[1] Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the children of
the east. [2] 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. The stone on the well`s mouth was great. [3] There all the
flocks were gathered. They rolled the stone from the well`s mouth, and
watered the sheep, and put the stone again on the well`s mouth in its
place. [4] Jacob said to them, "My relatives, where are you from?" They
said, "We are from Haran." [5] He said to them, "Do you know Laban, the son
of Nahor?" They said, "We know him." [6] He said to them, "Is it well
with him?" They said, "It is well. See, Rachel, his daughter, is coming
with the sheep." [7] He said, "Behold, it is still the middle of the day,
not time to gather the cattle together. Water the sheep, and go and feed
them." [8] They said, We can`t, until all the flocks are 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] It happened, 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]
Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. [12] Jacob told
Rachel that he was her father`s brother, and that he was Rebekah`s son. She
ran and told her father. [13] It happened, when Laban heard the news of
Jacob, his sister`s son, that he ran to meet Jacob, and embraced him, and
kissed him, and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these
things. [14] Laban said to him, Surely you are my bone and my flesh. He
lived with him for a month. [15] Laban said to Jacob, "Because you are my
brother, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what will your
wages be?" [16] Laban had two daughters. The name of the elder was Leah,
and the name of the younger was Rachel. [17] Leah`s eyes were weak, but
Rachel was beautiful and well favored. [18] Jacob loved Rachel. He said, "I
will serve you seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter." [19] Laban
said, "It is better that I give her to you, than that I should give her to
another man. Stay with me." [20] Jacob served seven years for Rachel. They
seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had for her. [21] Jacob said
to Laban, "Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to
her." [22] Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a
feast. [23] It happened in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and
brought her to him. He went in to her. [24] Laban gave Zilpah his handmaid
to his daughter Leah for a handmaid. [25] It happened in the morning that,
behold, it was Leah. He said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me?
Didn`t I serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?" [26]
Laban said, "It is not done so 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 will serve with me yet seven other
years." [28] Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week. He gave him Rachel his
daughter as wife. [29] Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah, his
handmaid, to be her handmaid. [30] He went in also to Rachel, and he loved
also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years. [31]
Yahweh saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb, but Rachel was
barren. [32] Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she named him Reuben. For
she said, "Because Yahweh has looked at my affliction. For now my husband
will love me." [33] She conceived again, and bare a son, and said, "Because
Yahweh has heard that I am hated, he has therefore given me this son also."
She named him Simeon. [34] She conceived again, and bare a son. 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] She conceived again, and
bare a son. She said, "This time will I praise Yahweh." Therefore she named
him Judah. Then she stopped bearing.
