Gen 29
1
Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the children of the east.
2
And he looked, and behold, a well in the field, and, behold, three flocks of sheep
lying there by it. For out of that well they watered the flocks. And the stone upon
the well`s mouth was great.
3
And there were all the flocks gathered. And they rolled the stone from the well`s
mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well`s mouth in its
place.
4
And Jacob said to them, My brethren, whence are you? And they said, Of Haran are we.
5
And he said to them, Know you Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.
6
And he said to them, Is it well with him? And they said, It is well. And, behold,
Rachel his daughter comes with the sheep.
7
And he said, Behold, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should
be gathered together. Water you the sheep, and go and feed them.
8
And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and they roll
the stone from the well`s mouth. Then we water the sheep.
9
While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father`s sheep. For she
kept them.
10
And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother`s brother,
and the sheep of Laban his mother`s brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the
stone from the well`s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother`s brother.
11
And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.
12
And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father`s brother, and that he was Rebekah`s
son. And she ran and told her father.
13
And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister`s son, that
he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house.
And he told Laban all these things.
14
And Laban said to him, Surely you are my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him
the space of a month.
15
And Laban said to Jacob, Because you are my brother, should you therefore serve me
for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?
16
And Laban had two daughters. The name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger
was Rachel.
17
And Leah`s eyes were tender. But Rachel was beautiful and well favored.
18
And Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, I will serve you seven years for Rachel your
younger daughter.
19
And Laban said, It is better that I give her to you, than that I should give her to
another man. Abide with me.
20
And Jacob served seven years for Rachel. And they seemed to him but a few days, for
the love he had to her.
21
And Jacob said to Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go
in to her.
22
And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
23
And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her
to him. And he went in to her.
24
And Laban gave Zilpah his handmaid to his daughter Leah for a handmaid.
25
And it came to pass in the morning that, behold, it was Leah. And he said to Laban,
What is this you have done to me? Did not I serve with you for Rachel? Wherefore then
have you beguiled me?
26
And Laban said, It is not so done in our place, to give the younger before the first-born.
27
Fulfill the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service
which you shall serve with me yet seven other years.
28
And jacob did so, and fulfilled her week. And he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife.
29
And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her handmaid.
30
And he went in also to Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served
with him yet seven other years.
31
And YHWH saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb. But Rachel was barren.
32
And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben. For she said,
Because YHWH has looked upon my affliction. For now my husband will love me.
33
And she conceived again, and bare a son: and said, Because YHWH has heard that I am
hated, he has therefore given me this [son] also. And she called his name Simeon.
34
And she conceived again, and bare a son. And said, Now this time will my husband be
joined to me, because I have borne him three sons. Therefore was his name called Levi.
35
And she conceived again, and bare a son. And she said, This time will I praise YHWH.
Therefore she called his name Judah. And she left off bearing.