For the past five years, part of my job has been to develop a study Bible that addresses the honest questions people today have while reading the Bible. For instance:

Why does the Bible not condemn slavery?

Why was polygamy condoned (apparently) in the Old Testament, but not in the New?

Why circumcision? And why that part of the body?

But one of the questions I couldn't forget came from a young woman, recently married, who read Genesis 29 and wondered, "How come Jacob didn't realize he'd married Leah until the morning after his wedding night?"

The answer we eventually published next to verses 2325 in The Quest Study Bible says something about the darkness of the tent, the possibility of Jacob's senses being dulled by the eating and drinking at the wedding feast, and the veils worn by a bride who probably wanted the deception to succeed.

But that question has since prompted me to wonder not just about their wedding night, but also about their marriage. What happened in Leah's soul, knowing she ...