, after all, he can only take his wives and children if Laban agrees to let them go.
And three times in verse 26 Jacob refers to his status as a slave – the same word that will be used to refer to Israel's servitude in Egypt.
And like Pharaoh, Laban does not want to let Jacob go…
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