Then Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people
of the east. As he looked, he saw a well in the field, and behold,
three flocks of sheep lying beside it, for out of that well the
flocks were watered. The stone on the well's mouth was large, and
when all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll
the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep, and put
the stone back in its place over the mouth of the well.
Jacob said to them, “My brothers, where do you come from?” They
said, “We are from Haran.” He said to them, “Do you know Laban the
son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.” He said to them, “Is it
well with him?” They said, “It is well; and see, Rachel his
daughter is coming with the sheep!” He said, “Behold, it is still
high day; it is not time for the livestock to be gathered together.
Water the sheep and go, pasture them.” But they said, “We cannot
until all the flocks are gathered together and the stone is rolled
from the mouth of the well; then we water the sheep.”
While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her
father's sheep, for she was a shepherdess. Now as soon as Jacob saw
Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of
Laban his mother's brother, Jacob came near and rolled the stone
from the well's mouth and watered the flock of Laban his mother's
brother. Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud. And Jacob told
Rachel that he was her father's kinsman, and that he was Rebekah's
son, and she ran and told her father.
As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister's son, he
ran to meet him and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to
his house. Jacob told Laban all these things, and Laban said to
him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh!” And he stayed with him
a month.
Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my kinsman, should you
therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?”
Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and
the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah's eyes were weak, but
Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. Jacob loved Rachel.
And he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger
daughter Rachel.” Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you
than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me.” So
Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a
few days because of the love he had for her.
Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife that I may go in to
her, for my time is completed.” So Laban gathered together all the
people of the place and made a feast. But in the evening he took
his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he went in to her.
(Laban gave his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be
her servant.) And in the morning, behold, it was Leah! And Jacob
said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve
with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?” Laban said,
“It is not so done in our country, to give the younger before the
firstborn. Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the
other also in return for serving me another seven years.” Jacob did
so, and completed her week. Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel
to be his wife. (Laban gave his female servant Bilhah to his
daughter Rachel to be her servant.) So Jacob went in to Rachel
also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban for
another seven years.
When the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but
Rachel was barren. And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she
called his name Reuben, for she said, “Because the LORD has looked
upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.” She conceived
again and bore a son, and said, “Because the LORD has heard that I
am hated, he has given me this son also.” And she called his name
Simeon. Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, “Now this
time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him
three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi. And she conceived
again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise the LORD.”
Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she ceased bearing.
