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When Laban then tells him, “Name your wage” (Genesis 29:15), the cheating and underpayment worsens. Jacob sets out to earn his dowry, and is tricked into serving an extra seven years. Worker’s Rights in the Bible. After fourteen years, and earning no property of his own, Jacob must negotiate an agreement to earn a portion of the flock.
Jacob is a migrant worker. He flees from a dangerous situation at home and takes refuge in Haran (Genesis 27:41-45). In this foreign area, he does arduous agricultural work for his uncle, Laban, who assumes the role of deceptive and abusive employer. Because Jacob arrives destitute, Laban easily takes advantage of him.
- Sam Berrin Shonkoff
- His Story Is Told in the Book of Genesis. After recounting the lives of Abraham and Isaac, the Book of Genesis turns to Jacob, whose story spans chapters 25 and 27-35.
- He Was the Third Patriarch. The story of the Jewish people begins with the three Patriarchs and four Matriarchs, the patriarchs being Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
- He Was a Twin. After 20 years of childless marriage, Isaac and Rebecca’s prayers were answered and Rebecca conceived. Finding the pregnancy unusually difficult, Rebecca consulted with Shem, the righteous son of Noah.1 Shem relayed G‑d’s message that she was carrying two children in her womb, progenitors of two great nations.
- He Was Born Grasping His Twin’s Heel. The first to be born was the Esau, followed moments later by Jacob. Jacob exited his mother’s womb grasping his brother’s heel, symbolizing from the start the ongoing tension between them and between the nations they would father.
Louis Jacobs was born in Manchester into a working class Jewish family of Lithuanian stock. His father made sure Louis went to synagogue–even if he did not attend himself–but as a child, Shabbat afternoons were dedicated to following the local rugby and cricket teams.
A fundamental principle of biblical morality is at work here: As you do, so shall be done to you. Yet the web of deception continues. After Rachel has given birth to Joseph, Jacob wants to return home.
His father Jacob says as much in his dying words: “Reuben, you are my firstborn, My power and the beginning of my might, Pre-eminent in bearing and pre-eminent in strength. Unstable as water, you will not be pre-eminent . . .”
In tackling the question of Jewish obligations toward workers, I will examine a combination of sources, including traditional halakhah and aggadah as well as stories and statistics about contemporary workers.
