29
1 Then
Jacob went on
his journey, and
came to the land
of the children
of the east.
2 He
looked, and saw
a well in the
field, and saw
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 large.
3 There
all the flocks
were gathered. They
rolled the stone
from the well’s
mouth, and watered
the sheep, and
put the stone back
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
livestock 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
will water the
sheep.”
9 While
he was yet
speaking with them,
Rachel came with
her father’s sheep,
for she kept
them.
10 When
Jacob saw Rachel
the daughter of
Laban, his mother’s brother,
and the sheep
of Laban,
his mother’s brother, 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 relative, and
that he was
Rebekah’s son. She
ran and told
her father.
13 When
Laban heard the
news of Jacob,
his sister’s son,
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.” Jacob stayed
with him for
a month.
15 Laban said
to Jacob, “Because
you are
my relative, 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 in form
and attractive.
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 In
the evening, he
took Leah his
daughter, and
brought her
to Jacob. He went
in to her.
24 Laban
gave Zilpah his
servant to his
daughter Leah for
a servant.
25 In
the morning,
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
firstborn.
27 Fulfill
the week of
this one, and
we will give
you the other
also for the
service which you
will serve with
me for seven
more years.”
28 Jacob
did so, and
fulfilled her week.
He gave him
Rachel his
daughter as wife.
29 Laban
gave Bilhah, his
servant, to his
daughter Rachel to
be her servant.
30 He
went in also
to Rachel, and
he loved also
Rachel more than
Leah, and served
with him seven
more years.
31 The
LORD 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
the LORD has
looked at my
affliction; for
now my husband
will love me.”
33 She
conceived again,
and bore a
son, and said, “Because
the LORD has
heard that I
am hated, he
has therefore
given me this
son also.” She
named him Simeon.
34 She
conceived again,
and bore a
son. She said, “Now
this time
my husband will be
joined to me,
because I have
borne him three
sons.” Therefore
his name was
called Levi.
35 She
conceived again,
and bore a
son. She said, “This
time I will
praise the LORD.”
Therefore she
named him Judah.
Then she stopped
bearing.